Blue Islands Retrospective, as observed at Eastleigh

Blue Islands, a fixture over Eastleigh for the past 20 years or so, ceased operations on 14th November. 

G-ISLD, a BAe Jetstream 31, departing as SI659 to Guernsey, 10th July 2014. New in 1991 to American Eagle, flew for Blue Islands January 2006 to January 2015.

G-ISLI, an ATR72-500, flight SI256 from Guernsey, 29th May 2015. This aircraft was new to American Eagle in October 1997, and came to Blue Islands in December 2013, before coming out of service in January 2019. Broken up in 2022.

ATR42-320 G-ISLH arriving with SI234 from Guernsey on 24th February 2017. This February 1990 aircraft flew for Blue Islands from August 2013 to January 2022, and was scrapped in December 2023.

In the 2019 period, Blue Island operated as an integrated partner with FlyBe, although this ceased with the latter's demise in March 2020. G-ISLL, an ATR72-500, arriving as SI658 from Jersey on 31st May 2019. New to Air Tahiti in November 2002, and joined Blue Islands in January 2017, last fliying for them from Bristol - Guernsey on 14th November.

Some aircraft operated in a white scheme in this period. ATR72-500 G-ISLN arriving as SI270 from Guernsey on 31st May 2019. G-ISLN was new to Arkia in December 2009, and arrived at Blue Islands in February 2019. Last flight for Blue Islands from Bristol - Jersey on 11th November.

The final Blue Islands scheme followed in 2020, ATR72-500 G-ISLK seen arriving as SI370 from Jersey on 15th July 2020. G-ISLK was new to Air Dolomiti in March 2000, then flew for Asian Wings of Myanmar, before joining Blue Islands in October 2016. Retired from Blue Islands in May 2024, and later broken up.

The most recent delivery was ATR72-600 G-ISLP, seen arriving as SI628 from Guernsey on 23rd June 2025. This aircraft was new to Avianca Guatemala in July 2014, delivered to Blue Islands in June 2025, and last flew for them as a hire to Aurigny from Gatwick - Guernsey on 14th November.

CI Aviation page for Blue Islands

CI Aviation on X

UK CAA statement

BBC on 'rescue flights'

Loganair

Jersey Evening Post

10th - 15th November 2025

 

Recently released by DRS, 68021 (formerly Tireless)  at Eastleigh Works, 9th November.

DRP 78211, a YJB Plasser & Theurer TJC60 Self-Propelled Heavy Duty Twin Jib Crane built in 1977, at Eastleigh, 9th November.

69006 Pathfinder Railtours + 66051 Maritime Intermodal Four pass Millbrook with 6V41 14:48 Eastleigh - Westbury, 12th November. Image by Roger Homan.

70007 passed at the same time with 4S59 14:57 Maritime - Coatbridge. Image by Roger Homan.

37800 Cassiopeia arrives at Eastleigh with 5Q86 on Friday 14th. Image by The Image Team.

Set TP08 (to be CH08), the last to be transferred from Longsight. Image by The Image Team.

Monday 10th November: 20107 + 20096 5Z20 08:36 Crewe - Eastleigh one two three four five six (all locomotives understood to be for cosmetic attention), 800207 5X80 13:57 Reading - Eastleigh
Tuesday 11th November:
Wednesday 12th November: 47727 0Z76 21:52 Wimbledon Park - Eastleigh 
Thursday 13th November: 47727 0Z82 07:57 Eastleigh - Marchwood, 47727 (+ 701016) 5Q88 09:57 Marchwood - Eastleigh one, 43013 + 43062 1X23 15:28 Salisbury - Southampton - Salisbury
Friday 14th November: 47727 0Z82 07:57 Eastleigh - Marchwood, 47727 (+ 701019) 5Q88 09:57 Marchwood - Wimbledon Park one two; 37800 (+ TP08 - last set at Longsight) 5Q86 09:57 Longsight - Eastleigh one
Saturday 15th November: 37800 0Y87 09:57 Eastleigh - Wimbledon Park; 35028 + 67024 T+T 1Z81 09:32 Victoria - Eastleigh - Portsmouth

08721 is understood to have been repaired at the Works and was back in the East Yard by the 10th, for move to Widnes.

08454 reported to have arrived at the East Yard, 12th November, from Alstom Widnes.

59003 was involved in some shunting this week, including a transfer of S&C carriers from Yard to T&RSMD.

Northam railway bridge set to be replaced with two bridges. More: Southampton Council, with community engagement, and BBC from 2021.

Buses to replace trains in Dorset as Network Rail carries out upgrades between Poole and Dorchester South

Update on plan to reopen part of Totton to Fawley rail line

47727 on a 701 drag, Redbridge, 13th November 2025

47727 Edinburgh Castle / Caisteal Dhùn Èideann (+ 701016) 5Q88 09:57 Marchwood Mod Gbrf - Eastleigh Trsmd - the 3rd time that 701016 has been moved outwards from Marchwood, previously on 26th July 2023 and 19th March 2024.

47727 running across the points of the junction with the line to Romsey.

The signal was a red which had just changed to an amber, so this was a slower approach.

Radator shutters remained closed at this point.

701016 extracted from Marchwood, where it was last sent on 17th April 2024.

Miscellany at Eastleigh, 10th November 2025

 

Two views of 56051 Survival in the yard at Eastleigh.


56051 had spent over 3 weeks in the Southerm Region at this point.


66502 4E65 13:13 Maritime - Doncaster Europort, with #ANDYSMANCLUB messaging.


The weather declined. 69006 Pathfinder Railtours + 70802 0V41 14:48 Eastleigh - Westbury.


800207 5X80 1357 Reading - Eastleigh Works. This IEP had made a previous visit to the Works, 21st - 30th August 2024, which was a rather short duration.


800207 runs through platform 3 in  the rain.

Class 20s from Crewe, Eastleigh, 10th November 2025

 

20107 + 20096 + 90002 (+ 6393 + 41162 + 6394) 5Z20 08:36 Crewe HS - Eastleigh Arlington.

Approaching Eastleigh.

D8107 (20107) Jocelyn Fielding 1940-2020, delivered to Eastfield in December 1961.

90002 Wolf of Badenoch, new in April 1988.

TF 41162, built to Lot 30947 by BREL Derby in 1980 for set 253046.

Aggregates at Eastleigh, 5th November 2025

 

59005 KENNETH J PAINTER arriving with  6O70 11:00 Westbury Tarmac - Eastleigh F.Y. Agg (Flhh).

HOA wagon 81.70.6957.085-8, built in 2016 by Astra Rail in Romania.

The last wagon was HOA 81.70.6774.127-9, built by Greenbrier, Poland, in 2024.


Two images of 59101 Village of Whatley 6V16 11:55 Fareham Hanson Aggs (Flhh) -Westbury Tarmac.

3rd - 8th November 2025

 

800309, which entered the Works on 5th September, has the full repair above the yaw damper and jack point, and awaits cosmetic attention, seen on 2nd November.

69006 Pathfinder Railtours coupled up and ready to work 6V30 14:05 Eastleigh - Westbury Down, Eastleigh, 5th November.

800306 departing Eastleigh Works, 6th November. Image by Roger Homan.

Monday 3rd November: 68026 (+ CH06) 5Q67 07:25 Eastleigh - Long Marston one two three four five six; 68026 0O86 13:45 Long Marston - Eastleigh one two
Tuesday 4th November: 68026 (+ CH09) 5Q67 07:20 Eastleigh - Long Marston one two three four five six
Wednesday 5th November: 47727 0Z76 21:52 Wimbledon Park - Eastleigh
Thursday 6th November: 47727 0Z82 07:57 Eastleigh - Marchwood (and return); 47727 (+ 701016) 5Q88 09:57 Marchwood - Eastleigh (no relevant staff at Marchwood?); 47727 0M88 13:28 Eastleigh - Leicester one; 800306 5X80 10:54 Eastleigh - Reading
Friday 7th November: 68021 0Z21 07:18 Gresty Bridge - Eastleigh one two three; 802114 5X80 13:15 Reading to Eastleigh one; 37884 (+TP11) 5Q87 11:25 Longsight - Eastleigh one two
Saturday 8th November: 37884 0O87 11:45 Eastleigh - Wimbledon Park one

395008, which overran at Ramsgate in 2024, may be coming to Eastleigh Works to complete repairs, two coaches are at Western Docks. The other coaches are at Ashford.

99961 (E324E) which was previously State Car No. 1 in the 'Royal Scotsman' until April 2024, was delivered to Eastleigh East Yard on 6th, with transfer to the Works on 7th, 5Z12 12:40 Eastleigh East Yard - Eastleigh Arlington. Also one other, likely 99964 (E313E) formerly State Car No. 4, which was replaced at the start of the 2025 season, both moved to the Works on Friday one two.

08721 has arrived at Eastleigh Works one two, it previously departed in 2015.
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Class 455 will come out of traffic on 21st December, when there will be a Farewell Tour.

Class 93 - Freightliner Intermodal have started a trial on Mossend traffic.

455735 was dragged to Newport for disposal, on 5th November. Seen on 29th May 2024.

Also sent for disposal was 455864, seen at St Denys on 11th May 2021. Both of these units were in traffic on 3rd.