Sam Hewitt

Delays hit Waterloo upgrade project

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Sam Hewitt

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6th September 2017

THE complex upgrade to extend London Waterloo station platforms Nos. 1 to 8 to accommodate 10-carriage trains was completed on time on August 29, but there were delays and cancellations after a problem was detected during the safety critical signalling testing phase. The delays ran into the afternoon as Britain’s busiest station returned to normal operation.…
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Network Rail to encourage third-party investment in new infrastructure after review recommendations

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Sam Hewitt

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6th September 2017

NETWORK Rail is opening up its major infrastructure projects to competition, enabling third parties to bid for contracts and bring new sources of funding to the railway. The Hansford Review, which focuses on ways of unlocking new investment and reducing costs for rail projects, makes nine recommendations. These include introducing more flexibility into the application…
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Invest in rail freight rather than trial the ‘platooning’ of lorries

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Sam Hewitt

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6th September 2017

THE Government’s announcement it is to trial ‘platooning’, with as many as three wirelessly connected HGVs travelling in close convoy – with all acceleration, braking and steering controlled by a driver in the lead vehicle – has worrying overtones. While dubbed as a trial – and history shows ‘trials’ tend to become permanent – one…
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SEPTEMBER 2017

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Sam Hewitt

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6th September 2017

Headline News Abellio/JR East joint venture wins West Midlands franchise, Signalling delays mar successful Waterloo upgrade, Six new stations for England and Wales, Heritage Lottery Fund chairman to reopen refurbished Barrow Hill roundhouse, Caledonian Sleeper Mk5s on test in Czech Republic, Scottish debut for Virgin IET. Track Record Steam & Heritage NRM ‘28XX’ gifted to…
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Open day to mark Tyseley’s rededication of Clun Castle

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Sam Hewitt

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4th September 2017

TYSELEY Locomotive Works has set Sunday, October 29 as the date for the official rededication of its flagship 4-6-0 No. 7029 Clun Castle. The double-chimney ‘Castle’ made its post-overhaul debut at The Railway Magazine-supported Tyseley Open Weekend in June, albeit static only, and will be formally recommissioned – in steam – during a special public open…
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First and MTR take control of South Western franchise

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Sam Hewitt

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4th September 2017

AFTER 21 years running the South West Trains franchise, the end of its tenure came at 02.00 on August 20. SWT ran the first franchised train on February 4, 1996, from Twickenham to Waterloo, and held a grip on the franchise for more than two decades. Taking over is a joint venture between First Group…
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Major disruptions – three derailments and buffer stop collision in six days

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Sam Hewitt

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4th September 2017

FOUR incidents in a six-day period during August, including three at London termini, brought delay and disruption to the rail network. The first incident was at 14.20 on August 14 after a Felixstowe to Doncaster container train derailed at Ely West Jct when the last 12 wagons came off the track at a set of…
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Abellio bags West Midlands and promises 400 new vehicles

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Sam Hewitt

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4th September 2017

By Ben Jones DUTCH company Abellio joined the Premier League of British railway operators in August when it was announced as the winner of the new West Midlands franchise. It now holds a 70.1% stake in the West Midlands Trains (WMT) joint venture, with Japan’s JR East and Mitsui taking the remainder – a first…
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TRACTION ICONS: Last of the Giants – SNCF CC72000

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Sam Hewitt

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4th September 2017

Late August saw the final regular workings of France’s most powerful diesel locomotives. Ben Jones looks back at their varied career. AFTER the devastation of the Second World War, the railways of France recovered quickly during the 1950s. Electrification was a priority, with most of the major routes radiating from Paris and much of the…
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PRESERVED LINE FOCUS – a Dales delight

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Sam Hewitt

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4th September 2017

In 1965, the Skipton to Ilkley line was closed by Dr Beeching. The line reopened 16 years later as the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway and has gone from strength to strength. It is now bidding to reach Skipton. Mark Smithers tells the story. IN LESS than four decades of operation during the preservation…
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Sam Hewitt

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