Sam Hewitt

SCOTRAIL launched its new Hitachi Class 385 EMUs into squadron services from Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh Waverley via Falkirk High on July 24 after a number of delays. Driver and unions are happy now the curved windscreen has been replaced by a flat design, with the sets having been safety approved by the ORR.…

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THE first of 665 ‘Aventra’ vehicles for Greater Anglia is approaching completion at Bombardier’s Litchurch Lane works in Derby. Several cars were well advanced on the production line in late-June, alongside Class 345 and Class 710 EMUs for Crossrail and London Overground. Closest to completion was five-car set No. 720503, the third of 89 sets…

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By Cliff Thomas THE recent heat wave which saw Porthmadog named as the hottest place in Britain produced problems for Welsh narrow gauge lines. By far the worst affected was Vale of Rheidol Railway (VoR), which had to halt operations on June 28 when a major hillside fire broke out in the Rheidol Valley. VoR…

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DELAYS to repair work have forced the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust to withdraw No. 60163 Tornado from a busy programme of trains it was booked to haul over the next two months. Bans on steam operation because of the recent long spell of hot weather – both on heritage railways and much of the main line…

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BOMBARDIER Transportation and Hitachi Rail Europe confirmed in July they will submit a joint bid for the £2.75billion HS2 trains’ deal. On the same day that announcement was made, the shortlist was boosted back to five with the addition of Spanish company CAF. All three companies have UK manufacturing facilities, with Bombardier and Hitachi supporting…

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EIGHT train operators will not change their timetable in December as usual following May’s chaotic timetable problems. The eight are: Northern, Govia Thameslink, Great Western Railway, CrossCountry, South Western Railway, TransPennine Express, West Midlands Trains, and London Overground. Incoming Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines was commissioned by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling and NR chairman…

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A THREE-year agreement between train operator Greater Anglia and the Mid-Norfolk Railway (MNR) will lead to the heritage line storing new Stadler rolling stock. The deal was announced at the railway’s AGM and will lead to changes to the line’s infrastructure, which will be undertaken by Sonic Rail Services, and bring long-term benefits to the…

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