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  • Rail Riders enthusiasts’ club set for relaunch

    Rail Riders enthusiasts’ club set for relaunch

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    Rail Riders, the club for rail travellers and enthusiasts founded and operated by British Rail between 1981 and 1991, is being relaunched in February. Almost 30 years after the iconic fan club closed, it is being revived by well-known railway accessory and clothing supplier Bufferbeam.  Unlike the original club, which was aimed at children aged…

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  • Northern franchise hangs in the balance after Shapps warning

    Northern franchise hangs in the balance after Shapps warning

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    By Tony Miles The future of the Northern franchise is hanging in the balance after Transport Secretary Grant Shapps addressed the Transport Select Committee on October 16. He said: “I can tell the committee that I have already issued a request for proposals from both Arriva and the operator of last resort (OLR), because I…

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  • December debut for Hull Trains ‘Paragon’ fleet

    December debut for Hull Trains ‘Paragon’ fleet

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    November 25 saw the first of five Hull Trains’ (HT) Class 802/3s make its debut in the company’s home city. The First Group-owned open access operator confirmed that the bi-mode trains will be phased into passenger service over the next two months, releasing its ailing Class 180s for transfer to East Midlands Railway (EMR).  The…

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  • Former UK electrics have mixed fortunes in Bulgaria

    Former UK electrics have mixed fortunes in Bulgaria

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    BULGARIA remains the main user of ex-BR built electric locomotives, but the competitive nature of freight operations has led to mixed fortunes for the Class 86, 87 and 92s exported there. Operator Bulmarket has work for its well-maintained Class 87s (Nos. 87009/17/23/25), however its Class 86s, which are around 10 years older, are reported to have…

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  • Vivarail battery hybrid trials underway

    Vivarail battery hybrid trials underway

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    TRIALS using a Vivarail Class 230 battery hybrid multiple unit were operated on September 9-10 between Evesham and Moreton-in-Marsh. In addition to diesel power on its converted trains, Vivarail can harness battery power, with hydrogen eventually planned. The company is building on tests undertaken in 2018 when its development set No. 230002 ran 60 miles between…

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  • ‘Plain Jane’ look for ‘Pendolino’

    ‘Plain Jane’ look for ‘Pendolino’

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    THE end of Virgin Train West Coast franchise is just two months away, and an on-going repaint programme has led to the release of the first unbranded Class 390 ‘Pendolino’ set.  The repaint work is part of the interim maintenance regime, which began in June 2017. Set No. 390137 was released from Alstom’s Technology Centre, at…

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  • Hull Trains reveals new fleet name

    Hull Trains reveals new fleet name

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    THE five Class 802 bi-mode trains that will begin work with Hull Trains (HT) are to be called the ‘Paragon’ fleet.  HT says it has significance in Hull from when Paragon station first opened in 1848, with the dictionary definition defining paragon as ‘a model of excellence’. In addition to the fleet name, HT has…

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  • Factory commissioning of Merseyrail Class 777 begins

    Factory commissioning of Merseyrail Class 777 begins

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    STATIC factory-based testing of the first of 52 Stadler Class 777 four-car EMUs for Merseyrail has started in Switzerland.  When engineers are satisfied, the set will be moved to Germany for dynamic testing on Siemens Wildenrath test circuit, before the first completed set is delivered to Merseyside later in the year.  The first trains of…

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  • Anglia ‘FLIRTs’ get formal launch

    Anglia ‘FLIRTs’ get formal launch

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    By Ben Jones GREATER Anglia’s (GA) rural services are beginning to see a radical transformation as new Class 755 bi-mode ‘FLIRT’ units enter service.  There was a ‘soft launch’ into passenger service on July 29, with GA officially introducing the new Stadler-built trains at Norwich on September 4.  No. 755413 worked return trips to Great Yarmouth…

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  • ‘Aberdonian’ success prompts return in 2020

    ‘Aberdonian’ success prompts return in 2020

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    TORNADO Railtours’ series of Edinburgh to Aberdeen day trips concluded on September 7 after a successful first season, with dates having been announced for next year’s trains.  The tours are hauled by ‘A1’ No. 60163 Tornado and will operate on July 23, September 3 and September 10, offering passengers a diverse selection of off-train excursions as…

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