Trackside
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Sweet news for HS2 ‘sugar cube’
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THE first major structure to be built at Euston as part of HS2 has received planning permission from the London Borough of Camden. The eye-catching London Underground (LU) ventilation shaft and substation –nicknamed the ‘sugar cube’ – will be covered with more than 13,000 glazed white terracotta tiles, drawing inspiration from historic LU stations,…
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Hornby Hobbies launches pop-up shop at London St Pancras
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Hornby Hobbies has opened a pop-up shop at London St Pancras International train station, which will be trading until Christmas.
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Freightliner owner Genesee & Wyoming sold for $8.4billion
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By Keith Fender CANADIAN investors Brookfield Infrastructure and Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC have bought Genesee & Wyoming (G&W), which owns Freightliner, for US $8.4billion. The deal is subject to shareholder and government approvals, and should be completed in 2020. G&W has grown from one short freight line in the USA in the late-1970s to…
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MP’s electrification call as Northern marks Class 195s switch on Windermere branch
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By Tony Miles EVERY Northern service to and from Windermere is now operated by new Class 195 units, with the transition being marked at Windermere station on August 21. Services to Windermere and Barrow-in-Furness became the first to be worked by then new CAF DMUs in July, and with additional sets now in Northern’s operational…
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East Midlands franchise taken over by Abellio
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AUGUST 18 saw the take over of the East Midland franchise by Abellio, with the brand name East Midlands Railway replacing East Midlands Trains (EMT), the Stagecoach brand. EMT had run services since November 2007 Abellio formally launched the franchise and new brand in Derby the following day, unveiling reliveried ‘Meridian’ set No. 222104 in a…
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Torrential rain and landslips closes West Highland line
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SCOTLAND’S West Highland line was closed on August 4 after heavy rain caused serious landslips at Glen Falloch, south of Crianlarich, which left the track in mid-air. There was also a ballast washout near Tyndrum Lower, with heavy rain flooding the line at Arrochar. After Network Rail had carried out a detailed geo-technical and aerial…
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Loss of brakes on Caledonian Sleeper adds to operator woes
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THE loss of control of the train brakes during the operation of the ‘Lowlander’ Caledonian Sleeper service on August 1 on the approach to Edinburgh Waverley station is being investigated by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB). Starting as the 23.36 from London Euston the previous evening, the Glasgow and Edinburgh portions divide at Carstairs…
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‘Azuma’ makes Scottish debut as LNER ponders extra trains
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By Ben Jones LNER introduced its first Anglo-Scottish ‘Azuma’ diagram on August 1, with more services expected to move over to the new trains in mid-September. LNER’s daily 06.48 service from Glasgow Central-King’s Cross and 15.30 return will also switch to the new trains from September 23. Class 800 IETs are currently restricted to one…
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Levenmouth area to rejoin Scottish passenger network
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By Ben Jones A £75MILLION scheme to reconnect the Levenmouth area of East Fife to the rail network was approved by the Scottish Government in August. The five-mile line from Thornton Junction will serve reopened stations at Cameron Bridge and Leven. Passenger services ceased in 1969, but the line remained open for freight until 2001,…
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TransPennine ‘Nova 3’ enters passenger service after extensive testing
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A TRANSPENNINE Express ‘Nova 3’ train finally entered passenger service on August 24 after extensive testing and a start to driver and crew training. Each ‘Nova 3’ set comprises of five CAF Mk5a coaches powered by Class 68 locomotives, and have been working regular test runs across the Pennines in the lead up to the…
