Electric
-
GWR gives ‘Castle’ names to its HST power cars… and revives Class 255 designation
Posted
by
GWR has unveiled a series of new cast nameplates with ‘Castle’ names that will be applied to its HST power cars. The HST power cars are used on the shortened 2+4 formations, which run between Bristol and Penzance. The plates are of a new design and feature the outline of a 2+4 HST set as…
-
UK Railtours unveils Christmas charter line up
Posted
by
Although summer is currently in full swing, charter operators have already turned their thoughts to the end of the year. UK Railtours is no exception and has announced a trio of days out by train visiting Christmas markets in Manchester, Lincoln and Beverley during December. On December 7, UKR will run a train from London…
-
Brexit: Eurotunnel ‘ready’ for October 31
Posted
by
Eurotunnel is prepared for Brexit “no matter the outcome” on October 31, the company said on September 2.
-
Yorkshire BLS tour raises £15k for charity
Posted
by
THE Branch Line Society and West Coast Railways operated the ‘Luca Pezzulo Express’ on July 20, visiting rare freight lines around Yorkshire. Highlights included a rare trip over the remnants of the Woodhead Route, running beyond the Network Rail boundary into Liberty Steel’s Stocksbridge Steelworks, near Sheffield, and the former Tinsley Yard. The train also…
-
First Class 66 worked passenger train in Sweden
Posted
by
HECTOR Rail Class 66 loco T66402 hauled the first Class 66 worked passenger train in Sweden on July 7. The type has been in use in the country for many years, but there had not been any passenger workings before. The train was an enthusiasts’ charter that visited several freight-only lines, organised by a Swedish…
-
Time running out for Italy’s ‘Tartarughe’
Posted
by
THE last few remaining Italian Railways Class 444 ‘Tartarughe’ (Tortoise) electric locos are expected to be withdrawn by December. They are being replaced by more modern locos, and most recently by second-hand, Italian-built ‘Fyra’ high-speed trains from The Netherlands. Italian State Railways introduced the first Class 444 locos in 1967 when they were the most…
-
Avon Valley buys a ‘Gronk’ for £1
Posted
by
THE Avon Valley Railway took delivery of fully operational Class 08 No. 08663 on July 8 – being in effect a donation from Great Western Railway (GWR). The loco has been used in recent years at GWR’s St Philip’s Marsh depot, Bristol for moving diesel multiple units and high-speed train carriages around the depot. The 350hp…
-
HST prototype power car receives first-class attention
Posted
by
HST power car No. 41001 was moved from its base on the GCR(N) Ruddington as 5Z50 to Leeds Neville Hill Depot on June 29, arriving at 11.24, 44 minutes ahead of schedule. It is seen pausing at Rotherham while waiting for a TransPennine Manchester to Cleethorpes service to pass at about 09.30, before continuing on to…
-
Cardiff electrics pushed back to January
Posted
by
RESCHEDULED engineering and testing work in South Wales means electric operation to Cardiff will not now start until January 2020. The December 2019 timetable will see a typical journey time saving of 14 minutes between Cardiff and London Paddington, but the final 10-mile section of 25kV equipment between Newport and the Welsh capital will not be ready in…
-
‘Passengers first’ as Network Rail’s regional structure goes live
Posted
by
JUNE 24 signalled the start of significant structural changes at Network Rail, designed to tackle the declining performance and punctuality of passenger and freight trains over recent years. More power is being devolved into five new regions, with 14 smaller, regional organisations aimed at being closer to customers and giving local managers the authority to…
