Exmouth MBE winner to name train

An Exmouth man appointed MBE in December is to name a newly repaired former high-speed train.

Nick Millington won the accolade in the King's New Year's Honours list for his services to the railway and the NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The train, which will be named Safety Task Force, has been repaired and repainted by South Devon Railway Engineering (SDRE), the contract engineering arm of the South Devon Railway, for Colas Rail UK.

The power car left the South Devon Railway at the end of February and will be displayed at Colas Rail UK's Rugby depot for its launch.

It will return to service for use on Network Rail's test trains, carrying out inspections of track across Britain.

SDRE's manager Rob Evans said: "This was a tremendous project to work on and we were delighted to have won this business from Colas Rail UK.

"It has been a great achievement for South Devon Railway Engineering and all our great team of skilled engineers, as we continue to branch out into new areas of work, expanding the business's commercial profile."

Described as the first such contract on a high-speed train carried out by SDRE, the project involved bodywork repairs, underframe attention, electrical cubicle component repairs, mechanical and electrical cab equipment repairs and a full repaint into Colas Rail UK colours.

SEE ALSO: Exmouth man appointed MBE in New Year's Honours list