Maintenance and refurb

Since the launch of Elizabeth line services, the London Paddington-Reading corridor has become the UK’s busiest stretch using overhead line power. As well as Crossrail trains, those using the wires include Heathrow Express and Great Western Railway long-distance services, following the replacement of HSTs with new Hitachi units. MIKE COOPER.

Feature

Project Brunel: assessing Network Rail's project to stabilise Great Western Main Line performance

Network Rail’s recovery programme to stabilise performance between Reading and London Paddington has reached half time. Paul Clifton joins the project leaders.

Major projects 2 Jun

Feature

Top 10 tips for attending Rail Live 2025

Make the most of your time at Rail Live 2025 by considering these top 10 tips.

Maintenance and refurb 23 May

Could Market Weighton once again see trains? They would have to call at a new station, given that the original was demolished some years after it closed in 1965. The year before closure, on May 1 1964, a Class 105 diesel multiple unit calls with a train to York. J SPENCER GILKS COLLECTION/COLOUR RAIL.

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Reopenings special: East Yorkshire’s plan to bring back the trains

Dozens of rail reopening plans are under threat. Andy Comfort reports on a still optimistic campaign to restore train services between Hull, Beverley and York.

Maintenance and refurb 12 Feb

On January 2, Northern 158844 departs from the recently opened Seaton Delaval station on the Northumberland Line, with the 1100 Ashington-Newcastle. The line reopened to passenger services in December 2024. PAUL BIGGS.

Feature

Reopenings special: What hope now for the 'railway deserts'?

With the demise of the Restoring Your Railway fund, have the prospects for rail reopenings ended with it? Joe Campbell reports.

Maintenance and refurb 11 Feb

Feature

Railway 200: the vital heritage still on the ‘at risk’ radar

Much is being done to conserve historic rail structures, but as we enter the bicentenary year, some are still at risk. Dr Joseph Brennan picks a few key ones.

Maintenance and refurb 5 Feb

Progress on the upgrade of Cardiff Bay, as of August 2024. CHRIS HOWE.

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Metro-style rail on the Core Valley Lines

Passengers in south-east Wales and beyond will soon benefit from new rolling stock, increased frequency and a large-scale upgrade of the Core Valley network.

Passengers 17 Jan

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Heritage awards reward restored railway survivors

The results of this year's National Railway Heritage Awards.

Maintenance and refurb 9 Dec

Inside Old Oak Common depot on October 31, 345061 sits on M8 road with a bogie drop prominent in the foreground. PHILIP HAIGH.

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Keeping the wheels turning on Elizabeth line Class 345s

Philip Haigh visits Alstom’s Old Oak Common depot, to gain an insight into the work that goes to maintaining a modern train fleet.

Locomotives 6 Dec

Parkhead viaduct, which once carried the Great Western Railway over the Dudley Canal, and in future will do the same for West Midlands Metro. PETER PLISNER.

Feature

Brunel viaduct receives makeover in readiness for new use as part of tram network

An historic Dudley landmark has been undergoing a major restoration ahead of its new use as part of the West Midlands Metro network.

Maintenance and refurb 27 Nov

Alstom staff overhaul a bolster which sits inverted on a lifting table. PHILIP HAIGH

Feature

Alstom Crewe’s latest milestone in bogie overhaul

Ben Jones visits Alstom’s component overhaul facility at Crewe to see how vital it is to Britain’s hardest-working trains - and many other passenger fleets.

Maintenance and refurb 25 Oct

Feature

NRA Outstanding Personal Contribution (Frontline) award: Jason Hart

The award for Outstanding Personal Contribution (Frontline) in the 2024 National Rail Awards went to Jason Hart, Wheel Lathe Supervisor, Siemens Mobility.

Staff and employment 16 Sept

Network rail's Southern Integrated Delivery Programme Director Liz Baldwin. NETWORK RAIL

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Interview: Network Rail's Liz Baldwin on a new approach to renewals

Network Rail’s Southern Region is taking a new approach to renewals. Southern Integrated Delivery Programme Director explains the process to Richard Wilcock.

Engineering 5 Sept

ETCS signalling - the driver’s view. Lineside signalling will disappear from the ECML once the digital system is fully operational. NETWORK RAIL.

Feature

ETCS: Digital signalling switches to mains

Ben Jones discovers how a rolling programme of renewals that will transform how our trains are controlled.

Maintenance and refurb 19 Aug

Feature

The constant obstacles to maintaining infrastructure

Is what happened between Reading and Paddington symptomatic of wider problems coming soon to a railway near you?

Maintenance and refurb 31 May

A ScotRail driver escaped injury on December 27, when his Inter7City train struck a fallen tree. PAUL MCSWEENEY MSP/ASLEF

Comment

We are getting warning lights across the whole network…

Train drivers worry that a gradual lowering of rail’s dependability reflects managed decline of the infrastructure. ASLEF General Secretary Mick Whelan sets out his concerns to PAUL CLIFTON

Maintenance and refurb 17 May

Feature

Sleeper services seek forward momentum

Having survived privatisation and a pandemic, Britain’s night-time passenger trains are enjoying a resurgence in popularity. ANTHONY LAMBERT reports

Maintenance and refurb 18 Jan

Feature

Coping with the foraging of species

STEFANIE BROWNE looks at what is being done to mitigate the problems caused when the presence of ‘creatures great and small’ delay railway enhancement projects

Maintenance and refurb 13 Apr