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Rail Magazine

c2c Managing Director Rob Mullen with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander. DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT.
News

c2c managers to be "allowed to get on" after nationalisation

Trenitalia-owned operator is taken over the DfT Operator Ltd this weekend.

c2c 18 Jul
99001 at GBRf's Peterborough Depot on July 17
News

"A new benchmark of performance": Dual-mode Class 99 launched by GBRf

GB Railfreight 18 Jul
South Western Railway 159009 and 158885 arrive at Overton on April 18 with the 0640 Exeter St Davids-Basingstoke. The operator is exploring options for sections of third-rail electrification along the route. PAUL BIGGS.
News

DfT talking to three operators about combined order to replace DMUs

New Trains 17 Jul
803002 working Lumo's 1S93 1045 Kings Cross to Edinburgh through Little Ponton in Lincolnshire on August 5 2022. PAUL CLARK
News

FirstGroup details criticism of Rochdale Lumo rejection

FirstGroup 17 Jul
South Eastern Railway Managing Director Steve White and Rail Minister Lord Hendy. SOUTHEASTERN.
News

New training centre as South Eastern applications double in a year

Skills 18 Jul
60026 is seen curving around the line towards Crofton Beam Engines (Bedwyn), at the helm of the 0704 and-tailed new Piccadilly Line Tytherington-Quainton Railhead aggregates train. JOSH MASON.
News

DCRail hires GB Railfreight Class 60 to cover shortfall

DCRail 18 Jul
An LNER Azuma at York. LNER.
News

Third track north of York amongst projects paused by government

East Coast Main Line 17 Jul
An East Midlands Railway Class 170
News

"We can't do everything": Lord Hendy defends rail pipeline decisions

Lord Peter Hendy 16 Jul
A teenager sits with her back to traffic at Wantage Road level crossing near Didcot. NETWORK RAIL.
News

Why two level crossings in Oxfordshire are causing problems for Network Rail

Level crossings 16 Jul
Latest news

Comment

Work began last October on the installation of 2,000 vertical concrete columns for the foundations of HS2’s Birmingham’s Curzon Street station. Wolmar says abandoning the project is not viable, and that the endgame of trains running from Curzon Street to Old Oak Common (at least) justifies the controversy and the waiting. HS2 LTD.
Comment

HS2: grin and bear it

He's never been an HS2 fan. But we must finish what we've started, says Christian Wolmar.

Christian Wolmar 18 Jul
HS2 Ltd Chief Executive Mark Wild speaks to workers in May, after Tunnel Boring Machine Mary Ann broke through at Washwood Heath depot. Wild has noted critical gaps in the company for commercial, technical, assurance, control and finance expertise. ALAMY.
Comment

HS2's top obstacles

Philip Haigh examines two reports that lay bare why the mega-project has gone so wrong… and considers if anything can be done to get it back on track.

Phil Haigh 16 Jul
HS2 Ltd Chief Executive Mark Wild speaks to workers in May, after Tunnel Boring Machine Mary Ann broke through at Washwood Heath depot. Wild has noted critical gaps in the company for commercial, technical, assurance, control and finance expertise. ALAMY.
Comment

HS2's top obstacles

Phil Haigh 16 Jul
Source: GREENGAUGE 21
Comment

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

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?

Industry views 8 Jul
RAIL columnist Christian Wolmar
Comment

The madness of the 28,000 jobs claim

Christian Wolmar 4 Jul

Insights from the experts

Piccadilly Line train car at Siemens factory in Goole
Feature

Cautious optimism for rail's future, Siemens Joint CEO tells RAIL

Siemens Mobility’s Rob Morris has welcomed the recent government Spending Review with what he terms “cautious confidence”

GBR 15 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
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

TOCs 8 Jul
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
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

McCulloch reel handler. JACK BOSKETT
Feature

Rail Live 2025: the essential tech

Plant & equipment 14 Jul
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

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