News
-
Converted Class 769s set for Northern debut in New Year
Posted
by
TESTING of Class 769 ‘Flex’ bi-mode trains converted from former Thameslink Class 319s has now reached an advanced stage, with production of sets for Northern, Transport for Wales and GWR set to ramp up over the coming months. The two pre-production sets – Nos. 769434 and 769456 – have been undergoing dynamic testing at the Great Central…
-
Railways mark the Armistice centenary
Posted
by
TRAIN operators, Network Rail and many others held events in the lead-up to the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War and Remembrance Day on November 11. Some trains were specially named, notably GWR, with its unveiling of IET No. 800306 giving the names of all 2,545 men who worked for the GWR…
-
Railways mark the Armistice centenary
Posted
by
TRAIN operators, Network Rail and many others held events in the lead-up to the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War and Remembrance Day on November 11. Some trains were specially named, notably GWR, with its unveiling of IET No. 800306 giving the names of all 2,545 men who worked for the GWR…
-
Northern denies ‘crisis talks’ rumour as timetable changes are reduced
Posted
by
By Tony Miles SUGGESTIONS in the Sunday Telegraph on November 4 that Arriva is “locked in crisis talks with the Government” over the future of the Northern rail franchise and that it is trying to “renegotiate terms” have been strongly denied by the company. The story, which was repeated in other news outlets, said the…
-
New record as Flying Scotsman nameplate sells for £64,500
Posted
by
ONE of the original nameplates from ‘A3’ Flying Scotsman was sold for a record £64,500 plus buyer’s premium at the GW Railwayana auction in Pershore on November 17. The buyer was an unnamed online bidder. The hammer price beat the previous record of £60,000 for ‘A4’ nameplate Golden Fleece. This plate is from the right…
-
First Stadler UK ‘Flirt’ unit arrives
Posted
by
THE first of a fleet of 34 ‘Flirt’ bi-mode multiple units for Greater Anglia arrived in the UK on November 14. Class 755 No. 755405 was hauled from Ripple Lane to Norwich Crown Point by DB Cargo’s No. 66002 the next day. Rail Operations Group has been appointed as the test operator for the various safety, performance…
-
Tyseley makes TOC debut with Birmingham ‘Polar Express’ festive trains
Posted
by
VINTAGE Trains (VT) was set to return to full main line steam charter operation as an independent train operating company on November 29 with the first of its new ‘Polar Express’ festive specials from Birmingham Moor Street. The trains are based upon the 2004 film of the same name, and are scheduled to run four…
-
Falkland’s veteran Simon unveils new ‘Patriot’ crest
Posted
by
A NEW crest depicting a First World War ‘Tommy’ standing over the grave of a fallen comrade has been unveiled on the nameplate of new-build ‘Patriot’ No. 5551 The Unknown Warrior by Simon Weston CBE. The unveiling took place during a special Armistice commemoration event at Crewe Heritage Centre on November 10, which also provided a…
-
Dual identity ‘Saint’ makes its public debut at Didcot
Posted
by
CLEAR skies and late-autumn sunlight provided perfect conditions for the public debut of the Great Western Society’s near-completed Churchward ‘Saint’ 4-6-0 No. 2999 Lady of Legend at Didcot Railway Centre on November 17-18. Plenty of visitors turned out during the aptly named Black Saint Weekend to get their first glimpse of the loco, albeit static and…
-
WSR to close for three-month ‘re-group’ after investigation
Posted
by
THE West Somerset Railway (WSR) has made the unprecedented decision to voluntarily close for three months from January 2 to April 1, 2019 in order to ‘re-group’ following a visit by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) and the issuing of its findings. As a result there will be no running during the February…
