- TNP Nation
- Ethnon
8th May, 2026
Had a coin hunt today and found a £2 coin for the collection.
2016 Britannia £2 Coin[
Had a coin hunt today and found a £2 coin for the collection.
2016 Britannia £2 Coin[
Marcus' Model Railway Journey
- Thread starter Marcus Antonius
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- TNP Nation
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9th May, 2026
Train on the m2 metro line in Lausanne
Alstom has secured a €295 million contract to upgrade the m2 automated metro system operated by Transports publics de la région lausannoise (tl) in Lausanne, Switzerland, with a new, communications-based, train control (CBTC) system, and a mid-life upgrade of the rolling stock.
The CBTC will be a train-centric system suitable for use on the existing line, and will allow an increased service frequency, whilst the fleet upgrade will increase passenger capacity.
Alstom will deploy its Urbalis Fluence CBTC solution, which will require minimal infrastructure changes or extra trackside equipment.
The system is ideal for upgrading fully automated metro lines, as it combines improved performance with the use of current assets, and allows upgrades to be phased in gradually, whilst aligning with long-term network strategies.
The mid-life fleet upgrade, called the FlexCare Modernise programme, will extend the fleet’s operational life, and will be carried out at Alstom’s site in Villeneuve, Switzerland.
Included in the work will be the renewal of key onboard systems, such as the train control and monitoring system (TCMS), to fully integrate it with the new CBTC signalling, and enhancements to interior areas and trains’ exterior.
Included in the contract are technical support and obsolescence management services to ensure the m2 line’s reliability throughout the transition period and beyond.
To minimise disruption and to ensure continuity of passenger services, work will be carefully planned, with most of the installation and testing activities carried out at night.
Alstom also has a large presence in the UK, where its works at Derby hosted last August’s The Greatest Gathering, and earlier this month, a train built at the works entered service on a new monorail in Cairo, Egypt.
“This modernisation will bring more frequent, more reliable journeys for passengers and help the city meet growing demand with shorter waits and a smoother ride. By pairing our new-generation, train-centric CBTC with a fully integrated mid-life upgrade of the fleet, we are boosting capacity while extending the performance of the existing trains for years to come. We are very happy to engage in this new project with tl and look forward to many years of continuous, long-standing collaboration.
Marie Icardo, Managing Director of Alstom Switzerland
“As Switzerland’s only metro system, m2 is a real success story. The need to modernise the automation systems and increase capacity is crucial for the whole transport network in the Lausanne metropolitan area. We are delighted to be able to rely on Alstom’s expertise and knowledge in carrying out these strategic operations.”
Patricia Solioz Mathys, CEO of tl
Alstom wins contract to upgrade Swiss metro system with CBTC
Train on the m2 metro line in Lausanne
Alstom has secured a €295 million contract to upgrade the m2 automated metro system operated by Transports publics de la région lausannoise (tl) in Lausanne, Switzerland, with a new, communications-based, train control (CBTC) system, and a mid-life upgrade of the rolling stock.
The CBTC will be a train-centric system suitable for use on the existing line, and will allow an increased service frequency, whilst the fleet upgrade will increase passenger capacity.
Alstom will deploy its Urbalis Fluence CBTC solution, which will require minimal infrastructure changes or extra trackside equipment.
The system is ideal for upgrading fully automated metro lines, as it combines improved performance with the use of current assets, and allows upgrades to be phased in gradually, whilst aligning with long-term network strategies.
The mid-life fleet upgrade, called the FlexCare Modernise programme, will extend the fleet’s operational life, and will be carried out at Alstom’s site in Villeneuve, Switzerland.
Included in the work will be the renewal of key onboard systems, such as the train control and monitoring system (TCMS), to fully integrate it with the new CBTC signalling, and enhancements to interior areas and trains’ exterior.
Included in the contract are technical support and obsolescence management services to ensure the m2 line’s reliability throughout the transition period and beyond.
To minimise disruption and to ensure continuity of passenger services, work will be carefully planned, with most of the installation and testing activities carried out at night.
Alstom also has a large presence in the UK, where its works at Derby hosted last August’s The Greatest Gathering, and earlier this month, a train built at the works entered service on a new monorail in Cairo, Egypt.
“This modernisation will bring more frequent, more reliable journeys for passengers and help the city meet growing demand with shorter waits and a smoother ride. By pairing our new-generation, train-centric CBTC with a fully integrated mid-life upgrade of the fleet, we are boosting capacity while extending the performance of the existing trains for years to come. We are very happy to engage in this new project with tl and look forward to many years of continuous, long-standing collaboration.
Marie Icardo, Managing Director of Alstom Switzerland
“As Switzerland’s only metro system, m2 is a real success story. The need to modernise the automation systems and increase capacity is crucial for the whole transport network in the Lausanne metropolitan area. We are delighted to be able to rely on Alstom’s expertise and knowledge in carrying out these strategic operations.”
Patricia Solioz Mathys, CEO of tl
- TNP Nation
- Ethnon
9th May, 2026
Class 175 at Newquay
As of Sunday, the 17th of May, Newquay station in Cornwall will see the biggest timetable change in 60 years.
As part of a £57m investment by the UK Government, Cornwall Council and Cornwall Metro to upgrade the lines linking major towns across mid Cornwall, in an effort to better connect the county using sustainable and frequent public transport.
The reopening of platform 2 at Newquay station has been one of the major factors that have contributed to the upcoming major timetable change, offering a much more frequent service along the line.
Cornish railway station prepares for biggest timetable change in 60 years
Class 175 at Newquay
As of Sunday, the 17th of May, Newquay station in Cornwall will see the biggest timetable change in 60 years.
As part of a £57m investment by the UK Government, Cornwall Council and Cornwall Metro to upgrade the lines linking major towns across mid Cornwall, in an effort to better connect the county using sustainable and frequent public transport.
The reopening of platform 2 at Newquay station has been one of the major factors that have contributed to the upcoming major timetable change, offering a much more frequent service along the line.
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A GWR train uses the new platform at Newquay
15 local services will run per weekday between Newquay and Par. 14 services on Saturdays and 8 on Sundays.
These services will be run by class 175 DMUs, which began operating services on the line last December and are proving popular with local passengers with their extra space and reliability compared to the previous DMUs that ran the services.
In addition to this, two direct services through to, and from, London Paddington will also be instated into the summer timetable, offering a faster journey from the Atlantic Coast direct to the capital.
The Great Western Railway (GWR) say that the new timetable, soon to be in operation on the Atlantic Coast Line, will offer the best train services since the 1960s.
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Class 800
Cornwall has, in recent years, benefited from the introduction of pay-as-you-go ticketing, giving locals the best and cheapest fares on rail services, allowing for a cheaper alternative to travel between the towns of Newquay, St Austell, Truro and Falmouth/Penryn, which has helped connect residents to key services, employment opportunities and education.
GWR’s Growing Places Report predicts that Britain’s regional rail network will support over 1 million jobs by 2036 and generate £79bn in economic value.
The upgrading of the Atlantic Coast Line will play a key part in helping to achieve those figures as it prepares to increase line capacity to support jobs, businesses and homes.
“Mid Cornwall Metro is about giving residents simple, reliable and more sustainable ways to travel across central Cornwall. Passenger numbers have continued to grow over the many years we have worked with GWR, Network Rail and government to improve our rail services – demonstrating that when we invest in reliable, accessible services, residents choose to use it.
Alongside the rail improvements, the MCM project is also investing in the roads, pavements and public spaces around the stations to make it easier for residents to walk, wheel, cycle or use the bus to reach their local station, reducing congestion and supporting healthier, more sustainable travel choices.”
Cornwall Council cabinet member for transport, Cllr Dan Rogerson
“The start of the Mid Cornwall Metro is a landmark moment, not just for the branch line, but for Cornwall as a whole. We know from experience the difference a step change in train services can make, whether that’s through more frequent services or new stations.
This will encourage more people to travel by train to Cornwall and around it, and that is good for communities, good for the economy and good for the environment.”
Matt Barnes, GWR Head of Strategic Service Development
- TNP Nation
- Ethnon
9th May, 2026
Wilbert
The Dean Forest Railway Museum Trust (DFRMT) has secured a major grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for the development of its ‘Goods to Parkend’ Museum project.
Based at Norchard on the Dean Forest Railway, the museum will use the funding to deliver a significant expansion at Parkend, improving how the area’s tramroad and industrial railway heritage is presented to visitors.
The grant will fund most of the project costs, with additional support coming from the Trust’s own resources, Forest of Dean Railway Limited (FoDRL) and the Dean Forest Railway Society (DFRS).
The award follows months of planning and preparatory work by museum staff and volunteers, particularly the Parkend-based team.
National Lottery Heritage Funding secured for Dean Forest Railway
Wilbert
The Dean Forest Railway Museum Trust (DFRMT) has secured a major grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for the development of its ‘Goods to Parkend’ Museum project.
Based at Norchard on the Dean Forest Railway, the museum will use the funding to deliver a significant expansion at Parkend, improving how the area’s tramroad and industrial railway heritage is presented to visitors.
The grant will fund most of the project costs, with additional support coming from the Trust’s own resources, Forest of Dean Railway Limited (FoDRL) and the Dean Forest Railway Society (DFRS).
The award follows months of planning and preparatory work by museum staff and volunteers, particularly the Parkend-based team.
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The Trust also paid tribute to John Metherall for his long-term leadership of the scheme, alongside Museum Trustee and design lead Chris Bladon, and consultant Dave Tucker, for their contributions.
The project is seen as a significant step in preserving and interpreting the Forest of Dean’s railway history for future generations.
“I am extremely pleased to hear of the Dean Forest Railway Museum Trust’s successful bid for a National Heritage Lottery Grant towards the development of Parkend Goods Shed. This will see the Goods Shed become another jewel in the crown of Parkend station, offering more opportunities for our passengers to learn about the history and background of our railway and the wider area. The Dean Forest Railway Society will continue to support this project through to its successful completion as part of our partnership with the DFRMT.”
Tim McLennan, Chairman of the Dean Forest Railway Society.
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