Changes

In [[Severn Valley Railway Timeline 2010-2019#February 2017|February 2017]], the SVR announced that they had entered into a 10-year contract to stable the Northern Belle set at Kidderminster using Carriage Siding 1, located between the [[Kidderminster Carriage Shed|Carriage Shed]] and the running line.<ref>[http://www.svrlive.com/copy-of-news-180916-1-smf-2 Announcement on SVR Live]</ref>Following its mainline trip and return to the SVR, the train usually entered the SVR mainly late at night and stabled back on Carriage Siding 1 before SVR services began in the morning. An hour before its mainline departure time the set would have Direct Rail Services (DRS) locomotives (often Class 57 locomotives in top and tail mode) attached and move to the exchange road ready for departure. This mainly occurred before SVR services started. The operation required the SVR to provide signalmen and shunters available for working anti-social hours, which was covered by paid staff. Some maintenance work took place and, on occasion, locomotives underwent an exam in the [[Diesel Depot]].

A small compound at the North end of the Kidderminster car park provided space for Belmond Northern Belle containers and office accommodation for their staff. Some on-train staff were recruited locally.  ===2017 saleand 2018 contract termination===In November 2017 the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express sold The Northern Belle Limited for an undisclosed sum to Northern Belle (Holdings) Limited, a new company being a 50-50 joint venture between tour promotor David Pitts, owner of Wakefield-based marketing agency D P Publicity, and David Smith, owner of West Coast Railways.<ref>[http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/huddersfield-businessman-bought-train-13889254 Huddersfield Examiner, 12 November 2017].</ref> The new owners invoked the early termination clause in the contract from June 2018. The stock was rebased at Carnforth by 9 March 2018, by which time the compound was cleared and only two spare vehicles remained on the SVR.<ref>[http://www.lnersvrcoachfund.org.uk/news_letters/Newsletter_68-2018.pdf LNER Coach Fund Newsletter No. 68]</ref>