Richard Clinnick tells us more about what’s coming up in the March issue of Rail Express.
Welcome to the March edition of Rail Express, and once again the magazine is packed full of the latest news from across the railway.
You just cannot keep the Class 37s out of the headlines and while Direct Rail Services may be ending its association with the popular Type 3s by selling the last six on its books, Loram and Locomotive Services Groups have, within the space of a few days of each other, both revealed new liveries for the English Electric machines in their fleet.
Elsewhere, the Office of Rail and Road has revoked West Coast Railways’ exemption for stock operating on the main line without central door locking. South Western Railway has, finally, introduced new Class 701s into passenger service after four years of delays.
More High Speed Trains have been exported to Mexico while TransPennine Express Mk.5As have been sent for store at Long Marston and the final Class 508 has been withdrawn.
DB Cargo UK has removed its final Class 60s from traffic while there is also an explanation into its fleet decisions in this edition of Rail Express.
Our unrivalled Traction and Rolling Stock coverage includes reports on Transport for Wales’ extended Mk.4 sets, the latest developments in both the unit and wagon fleets and we round-up all the interesting workings over the past few weeks in Powerscene.
We also take an in-depth look at the state of the rolling stock market which has been debated in parliament in recent weeks. This feature is timely considering the possibility that the final Aventras being completed could well be the last trains to roll of the production line at Derby Litchurch Lane for quite a while, with jobs at risk at the factory.
In Rail Express Modeller, Nigel Burkin looks at the revamped Hornby 4-VEP. This is timely with No. 423417 Gordon Pettitt returning to London Waterloo (albeit hauled by Class 73s), becoming the first slam-door Mk.1 unit at the terminus for some 6820 days.
Also in REM, there is news on limited edition Cavalex Class 60s from Rails of Sheffield, Hornby TT:120 tank wagons and DB Cargo UK aggregate wagons arrive in shops, a Hornby ‘OO’ gauge TTA tank wagon review, Rapido’s new OAA is put under the microscope and ‘N’ gauge SMD hopper wagons are the subject of the first of a two-part article.
I hope you enjoy it.
Richard Clinnick
Editor, Rail Express.
Advert
