GWR Bids Farewell to Castle Class Trains After Nearly 50 Years

Great Western Railway (GWR) will retire its iconic Castle Class trains after passenger services on Saturday, 13 December, ending nearly five decades of operation on the Great Western network.

First introduced in 1976, the Class 43 locomotives and Mark 3 coaches were once the backbone of the UK’s Intercity services. Following the rollout of the Intercity Express Trains in May 2019, the Castle Class trains were withdrawn from long-distance routes and refurbished to continue serving regional journeys between Cardiff and Penzance.

The retirement will see the Castle Class replaced by GWR’s current fleet, supported by 26 recommissioned Class 175 trains, which will gradually enter service throughout 2026.

To accommodate enthusiasts and passengers wishing to mark the last journeys of the Castle Class, GWR is operating an additional special service on the day. This round-trip will run between Plymouth and Penzance, departing Plymouth at 15:16, calling only at Par, before returning from Penzance at 17:32 and arriving back in Plymouth at 19:17.

The move marks the end of an era for one of Britain’s most recognisable trains, which has carried millions of passengers over nearly 50 years of service.

Image: Great Western Railways