The Flying Scotsman train is to pay a visit to Cardiff this week. Eager train spotters will be able to marvel on the world-famous locomotive when it brings its tour to Cardiff Central station on Wednesday, June 7.
The heritage train's tour starts from London Paddington, departing at 7.50am before passing through Slough (08.20), Twyford (08.37), Reading (08.48), Didcot Parkway (09.22), Swindon (Wilts) (10.33), Bristol Parkway (11.16), Pilning (11.27), Severn Tunnel Junction (12.04), Newport (12.52) and Cardiff Central at 1.34pm.
Steam train fanatics and passengers alike will be able to catch a glimpse of the train in the Welsh capital for a few hours before it departs Cardiff Central at 4.50pm and returns via the same outbound route, passing through Severn Tunnel Junction (5.30), Bristol Parkway (5.48), Swindon (Wilts) (7.27), Didcot Parkway (8.41), Reading (9.07), Slough (9.32) and London Paddington at 10.07pm.
Read more: Train disruption as Severn Tunnel closes for essential track maintenance
Last week it was revealed that trains like the Flying Scotsman could be forced off mainline rail lines because of new rules. New regulations from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) rail watchdog state that all trains on the main line should have central locking to improve safety, but heritage trains like the Flying Scotsman have their doors opened and locked individually with a traditional bolt key.
An exemption from those regulations expires this month, meaning the future of popular heritage trains like the Flying Scotsman on main tracks in the UK could be in jeopardy. You can read more about that here.
The Flying Scotsman was built in 1923 for the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) and is one of the most famous trains in the world. It gained its name from the train service it hauled between London and Edinburgh, known as the 'Flying Scotsman.' The Flying Scotsman was renowned for being the first steam locomotive in the UK to achieve a recorded speed of 100 miles per hour (160.9 kilometres per hour) in 1934.
It was retired from regular service in 1963 and later bought by private owners. It has since been preserved and has undergone several restorations and toured a number of countries around the world, remaining a popular attraction for steam train enthusiasts.
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