22nd March 1997
???
The Sparkle Express
HST Used | Great Western set |
Route :
HST Used | Route |
as listed | Peterborough - (via ECML) - Finsbury Park - Freight Terminal Jn - Camden Road East Jn - Gospel Oak - Willesden Junction HL - Acton Wells Jn - Acton Main Line - (via GWML) - Reading - Didcot Parkway - Swindon - Wootton Bassett Jn - Chippenham - Thingley Jn - Bathampton Jn - Bath Spa - North Somerset Jn - Bristol Temple Meads - Worle Jn - Uphill Jn - Cogload Jn - Taunton - Bishops Lydeard - Minehead |
as listed | Minehead - (reverse of outward route) - Peterborough |
Notes :
(1) Tour operator unknown but sheet given out on the day was signed by a Peter
Add. Passengers alighting at Bath Spa were able to purchase a Guide Friday Ltd
bus tour ticket at a £1.00 discount. Passengers were also able to alight at
Bristol Temple Meads and Taunton if they wished. This was stated to be the first
everr HST in passenger service to arrive and depart from Minehead. This weekend
the WSR was celebrating the 21st Anniversary of the line's re-opening. The tour
ticket entitles passengers to a free single journey ticket valid between
Minehead and Bishops Lydeard only. A discount price Rover Ticket was on sale at
£10.00
(2) Between Minehead and Bishops Lydeard on the return leg the HST formed a
scheduled WSR service on which WSR ticket holders were able to travel.
Source : Nick Garnham
Timings (Booked Only)
(from Nick Garnham)
Location | Booked (out) | Booked (rtn) |
Peterborough | ??.??d | 22.25a |
Huntingdon | ??.??a ~ ??.??d | 22.08a ~ ??.??d |
St Neots | ??.??a ~ ??.??d | 21.56a ~ ??.??d |
Biggleswade | ??.??a ~ ??.??d | 21.45a ~ ??.??d |
Hitchin | ??.??a ~ ??.??d | 21.32a ~ ??.??d |
Stevenage | ??.??a ~ ??.??d | 21.24a ~ ??.??d |
Welwyn Garden City | ??.??a ~ ??.??d | 21.15a ~ ??.??d |
Potters Bar | ??.??a ~ ??.??d | 21.04a ~ ??.??d |
Finsbury Park | ??.??a ~ ??.??d | 20.55a ~ ??.??d |
Ealing Broadway | ??.??a ~ ??.??d | 20.18a ~ ??.??d |
Reading | ??.??a ~ ??.??d | 19.51a ~ ??.??d |
Bath | 09.45a ~ ??.??d | ??.??a ~ 19.05d |
Bristol Temple Meads | 10.00a ~ ??.??d | ??.??a ~ 18.53d |
Taunton | 10.33a ~ ??.??d | ??.??a ~ 18.00d |
Bishops Lydeard | ? | ??.??a ~ 17.37d |
Minehead | ??.??a | 16.27d |