News

WITH passenger numbers having doubled since 1995, the Connecting People: A Strategic Vision for Rail report highlights the potential for a number of reopening schemes to support further housing and industrial development in the English regions. Led by East West Rail, which was formally launched on December 14 (see separate story), it mentions a number…

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SECRETARY of State for Transport Chris Grayling has unveiled his vision for the evolution of passenger rail franchising in the UK. A new ‘partnership’ model, bringing together franchise holders and Network Rail management teams on a more formal basis, will be introduced, with the next Southeastern and East Midlands franchises expected to be the first…

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BRITAIN’S least used railway station is Barry Links, between Dundee and Carnoustie, which takes over the mantle from Shippea Hill, in Cambridgeshire. The news was contained in the round up of passenger station useage from the Office or Rail and Road for 2016/7. Barry Links is an unstaffed station, which is served by just two…

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GB RAILFREIGHT has confirmed it has bought 10 Class 66 locos from rival operator DB Cargo. It was back in August that the German-owned company said eight stored and two active members of its fleet were to be sold, some having serious engine defects, including cracked blocks. DB has suffered more than other freight companies…

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THREE opening dates have been set and three opening dates have passed by for the new station at Kenilworth, Warwickshire. When first approved, the opening was planned for December 2016, but after various delays, meaning construction didn’t begin until July 2016, the opening date slid back to August 2017. When it became evident that date…

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HITACHI’S plant in Japan has started work on the first two Class 802/2 bi-mode trains for TransPennine Express. The two trains – Nos. 802201 and 802202 – will arrive in the UK later this year and are expected to start main line testing in the summer. The remainder of TPE’s fleet will be assembled at Hitachi…

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SCOTRAIL started running electric trains between Edinburgh Waverley and Glasgow Queen Street on December 10, although diesel units will continue to operate well into 2018. ScotRail introduced two seven-car sets of Siemens Class 380 EMUs from its fleet following the completion, approval and testing of the delayed electrification project over the last few weeks. The…

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THE Great Central Railway’s management has been left stunned after the Heritage Lottery Fund’s (HLF) board of trustees informed them on December 13 it will no longer be supporting the project for a new railway museum at Leicester North. The HLF earmarked more than £9.5million for the museum project in 2015, which was to be…

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The Rail Camera Club (RCC) is holding an exhibition at Locomotion Shildon from January 20 to March 4. The Rail Cameramen exhibition features images from 36 RCC members. It has material from past members, including W J V ‘Bill’ Anderson and Eric Treacy. Some original Eric Treacy prints will be displayed, in addition to his…

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