A futuristic train which left residents of Edinburgh stunned last year and led to people thinking that the city was being visited by aliens, is coming back to the capital.
The Network Rail Laser Beam Measurement (NRLBM) train spooked people with its overhead laser which shoots a beam of brilliant blue light into the sky that can be seen from miles around – leading to posts on social media speculating that it could be a UFO.
The hi-tech Network Rail train, also known as the 'flying banana' for its distinctive yellow livery, is set to return to the east coast on Tuesday (January 31) with people able to spot the incredible light once again.
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A must-see for train fans young and old, the high-speed NRLBM train can reach up to speeds of 125mph and measures the condition of rail tracks, with the blue beam, which can be seen coming from one of its carriages, a futuristic sensor which monitors the amount of wear on the overhead lines created by trains passing by.
It's slated to return to Edinburgh on the 31st, with times organised by Network Rail for the east coast seeing it travel north from Edinburgh before returning to the capital. Obviously, the night times are the best to see it.
A spokesperson for Network Rail explained that it is the most advanced train of its type in the world, with no less than 14 sensors on board, adding: "Travelling at 125mph it identifies faults faster and more accurately than ever before. This helps us to keep the railway safe because we can discover problems at an early stage.
"Engineers can then make repairs or plan maintenance to prevent serious incidents such as derailments. Measuring with the NMT gives the most accurate data as the train affects the track in the same way as a passenger train."
Edinburgh Times:
1345 : Waverley
1346 : Haymarket [HYM]
1349 : Haymarket West Jn
1352 : Dalmeny Jn
1359: Inverkeithing [INK]
Returning:
2252: Inverkeithing [INK]
2259: Dalmeny Jn
2309: Haymarket West Jn
2311: Haymarket [HYM]
2314: Princes St Gardens
2316: Edinburgh [EDB]
Service reverses here
2323: Waverley
2324: Princes St Gardens
2327: Haymarket [HYM]
2330: Slateford [SLA]
Service reverses here
2340: Slateford [SLA]
2344: Slateford Depot
Times and dates may change depending on the weather, the full rail schedule can be found on the Rail Train Times website.
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