The Railway Magazine
-
Loss of brakes on Caledonian Sleeper adds to operator woes
Posted
by
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…
-
‘Azuma’ makes Scottish debut as LNER ponders extra trains
Posted
by
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…
-
Levenmouth area to rejoin Scottish passenger network
Posted
by
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,…
-
TransPennine ‘Nova 3’ enters passenger service after extensive testing
Posted
by
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…
-
Labour claims it was left out of HS2 review talks
Posted
by
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has agreed to meet with Labour after the party claimed it has been left out of cross-party talks on the future of HS2.
-
First and Trenitalia to run West Coast Main Line
Posted
by
By Tony Miles OPERATION of the West Coast Partnership (WCP) will be in the hands of First Group and Trenitalia from December 8, under what will be the first of a new franchise partnership model. With a 70/30 partnership in favour of First, the pair will end Virgin Trains’ domination of the flagship route, which…
-
It’s crunch time for HS2 as Government review considers costs and scope
Posted
by
By Ben Jones NEW Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has thrown the future of High Speed 2 (HS2) into doubt with a new review that will challenge the £56billion project’s scope, design and affordability. Doug Oakervee, a retired engineer, former HS2 Ltd chairman ,and ally of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, will lead the review, assisted by…
-
Asset Monitoring: Looking after the rail infrastructure
Posted
by
Many RM readers will have seen the yellow Network Rail trains around the country, but what do they do and why are they operated? Andrew Royle, who was a technician on the trains, explains their crucial role. The yellow-liveried test trains of Network Rail, or ‘Infrastructure Monitoring’ (IM) trains to use the correct description, feature…
-
GBRf names loco Made in Sheffield
Posted
by
GB Railfreight has reliveried Class 66 No. 66747 in branding to mark its growing relationship with Yorkshire-based haulier and logistics company Newell & Wright. The loco was named Made in Sheffield at the London Gateway freight terminal on July 9, two years after running the first service for the company. GB now operates trains, including…
-
Rainbow branding for Thameslink Class 700
Posted
by
GOVIA Thameslink has added rainbow vinyls to set No. 700155 in connection with the Brighton & Hove Pride event from August 2-4. It is seen passing Brockley on July 16 with the 14.35 Bedford-Gatwick Airport train. The unit is the first to carry any branding other than its white base livery. GTR revealed the livery…