Train Real World Clips 14th December 2025

It sounds like you are spotting on two of the UK’s most iconic routes: the *East Coast Main Line (ECML)* and the **South West Main Line (SWML)**.

Given your list, you are capturing a mix of modern high-speed electrics and legendary legacy fleets that are disappearing fast. Here is a breakdown of the "Train Real World" status for those trains and locations as of late 2025.

###📍 The East Coast Main Line (ECML)**Locations:** London King's Cross, York, Darlington, Durham.

You mentioned seeing *Lumo Class 803s* and **CrossCountry Class 220s**.

*Lumo Class 803:* These are distinctively blue electric trains.
Real World Status: You will see these flying through *York, Darlington, and Durham* at 125 mph. They rarely stop at these stations (their main stops are usually London, Newcastle, Morpeth, Edinburgh), so they are a "blink and you'll miss it" spot in Yorkshire/Durham.


*CrossCountry Class 220 (Voyager):*
Real World Status: These are the workhorses connecting the South West/Midlands to the North East. You will see them calling frequently at York, Darlington, and Durham.


*The XC HST (High Speed Train):*
Real World Status: *Rare/Gone.* CrossCountry officially withdrew their HST fleet in **September 2023**. If you are seeing "XC HSTs" now, you might be watching older footage, or perhaps spotting a rare heritage run (like the "Retro" liveried power cars). In the current real world, these have been replaced by Voyagers (220/221) and sometimes leased stock.



*Other likely spots here:*

*LNER Class 800/801 Azumas:* The dominant train on this line.
*Grand Central Class 180 Adelantes:* Black diesel units often seen at York.
*TransPennine Express Class 802s:* Nova 1 fleets running through York/Durham.

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###📍 The South West Main Line (SWML)**Locations:** London Waterloo, Surbiton.

You mentioned the **SWR Class 455**.

*SWR Class 455:* These are the classic "Red" suburban trains that have run for over 40 years.
Real World Status (Late 2025): *End of an Era.* If you are seeing these at Surbiton right now, enjoy them while you can. SWR scheduled their farewell tours for **December 2025**, meaning these units are on the absolute verge of final withdrawal, being replaced by the new Class 701 Arterios.


*Surbiton Traffic:*
Surbiton is a busy 4-track main line. You will see the fast trains (Class 444s) on the centre tracks blasting through to places like Weymouth and Exeter, while the stopping services (Class 450s and the dying breed of 455s) use the outer platforms.



###Summary Checklist for your Spotting| Train | Operator | Status | Where to look |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| *Class 803* | Lumo | *Active* | Passing fast through York/Durham |
| *Class 220* | CrossCountry | *Active* | Calling at York/Darlington/Durham |
| *HST (Class 43)* | CrossCountry | *Withdrawn* | Historical only (gone as of late 2023) |
| *Class 455* | SWR | *Retiring* | Stopping at Surbiton (Final weeks of service) |

*Would you like the specific calling times for the Lumo trains, or are you looking for the farewell dates for the Class 455s?*



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