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| logo = [[File:British Rail - Motorail Logo.svg|200px]]<br>Logo from 1966 to 1995.
| logo = [[File:British Rail - Motorail Logo.svg|200px]]<br>Logo from 1966 to 1995.
| logo_size =
| logo_size =
| image = File:Railway Station, Carlisle - geograph.org.uk - 508586.jpg
| image = Railway Station, Carlisle - geograph.org.uk - 508586.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| image_size = 200px
| caption = A Motorail service to Scotland at {{stnlnk|Carlisle}} in 1988
| caption = A Motorail service to Scotland at {{stnlnk|Carlisle}} in 1988
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'''Motorail''' was the [[British Rail brand names|brand name]] for [[British Rail]]'s long-distance [[Motorail|services that carried passengers and their cars]], ultimately part of the [[InterCity (British Rail)|InterCity]] sector. It originated with the June 1955 introduction of The Car-Sleeper Limited between London and Perth. (Due to the enginemen's strike that summer the precise start date is uncertain.) The Motorail brand was introduced in 1966 with BR press releases and the opening of the London [[Kensington Olympia station|Kensington Olympia]] terminal.<ref>{{cite web|author=John Furnevel |url=http://www.railbrit.co.uk/page/westlondonfurnevel |title=West London Line &#124; RAILSCOT Magazine |publisher=Railbrit.co.uk |date=2005-07-20 |accessdate=2014-05-22}}</ref>
'''Motorail''' was the [[British Rail brand names|brand name]] for [[British Rail]]'s (long-distance [[Motorail|services that carried passengers and their cars]], ultimately part of the [[InterCity (British Rail)|InterCity]] sector. It originated with the June 1955 introduction of the ''Car-Sleeper Limited'' between [[London]] and [[Perth railway station, Scotland|Perth]]. (Due to the enginemen's strike that summer the precise start date is uncertain.) The Motorail brand was introduced in 1966 with BR press releases and the opening of [[Kensington Olympia railway station|London Kensington Olympia]] terminal.<ref>{{cite web|author=John Furnevel |url=http://www.railbrit.co.uk/page/westlondonfurnevel |title=West London Line &#124; RAILSCOT Magazine |publisher=Railbrit.co.uk |date=2005-07-20 |accessdate=2014-05-22}}</ref>


==Routes==
==Routes==
Motorail operated from [[London]] to many places including [[Penzance]], [[Plymouth]], [[Fishguard]], [[Carlisle railway station|Carlisle]], [[Edinburgh]], [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]], [[Inverness]] and [[Fort William, Highland|Fort William]]. A short-lived service from London to [[Glasgow]] was introduced in the early 1990s.
Motorail operated from [[London]] to many places including [[Penzance railway station|Penzance]], [[Plymouth railway station|Plymouth]], [[Fishguard Harbour railway station|Fishguard Harbour]], [[Carlisle railway station|Carlisle]], [[Edinburgh Waverley railway station|Edinburgh]], [[Perth railway station, Scotland|Perth]], [[Inverness railway station|Inverness]] and [[Fort William railway station|Fort William]]. A short-lived service from London to [[Glasgow Central railway station|Glasgow]] was introduced in the early 1990s.


The service was popular at a time when long distance travel by car involved long journey times, and additional services were introduced in 1972 between [[Stirling]] and [[Dover]], [[Kensington (Olympia) station|London Kensington]] and [[Carmarthen]] and [[Birmingham]] and [[Inverness]]. An overnight service was also introduced between London Kensington and [[Carlisle]] to supplement the daytime service.<REF>{{cite magazine| author =<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> | title = News of the month| magazine = Railway World| location = Shepperton| publisher = Ian Allan| publication-date = December 1971| volume = 32
The service was popular at a time when long distance travel by car involved long journey times, and additional services were introduced in 1972 between [[Stirling railway station|Stirling]] and [[Dover Marine railway station|Dover]], [[Kensington Olympia railway station|London Kensington Olympia]] and [[Carmarthen railway station|Carmarthen]] and [[Birmingham New Street railway station|Birmingham]] and Inverness. An overnight service was also introduced between London Kensington and Carlisle to supplement the daytime service.<REF>{{cite magazine| author =<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> | title = News of the month| magazine = Railway World| location = Shepperton| publisher = [[Ian Allan Publishing]]| publication-date = December 1971| volume = 32
| issue = 379| page =517}}</REF>
| issue = 379| page =517}}</REF>


A variety of rolling stock, both open and enclosed, was used. Many routes were operated with overnight sleeper services. The open double deck Cartic 4 was first used on a Kensington Olympia to Perth Motorail on 22 June 1966.<ref>Modern Railways September 1966 p. 468</ref> and last used in 1978.<ref>[http://www.ltsv.com/w_profile_014.php Cartic-4 car carriers]</ref>
A variety of rolling stock, both open and enclosed, was used. Many routes were operated with overnight sleeper services. The open double deck Cartic 4 was first used on a Kensington Olympia to Perth Motorail on 22 June 1966.<ref>[[Modern Railways]] September 1966 p. 468</ref> and last used in 1978.<ref>[http://www.ltsv.com/w_profile_014.php Cartic-4 car carriers]</ref>


==Withdrawal==
==Withdrawal==
Usage on many routes had declined by the early 1990s. In 1989 the London to Stirling service was discontinued.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/11991999.BR_Motorail_service_pulls_out_of_Stirling/ |title=BR Motorail service pulls out of Stirling |work=The Herald |location=Glasgow |date=8 February 1989 |accessdate=15 September 2016}}</ref> The services operated at a significant loss and the service ceased in 1995 when [[Privatisation of British Rail|British Rail was privatised]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Paul Routledge |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/motorail-to-be-axed-in-br-selloff-1566217.html |title=Motorail to be axed in BR sell-off - News |publisher=The Independent |date=1995-01-01 |accessdate=2014-05-22}}</ref> [[First Great Western]] relaunched a service from [[London Paddington]] to [[Penzance]] as part of their [[Night Riviera]] overnight sleeper service in 1999, but withdrew it at the end of summer 2005.
Usage on many routes had declined by the early 1990s. In 1989 the London to Stirling service was discontinued.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/11991999.BR_Motorail_service_pulls_out_of_Stirling/ |title=BR Motorail service pulls out of Stirling |work=[[The Herald (Glasgow)]]|date=8 February 1989 |accessdate=15 September 2016}}</ref> The services operated at a significant loss and the service ceased in 1995 when [[Privatisation of British Rail|British Rail was privatised]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Paul Routledge |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/motorail-to-be-axed-in-br-selloff-1566217.html |title=Motorail to be axed in BR sell-off - News |publisher=[[The Independent]] |date=1995-01-01 |accessdate=2014-05-22}}</ref>


[[First Great Western]] relaunched a service from [[Paddington railway station|London Paddington]] to [[Penzance railway station|Penzance]] as part of its ''[[Night Riviera]]'' overnight sleeper service in September 1999, with eight converted [[General Utility Van]]s but withdrew it at the end of summer 2005.<ref>FGW's first motorail train is a sell out ''[[Rail (magazine)|Rail]]'' issue 362 28 July 1999 page 9</ref><ref>Farewell Motorail as FGW axes summer season operation ''[[Rail Express]]'' issue 121 June 2006 page 6</ref>
⚫
==Gallery==


⚫
==Gallery==
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:NVA 96603 at Penzance.jpg|[[General Utility van|Motorail van NVA]] 96603 at [[Penzance]] on 29 August 2003 on the Night Riviera
File:NVA 96603 at Penzance.jpg|''[[Night Riviera]]'' [[General Utility Van|Motorail van NVA]] at [[Penzance railway station|Penzance]] in August 2003
File:Motorail sign.jpg|Motorail ended in summer 2005; there were still signs for it at [[Paddington station|Paddington]] in April 2006.
File:Motorail sign.jpg|Motorail ended in summer 2005; there were still signs for it at [[Paddington railway station|Paddington]] in April 2006.
File:Kensington Olympia Motorail Terminal (former) - geograph.org.uk - 1443634.jpg|The former Motorail terminal at {{rws|Kensington (Olympia)}}, seen here in 2009. Since Motorail services here ceased, the building has been designated "Olympia Motorail Car Park P4".
File:Kensington Olympia Motorail Terminal (former) - geograph.org.uk - 1443634.jpg|The former Motorail terminal at {{rws|Kensington Olympia}}, in 2009. Since Motorail services here ceased, the building has been designated "Olympia Motorail Car Park P4".
</gallery>
</gallery>


Revision as of 13:39, 14 August 2019

Motorail

Logo from 1966 to 1995.
A Motorail service to Scotland at Carlisle in 1988
Overview
Stations called at28 (Not all were served in all years of operation.)
Parent companyBritish Rail
Dates of operation1955 British Rail
1999 First Great Western–1995 British Rail
2005 First Great Western
Route map

Legend

This diagram is a guide: not all destinations
shown were served in all years of operation.

Inverness
Perth
Fort William
Aberdeen
Stirling
Edinburgh Waverley
Scotland
England
border
Carlisle
York
Newcastle
Newton-le-Willows
Sheffield
Birmingham
(Sutton Coldfield)
Worcester Shrub Hill
Fishguard Harbour
ferry/water interchange for ferries to Ireland
Swansea
Cardiff Central
Bristol Temple Meads
Reading
London
(Kensington Olympia)
St Austell
Dover ferry/water interchange
for ferries to France
Newton Abbot
Brockenhurst
Totnes
Exeter St Davids
Penzance
Plymouth
This diagram:

Motorail was the brand name for British Rail's (long-distance services that carried passengers and their cars, ultimately part of the InterCity sector. It originated with the June 1955 introduction of the Car-Sleeper Limited between London and Perth. (Due to the enginemen's strike that summer the precise start date is uncertain.) The Motorail brand was introduced in 1966 with BR press releases and the opening of London Kensington Olympia terminal.[1]

Routes

Motorail operated from London to many places including Penzance, Plymouth, Fishguard Harbour, Carlisle, Edinburgh, Perth, Inverness and Fort William. A short-lived service from London to Glasgow was introduced in the early 1990s.

The service was popular at a time when long distance travel by car involved long journey times, and additional services were introduced in 1972 between Stirling and Dover, London Kensington Olympia and Carmarthen and Birmingham and Inverness. An overnight service was also introduced between London Kensington and Carlisle to supplement the daytime service.[2]

A variety of rolling stock, both open and enclosed, was used. Many routes were operated with overnight sleeper services. The open double deck Cartic 4 was first used on a Kensington Olympia to Perth Motorail on 22 June 1966.[3] and last used in 1978.[4]

Withdrawal

Usage on many routes had declined by the early 1990s. In 1989 the London to Stirling service was discontinued.[5] The services operated at a significant loss and the service ceased in 1995 when British Rail was privatised.[6]

First Great Western relaunched a service from London Paddington to Penzance as part of its Night Riviera overnight sleeper service in September 1999, with eight converted General Utility Vans but withdrew it at the end of summer 2005.[7][8]

References

  1. ^ John Furnevel (20 July 2005). "West London Line | RAILSCOT Magazine". Railbrit.co.uk. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  2. ^ "News of the month". Railway World. Vol. 32, no. 379. Shepperton: Ian Allan Publishing. December 1971. p. 517.
  3. ^ Modern Railways September 1966 p. 468
  4. ^ Cartic-4 car carriers
  5. ^ "BR Motorail service pulls out of Stirling". The Herald (Glasgow). 8 February 1989. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  6. ^ Paul Routledge (1 January 1995). "Motorail to be axed in BR sell-off - News". The Independent. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  7. ^ FGW's first motorail train is a sell out Rail issue 362 28 July 1999 page 9
  8. ^ Farewell Motorail as FGW axes summer season operation Rail Express issue 121 June 2006 page 6

See also

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