News

US CONGRESS has passed legislation which would prohibit public transport agencies funded by taxpayers from buying goods or services from Chinese controlled companies, even if the production facilities were located in the USA. The move is part of ongoing trade disputes with China. This could severely impact plans to buy new subway trains by operators…

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THE new 472km standard gauge line that opened in Kenya between the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa and capital Nairobi on May 31, 2017 is celebrating its first anniversary, just as ambitious plans to extend into neighbouring Uganda get underway. The new line, which was built in just 30 months at a cost of US…

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TURKISH Railways (TCDD) continues to modernise its network and has extended electrification to the country’s third largest city Izmir, on the Aegean coast. The first electric trains operated on May 15 on the 241km route from Izmir Basmane to Balıkesir, with modern Class E68000 electric locos replacing diesel locos. Electrification to Izmir is the first…

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A RECENT special train in Bulgaria saw one of Europe’s most unusual steam locos in action – a 2-12-4 tank engine. Bulgarian State railways (BDZ) bought 20 of the huge 2-12-4Ts in two batches: 12 two-cylinder locos in 1931 from Polish builder H Cegielski (Nos. 4.501- 4.512) and another eight three-cylinder versions during the Second World…

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THE Branch Line Society (BLS) and Chiltern Railways ran a special train from Aylesbury on June 10, raising money for The Royal British Legion. Visiting rare track, including the Calvert waste terminal and the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre at Quainton Road, three-car Class 165 DMU No. 165034 worked ‘The Sopwith Camel’ from Aylesbury to Bicester Village via…

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ON A weekend of locomotives in unusual places, the Scottish Railway Preservation Society (SRPS) took four former Southern Region Class 73s to Kyle of Lochalsh – the first time the electro-diesels have visited the West Coast port. GBRf/Caledonian Sleeper Nos. 73967 and 73966 hauled the train north early on June 9 from Paisley Gilmour Street to…

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JUNE saw Colas Railfreight diesels drawing in the punters at the head of popular railtours. On June 7, No. 70811 was the first of its type to haul a passenger train when it topped West Coast Railtours’ ‘Scarborough Spa Express’ from Dumfries to York, with WCRC No. 47804 coupled behind to provide electric train supply (ETS). None…

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THE Mid-Norfolk Railway officially reopened its next section on May 19, heading north to a temporary terminus at Worthing level crossing. This is about 15 miles from the southern terminus at Wymondham Abbey.The first timetabled service to reach Worthing since closure of the Dereham to Wells-next-the Sea line on October 5, 1964 was 1Z01, the…

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THE Avon Valley Railway ran an intensive Class 31 top-and-tail service on June 1-2, in conjunction with a beer festival at Bitton station. The first day promised ‘90 miles of thrash’ on the line, which is a little over 2.3 miles in length. There were 19 return trips between Oldland Common and Avonside, some passing…

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THE West Somerset Railway’s June 7-10 diesel gala was declared a success, with more than 2,000 visitors carried and receipts well up on previous diesel events. The loco line-up was enhanced from recent years with five visitors: ‘Deltic’ No. 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier, Class 50 No. 50035 Ark Royal, Class 45 No. 45041 Royal Tank Regiment, and Class…

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