News

DIESEL-powered trains could be a thing of the past by 2040 under a new Department of Transport (DfT) initiative to reduce air pollution. The announcement comes just a few months after the Government curtailed a rolling programme of main line electrification in favour of bi-mode trains that are heavier and more expensive to buy and…

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The first Thameslink services operated from Peterborough and Cambridge to south of the River Thames using the new Canal Tunnel ran as preview services from February 26. The tunnel connects the East Coast Main Line, north of King’s Cross, to the sub-surface platforms at St Pancras International. Two Peterborough to Horsham services (and return) and…

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A FLORAL wreath in tribute to former Doncaster Premium Apprentice and BR divisional manager R H N (Dick) Hardy, who died on February 18, is carried by BR ‘Standard’ No. 70013 Oliver Cromwell, which is approaching Stratford on February 22. A hot big end was discovered on the loco at Diss, and it continued to…

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WITH increasing numbers of the new bi-mode Class 800 trains entering service on the GWR, Keith Farr analyses whether these sleek units can match the performance of the venerable HST125. AS IN the title, ‘bi-modes’ came first, arriving on the Great Western Railway before wiring was complete. Electrification had fallen behind schedule and exceeded budget;…

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THE railway movement is mourning the death of Sir William McAlpine who died on March 4 after a short illness, at the age of 82. Director of the McAlpine construction firm, Sir William (known to most as Bill) was a great supporter of the railways, particularly the preservation movement. He became the saviour of A3…

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WORLD-famous Gresley ‘A3’ No. 60103 Flying Scotsman will be visiting both the East Lancashire Railway (ELR) and Nene Valley Railway (NVR) later this year as the National Railway Museum loco begins a new six-year spell under the custodianship of Ian Riley. The close relationship between Heywood-based Riley & Son (E) and the ELR will naturally reap…

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SINGLE-chimney ‘King’ No. 6023 King Edward II will see its operation restricted to heritage lines for the foreseeable future after the Great Western Society (GWS) put its main line aspirations for the Collett 4-6-0 on hold. The road to main line certification has not been a smooth one for the Didcot-based ‘King’, and since its return…

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A TWO-CAR former London Underground ‘D’ stock unit – No. 230002, converted by Vivarail at Long Marston to run on battery power – will be tested this summer on a passenger route. The batteries fit on a raft that replaces the space used by the genset in unit 230001, with four batteries to each train (two…

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By Keith Fender   EUROSTAR launched its new direct service to Amsterdam and Rotterdam on February 20, running an inaugural train in the timings of one of the two planned daily services. When regular services begin on April 4 these will be the first direct trains connecting the UK and the Netherlands. The train, with invited…

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