Trackside
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International high-speed operators Eurostar and Thalys announced plans in late September to merge the two companies to create a new pan-European high-speed operator to be known as Green Speed. French Railways (SNCF) is the majority shareholder for both operators, along with Belgian Railways (SNCB), which is a minority shareholder in both Eurostar and the two…
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A LOCOMOTIVE that has spent more than 20 years out of the public eye will steam again after being acquired by James Bunch. Wigan Coal & Iron Co Ltd 0-6-0ST Lindsay is the sole-surviving locomotive built by the company, and was once a familiar sight at Steamtown, Carnforth, during the 1980s and 1990s. It last…
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DELIVERIES of new DMUs and EMUs to Northern by CAF are running late, although the company introduced a further nine Class 195s over the Calder Valley line between Leeds and Chester via Manchester and Warrington in October. It takes the number of ‘195s’ in traffic to 29, exactly half the order. Northern has said because…
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LNER launched its new Lincoln to King’s Cross ‘Azuma’ service on October 21, increasing the single daily service to five per day. A sixth service will be introduced at a later stage. A five-car bi-mode ‘Azuma’ will provide a two-hourly Monday to Friday service departing London at 10.06, 12.06, 14.06 and 16.06. Southbound services will…
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WORK on the first of five Class 153 units to be converted for use by ScotRail on the West Highland line has begun at Brodies in Kilmarnock. Under ScotRail’s plan, these designated carriages, with space for cycles and large sporting equipment, as well as additional seating, will be used with the Class 156 units that…
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THE final two operational Govia Class 313s – Nos. 313064 and 313134 – worked a charity farewell special on October 23 from King’s Cross to Royston, then to Hertford North, before running to Moorgate where the train terminated. The sets were replaced by Class 717s on all Great Northern services by September 30, ending the…
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By Tony Miles The future of the Northern franchise is hanging in the balance after Transport Secretary Grant Shapps addressed the Transport Select Committee on October 16. He said: “I can tell the committee that I have already issued a request for proposals from both Arriva and the operator of last resort (OLR), because I…
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November 25 saw the first of five Hull Trains’ (HT) Class 802/3s make its debut in the company’s home city. The First Group-owned open access operator confirmed that the bi-mode trains will be phased into passenger service over the next two months, releasing its ailing Class 180s for transfer to East Midlands Railway (EMR). The…
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BULGARIA remains the main user of ex-BR built electric locomotives, but the competitive nature of freight operations has led to mixed fortunes for the Class 86, 87 and 92s exported there. Operator Bulmarket has work for its well-maintained Class 87s (Nos. 87009/17/23/25), however its Class 86s, which are around 10 years older, are reported to have…
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TRIALS using a Vivarail Class 230 battery hybrid multiple unit were operated on September 9-10 between Evesham and Moreton-in-Marsh. In addition to diesel power on its converted trains, Vivarail can harness battery power, with hydrogen eventually planned. The company is building on tests undertaken in 2018 when its development set No. 230002 ran 60 miles between…
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