Marcus' Model Railway Journey

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Dereham Central signal box​

At Wymondham, the former Spooner Row signal box is being refurbished ready for when the railway’s S&T Department can start resignalling that end of the line.

They have nearly completed the signalling at Thuxton and Dereham, so it won’t be long before the railway has three fully working signal boxes controlling the line between Wymondham and Dereham.

At Dereham, work by the C&W Dept on Mk.1 FCK carriage M 13225 is nearly complete after the most-extensive rebuild that the railway has ever attempted.

On the motive power side, several of the resident owners group locomotives including Class 31 31255, Class 118, 51412, and Class 50, 50019 Ramillies are all progressing well.
 
19th January 2023

Rail Strikes: TSSA union to ballot members as ‘some distance’ remains in ongoing dispute​

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New Greater Anglia trains at London Liverpool Street station​

The TSSA Union has announced that members from 12 train operating companies will be balloted for strike action, with the union says that there is ‘some distance’ remaining between them and the Rail Delivery Group in the ongoing dispute.

Ballots will be confirmed next week, with the results due by the end of February.

A re-ballot is already taking place at Avanti West Coast.

The TSSA Union and Rail Delivery Group are in talks today, but concerns over lack of offers for management and “inadeguate” offers for other rail works persist.

The ballot will include members from CrossCountry, c2c, East Midlands Railway, Greater Anglia, Great Western Railway, Govia Thameslink Railway, LNER, Northern, Southeastern, TransPennine Express and West Midlands Trains.

Frank Ward, TSSA Interim General Secretary, said:

“This dispute has been unnecessarily prolonged by the government and we are still without an offer for our members in train operating companies.

“While we welcome the resumption of talks with the RDG, the fact of the matter is that no acceptable offer has been made. We have little indication whether an offer of any kind will apply to management and control staff who make up a significant part of the rail workforce and our TSSA membership.

“There is some distance between the negotiating teams. Our members are resolute and determined to use their industrial power to secure job security, an acceptable pay rise and protections to their terms and conditions.

“No one wants a race to the bottom or practices that would make our railways less safe or less accessible for passengers, so we are pressing ahead with these ballots.”
 
19th January 2023

10-metre Lingfield land-slip in Surrey sees Network Rail engineers begin work​

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Lingfield land-slip​

Network Rail engineers and suppliers are currently on site and beginning to repair the 10-metre landslip over a stretch of 7 metre-high embankment moved away from the railway.

The site is approximately half a mile in the direction of London from Lingfield station where the railway forms a triangle between Haxted Road and Bowerland Lane.

Further to the landslip, six-metre cracks have been discovered on both sides which has led to immediate action being taken in case the situation worsens.

Teams from Network Rail and BAM Nuttall are already working in order to get trains back in action as soon as possible and it is anticipated that the return of rail services could be as soon as the middle of next week if not before.

Network Rail’s route director for Sussex, Lucy McAuliffe, said:

“I’m so sorry for this disruption to passengers, on top of so much disruption over the past months. My team is working round the clock to get this landslip fixed as soon as possible and our neighbours will see we have already got a team and equipment on site today (Thursday).

“We will be using Lingfield station as the base for the repair operation, along with the site itself in fields to the north of the village, so I’d like to apologise in advance to people who live nearby as you will see a great deal of action in the next week, with lots of people and machinery arriving to repair the damage.

“This railway through Lingfield was built in 1884, out of local Wealden clay, which is notoriously unsuitable for building railways on. Unfortunately, they didn’t know that then, and our passengers are suffering the consequences.

“In terms of timescales, we’re aiming for the middle of next week and we will do what we can to get it open sooner.”
 
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Aerial image of Lingfield landslip on a frosty morning​

Jenny Saunders, customer services director for Southern and Thameslink, said:

“We’re very sorry that the current severe weather has caused this serious landslip, preventing us from running trains for several days. We’re grateful for the expertise of Network Rail and their contractors, who have acted quickly to strengthen the embankment, and to our passengers for bearing with the considerable inconvenience while the line is being made safe again.

“We’ve arranged ticket acceptance on other Southern and Thameslink services – East Grinstead car park passes will be valid at Oxted and Haywards Heath stations to help commuters use those – and also on Southeastern services from Tunbridge Wells and local buses.”
 
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Lingfield land-slip​

Built of Wealden Clay which is the material which lies under the embankment sees the majority of landslips for Network Rail’s Southern Region including a major slip close to East Grinstead at Cookspond during 2020.

As clay absorbs water rather than letting it drain it becomes vulnerable during extended very wet weather and also in freezing conditions.

Over the past three years has seen 200 earthwork failures, 25 of which led to large-scale line closures and causing disruption for passengers.

Climate change is causing an increase in landslips as weather becomes more extreme with the Met Office reporting 7 of the 10 wettest years on record since 1998 in the UK.

The Southern Region is responsible for a huge number of earthworks and has a £500 million budget to cover a five-year period.

Rebuilding and strengthening all of the region’s earthworks would cost billions of pounds and see railway lines closed over long periods.

A focus on examination in order to repair and mitigate alongside regular drainage inspections and maintenance allows water to flow freely cutting the risk of landslips.

In some areas, small electronic devices have been installed in the ground in order to monitor movement, sending alerts if a landslip occurs.

The regrading of cuttings to make them less steep and therefore more stable is also carried out however this is impossible for some locations and in this circumstance the building of retaining walls or rock netting is completed in order to stop mud falling onto tracks.

Embankments can also see slopes regraded or walls built at the bottom to keep them stable.

The repairs carried out at the site of the landslip will see a wall of sheet piles (flat steel beams) driven deep into the ground from the top of the slip’s location which will prevent further movement whilst providing support to the railway.

After the emergency repair is finalised over the next week, work will commence on a long-term solution for the site.
 
19th January 2023

Rail Strikes: Rail Delivery Group send ‘best and final offer’ to RMT Union​

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The Rail Delivery Group has confirmed it has sent its ‘best and final offer’ to the RMT union, which should see a five and four percent increase for staff covering the 2022 and 2023 pay awards.

The offer has been made through an outline framework agreement and would allow the rail industry to adapt to changes in the way passengers now use the railway, whilst rewarding its staff.

The outline agreement sets out a minimum pay increase of nine percent over two years.

Staff who are paid below a certain amount will receive a guaranteed £1750 in year one.

Pay would be backdated to the relevant 2022 pay awards to allow staff to benefit from a lump sum in the first available pay run.

The RDG also says that it has improved on its previous offer, with no compulsory redundancies until 31st December 2024 (previously this was 1st April 2024)

The proposals also include:
  • The creation of a new multi-skilled station role, with staff trained to take on a number of responsibilities
  • Creating ‘station groups’ which means staff are able to move between stations to help passengers
  • Use of part-time contracts and flexible working patterns to encourage a more diverse workforce
  • The formalisation of current voluntary working on Sundays, helping to reduce delays and disruption for passengers.
A voluntary redundancy scheme will be made available for those who want to leave the industry.

The Rail Delivery Group says that the offer does not include any proposals to change the mode of operation of trains, but acknowledges that individual operators can make separate proposals to update and revise on-board roles, for example using new on-board technology for station/driver dispatch processes.

Industrial action has cost the rail industry £480m in lost revenue since June, and the RDG says that staff have lost £2000 in pay whilst on strike.

Steve Montgomery, chair of the Rail Delivery Group, said:

“This is a fair offer that gives RMT members a significant uplift over the next two years – weighted particularly for those on lower incomes who we know are most feeling the squeeze – while allowing the railway to innovate and adapt to new travel patterns. It also means we can offer our people more varied, rewarding careers.

“With taxpayers still funding up to an extra £175 million a month to make up the shortfall in revenue post-covid, we urge the RMT to put this offer to its members so we can bring an end to this damaging dispute for our people, our passengers and the long-term future of Britain’s railways.”

The RMT Union has responded to the proposal, with RMT general secretary Mick Lynch saying:

“The National Executive Committee will be considering this matter and has made no decision on the proposals nor any of the elements within them.

“We will give an update on our next steps in due course.”
 
19th January 2023

Lumo named ‘Best Overall Operator’ at World Passenger Awards​

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Lumo operates Hitachi Class 803s between London and Edinburgh via Darlington, Newcastle and Morpeth​

After recently celebrating its first year in operation, Lumo, which is FirstGroup’s 100% electric train operator, has been recognised as ‘Overall Best Operator’ at the World Passenger Awards.

Lumo gained the award ahead of 134 other shortlisted rail operators from across the globe.

The award recognises Lumo’s overall positive sentiment from its customers on social media, and its excellence rating across all award categories.
 
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Lumo Class 803​

To calculate the winning criteria, the World Passenger Awards teamed up with Gateshead-based software company Wordnerds by using their pioneering text analytics tool to determine the amount of positive sentiment there was in several key areas of each category for which there was an award.

The main resource that the awards team used to determine the awards was Twitter, and they analysed over one million Tweets from 40 different countries.

Lumo also won the ‘At the Station’ award in recognition of its staff being commended for going an extra-mile in its customer service because of its staff’s visibility and helpfulness when assisting customers to board.

The company was also a finalist in the ‘Access’ award category.
 
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Lumo train crossing the Royal Border Bridge​

The brand was launched in October 2021, since when its fleet has travelled over one million miles.

Lumo estimates that by travelling in 100% electric trains instead of flying, its passengers could have saved the equivalent CO2 emissions of 21,000 homes’ electricity use for an whole year.

Lumo’s fares between London and Edinburgh for January ranges from the cheapest at £26.90 up to £69.80, whilst the cost of tickets between Newcastle and Edinburgh are just £9.90.
 
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Lumo train on the East Coast Main Line​

Martijn Gilbert, Managing Director of Lumo, said:

“It is vital for the economy to have an affordable and sustainable means to travel long distances. We are thrilled that our customers have not only decided to travel with us for these reasons but have had positive experiences throughout our first year in operation as well.”
 
19th January 2023

Levelling Up Fund’s £50m kickstarts first phase of Cardiff Crossrail​

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The first phase of Cardiff Crossrail is set to go ahead following an award of £50 million to Cardiff Council from the government’s Levelling Up Fund and match funding of a further £50m from the Welsh Government.

The funding will enable the construction of a new rapid transport link from Cardiff Central to Cardiff Bay via Callaghan Square, and provide a vital transport link to support the development of the Callaghan Square, Bute Street, Lloyd George Avenue, and the Atlantic Wharf masterplan.

The first phase of the development will also extend to Pierhead Street and include a new Transport Hub that links in with the Atlantic Wharf masterplan.
 
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Cardiff skyline​

Included in the plan are:
  • a regular tram service from Cardiff Central to a new platform at Cardiff Bay railway station;
  • two new platforms at Cardiff Central railway station;
  • improvements to the environment around the existing and new station platforms;
  • a new highway layout that provides a safe separation between road, rail, cyclists and pedestrians;
The investment will also provide a boost for the wider Crossrail scheme so that it will link up with the proposed Cardiff Parkway Station at St. Mellons in the east of the city and provide opportunities for some new stations to be opened in the area.
 
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Cardiff Bay​

Cardiff Council Leader, Cllr Huw Thomas, said

“The announcement of this funding package is a ringing endorsement of our plans to regenerate Cardiff Bay and Atlantic Wharf. This new route will finally see Butetown properly connected to the city centre via Cardiff Central.

“It will not only serve visitors to the Bay and to the new Cardiff Arena, but it will also begin to make real the Council’s ambitions for a Crossrail tram service which will run from the northwest of the city all the way to the east of the city connecting with the proposed Parkway station.

“We look forward to working with UK Government and Welsh Government – which is match-funding the Levelling Up contribution – to deliver the scheme at pace.”

Cllr Dan De’Ath, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport said:

“This is excellent news, as this funding will deliver the first phase of the Crossrail to provide an invaluable tram service connecting Cardiff Central with Cardiff Bay.

“Once the first phase is delivered, this route can easily be extended to the east or south, including the HMS Cambria site, providing a new reliable and affordable transport route for the public to use.”

Cllr Huw Thomas added:

“The Council has set out ambitious plans on how we are investing in Cardiff Bay with the delivery of a new 15,000-seater indoor arena and the Atlantic Wharf Masterplan, which earmarks new housing, office space, hotels and 50,000 sq m of retail, leisure and cultural space.

“In Cardiff Bay, there are 200 hectares of unused brownfield land for development, but when the Crossrail is extended, this land will start to be unlocked, allowing further investment and growth to take place in both Cardiff Bay and Cardiff East.

“The Crossrail has been a long-held ambition for some time, to provide a cross-city tram service that is affordable and reliable for the public to use, and connecting some of Cardiff’s poorest communities to the rail network for the first time.

“The first phase will significantly improve public transport from the city centre to Cardiff Bay, providing further capacity for residents and visitors to access the wide range of attractions that Cardiff has to offer.”
 
19th January 2023

New Zero Carbon Freight Service Will Focus On Next Day Delivery Goods​

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Varamis Rail's Class 321​

A zero carbon freight service has been launched by Network Rail and Varamis Rail.

The freight service runs between Scotland and the Midlands, Monday to Friday. The service will primarily deal with next day delivery goods.

Eversholt Rail, who are industry partners, have converted some fully electric 4-car trains previously used for passenger service to carry the freight.

Network Rail provided the licenses, contracts, and train paths for the service to operate.

Georgie Newby, Network Rail’s Senior Commercial and Customer Relationship Manager, said:

“I’m delighted that we’ve been able to support the launch of this innovative new service from the latest Freight Operating Company to join the network. It is the result of hard work and dedication across multiple organisations, all working closely together to deliver a great, zero carbon service for logistics companies to use. We look forward to delivering other innovations to keep growing the amount of parcel logistics transported by rail.”

Varamis Rail Managing Director, Phil Read, added:

“As the UK’s newest Train Operator, Varamis Rail is keen to promote the sustainable benefits that the railway has to offer to the UK economy along with Network Rail. The increase in online shopping and home deliveries over recent years has accelerated the demand to find a more environmentally friendly solution to moving our parcels, products, or light goods around the UK; one solution is the electrified rail network.

“Varamis Rail is incredibly appreciative of the support it has received from Network Rail to enable a start-up of its operations and we look forward to building on this relationship as the rail industry looks to play its part in decarbonising’ the UK.”
 
19th January 2023

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Network Rail welcomes new funding in rail for Cardiff and South Wales

Region & Route: Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

Network Rail has welcomed funding announced today (19 January) by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) for a new Cardiff Crossrail.

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Cardiff Central station​


The £50 million funding has been made available through the UK Government’s Levelling Up fund and will transform travel across Cardiff by connecting communities between Cardiff Bay with the city centre and Cardiff Central train station.

With new and enhanced stations, it will also improve accessibility for all.

The decision has been celebrated by Network Rail’s Wales & Borders route as it builds on a series of other railway improvements made by them and Transport for Wales (TfW) in recent years.

That includes electrification to Cardiff along the south Wales mainline which enabled thousands more seats and more frequent services from Cardiff to London; signalling upgrades to improve reliability and accessibility improvements including at stations such as Barry; as well as Welsh Government’s investment in the Core Valley lines.

The announcement from DLUHC also supports TfW’s transformational south Wales Metro scheme which will provide more frequent services on new trains.

Nick Millington, Network Rail’s Wales and Borders interim route director, said:

“We are delighted more funding has been made available to transform the railway in Cardiff and south Wales.

“This builds on recent transformational improvements by us and Transport for Wales and demonstrates the importance of a connected multi-modal public transport system. We look forward to working with Transport for Wales, Welsh Government and UK Government to deliver this scheme”
 
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19th January 2023

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Network Rail welcomes new funding in rail for the south west

Region & Route: Wales & Western: Western

Network Rail has welcomed funding announced today (19 January) by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for two new transformational rail schemes in the south west.

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New track on the Newquay branch line​

In Cornwall, nearly £50 million will be invested to create a direct train service linking Newquay, St Austell, Truro, and Falmouth alongside better walking and cycling access to stations.

In Devon, there will be £13.5 million for a new railway station on the eastern edge of Okehampton - the West Devon Transport Hub - complete with high quality cycle facilities and EV charging points on site to better connect communities and promote active travel.

The decision has been celebrated by Network Rail’s Western route as it builds on a series of other railway improvements in recent years.

That includes electrification of the Great Western Main Line which has enabled the introduction of GWR’s new trains which provide thousands more seats and more frequent services from the south west to London.

It also builds on the success of the Dartmoor Line between Exeter and Okehampton which was reopened in 2021.

The previously mothballed line was restored in just nine months and delivered £10m under budget.

In the first year of service it has seen incredible patronage with over 250,000 journeys - more than double the demand originally forecast.

David Davidson, Network Rail’s interim Western route director, said:

“We are delighted more funding has been made available to transform the railway in the south west.

“Newquay’s peak summer season sees the population grow from 20,000 to over 100,000, making it the top destination in Cornwall. The railway needs this investment to better cope with this seasonal growth in demand.

“The Dartmoor line has surpassed expectations so further investment will build on this success by further improving connectivity for this part of the region. We look forward to working with UK Government, GWR and other partners to deliver these transformational schemes.”
 
19th January 2023

fflecsi Pembrokeshire service set to expand​

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fflecsi Pembs coastline​

Transport for Wales (TfW) is expanding the fflecsi service in Pembrokeshire, allowing more communities across the county to benefit from demand responsive transport.

Working in partnership with Pembrokeshire County Council, the new fflecsi zone replaces the current 315 bus service and will connect villages and hamlets in the Dale Peninsula to Milford Haven and Haverfordwest – integrating with wider public transport routes.

The expansion begins on Monday 30 January and will link up with the highly successful fflecsi service in north-west Pembrokeshire, which has seen an increase in passenger demand since it began operating in September 2020.

Together, the two zones will cover a large portion of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, offering visitors to the area an accessible, environmentally friendly transport alternative to some of the county’s most popular destinations, including the Wales Coastal Path.

TfW also supports the operation of the fflecsi Bwcabus service, which connects rural villages in central Pembrokeshire to Haverfordwest, Fishguard and its ferry port, as well as operating zones which serve parts of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire.

fflecsi Pembrokeshire is a demand responsive bus service which does not have a fixed route and timetable but an operating zone which enables passengers to be picked up and dropped off anywhere within that fflecsi zone.

Rather than passengers waiting at a bus stop for a bus to turn up, they can book a journey in advance using the fflecsi app, or by calling 0300 234 0300.

Passengers are informed where to catch the bus and at what time it will be arriving – the pick-up point will be near as possible to the location of the passenger.

Andrew Sherrington, Head of Bus Network and Service Development, said:

“fflecsi has grown to become a dependable public transport choice in rural Pembrokeshire and its expansion will now allow more people across the county to access the service for everyday journeys and to make important travel connections.

“Passenger numbers continue to grow and in August and September of this year, figures were more than double what they were for those months in 2021.

“We know that fflecsi is highly valued by the rural communities it serves across Pembrokeshire, and it is a vital part of TfW’s commitment to providing a multi-modal transport network that encourages more people to make use of public transport.”

Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services for Pembrokeshire County Council said:

“This is a really positive intervention by the County Council in order to protect a service for rural passengers in this part of the county and ensure that they continue to have access to key urban areas.

“The fflecsi Pembrokeshire scheme has proved extremely popular in the north of the county both for tourists and local people and we hope to see this success maintained when the new zone is introduced.”

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20th January 2023

International delegates get a sneak preview of Northern’s Intelligent Trains concept train​

The concept train features technology made famous by NASA which is used onboard and marks another railway 'first' for the rail operator​

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Northern Intelligent Train​

Over 60 national and international rail industry representatives got a first glimpse of Northern’s Intelligent Trains concept train alongside some of the rail operator’s brand-new technology which is leading the way in its innovative programme.

The delegation was made up of professionals from across the rail industry such as Network Rail, Jacobs, Atkins, Porterbrook, Angel and Eversholt and enjoyed a special return journey from Manchester Victoria to Bradford Interchange on Monday the 16th of January.

The special trip took place on a Class 150 train which is fitted with LIDAR horizon scanning cameras which are what NASA used to map the surface of the moon.

Further technology onboard includes a radar dome, 180-degree thermal imaging software, acoustic monitors, a G-Shock Bogie and an AI camera.

The Intelligent Trains concept aims to use technology specifically to create safer and more efficient rail journeys.

The technology will also allow Northern to monitor its train’s performance in real-time whilst giving information to Network Rail regarding track and infrastructure.
 
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Delegates aboard Intelligent Trains concept train​

Rob Warnes, strategic development director at Northern, said:

“We were delighted to bring together such an illustrious group of rail industry representatives for the inaugural trial of our Intelligent Trains ‘concept train’.

“Among the many benefits of this technology is the ability for ‘early diagnoses’ of engineering issues on both track and train which can be addressed as part of planned maintenance rather than having to react when things go wrong.”
 
20th January 2023

Repairs underway to damaged embankment on West Somerset Railway​

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Flood damage​

An embankment on the West Somerset Railway that was damaged by flooding just before Christmas is now being repaired.

The location of the damage is at Combe Florey, north of Bishops Lydeard.

A prolonged period of heavy rain caused flooding of the railway, with water and soil flowing onto both the railway and the A358 Minehead to Taunton road.

Although some of the ballast was washed away, luckily the track itself was not damaged. Engineers and technical staff from the railway visited the site just after Christmas to assess the damage, and plan how the embankment could be repaired.

Suitable contractors were then engaged, and they are now on-site carrying out the work.

The adjacent landowner has now taken appropriate steps to minimise further runoff to the road and railway, and the West Somerset Railway is working closely with Somerset County Council to coordinate their response.

West Somerset Railway Director, Frank Courtney, said:

“The Board of the Railway are very grateful indeed to our many friends and supporters across the country (including from the mainline railway) who have offered their help and support in this very difficult situation. Councillor Mike Rigby, Somerset County Council Executive Member for Transport and Digital, has been extremely helpful in facilitating contact with the Council.

“This work is going to cost a significant amount, but at the moment, our main priority is to ensure that the railway re-opens on time in early March. Work is underway in the background to assess the full cost of repairing the embankment and associated work. Various sources of funding are being addressed and we will give more information in due course.

“As always, we welcome support from our many supporters to keep our track in top condition. Contacting our support charity, the West Somerset Railway Association (see wsra.org.uk) will give all the information you need.”
 
20th January 2023

Transport for Wales and Ramblers Cymru launch ‘Train, talk, walk​

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WCP Barmouth​

Transport for Wales has launched a partnership project with Ramblers Cymru to encourage more people to use public transport when they are accessing local walking routes and to help them improve their health and well-being.

The project, titled ‘Train, talk, walk’, is designed to encourage people to use their local train services to access new family-friendly walking routes that Ramblers Cymru is creating and start and finish from local stations.

So far, they have created 20 walking routes for five stations in South Wales and 15 in North Wales.
 
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Walking with Transport for Wales​

In South Wales, the proposed locations include Merthyr to Pentrebach, Cardiff Bay, Aberdare, Heath Low Level (Cardiff), and Barry Island.

There are also other linear walks in South Wales, including Llandeilo to Dinefwr Park, Trehafod to Pontypridd, or Cardiff to Penarth.

Proposed routes in North Wales include Gwersyllt (Wrexham), Flint, Barmouth, Caergwrle, Prestatyn, Rhosneigr, Penrhyndeudraeth, Newtown, Aberystwyth, Hawarden, Llanrwst, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Pwllheli, Porthmadog, and Criccieth, whilst additional linear walks could include Colwyn Bay, Bangor, and Rhosneigr.
 
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Wales Coastal Path Anglesey​

Starting in April, the project will also deliver a series of introductory guided walks throughout Wales to coincide with the walks and with Visit Wales’s Year of the Trails, where visitors can find forgotten treasures and walk along pathways, landscapes, and the coast.
 
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Looking across Cardiff Bay to Penarth, the islands of Flatholm and Steepholm can be seen in the background​

Hugh Evans, Head of Community Rail at Transport for Wales said:

“We’re really excited to launch this partnership project with Ramblers Cymru and it’s simply about encouraging more people to become more active and use their public transport network to gain access to local walking routes.

“It’s important that people are aware that there are many relatively easy walks that can be reached by a simple train journey and chance to get some exercise, visit a new area, and improve their wellbeing.”
 
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North Beach, Tenby​

Angela Charlton, director at Ramblers Cymru said:

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with Transport for Wales on this project to develop walks. Ramblers Cymru want to see walking at the heart of communities and an outdoors that is more accessible to more people.

“We hope that by using our expertise to create these walks from train stations we can encourage communities to explore their local area and visitors to come and enjoy a positive outdoor experience in a more sustainable way.

“The family-friendly routes will showcase hidden gems across the train network to encourage people to explore more of Wales spending money and bringing economic benefits with them as they discover the people and communities along the way.”
 
20th January 2023

Amtrak takes first steps in the development of New Overnight Trains​

Marking a new era for the corporation the project has seen up to ten manufacturers submit ideas to replace the well-known railcars.​

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California Zephyr Line

Amtrak has formally begun the process of fully re-equipping its Long Distance Network which included 14 overnight routes including Auto Train, California Zephyr, Coast Starlight, Crescent, Empire Builder and Southwest Chief.

Amtraks overnight trains provide an essential facility with routes covering America from coast to coast.

Amtrak Board Chair, Tony Coscia said:

“Purchasing new long-distance train cars will allow Amtrak to upgrade and modernize the iconic and vital overnight services that link our nation’s major regions. We are looking for new trains that improve safety, reliability, accessibility, and efficiency while offering the features our customers believe are most important to modernizing overnight train travel for the 21st century,”

A request for information was sent to a number of possible suppliers during December 2022 and saw the vast undertaking defined and described regarding the extent of Amtrak’s overnight train fleet which includes Superliner I and II, Viewliner I and II as well as Amfleet II railcars and input has been requested by the manufacturers relating to the replacement of such equipment.

Amtrak is currently in a research stage regarding design elements alongside facilities for customers which will transform overnight and cross-country train travel in the future.

During 2023, Amtrak will move to the next stage which will see the issue of a formal procurement request.

The future funding will be provided to Amtrak via the federal Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act which has been approved by Congress and the Biden Administration in 2021.

Continuing, Tony Coscia also said:

“This represents the final phase in our long-term plan to replace our trains—beginning with new Acela equipment and continuing with the Amtrak AiroTM trains announced last month,”

“We believe in the future of our Long Distance service and we look forward to enhancing the customer experience across the Amtrak network, and further supporting U.S. manufacturing.”

The current overnight railcars have been working for up to 40 years with some of the first beginning their service back in 1979.

The majority of equipment utilised in the existing fleet will reach its end of useful life after the next decade.

During 2022, Amtrack placed an order for 125 brand new diesel-electric locomotives which will mostly see operation on Long Distance routes.

The past two years have also seen Amtrack invest $580 million as part of a huge $1.75 billion project to provide accessibility improvement for Amtrack stations which are mainly on the overnight and cross-country routes.

Further to this, Amtrak has committed $28 million to make over the railcars in its current overnight fleet, which will bridge the gap until the future fleet can take over.
 
20th January 2023

Old Gosforth Metro depot closure marks the end of an era for the Tyne and Wear Metro​

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Gosforth Depot​

Tyne and Wear Metro’s old depot at Gosforth finally closed its doors on the 19th of January as Stadler moved their maintenance crews over to the brand new state-of-the-art £70m depot which is located on the same site.

The facility housed Metro’s rolling stock for 43 years and was first built in 1923 and is now set to be demolished.

Metro staff have had the chance to enjoy the nostalgia of the old train sheds and maintenance shop for a final week whilst preparations have been underway for the big move.

The move from the old depot to the new one marks a brand new era for Metro train care as it works towards welcoming the first new Stadler train in just a few weeks.

The new depot will take on the care of both the current fleet and the 46 new trains as they begin to arrive.
 
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Old Gosforth Depot​

Head of Fleet and Depot Replacement Programme at Nexus, Michael Richardson, said:

“Moving out of the old depot marks the end of an era for Metro and the start of its bright new future as we get ready to take delivery of our first new train from Stadler.

“We have looked after the Metro fleet at Gosforth for 43 years, but the facilities we were using had become dated, so the move to the new depot is long overdue.

“The Stadler team are leaving behind a building that dates back to 1923, and have moved into a new, more modern, state-of-the-art train care facility. It really is transformational for Metro and its workforce.

“There has been a nostalgic goodbye to the old depot all this week, but we are excited to see the new one being brought into use. The new depot will be used to care for the current Metro fleet, and the new trains as they start arriving in northeast England.”

Paul Patrick, Managing Director of Stadler Rail Service UK, said:

“Over the last century, the old Gosforth depot has served the rail network in the north east well, but to ensure that it continues to thrive, Stadler has built a fantastic new facility for the new state-of-the-art Stadler trains, which will significantly improve public transport in the region.

“This is a momentous occasion as we transition from the old to the new, and I am confident that the new depot and fleet will enhance the passenger experience, making rail more attractive, promoting modal shift, and contributing to regional and national environmental targets.”

The new Gosforth Metro depot has been built on behalf of Stadler by Volker FitzPatrick.
 
20th January 2023

Vintage Trains release update on steam locomotive No. 5080 Defiant​

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5080 tender​

A new Collett pattern tender body has been delivered to Tyseley Locomotive Works ready to be fitted to the chassis which will run with GWR Castle No. 5080 Defiant.

The Castle locomotive is an original single-chimney two-row superheater castle, so it is appropriate that the locomotive returns to service with a Collett tender.

This is the first step towards seeing this locomotive return to main line service.

Funds were provided by The Defiant Club and are expected to be sufficient enough to complete the refurbishment of the tender to a mainline standard.

Manufacturing the tender body, which was completed by Goodmans of Nottingham, was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, with the original manufacturer ceasing trading.

The new tender body will be fitted after the Castle 100 open weekend, which is planned for the 17th/18th June so the locomotive can be viewed as a complete locomotive at the event.

The next step in 5080’s restoration is to raise the funds required to overhaul the boiler, which is set to be carried out at Tyseley Locomotive Works.

This is expected to cost within the region of £300,000, subject to final assessment.
 
21st January 2023

Peterborough’s Nene Valley Railway to welcome steam locomotive No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley this April​

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Clever little photoshop - LNER pacific steam locmotive 4498/60007 Sir Nigel Gresley , at the level crossing at Grosmont station on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
Shown in Black livery , taken during the NYMR 2022 steam Gala , and also in British Railways Blue livery , taken in 2011...

The Nene Valley Railway have officially confirmed that they will welcome LNER A4 No. 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley this April.

The A4 locomotive will haul trains o the heritage railway between the 7th and 10th April as well as 15th and 16th April 2023.

Appearing in its BR Blue livery for the first time since overhaul, the A4 locomotive is also set to haul a number of other services, including Footplate Experiences, and The Jolly Fisherman service.

60007 appears thanks to the Sir Nigel Gresley Locomotive Trust
 
21st January 2023

Network Rail engineers to reroute track past Hook landslip​

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Hook landslip

This weekend, 21st/22nd January, the railway line at Hook in Hampshire, where there was an enormous landslip a week ago, is being remodelled to allow a better train service to operate while long-term repairs are carried out.

Last Saturday, 14th January, the landslip occurred on an embankment to the northeast of Hook station.

As a result, only two tracks of the four-track railway became unusable and only two of the tracks could be used by trains.

However, the line was designed so that both those tracks were for use by London-bound trains only.
 
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One of the tracks affected by the Hook landslip​

This weekend, all train services will be suspended as Network Rail will close the railway between Basingstoke and Woking to allow engineers to reconfigure the track layout and bypass the landslip.

The landslip is in a remote location, and to enable engineers to get materials and machinery to the site they needed to build a 580-metre-long access road across fields.

To repair the landslip, engineers will construct a retaining wall 60-metres long comprising nearly one hundred 12-metre long ‘sheet piles’.

These will be driven into the ground to stabilise the embankment and protect the railway from future landslips.

At the same time, the steepness of the embankment slope will be reduced to minimise the risk of material falling away in the future.
 
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Aerial view of the Hook landslip​

Network Rail Wessex Route Director Mark Killick said: “We’re going to move the track onto a stable section of the embankment so that we can have a line running in each direction.

“While it’s a very unusual approach to change the track layout, it means we can run more trains and give customers a much better experience while we fix the embankment.

“The only downside is that we will need to close the railway again once the embankment is repaired to restore the track layout to its original position, but it gives the least disruptive solution for our customers.

“In the meantime, we will be able to continue the embankment repairs, while running a significantly improved train service. We’ll have hundreds of engineers working round the clock, but we still expect the fix to take a number of weeks, as it’s a very complex engineering project.

“We’ll update customers with a more definitive timescale to reopen all four lines as soon as we can.”
Working with our colleagues at South Western Railway, after this weekend’s works, we will be able to offer a significantly improved service which will restore crucial transport links that have been cut off since the weekend.

“It also means trains can serve all stations again, with the exception of Hook station where trains travelling towards Basingstoke will not be able to stop due to the position of the landslip.”

“I’d like to say how sorry I am for the disruption our customers are facing. We’re working round the clock to fix the railway as quickly and safely as possible.

“Thank you in advance to the people who live nearby while we carry out the repairs. They’ve been very understanding and supportive.”
 
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Network Rail - Hook landslip - Mark Killick

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Claire Mann, South Western Railway’s managing director, said:

“We are very sorry for the ongoing disruption due to the landslip at Hook on Saturday 14, which has meant a severely reduced service on one of the country’s busiest railway lines.

“We know how frustrating this week has been for our customers, particularly those in the Hook, Winchfield, and Fleet areas, with trains unable to stop at these stations.

“Our colleagues at Network Rail are working around the clock and their work over the weekend means we will be able to reinstate direct services from London to Exeter and Weymouth on Monday 23, albeit with a reduced frequency.

“Until these initial works by Network Rail are completed, we must urge customers to only travel if absolutely necessary between Basingstoke and Woking. We would like to thank customers for their patience and understanding.”
 
21st January 2023

25,000 people travel on Vintage Trains’ Birmingham – Dorridge Polar Express trains​

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Passengers board The Polar Express​

During the month before Christmas, Vintage Trains operated a number of Polar Express special trains for families from the Great Western Railway’s original terminus in Birmingham at Moor Street station.

The trains ran between 25th November and 23rd December and carried 25,000 passengers, many of whom had not travelled on special trains before, with many of them being recent Eastern European migrants.
 
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