Electric
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HS2 bill up to £88billion as completion date slips to 2040
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By Ben Jones HS2 Ltd has advised the Government the first phase of High Speed 2 to Birmingham could open five years later than planned in 2031, and the overall cost of the project could rise to £88billion. Phase 2b to Manchester and Leeds has also been pushed back, with completion now expected in 2040…
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New Hybrid locos for Snowdon Mountain line
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SNOWDON Mountain Railway (SMR) has named Clayton Equipment Limited, specialists in bespoke hybrid battery-diesel locomotives, as preferred supplier of replacements for its Hunslet 0-4-0DH locomotives. Two new locos will be supplied next spring to enter service for the start of the 2020 season. The new hybrid 800mm-gauge loco for SMR is currently in the design…
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No Greater Anglia ‘Aventras’ before 2020
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By Ben Jones GREATER Anglia (GA) has confirmed it will not be able to introduce its Class 720 ‘Aventra’ EMUs before the end of 2019. Production and testing of the new trains is running significantly behind schedule after Bombardier experienced delays with the introduction of Crossrail Class 345s and London Overground Class 710s. However, the…
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5 facts you may not know about the ‘Azuma’ train
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LNER launched its first passenger services on the East Coast Main Line on May 15, using the Hitachi-built Class 800 ‘Azuma’ express trains as part of a rolling programme to replace both its Class 91 and Mk4 and HST fleets.
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GB Railfreight’s pride as it unveils Class 66
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GB RAILFREIGHT marked Brighton Pride when Class 66 No. 66773 was named Pride of GB Railfreight by The Times columnist Matthew Parris at the South Coast resort on August 2. Sporting rainbow colours along its bodyside, GB says the loco recognises LGBT+ employees across the wider rail industry, and celebrates its on-going commitment to diversity and equality.…
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All ‘Goblin’ Class 710 units accepted
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LONDON Overground has accepted all eight Class 710/2 EMUs for use on the Gospel Oak to Barking service. It means the line is finally operated exclusively by the Bombardier-built four-car sets, and has allowed the 15-minute service frequency to be restored. The service is used by 30,000 passengers per day, and it was planned to…
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TPE accepts first ‘Nova 2’ CAF set
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By Tony Miles TRANSPENNINE Express accepted the first ‘Nova 2’ Class 397 EMU into its fleet on July 25, meaning units from all three new ‘Nova’ train types have now joined its fleet. The first sets to be delivered are still being used for type testing, and require some final rectification work by manufacturer CAF,…
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Northern and Greater Anglia increase use of new trains during August
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NORTHERN and Greater Anglia (GA) introduced more new trains to their routes throughout August. GA’s bi-mode Class 755 No. 755410 made a low-key debut on July 29, between Lowestoft and Norwich, with services having now expanded to include Great Yarmouth and the busy Norwich-Ely-Cambridge route. Units on test and undertaking platform gauging checks have visited stations,…
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Branch Line Society and Vintage Trains team up for West Midlands ‘Balti bash’
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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…
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Three Type 3s – to the sea!
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THREE Class 37s at the head of a heavy freight train used to be a regular sight in South Wales and around Glasgow in BR days, but such a trio has always been a rare event on passenger trains. On August 11, the Branch Line Society completed its two-day ‘Type 3 to the Sea’ trip…
