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The ''Irish Mail'' was a named train in the United Kingdom that operated from London Euston via the West Coast and North Wales Coast lines to Holyhead from 1848 until 2002, connecting with ferry services to
Dublin Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...
.


History

The first ''Irish Mail'' was operated by the London & North Western Railway on 1 August 1848. It was subsequently operated by the London, Midland & Scottish Railway, British Rail,
InterCity InterCity (commonly abbreviated ''IC'' on timetables and tickets) is the train categories in Europe, classification applied to certain long-distance passenger train services in Europe. Such trains (in contrast to InterRegio, regional train, r ...
and Virgin Trains. As the Britannia Bridge had yet to be completed, the first services terminated at Bangor and recommenced at Llanfairpwllgwyngyll. It operated twice daily in each direction, although this was reduced to daily during
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. Although notionally an express service, with the electrification of the West Coast Main Line, from the 1960s, the service stopped for a locomotive change at Crewe. Although the service continued to operate, the name was dropped in June 2002 as part of a policy by Virgin Trains not to operate named trains.


Incidents

*On 20 August 1868, the ''Irish Mail'' collided with some run away freight wagons near
Abergele Abergele (; ) is a market town and community (Wales), community, situated on the north coast of Wales between the holiday resorts of Colwyn Bay and Rhyl, in Conwy County Borough. It lies within the historic counties of Wales, historic county b ...
that were loaded with flammable products with 33 fatalities. *On 14 September 1870, the ''Irish Mail'' was accidentally diverted into a siding at Tamworth crashing into the River Anker with three fatalities. *On 27 August 1950, the ''Irish Mail'' collided with shunting locomotive LMS Hughes Crab No. 42885 near Penmaenmawr station resulting in six fatalities.


Namesake

In 1998, Virgin Trains named Class 43 powercar 43101 ''The Irish Mail 1848 - 1998'' to commemorate the services' 150th anniversary.


See also

* Chester and Holyhead Railway


References

{{Reflist Named passenger trains of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway Named passenger trains of British Rail Railway services introduced in 1848 Railway services discontinued in 2002 1848 establishments in the United Kingdom 2002 disestablishments in the United Kingdom