Origins
The Alphaline brand was introduced for express services operated by Regional Railways in the Midlands, Wales and the South West. These services linked various provincial towns and cities, complementing and connecting with the more prestigious InterCity network.
Branding was applied specifically to services scheduled for operation by British Rail's recently-built Express Sprinter or 'Class 158' trains. The association of a passenger-facing brand with a specific model of train was unusual, but reflected the significantly improved passenger facilities such trains provided when compared with the mainstay of the Regional Railways fleet.
Timetables advertised Alphaline services as providing:
- Reserved seats available
- At-seat trolley service of cold snacks, sandwiches and hot and cold drinks available for all or part of the journey
- British Telecom card phone
- Air-conditioning
Within the Regional Railways fleet of the early to mid 1990s, the latter two facilities were a rarity and available solely on Class 158 Express Sprinters.
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