News

THE next South Eastern and Midland Main Line franchises will be the first to be let under the new ‘partnership’ model announced by the Government in late-November. The Invitation to Tender (ITT) documents for Southeastern were issued on November 29, with three bidders confirmed – Abellio, in partnership with JR East and Mitsui, Govia and…

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ONE of the key features of the Government’s new vision is promoting increased local control of routes and services. As a result the DfT will open a consultation on the splitting of the current Great Western franchise to create a new Devon and Cornwall train operator. The new franchise would take responsibility for local and…

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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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