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


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