Statement from the Trustees of the 5 BEL Trust.

Issued Saturday 1st February 2025.

The Brighton Belle is back.

The 5 BEL Trustees are very pleased to announce that the work to restore the Brighton Belle Pullman electric train is now largely complete to the stage that it is ready to go out for initial loco hauled train ride testing. The restoration work has been completed to a very high standard by Locomotive Services Limited (LSL) at their maintenance facility at Crewe.

A big thank you goes to all the train’s supporters and donors who have stayed with the project despite earlier restoration difficulties and delays. You and our partners at LSL, have achieved the seemingly impossible, the train is in, or better than as new condition and ready for testing and commissioning.

It is the real thing, lovingly restored to original condition with the addition of modern safety features, an accessible toilet and two refitted modern kitchens.

LSL have now commenced testing and commissioning the train following receipt of the necessary permissions from Network Rail. On network testing has commenced with hauled runs between Crewe and Chester on Tuesday 28th January.

If you want to follow the testing runs, they can be seen on Real Time Trains and Charlwood House. Please remember to keep safe and respect rail safety protocols and do not trespass on the railway nor on LSL’s private premises.

On completion of commissioning, the train will return to Crewe for LSL to fit Central Door Locking (CDL) throughout the train. This is a major financial liability for the Trust but we have decided to complete CDL fitment prior to the train entering service , to avoid having to request an exemption from the ORR and then withdraw the train later for subsequent fitment.

Following fitment of Central Door Locking, the Belle will be ready to go as a fully certified electric train. The Trustees have contracted with the Royal Scot Trust to operate and market the train alongside LSL’s range of quality dining trains across the network. The focus here will be the electrified lines of the former Southern Region of British Railways.

There will be opportunities for donors to travel on the train following the testing and

commissioning programme .

Subject to successful testing and commissioning we are hoping to trigger the operational contract with the Royal Scot Trust with a view to the train being incorporated into LSL’s programme.

The Trustees are mindful that the three original Brighton Belle trains were 5 car trains. The Trust owns a spare vehicle and spares and is currently reviewing the engineering and fund-raising feasibility of restoring the fifth car. This will be subject to a separate fund-raising initiative with a view to raising an estimated £1.5m. The aim would be to insert the 5th car in the train when this is complete.

The intention is for the Brighton Belle Trust website to be kept up to date as testing and commissioning progresses. We have appointed a new webmaster and made new arrangements within the Trust to improve communications and better respond to information needs of our supporters and donors.

Ian Brown CBE, Chair 5 BEL Trust.

1st February 2025.

Again, sincere thanks to our donors and supporters, to Trust members including the previous Chairman, Denis Dunstone, supported by the Trustees, who have steered this project through thick and thin until his retirement in January 2024.

Sincere thanks also go to LSL’s MD Tony Bush and LSL’s dedicated and highly professional staff who have completed the restoration process to a standard exceeding all expectations. It is fabulous.

We hope you will think so too.