First-ever passenger service in Derby Litchurch Lane works
posted on 16th Oct 2025 11:22
On Saturday 11 October 2025, Alstom has marked a major milestone in rail history with the first-ever passenger train to depart from the Litchurch Lane Works in Derby, connecting the city’s world-renowned train manufacturing site to Glasgow’s Polmadie depot for a special celebration of Anglo-Scottish engineering heritage.
The landmark journey was part of the wider Polmadie 150 event, commemorating the 150th anniversary of Alstom’s Glasgow Traincare Centre. The special charter train, organised by the Branch Line Society, departed Derby, giving hundreds of rail enthusiasts a rare opportunity to travel across depot tracks typically closed to the public.
The train was hauled by two Derby-designed RailAdventure Class 43 locomotives (43468 and 43484) and featured Litchurch Lane-built Mark 3 coaches from the 125 Group - a fitting tribute to Derby’s legacy in British rail engineering. Upon arrival at Polmadie, the train was shunted across the site by its resident Class 08 locomotives (08451, 08696 and 08954), completing a journey that symbolically linked two of the UK’s most historic rail facilities.
After departing Litchurch Lane at 08:00, the railtour also called at Derby station, and then Crewe, Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan North Western, Lancaster, Motherwell and Glasgow Central at 15:43, on its journey to Polmadie Depot. The unit returned passengers to Derby Litchurch Lane Works - which celebrates its own 150th birthday in 2026 - the following day, arriving at 20:20.
The charter to Polmadie was part of Alstom’s broader celebrations for Railway 200, the bicentenary of the modern railway. Earlier this year, Litchurch Lane hosted The Greatest Gathering, the world’s largest-ever assembly of historic and modern trains, welcoming over 40,000 visitors and raising thousands for charity. The last exhibit to enter The Greatest Gathering was the first-ever passenger train to alight at the Derby factory; Alstom-built Class 390 Pendolino Progress – the UK’s first fully wrapped Pride train – which was hauled by Class 57 No. 57307 Lady Penelope.
On Sunday 12 October, Alstom’s Scottish depot hosted a public open day – the site’s first in 25 years – showcasing a unique lineup of over 20 rail vehicles that were based at Polmadie over the last 150 years. Over 1,000 people came to explore the site, including the passengers from the Branch Line Society train, which carried out its return journey to Derby – via Stafford, Nuneaton and Leicester – in the afternoon.
Located around two miles south-east of Glasgow Central railway station, Alstom’s Glasgow Traincare Centre is currently the main base of the iconic Caledonian Sleeper service, where it is maintained and cleaned by over 100 staff who provide a round-the-clock service. Known as Polmadie Depot, it typically welcomes 17 trains per day, including Avanti West Coast’s fleet of Class 390 Pendolinos.
All proceeds from the Polmadie 150 charter will support Beatson Cancer Charity and the Railway Children’s Glasgow Project. Fundraising efforts were further helped by Network Rail, who waived track access charges for the Branch Line Society charter into Polmadie Depot.