Trackside
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Charity event planned for Crewe Diesel
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SOME 30 steam, diesel and electric exhibits are being lined up for a charity open day on June 8 at the former Crewe diesel depot, now the operational base of Locomotive Services Limited. The event is being organised by Virgin Trains staff based at Crewe station with the aim of raising money and awareness for…
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End of the line for Old Oak Common HST depot
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REDUCTION of the use of HST trains by GWR and the need to redevelop parts of Old Oak Common has brought the curtain down on the west London depot’s long association with the InterCity 125. The workshops and loco depot, affectionately known as ‘The Factory’, was demolished several years ago as parts of the site…
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First Class 397 arrives for TransPennine
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TRANSPENNINE Express took delivery of its first ‘Civity’ Class 397 five-car EMU on December 4. They are being built in Beasain, Spain, by CAF, with 12 sets having been ordered. They will replace the Class 350/4 EMUs currently used on Manchester to Glasgow/Edinburgh services. They are being branded ‘Nova 2’ by TPE. Set No. 397003 –…
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MPs savage “system-wide failures”for last year’s timetable change fiasco
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A CROSS-PARTY committee of MPs has severely criticised train operators, Network Rail, the DfT, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling and the complex structure of the rail industry in a scathing report on last May’s timetable chaos, which affected around 20% of UK rail users. “The statistics cannot do justice to the severe effects on people’s lives,”…
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Vivarail 230s break cover for daytime tests!
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UNIT testing/driver training of three Vivarail Class 230 DMU sets on the London Northwestern’s Marston Vale line has taken place under the cover of darkness – despite the planned introduction in December being deferred until the New Year. However, sporadic daylight runs began on November 13, and unit No. 230003 is seen passing Ridgmont with 5T52,…
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‘Pendolino’ painting at halfway mark
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THE massive task to repaint Virgin’s fleet of 56 nine- and 11-car Class 390 ‘Pendolino’ EMUs has passed the halfway point at the beginning of November. The work is being carried out at Alstom’s recently opened Widnes modernisation facility, each ‘Pendolino’ taking two weeks to strip down and repaint. Minor repairs and defects to the…
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Class 195 unveiled – future plans revealed
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By Tony Miles NORTHERN has formally unveiled the first two trains in its new £500million fleet which it says “will set new standards for customers using local rail in the north of England”. The sets were unveiled by Northern managing director David Brown and Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry at Edge Hill depot, Liverpool, in…
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First refurbished Class 444 in service for South Western
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SOUTH Western Railway’s (SWR) first refurbished Class 444 EMU has returned to service with additional seating capacity and high-quality improvements to passenger accommodation. The refurbishment and reconfiguration of the train is part of SWR’s £50million ‘Desiro’ interior upgrade programme. It is being delivered by Siemens, the company which built the units from 2002. All 45…
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Transport group criticises hikes in access charges
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Logistics lobby group the Freight Transport Association (FTA) has criticised what it believes are the ‘mixed signals’ being received by the rail freight sector from the Government and the Office of Rail and Road. While there is good news for rail in the confirmation of increased funding for Network Rail’s next Control Period in 2019-24,…
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Class 50s’ 1994 Paddington farewell re-created
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With their horns blaring, Class 50s Nos. 50007 Sir Edward Elgar and 50050 Fearless drew to a stand at the stops at Paddington on March 26, 1994 bringing to an end the life and times of the ‘Hoovers’ on national metals. The aptly-named ‘50 Terminator’ tour was the last passenger service for the English Electric-built…
