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Rail Magazine

An East Midlands Railway Class 222 approaches Braybrooke on the Midland Main Line. PAUL BIGGS.
News

Further MML electrification and York capacity projects paused

Both schemes are on a list of four which are on hold for now.

Midland Main Line 8 Jul
DB cargo 66655 with a Margam to Portbury empty steel train passing the junction to Portishead, on the edge of Pill village. GARY ESSEX.
News

Portishead line go-ahead - work set to start next year

Portishead line 8 Jul
At York on April 20, Grand Central 180102 has arrived with the 1213 Sunderland-London King’s Cross, while CrossCountry 220018 and 221132 wait with the 1105 Edinburgh-Penzance. STEVE WIDDOWSON.
News

UK "could have diesel trains for 30 years" amid lack of electrification strategy

Electrification 8 Jul
An enforcing regulator that is independent of the government will be needed to protect the interest of sectors such as open access and freight, says one industry source. Colas Rail 70813 passes Plawsworth (near Durham) on the Wast Coast Main Line on September 17 with the 1541 Jarrow Prax to Lindsey Oil Refinery Colas empty bogie tanks. PAUL BIGGS.
News

Drivers' jobs safe after refinery owners enter administration

Colas Rail 8 Jul
Looking through the old railway bridge at Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre building in Dudley. Parry People Mover's Railcar 10 is seen stored under the bridge. PETER PLISNER.
News

Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre owner enters administration

Light rail 7 Jul
Grand Central's 180104 speeds through South Otterington (near Northallerton) on September 12 2024 with the 0853 Sunderland to London King’s Cross. ALEX AYRE.
News

"Too much smoke and mirrors" about open access - Haines

Open access 7 Jul
90021, hauling the 1610 Deepcar-Finsbury Park ‘Last Chance’ charter (which it worked from Doncaster RMT), stands at Peterborough on April 8 2023. The ‘90’ has been acquired by Freightliner from DB Cargo. PIP DUNN.
News

DB Cargo sells three more Class 90s for reuse

DB Cargo UK 7 Jul
Lumo Class 803 and LNER Azuma unit side by side at London King's Cross. ALAMY.
News

Changing open access analysis "would delay all ECML decisions"

East Coast Main Line 4 Jul
An Edinburgh tram at Picardy Place on June 6 2023, during a trial run of the extension to Newhaven. CONRAD LANDIN.
News

Private finance hailed as key to new Edinburgh tram line

Edinburgh Trams 7 Jul
Latest news

Comment

Source: GREENGAUGE 21
Comment

Reinforce where rail links meet to meet North West’s needs

Jim Steer, Director of Greengauge 21, believes the Liverpool-Manchester Railway Board’s plan for a new line is not the solution to the region’s problems.

Industry views 9 Jul
Manchester has been favoured by the government, with transport plans including a Metrolink extension to Stockport and new tram stops. Longer two-car trams to reduce the double-heading of the ‘M5000’ Bombardier/Alstom units has also been suggested locally. In such a formation, Metrolink Trams 3046 and 3047 cross the River Irwell on August 11 2004, approaching Radcliffe with a Bury to Altrincham service. TOM MCATEE.
Comment

How far will money for trams go?

Mayors were celebrating windfalls in the Chancellor’s announcement of cash for local transport schemes. Yet the new money won’t go far, says Howard Johnston.

Industry views 8 Jul
Manchester has been favoured by the government, with transport plans including a Metrolink extension to Stockport and new tram stops. Longer two-car trams to reduce the double-heading of the ‘M5000’ Bombardier/Alstom units has also been suggested locally. In such a formation, Metrolink Trams 3046 and 3047 cross the River Irwell on August 11 2004, approaching Radcliffe with a Bury to Altrincham service. TOM MCATEE.
Comment

How far will money for trams go?

Industry views 8 Jul
RAIL columnist Christian Wolmar
Comment

The madness of the 28,000 jobs claim

Christian Wolmar 4 Jul
Avanti West Coast is the principal operator on the West Coast Main Line, and has submitted five different bids for extra train paths as it seeks to return services that were withdrawn during COVID. But it faces competition from a posse of open access operators. AWC 805005 approaches Rugeley Trent Valley on May 10, during a Class 805 ‘Evero’ test run. ALAMY.
Comment

Snap Analysis: It's the end of the open season for open access

Industry views 3 Jul
Around 30% of Nottingham Express Transit passengers travel by tram rather than use their cars because of the comfort and reliability, says Wolmar. Nottingham trams run along the city’s South Parade on June 12 2023. ALAMY.
Comment

How to make trams a priority

Christian Wolmar 2 Jul

Insights from the experts

The Networker trains, built for British Rail, are getting close to life-expired. But they will take “several years to replace” says Steve White. Networker 465005 calls at Gravesend in 2015. SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY.
Feature

Southeastern becomes South Eastern

Passengers may not even notice the small name change, but track and train are now together under the leadership of Steve White, who talks to Paul Clifton.

TOCs 8 Jul
The first section of roof to be restored as part of the wider Huddersfield station upgrade was unveiled in April. With the expansive scaffolding structure now moved so the restoration of the next section can commence. Northern Class 150 waits at the west-facing Penistone Platform 2. This platform will be moved closer to the main entrance to improve accessibility. CHRIS HOWE.
Feature

Milestones for Manchester-Leeds

Major projects 2 Jul
On September 4 2007, and by now the Chief Executive of Eurostar, Richard Brown was at Gare du Nord in Paris to mark the start of running over high-speed lines to London’s refurbished St Pancras. It was effectively the completion of the Channel Tunnel project. ALAMY.
Feature

Interview: ex-Eurostar boss Richard Brown

GBR 27 Jun
LNER 82205 stands at Leeds on May 22 before departing with the 1245 to London King's Cross. SNAPPITYSNAPS PHOTOGRAPHY.
Feature

“This is the East Coast thoroughbred”

Locomotives 24 Jun
Dating from 1984, the ‘Highland Chieftain’ service was originally operated by HSTs, with Azumas taking over in 2019. On July 21 2021, 800112 is between Inverness and Aviemore, as it heads over Slochd Viaduct with the ‘Highland Chieftain’ for London. Under the current public (as opposed to working) timetable, northbound trains leave King’s Cross at 1200 and arrive in Inverness at 2007, while southbound trains depart from the Highland city at 0755 and arrive in London at 1549. NIGEL CAPELLE.
Feature

Review: ‘Chieftain’ is a practical long-distance choice

Reviews 24 Jun
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander unveils the new “GBR - Coming Soon” logo at SWR’s Bournemouth Depot on May 22. PAUL CLIFTON.
Feature

SWR returns to the public domain - but what difference will it make?

Policy 10 Jun
Bridlington is a key location on the route served by the Community Rail Partnership. Northern 170477 waits to leave the Yorkshire seaside town with the 1300 Scarborough to Sheffield service on March 23 2022. PAUL BIGGS.
Feature

A railway with “people at its heart”

Engineering 13 Jun

RAIL events

Network Rail Chief Executive Sir Andrew Haines with RAIL Editor Dickon Ross at Rail Live. JACK BOSKETT/RAIL.
News

Rail reform "frustratingly slow" says Network Rail Chief Executive

Rail reform 9 Jul
At York on April 20, Grand Central 180102 has arrived with the 1213 Sunderland-London King’s Cross, while CrossCountry 220018 and 221132 wait with the 1105 Edinburgh-Penzance. STEVE WIDDOWSON.
News

UK "could have diesel trains for 30 years" amid lack of electrification strategy

Electrification 8 Jul
Grand Central's 180104 speeds through South Otterington (near Northallerton) on September 12 2024 with the 0853 Sunderland to London King’s Cross. ALEX AYRE.
News

"Too much smoke and mirrors" about open access - Haines

Open access 7 Jul
Stored SWR Class 701s and former West Midlands Railway Class 323s at Long Marston. JACK BOSKETT/RAIL.
News

UK "fails to provide trains people want or like"

Rail Live 2 Jul

Reviews

Dating from 1984, the ‘Highland Chieftain’ service was originally operated by HSTs, with Azumas taking over in 2019. On July 21 2021, 800112 is between Inverness and Aviemore, as it heads over Slochd Viaduct with the ‘Highland Chieftain’ for London. Under the current public (as opposed to working) timetable, northbound trains leave King’s Cross at 1200 and arrive in Inverness at 2007, while southbound trains depart from the Highland city at 0755 and arrive in London at 1549. NIGEL CAPELLE.
Feature

Review: ‘Chieftain’ is a practical long-distance choice

In RAIL’s latest Mystery Shopper, we take LNER’s ‘Highland Chieftain’ to Inverness, boarding at Peterborough. How does it fare against driving or flying?

Reviews 24 Jun
The main entrance to the Irish Ferries terminal at Dublin Port. ANDY COMFORT
Feature

Review: train and ferry together tickets

Reviews 3 Jun
The replacement bus wasn’t too bad, but getting off it was time-consuming as it was single file only. RAIL
Feature

Review: the dreaded rail replacement buses

Reviews 16 May
Refurbished and in its new livery, CrossCountry 170101 passes Elford occupation bridge with a Nottingham-Cardiff Central service on April 9. On their Birmingham-Cambridge journey, our Mystery Shopper had to ‘rough it’ on an unrefurbished unit. PAUL KEIGHTLEY.
Feature

Review: 170 (minutes) on a crowded Class 170

Reviews 28 Apr
Glasgow Central is Scotland’s busiest station. As well as commuter and semi-fast trains, Sleeper and inter-city trains also use the terminus. 385022 has just arrived with the 0852 from Lanark-Glasgow Central, while 156495 has arrived from Kilmarnock.
Feature

Review: ScotRail with a 'Spirit of Scotland' rover ticket

Reviews 7 Mar