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  • Converted Class 769s set for Northern debut in New Year

    Converted Class 769s set for Northern debut in New Year

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    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

    Railways mark the Armistice centenary

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    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

    Northern denies ‘crisis talks’ rumour as timetable changes are reduced

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    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…

  • First Stadler UK ‘Flirt’ unit arrives

    First Stadler UK ‘Flirt’ unit arrives

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    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…

  • Virgin Trains USA launched

    Virgin Trains USA launched

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    By Keith Fender VIRGIN group has announced it will become a minority investor in start-up inter-city passenger operator Brightline. Brightline started operation in Florida in January 2018 and will be renamed Virgin Trains USA, with rebranding starting in 2019. Brightline operates its Florida services using 10 new 125mph Siemens-built ‘Charger’ diesel locos, and has five…

  • TransPennine Express delays ‘Nova 3’ introduction to May

    TransPennine Express delays ‘Nova 3’ introduction to May

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    TRANSPENNINE Express (TPE) is delaying the introduction of its ‘Nova 3’ loco-hauled sets until next May. The sets are being built by CAF in Spain and will be hauled by Class 68s sub-leased from DRS. They had been expected to be progressively introduced from the December timetable change, but acceptance testing has produced a technical…

  • Talgo picks Scottish site for UK factory

    Talgo picks Scottish site for UK factory

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    LONGANNET in Fife has been selected by Spanish train builder Talgo as the site for its proposed UK factory. The location is currently occupied by a closed power station, and has been chosen as it is rail-connected, close to sea ports at Grangemouth and Rosyth, and in a region with a good supply of skilled…

  • EMT gives ex-Grand Central HSTs fresh interiors

    EMT gives ex-Grand Central HSTs fresh interiors

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    FRESH new interiors are being given to the three former Grand Central (GC) HSTs, now part of the East Midlands Trains (EMT) fleet. The sets – with two power cars and six trailers, rather than the usual eight – were taken on by EMT to provide additional capacity as a result of enforced diagram changes…

  • Temporary grounding for ScotRail Class 385s

    Temporary grounding for ScotRail Class 385s

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    THE introduction of ScotRail’s new Class 385 fleet was temporarily stopped after a driver reported a braking issue. It was the second such issue for the fleet and comes on top of electrification delays, software problems and windscreen issues that have dogged the upgrading of Scotland’s trains and services. In the first incident, believed to…

  • First Class 315 goes for scrap

    First Class 315 goes for scrap

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    OFF-LEASE set No. 315850 has been sent for scrap after a number of Class 345 ‘Aventra’ EMUs were accepted by TfL Rail for use between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield. The Eversholt Rail-owned set had been in store at Wolverton Works, but on October 20 it was hauled to Booth’s scrapyard, Rotherham by Rail Operations Group…

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