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Review

The main entrance to the Irish Ferries terminal at Dublin Port. ANDY COMFORT

Feature

Review: train and ferry together tickets

With through train and ferry tickets available from most stations in Britain to Ireland and the Netherlands, Andy Comfort samples Sail Rail.

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

RAIL’s Mystery Shopper examines the pros and cons, the pitfalls and the plusses of taking a journey that sometimes involves more than just your intended train.

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

RAIL’s Mystery Shopper travels from Birmingham to Cambridge on a CrossCountry Turbostar.

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

In the first of a three-part Scottish Special, RAIL’s latest mystery shopper survey covers Ayrshire and Galloway - including the reduced service to Stranraer.

Reviews 7 Mar

At Carlisle… heading north to Wemyss Bay. PETER PLISNER

Feature

How far will split tickets and railcards take you on UK rail?

Fancy a coffee? In Scotland? All for around £40 return (not including the coffee)? Peter Plisner reports on mad days out by train.

Passengers 5 Mar

Two Class 701s engaged on driver training and mileage accumulation at Waterloo, before 701037 arrived to be scrutinised. PIP DUNN

Feature

Train test: are SWR’s Arterios worth the wait?

Pip Dunn tests South Western Railway’s Class 701s now that they are in traffic.

Reviews 3 Feb

Despite a £750 million investment, Birmingham New Street is a disappointment, with diesel fumes lingering under the roof.

Feature

Review: Midlands' minor inconveniences all add up

In our latest undercover assessment of how the railway treats passengers, our Mystery Shopper travels around popular Midlands destinations with five operators.

Reviews 3 Feb

RAIL columnist Christian Wolmar

Comment

Comment: A mix of modern and traditional on board the Shinkansen

Our columnist Christian Wolmar has been in Japan and on the legendary Shinkansen bullet train.

Christian Wolmar 25 Dec

RAIL columnist Christian Wolmar

Comment

Comment: Gatwick compares poorly with Far East counterparts

Our columnist Christian Wolmar has been in Japan and China, where he experienced three airport services.

Christian Wolmar 24 Dec

Feature

Mystery Shopper RAIL review: South Wales

Our Mystery Shopper is in South Wales, visiting revitalised lines on a network that has new trains coming and a new Metro system on the horizon.

Reviews 20 Dec

A pair of Siemens Class 450s call at a foggy Surbiton with a service to Portsmouth Harbour. The station is a classic example of inter-war, art deco architecture, which makes it well worth a visit. RAIL photography: PAUL BIGLAND

Feature

Around the UK on an all-line rover ticket and nearly 80 trains

In part three of our series, PAUL BIGLAND completes his seven-day Rail Rover tour of the rail network.

Reviews 29 Nov

Left: Multiple train classes and multiple operators fill the platforms at Manchester Piccadilly, offering a hint as to why lengthening trains can actually reduce services. PAUL BIGLAND

Feature

A rail network epic exploration: Wales to London via South Coast

Part two of Paul Bigland’s All-Line Rover trip takes him on trains battered by the elements… and teenage passengers

Reviews 18 Nov

Feature

Train review part 2: Riding the route of the ‘Riviera Express’

David Clough concludes his Riviera trip by returning from Penzance in the time slot of the old ‘Cornish Riviera Express’.

Trains 4 Oct

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Most read

67003 in EWS livery whilst stabled at Plymouth in August 2001. MARK PIKE.

No takers so first DB Cargo UK Class 67 goes for scrap

DB Cargo UK 2 Jun

Artist's impression of a Class 222 in Lumo colours. LUMO.

FirstGroup explains why Class 222s were "only option" for Lumo Euston-Stirling service

6 Jun

DB Cargo 66181, in red livery, passes Barrow upon Soar on the Midland Main Line on September 6 2024, with the 1055 East Midlands Gateway-Felixstowe North intermodal. The unit has been identified as one of those next in line for conversion. PAUL BIGGS.

DB Cargo UK discussing transferring drivers to rival as it deals with Network Rail contract loss

DB Cargo UK 27 May

Stored SWR Class 701s and former West Midlands Railway Class 323s at Long Marston. JACK BOSKETT/RAIL.

UK "fails to provide trains people want or like"

Rail Live 2 Jul

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

Further MML electrification and York capacity projects paused

Midland Main Line 8 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.

DB Cargo sells three more Class 90s for reuse

DB Cargo UK 7 Jul

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

FirstGroup confirms Class 222s for Euston-Stirling Lumo route

Lumo 2 Jun

Off-lease 221104 passes Wellington as part of a driver training run between Central Rivers TMD and Wrexham. ALISTAIR COX.

All three West Coast Main Line open access bid rejected

Open access 3 Jul

DB Cargo UK 66139 shunts wagons at Cemex's Dallam Freight Depot, Warrington. DAVID STUBBINGS.

16 DB Cargo UK drivers switching to rival

DB Cargo UK 11 Jul

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