Network

  • ‘Duchess’ demolishes Devon banks record

    ‘Duchess’ demolishes Devon banks record

    by

    STANIER Pacific No. 6233 Duchess of Sutherland put in a storming performance on August 4’s ‘Royal Duchy’, using its immense power to set a new record time for steam on the Plymouth to Exeter leg.  The 50 miles, including steep climbs to Hemerdon and Dainton and numerous curves and speed restrictions, were reeled off in just…

    Continue reading »

  • Branch Line Society and Vintage Trains team up for West Midlands ‘Balti bash’

    Branch Line Society and Vintage Trains team up for West Midlands ‘Balti bash’

    by

    VINTAGE Trains and the Branch Line Society are offering an opportunity to enjoy the tasty combination of rare track, Class 20s and a curry – all on the same train! Starting from Solihull, the September 22 tour will run to Shrewsbury via Warwick, Sutton Park and the Ironbridge branch.  After a break in Shrewsbury, the…

    Continue reading »

  • Stanier pair celebrate Conwy Valley reopening

    Stanier pair celebrate Conwy Valley reopening

    by

    NETWORK Rail and Transport for Wales Rail Services hosted a special main line steam trip on August 3 to celebrate the reopening of the Conwy Valley line in North Wales. ‘The Conwy Quest’, double-headed by West Coast Railways’ Stanier ‘8F’ No. 48151 and ‘Jubilee’ No. 45690 Leander, ran from Chester to Blaenau Ffestiniog.  At Llandudno Junction there…

    Continue reading »

  • Major power and access upgrades for Doncaster

    Major power and access upgrades for Doncaster

    by

    Network Rail is installing a new electricity sub-station in Doncaster to deliver more power and greater reliability for East Coast Main Line (ECML) electric services.  The new sub-station should be commissioned in October, allowing LNER to increase its use of electric Intercity Express Trains (IETs) in time for the introduction of the new higher-frequency timetable…

    Continue reading »

  • Bespoke footbridge for South Downs park site

    Bespoke footbridge for South Downs park site

    by

    A UNIQUE new footbridge has been designed to provide safer access across the railway at Tide Mills, near Seaford, in the South Downs National Park.  Planning permission has been granted for the bespoke design, which is intended to blend with the local landscape and the old village of Tide Mills.  Once funding has been secured,…

    Continue reading »

  • Strong growth for rail in city regions ‘bucks trend’

    Strong growth for rail in city regions ‘bucks trend’

    by

    RAIL travel continues to grow rapidly in the UK’s urban centres. This increase is bucking the trend for reduced commuting that has seen car use and bus patronage fall in recent years, according to a new report by the Urban Transport Group (UTG).  Regional rail, which includes most train services in major metropolitan areas, has…

    Continue reading »

  • Art project lights up Cannon Street bridge

    Art project lights up Cannon Street bridge

    by

    A £45MILLION project to illuminate 15 bridges over the River Thames in central London is underway, with four of the city’s most famous crossings now completed.  Network Rail’s Cannon Street bridge is one of the initial quartet featuring multi-coloured lighting, as the result of a collaboration between London-based and international creative artists and around 50…

    Continue reading »

  • Long-term rail plan for Sheffield region unveiled

    Long-term rail plan for Sheffield region unveiled

    by

    SHEFFIELD City Region has revealed its long-term plan to increase rail travel over the coming years.  The Rail Plan is designed to take advantage of the planned north and south connections to HS2 Phase 2b and the proposed Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) scheme.  It envisages a new station at Goldthorpe, linking Barnsley and the Dearne…

    Continue reading »

  • NR annual report highlights delivery successes – but debt grows again

    NR annual report highlights delivery successes – but debt grows again

    by

    NEW and expanded stations, electrification schemes and capacity for an additional 3,000 trains a week are all highlighted as successes in Network Rail’s 2018/19 annual report.  The year to March 31, 2019, saw £7billion invested in targeted improvements to the British rail network, and although many of those were delayed, the benefits of various major…

    Continue reading »

  • New canopy for Dore and Totley after long campaign

    New canopy for Dore and Totley after long campaign

    by

    A NEW canopy is now in use at the station in the south-west suburbs of Sheffield.  This follows a long campaign by the Friends of Dore and Totley Station. Dore and Totley is served by Hope Valley line trains and is popular with commuters to Sheffield and Manchester.  Campaigners are now seeking more improvements, including…

    Continue reading »