Riviera Trains

File:47805 @ Cromwell Moor (2792831174).jpg at Cromwell Moor in July 2007]]

File:Taunton - Riviera Trains Mk1 BCK 21272.JPG in Great Western Railway livery]]

File:Mark II No 3356 TENNYSON.JPG in Great Briton livery]]

Riviera Trains was founded in 1995, initially based at Cranmore on the East Somerset Railway. It later relocated to Crewe and Eastleigh.[http://www.riviera-trains.co.uk/aboutus.htm About Riviera Trains Limited] Riviera Trains

Riviera Trains has provided rolling stock on both short and long term hire to many train operating companies including Abellio ScotRail, Arriva Trains Wales, Direct Rail Services, First Great Western, First ScotRail, Grand Central, Virgin CrossCountry and Wales & Borders.{{cite magazine |title= DRS begins its own service to ferry workers to Sellafield and return | magazine = Rail Express |issue=189 |date= February 2012 |page=7}}{{cite magazine |title= Riviera in the Valleys | magazine = Rail Magazine |issue=466 |date= 23 July 2003 |page=71}}{{cite magazine |title= Virgin announces summer loco-hauled trains | magazine = The Railway Magazine |issue=1238 |date= 23 June 2004 |page=64}}

Riviera also hire to rail tour customers who include: The Branch Line Society, Compass Tours, Kingfisher Railtours, Past Time Rail, Pathfinder Tours 2006, SRPS, The Railway Touring Company and UK Railtours. In 2006 Riviera Trains acquired Pathfinder Tours.{{cite magazine |title= Riviera/FM acquire Pathfinder Tours | magazine = Today's Railways UK |issue=51 |date= March 2006 |page=7}}

On 1 April 2007 EWS and Riviera Trains launched Charter Alliance to provide charter services.[https://web.archive.org/web/20070524052728/http://www.ews-network.co.uk/media_press6.html Charter Alliance launched for quality specialist passenger rail services] EWS{{cite magazine |title= EWS/Riviera Charter Alliance runs first trains | magazine = Today's Railways UK |issue=78 |date= June 2007 |page=78}}

In 1999 Riviera Trains purchased its first locomotives; 37029 and 47705.{{cite magazine |title= Riviera Trains buys main line diesels | magazine = The Railway Magazine |issue=1185 |date= January 2000 |page=13}} Two further Class 47s (47805 and 47839) were acquired from Porterbrook in 2002.{{cite magazine |title= Riviera Trains acquires two Class 47s from Porterbrook | magazine = Rail Magazine |issue=448 |date= 13 November 2002 |page=58}} Further Class 47s were purchased from Harry Needle Railroad Company (47575 and 47769) and Porterbrook (47812, 47815, 47829, 47843, 47847 and 47848). {{cite magazine |title= Riviera buys two more 47s | magazine = Rail Magazine |issue=492 |date= 21 July 2004 |page=27}}{{cite magazine |title= Seven more 47s for Riviera | magazine = Rail Magazine |issue=501 |date= 24 November 2004 |page=26}} After long periods with little use, the 47s were sold to Direct Rail Services, Harry Needle Railroad Company and Rail Operations Group between 2011 and 2016.{{cite magazine |title= More 47s for DRS | magazine = Today's Railways UK |issue=118 |date= October 2011 |page=58}}{{cite magazine |title= ROG buys five Riviera Class 47s | magazine = Today's Railways UK |issue=176 |date= August 2016 |page=60}}

Riviera Trains commenced with one set of Mark 1 carriages. It later purchased further Mark 1s and Mark 2s.{{cite magazine |title= Riviera takes HSBC stock | magazine = Rail Magazine |issue=440 |date= 24 July 2002 |page=61}}{{cite magazine |title= Arriva Mk 2 coaches leave South Wales | magazine = Rail Express |issue=210 |date= November 2013 |page=55}}

Riviera Trains launched a rake of Mark 2F coaching stock early in 2006, called The Great Briton. All carriages were in the livery of Oxford Blue and Cream, which were hand painted at LNWR Crewe. The eight coaches are named after famous Britons, such as Shakespeare and Churchill, and feature hand painted Union Jacks on each side of the coaches. In January 2007 The Great Briton luxury Pullman train set took over the operation of the Blue Pullman for Hertfordshire Rail Tours after FM Rail ceased.

On 11 April 2008 Riviera launched a rake of Mark 1 coaching stock named The Royal Scot. This set has had over £500,000 invested in it, with all the coaches painted in carmine and cream livery and featuring The Royal Scot carriage destination boards. Both the interior and exterior of the vehicles underwent a full refurbishment.

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• [http://www.riviera-trains.co.uk Riviera Trains website]

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Category:Railway companies established in 1995

Category:1995 establishments in England

Category:British companies established in 1995