Network

All Vivarail sets delivered for Marston Vale line

by

Sam Hewitt

–

29th March 2019

VIVARAIL has delivered the third and final Class 230 set to West Midlands Trains for use on Bedford to Bletchley services. Set No. 230003 has been at Bletchley depot for some weeks, and following tests on the Cotswold Line, between Evesham and Moreton-in-Marsh in early-February, set 004 was delivered. The final set – 230005 – completed…
Continue reading »
British Line Society secures Thunderer for railtour return after 28-year gap

by

Sam Hewitt

–

29th March 2019

THE Branch Line Society has scored a major coup by securing Garcia Hanson’s No. 50008 Thunderer for a railtour on July 27. The ‘50’ has been active on the main line for several years, but to date has only hauled passenger trains on heritage railways. Its last railtour outing is thought to have been in October…
Continue reading »
Unusual pairing sparkles in sunshine and snow

by

Sam Hewitt

–

29th March 2019

THE rare combination of a Thompson ‘B1’ 4-6-0 and a rebuilt ‘Merchant Navy’ was the highlight of February 2’s ‘Winter Cumbrian Mountain Express’. No. 61306 Mayflower and No. 35018 British India Line worked north to Carlisle via the West Coast Main Line and returned later in the day via the Settle to Carlisle Line, enjoying glorious conditions…
Continue reading »
Bahamas returns in style

by

Sam Hewitt

–

29th March 2019

IT WAS a close-run thing, but ‘Jubilee’ 4-6-0 No. 45596 Bahamas made a triumphant return to the main line on February 9. The immaculate Stanier ‘5XP’ passed a late trial to ensure its new and overhauled equipment was in full working order, and then worked through from Oxenhope on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway (KWVR)…
Continue reading »
Daylight testing for TransPennine Express’s new train fleets

by

Sam Hewitt

–

27th March 2019

TESTING of three types of new trains for the TransPennine Express franchise are being stepped up, with the new ‘Nova 1’ (Class 802) and ‘Nova 2’ (Class 397) now being seen making daylight runs. Nova is the train name adopted by TPE for its new fleet. The 125mph Class 397 ‘Civity’ EMU has been built…
Continue reading »
‘Holly’ and ‘Ivy’ speed up Whiteball Tunnel repairs

by

Sam Hewitt

–

24th March 2019

A THREE-WEEK closure of the West of England main line between Taunton and Exeter saw essential repairs made to two Victorian tunnels on the route.
Continue reading »
Lee Valley route capacity upgrades near completion

by

Sam Hewitt

–

20th March 2019

WORK to boost capacity on the Lee Valley route in north-east London is on schedule for completion by May 2019. The £170million programme of work includes a third track between Stratford and the new station at Meridian Water, and additional platforms at Tottenham Hale and Northumberland Park, which will allow an extra two trains per…
Continue reading »
Modernisation plan edges forward on Seaford line

by

Sam Hewitt

–

20th March 2019

NETWORK Rail has replaced switches and crossings at Southerham Junction, near Lewes, which controls access to the Seaford branch. New signalling equipment was also installed between Lewes and Seaford during the closure. The work took place over the weekend of January 19-20. Once commissioned, the equipment will be controlled from Three Bridges Railway Operating Centre…
Continue reading »
Upgraded Lime Street is top station in Britain

by

Sam Hewitt

–

20th March 2019

LIVERPOOL’S recently upgraded Lime Street station is the highest rated of Britain’s major stations by passengers in the latest National Passenger Rail Survey. Scoring a 93.8% satisfaction rating, Lime Street narrowly beat St Pancras International (93.6%) and King’s Cross (92.9%) to top the list for Network Rail managed stations. NETWORK RAIL Read more News and…
Continue reading »
£13m refurbishment for Glasgow Clyde bridge

by

Sam Hewitt

–

20th March 2019

A TWO-YEAR, £13million renovation project is underway on one of Scotland’s busiest railway bridges. The 200 metre-long Clyde Bridge on the approach to Glasgow Central is used by up to 1,300 trains every day, serving the West Coast Main Line, Lanarkshire, Inverclyde and Ayrshire. The Grade A-listed structure will undergo extensive refurbishment and repair works,…
Continue reading »

Network

Latest Issue

Free Digital Issue

Search

Tags