Electric
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Locomotive Services to stage Virgin charity open day at Crewe
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AROUND 30 main line steam, diesel and electric locomotives are being lined up for an open day to be staged at Locomotive Services’ modernised former Crewe diesel depot on Saturday, June 8. The event is being organised by Virgin Trains staff based at Crewe station – supported by our sister publication The Railway Magazine –…
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£39billion plan to transform northern England’s rail network
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THE region’s ‘single biggest transport intervention since the Industrial Revolution’ is the bold ambition unveiled in Transport for the North’s (TfN) plans to develop the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) network over the next 20 years. TfN’s board, which includes representatives of the various city regions, local and regional authorities, business leaders and transport bodies from…
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Practice & Performance: Thames-Valley transformation
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In the third and final instalment, Keith Farr concludes his analysis of the steam-to-electric transformation the Great Western Main Line has undergone in the Thames Valley. Part two of this series ended with a brief eulogy of Class 387s, the electric trains that have transformed stopping services between Paddington and Didcot. The new EMUs are…
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Double HRA awards for NER Autocar and Gloucs-Warks
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THE stunning restoration of North Eastern autocar No. 3170 and the extension of the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway have both won two major awards at the annual Heritage Railway Association dinner. There were awards in a record 15 categories, which included a completely new award recognising the contribution of a young volunteer. The NER 1903 Electric…
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Class 88s visit Great Eastern Main Line
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DRS Class 88 Nos. 88007 Electra and 88008 Ariadne made a rare visit to the Great Eastern Main Line on January 18. The pair worked from Willesden Brent Sidings to Ipswich (East Suffolk Jct) having come south from Crewe Gresty Bridge the previous day. The visit was in connection with filming as part of the…
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Bombardier to fit ETCS kit on Heathrow Express ‘387s’
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PORTERBROOK has signed a contract with Bombardier Transportation to fit ETCS digital signalling equipment to Great Western Railway Class 387 EMUs, which are being converted for Heathrow Express services. The investment by Porterbrook is valued at £11million. GWR is having 12 Class 387s converted for the airport express work, with No. 387140 having already been…
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Late start for new trains puts ‘Pacer’ withdrawal months behind schedule
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PLANS to withdraw the first Northern Rail ‘Pacers’ at the end of September 2018 have missed their scheduled date by four months. The plan, published by the DfT, was for five two-car Class 144s to start the ball rolling on the withdrawal programme back in September, with all two-car sets out of traffic by January…
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Northern’s farewell to ‘37’ haulage
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LOCOMOTIVE haulage on the Cumbrian Coast Line came to an end last month with Arriva Rail North operating a special return trip to mark the event on January 11. Displaying both ‘The Cumbrian Coast Express’ and ‘Class 37 Farewell’ headboards, Northern’s 09.52 Carlisle-Carnforth special passes Maryport. No. 37409 Lord Hinton leads the train with No. 37425 Sir…
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Pathfinder returning English Electric classics to old haunts
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FANS of English Electric traction will have the opportunity to relive past glories over the coming months with Pathfinder Tours. March 23 sees Class 50s return to the West of England to mark 25 years since their final run under British Rail. The ’50 Terminator-Phoenixed’ is an epic day out, starting from London Paddington at…