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2nd February 2023

Liverpool Central station to close temporarily as work starts to accommodate 8-car Class 777s​

The changes will see Liverpool Central closed for passengers travelling on the Northern Line and no services for the Hunts Cross Line for a three-day period​

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Merseyrail Class 777 777049 on Voltage Testing, pauses in platform 7 at a very wet Chester Station, working 5t71 Chester - Ellesmere Port on 05/06/2022

As Merseyrail continues the rollout of its brand new fleet of Class 777 trains, temporary changes to services during February will affect services operating on the Northern line.

The temporary period of change will allow for preparatory work for the train’s ongoing introduction to go ahead in the most efficient way possible and will see track alterations made in order to accommodate eight-car services at Liverpool Central station.

The temporary changes will see Liverpool Central station closed for Northern Line services from 22:00 on Sunday the 26th of February until the end of service on Wednesday the 1st of March.

The temporary changes will see the following services affected:

Hunts Cross line:
  • No services will operate from 22:00 on Sunday the 26th of February through to the end of service on Wednesday the 1st of March.
  • A rail-replacement bus service will run between Moorfields and Hunts Cross and will call at all stations along the Hunts Cross Line.
Southport and Ormskirk line:
  • From 22:00 on Sunday the 26th of February until 20:00 on Wednesday the 1st of March, services will operate every 20 minutes, starting and terminating at Moorfields.
  • From 22:00 on Sunday the 26th of February until Wednesday the 1st of March services operating after 20:00 will operate every 30 minutes
Kirkby line:
  • From 22:00 on Sunday the 26th of February until 20:00 on Wednesday the 1st of March, services will operate every 20 minutes, starting and terminating at Sandhills.
  • From 22:00 on Sunday the 26th of February until Wednesday the 1st of March services operating after 20:00 will operate every 30 minutes and start and terminate at Moorfields.
Southport, Ormskirk and Kirkby services will start and terminate at Sandhills from 20:00 on Wednesday the 1st of March. A rail replacement bus service will be in operation between Sandhills and Hunts Cross.

From the start of Service on Thursday the 2nd of March all routes will return to normal service.

During this period of work, the Wirral Line will not be affected.
 
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New Class 777 in service with Merseyrail

Zoe Hands, Chief Operating Officer at Merseyrail said:

“These planned works are a vital part of the modernisation of the Merseyrail network and will enable the continued rollout of the new Class 777 trains.

“We would like to apologise to our passengers for the disruption that is being caused and thank them for their patience while this essential work is being carried out.

“You can be assured that we do not take the decision to close Liverpool Central station to the Northern line lightly, and only after all other options have been exhausted.

“The work will finish as planned on Wednesday night, and all services will be fully operational on Thursday 2 March.”
 
2nd February 2023

Artificial intelligence to help reduce delays from leaves on the line​

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Network Rail leaf train​

To tackle the annual autumn challenge caused by ‘leaves on the line’, the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) is collaborating with the University of Sheffield in a project to develop a tool that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help predict low adhesion track conditions.

These conditions cost the rail industry around £350 million and are a serious safety and operational issue as they not only cause delays that affect train performance but can also result in trains station over running station stops and passing signals at danger.

The project is investigating how detailed information on local conditions can be used to tackle the problems associated with leaves on the line. The level of adhesion between train wheels and the rails is affected by a number of factors, including temperature, humidity, the presence of leaf layers, and other contaminants.


Artificial intelligence will be used to analyse data and high-resolution video footage to provide more accurate predictions about friction at the wheel-rail interface. An online tool being developed by the project should be ready for use by autumn 2023 and will allow users to enter data that will generate friction predictions for anywhere on the network.

Further information about the project can be found at https://www.rssb.co.uk/what-we-do/key-industry-topics/adhesion/adhere-adhesion-research-challenge
 
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This train washes the fallen leafs off the line - seen here at St Pinnock Viaduct in Cornwall​

Paul Gray, Professional Lead Engineering, RSSB said:

“While people may think of leaves on the line as a joke, or just an excuse used when a train is delayed, the reality is that it’s a very serious issue for the rail industry. Low adhesion causes significant safety risks and operational problems, costing millions of pounds to manage.

“Our new research project will use artificial intelligence and data analysis to predict and identify where and when low adhesion is going to occur on the rail network. This will allow targeted action at these specific locations, to help manage the safety risks and reduce delays.”

Roger Lewis, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Sheffield said:

“It is very exciting for the team at Sheffield and RSSB that our fundamental analysis of the causes of low adhesion as well as our extensive collection of data from track is now coming together to enable the development of the AI friction prediction tool that will help the railway industry with performance and safety issues around Autumn.”
 
2nd February 2023

Late Spring to Early Summer will see the new Corris steam locomotive enter traffic​

The new Falcon steam locomotive is set to enter public service running on the Corris Railway as the project's progress remains on target​

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Corris Railway Falcon in steam for the first time​

The 23rd of January saw a meeting between the Corris Railway and Alan Keef Ltd regarding the ongoing progress of the new Falcon steam locomotive which is expected that it will enter into public service later this year as the project remains on target for late spring/early summer.

The new locomotive saw its very first steaming take place in September 2022 and since then work has been continuous on the:
  • Mechanisms for the braking system
  • Injectors
  • Drain cocks.
Alongside the fitting work, skilled volunteers at the Corris Railway have made excellent use of the workshop in order to create handrails for the saddle tank’s top, work has also taken place to refurbish the brake valve which saw a saving on costs of approximately 90%.
 
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Trefor and Patrick with Patrick Keef ​

Whilst the meeting was underway, work was ongoing for the locomotive and saw a coal bunker constructed which will be located in the cab, and was modified from the original trio of Falcons which operate on the railway.

The bunker is loaded using a hinged section from the upper left cab side sheeting, this was completed due to a weakness in the originals which saw coal dust build-up at the bottom of the bunker which led to rusting however the removable nature of the section means that it can easily be accessed and cleaned, eradicating the issue.

Components are currently being put in place on the locomotive however, a major stage which is yet to take place will see it stripped down for painting before being reassembled.

The painting and the loco’s move by road from Alan Keef Ltd to Maespoeth Junction and is expected to cost a five-figure amount therefore fund-raising is ongoing.
 
2nd February 2023

Services into Liverpool Street to be disrupted for next six weekends​

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For the next six weekends, rail services between London Liverpool Street and Colchester, Southend Victoria, and Southminster will be disrupted due to planned engineering work to improve the reliability of the railway infrastructure.
 
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Greater Anglia train​

From 4th/5th February up to and including 11th/12 March, Network Rail will carry out important track and drainage work that will affect both Greater Anglia and Elizabeth line services into London.

Rail-replacement bus services will be provided via Newbury Park when the planned engineering work is taking place except on days when industrial action is taking place.

Customers should remember that bicycles and e-scooters are not allowed on Greater Anglia’s rail-replacement buses.

Details about the rail replacement services can be found on Greater Anglia’s website at www.greateranglia.co.uk

Engineering work will affect each weekend from 18th/19th February to replace wheel timbers on Clarkes Bridge and maintenance work on the overhead lines.

Each weekend from 25th/26th February up to and including 18th/19th March, services between Shenfield and Witham will be suspended because of construction work on a new station at Beaulieu Park.

There will be further closures in the lead-up to Easter, and the dates of that work will be advised in due course.

Further information about the construction of Beaulieu Park station, which is the first new station on the Great Eastern Main Line in 100 years, can be found at www.networkrail.co.uk/Beaulieu
 
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Artist’s impression of the new Beaulieu Park station​

Passengers intending to travel during the weekends can check their journey plans in advance by visiting www.greateranglia.co.uk, @tfl.gov.uk, or visit nationalrail.co.uk

Katie Frost Network Rail’s route director for Anglia, said:

“I would urge all passengers planning to travel at weekends to check their journey plans into London Liverpool Street as some weekend services will be affected.

Jamie Burles, Greater Anglia managing director, said:

“These essential projects will help improve rail travel in the region and make the railway fit for the future. We appreciate customers’ patience while the work takes place.

“Customers should check before they travel, particularly as some of the work affects weekday service, and allow more time for their journey.”
 
2nd February 2023

Department for Transport release Rail Factsheet for 2022​

Key statistics for surface rail in Great Britain are revealed in the factsheet up to the end of March 2022​

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The Department for Transport has released its Rail Factsheet covering key statistics for surface rail up to March 2022.

The factsheet provides an overview of the year and also offers a comparison with the years ending March 2021 and March 2022.

This article offers a brief look at some areas included on the factsheet, to read the factsheet in full please visit:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/rail-factsheet-2022/rail-factsheet-2022

Recovery from the pandemic:

Public transport has been hugely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic with rail journeys hitting an all-time low in April and May 2020, achieving 96% less than in 2019.

Despite the massive drop in rail use, figures through 2021 and 2022 have shown a steady return of passengers with March 2022 showing that rail journeys had reached 73% when compared to pre-Covid-19 figures.
 
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Domestic transport use by mode, indexed to equivalent time periods prior to COVID-19: Great Britain,
1 December 2020 to 31 March 2022​

Facts regarding Great Britain’s railway up to March 2022:
  • 2,570 stations
  • 9,864 miles of route of which 3,574 miles are electrified
  • 24 Train Operating Companies
  • The railways employ approximately 62,000 full-time employees
Comparing rail travel to other modes of transport:

During 2021 the car was by far the most popular mode of transport with rail only accounting for just over 1% of all journeys in England.

These figures showed an increase from 2020 and were substantially lower than in 2019 due to the pandemic.

Prior to the pandemic, long-term rail demand was growing and 20 years previous to Covid-19 had seen figures almost double with an all-time high of 1.8 billion journeys recorded in March 2019 with a huge growth of 155.2% when compared to 2018.

Sadly the pandemic took its toll on this impressive growth and as of March 2022 were still hitting below the peak at 990 million journeys.

The most used stations in Great Britain in March 2022 were:
  • London Waterloo station with 41,426,042 entries and exits
  • London Victoria station with 36,776,338 entries and exits
  • London Bridge station with 33,309,348 entries and exits
  • London Liverpool Street with 32,165,310 entries and exits
  • Stratford station in London with 28,182,238 entries and exits
  • London Paddington station with 23,870,510 entries and exits
  • London Euston station with 23,097,606 entries and exits
  • Birmingham New Street station with 22,682,526 entries and exits
  • London Kings Cross station with 20,476,492 entries and exits
  • Manchester Piccadilly station with 19,581,442 entries and exits
Demand for rail travel grew across all major cities as measures to curb the transmission of Covid-19 were relaxed.

2021 Also saw peak AM and PM travel times return to their pre-covid patterns, this was due to people avoiding travelling at peak time whilst measures were in place.

Throughout 2021 in England, commuting was given as the most popular reason for travelling by rail with 49% of journeys attributed to this and was followed by 32% of rail journeys made for leisure.
 
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Percentage of trains ‘on time’ and percentage cancellation score, year ending March 2015 to year ending March 2022 (Moving annual averages)​

Passenger complaints had also seen an increase across Great Britain up to March 2022 in the following areas:

  • Punctuality and reliability saw 18.5% of all complaints, an increase from the 2020 to 2021 period
  • Space for all passengers to sit or stand saw 8.7% of all complaints, an increase from the 2020 to 2021 period
  • Ticketing and refund policies saw 7.3% of all complaints which was less than the 2020 to 2021 period.
  • Facilities on board saw 7.2% of all complaints, an increase from the 2020 to 2021 period
  • Personal security on board saw 4.7% of all complaints, an increase from the 2020 to 2021 period
Up to the year ending of March 2022, 282,537 complaints were finalised by rail operators which were a huge 112.4% higher than the previous period.

Freight:

Up to the end of March 2022 saw an increase in rail freight movements to a massive 10.48 billion net tonne miles, a growth of 11.3% compared to the previous period.

This figure still sits substantially lower than its all-time peak recorded in 2014 which saw 14.11 billion net tonne miles achieved.

To read the factsheet in full please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/rail-factsheet-2022/rail-factsheet-2022
 
2nd February 2023

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Let it shine: Bristol Temple Meads will illuminate the sky for Bristol Light Festival

Region & Route: Wales & Western: Western | Wales & Western

Network Rail is supporting this year’s edition of the Bristol Light Festival, held from Friday 3 February until Sunday 12 February, by lighting up the iconic Bristol Temple Meads station in dazzling blue and pink.

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Bristol Temple Meads lit up in blue​

The festival, which is now in it’s third year, aims to bring light and colour to Bristol this winter by illuminating the city centre with captivating, immersive and playful light installations, promising to add music and fun to the cold evenings.

The event will span 10 days, including two weekends, making it the longest edition to date.

Last year the event attracted 170,000 visitors, who turned out to view installations by local, national and internationally renowned light artists.

Visitors to the 2023 edition can take in the full city centre experience by stopping off at the numerous independent food and drink outlets as well as shops along the way.

Bernadette Sachse, Network Rail’s station manager for Bristol Temple Meads, said:

“We’re really pleased to be taking part in this year’s Bristol Light Festival, lighting up our iconic station to greet the many visitors who are expected to come to the city to experience a bit of winter magic.

“Having these incredible light artists set up on our doorstep is wonderful and we’re sure this year’s expanded edition of the festival will be a smashing success.”

Vicky Lee, head of Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District, said:

“We want to bring a sense of fun, togetherness, and joy to the city across the final winter month and are so pleased to have Network Rail onboard.

“Bristol Light Festival will literally brighten up the city centre and encourage visitors to explore Bristol at night, enjoying the centre’s rich selection of businesses along the way.

“We are thrilled to have such a fantastic line up of content and to bolster Bristol’s creative reputation with a winter event that will help the city to have a positive start to the new year. The event embodies everything that Bristol represents and showcases it as the vibrant, playful and creative city that we know and love.”

To find out more about Bristol Light Festival, visit the website: https://bristollightfestival.org/

Maps showing the festival sites can be picked up from the information office at Bristol Temple Meads.
 
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3rd February 2023

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New station opened for Inverness Airport​

Airport station ++

Trains are calling at the new station serving Inverness Airport from today, after the Scottish Government’s transport minister Jenny Gilruth opened the station yesterday.

The station at Dalcross is part of a £42 million Scottish Government investment which has also paid for a 950m passing loop to improve capacity north of Inverness on the line towards Aberdeen.

Transport Scotland said the new station will also improve transport links to the new town of Tornagrain and to the growing Inverness Airport Business Park.

Welsh upgrade study ++

The Welsh Government and the Department for Transport have announced a £2.7 million study into improving the main line in South Wales, and adding five more stations to attract people away from the congested M4.

Although the DfT has not named the potential station sites, the contenders could be Newport Road (Cardiff), Cardiff Parkway (St Mellons), Newport West, Newport East (Somerton), Llanwern and Magor.

Cardiff Parkway is already planned.

Wales secretary David T.C. Davies said: ‘

Good transport connections between south Wales and western England are essential for the economy in Wales, enabling businesses to grow and flourish. I’m pleased to work with the Welsh Government on plans that could have a huge impact on the many thousands of people who use the transport network in south Wales every day.‘

Free TfL travel ++

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has agreed to provide free travel to the cleaning staff employed by firms who have contracts with Transport for London.

Their union the RMT had been campaigning for years on behalf of the 5,800 cleaners, and RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said:

‘This is another step in the right direction by the Mayor of London and we’re calling on him to extend it to all TfL sub-contracted workers. Sadiq Khan’s welcome action stands in stark contrast to the Tories who earlier in the week forced legislation through the House of Commons that would remove these workers’ right to strike. Instead of attack.'
 
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3rd February 2023

Change of Class 37 locomotive for upcoming Vintage Trains tours including trips to Cardiff and Ravenglass / Carlisle​

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BR Class 37 No. 37403 'Isle of Mull' on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway​

Vintage Trains has announced that there has been a change of Class 37 for some upcoming tours.

These tours were originally expected to be hauled by Class 37 No. 37240, but will now be hauled by SRPS owned Class 37 No. 37403.

The tours which have had a change of loco are
  • The South Wales Explorer to Cardiff & Cwmbargoedor in South Wales on Saturday 11th March
  • The Cumbrian Coast Explorer to Ravenglass & Carlisle on Saturday 3rd June
  • The East Anglian Explorer to Norwich & Great Yarmouth on Wednesday 19th July (to be confirmed, but expected)
  • The Jolly Fisherman to Skegness on Saturday 29th July (to be confirmed but expected)
 
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37240 Nottingham on July 1, 2022

It is the first time Vintage Trains has operated trains with 37403, which appears in BR Large Logo Livery.

The locomotive is normally based in Bo’ness in Scotland.

The change of loco comes as 37240 is not yet ready for service.

An examination has found that it needs replacement wheel bearings, which are currently on order.

Other than these, the loco is ready for service and Vintage Trains hopes to have 37240 back on the rails as soon as possible.
 
3rd February 2023

New study exploring more rail links between South Wales and England​

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In a £2.7 million study funded by the UK government, the UK and Welsh governments are looking at options for opening new stations and services on the South Wales Main Line.

The study results from recommendations by Lord Peter Hendy’s Union Connectivity Review in 2021, which looked at transport connectivity across the UK, especially the need to relieve congestion on the M4.

Included in the study are a number of options that will consider developing five new stations between Cardiff and the Severn Tunnel.

Following research carried out for the report, it was shown travel across the border between Wales and England was of high importance, as a large number of people travel across the border daily for work, services, and leisure.

The report also proposed reviewing the route between north Wales and north-west England, making provision for better connectivity with HS2, and a package of improvements to increase rail connections and reduce journey times by rail between Cardiff, Birmingham, and beyond.

After the publication of the report, the UK government committed itself to establish and strengthen transport links that will create a more cohesive and connected United Kingdom.
 
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Newport station​

Transport Minister, Richard Holden said:

“Delivering better transport links is a vital part of how we transform opportunities for people from across the United Kingdom.

“That’s why I am so delighted that working with the Welsh Government, we are getting the ball rolling on in-depth work to boost connectivity and drive growth.”

Secretary of State for Wales David TC Davies said:

“Good transport connections between south Wales and western England are essential for the economy in Wales, enabling businesses to grow and flourish and making life easier for people to travel for work and leisure.

“This funding from the UK government is vital in exploring how best to relieve congestion across south Wales. I’m pleased to work with the Welsh Government on plans that could have a huge impact on the many thousands of people who use the transport network in south Wales every day.”

Lee Waters MS, Deputy Minister for Climate Change, said:

“This is a key step to tackle congestion around Newport and was one of the main recommendations of the Burns Commission, which was endorsed by Lord Peter Hendy’s Union Connectivity Review.

“The business case is compelling and we are keen to make progress so that we can get more people onto South Wales Main Line trains, complementing Welsh Government’s investments in improving access to rail."
 
3rd February 2023

Bluebell Railway sees the return of steam locomotive Fenchurch this half term!​

No. 72 Fenchurch will be back in action at the heritage railway and working its first public trains from the 11th to the 19th of February​

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‘Fenchurch’ in A1 form at Horsted Keynes​

Bluebell Railway will see No. 72 ‘Fenchurch’ return following overhaul and will be operating public trains from Sheffield Park to Horsted Keynes for the February Half Term from Saturday the 11th to Friday the 19th of February.

London Brighton & South Coast Railway Class A1 Stroudly Terrier 0-6-0T No. 672 ‘Fenchurch’ was built in 1872.

The class operated on the South London Line and was light by design in order to provide swift acceleration for suburban services where stations were close together and were extremely successful.

Throughout Fenchurch’s, hard-working life saw service on the South London Line before being purchased by the Newhaven Harbour Company which passed into Southern Railways charge in 1926.

In its British Rail days, Fenchurch operated as No.32636 and was celebrated as one of the oldest locomotives working on the network.
 
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Ice Skating at Bluebell Railway​

The Bluebell Railway has 11 miles of track running through the stunning Sussex countryside and first began operations as one of the first preserved heritage lines in the country, in August 1960.

With a fantastic collection of steam locomotives and carriages many of which were placed into preservation immediately following British Rail service.

The railway is well suited to families and offers an array of activities and this half term will see:
  • Kids For A Quid Travel Offer – the offer is available right through the February half-term period for children aged 3 to 15 years who can travel for just £1 with a fare-paying adult.
  • Ice Skating – Sheffield Park Engine Shed will once again be turned into a skating rink. Skating sessions last for 45 minutes and each session starts on the hour and costs £14 for adults and £10 for children and can be booked online. Skating aids are available to hire!
Services will operate between Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes during the February Half Term.
 
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3rd February 2023

Major signalling work between Feltham and Wokingham will continue over the February half-term​

Network Rail will continue work to upgrade old signalling systems and will see a dual railway closure for a period of nine days.​

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Signalling Systems​

Work by Network Rail to upgrade old signalling systems in order to bring them in line with modern standards will be ongoing this February half term.

The ongoing work will see a dual railway closure for 9 days from Saturday the 11th to Sunday the 19th of February.

Whilst the closure is underway, rail replacement buses will be in operation from Staines to Windsor & Eton Riverside.

During the latter weekend, rail replacement buses will also run from Hounslow to Virginia Water.

From Monday the 13th to Friday the 17th of February, a midweek rail closure will also take place between Reading and Bracknell and Reading and Guilford simultaneously.

Mark Killick, Network Rail’s Wessex route director, said:

“It’s really great to see phase three and four of this huge re signalling project taking place. The current signalling system dates back to the early 1970s and during a long-term programme, we’ve been modernising it to improve reliability across the Southern region.

“We’re aware that the Wessex route can sometimes be one of the worst affected in terms of signalling issues and completing this work will help prevent those incidents and will allow us to increase capacity for trains with fewer delays, improved safety and lower running costs.

“We’d like to thank customers for their patience and bearing with us.”
 
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Engineer testing new signalling equipment

Whilst the rail closure is underway the following work will also take place:
  • Painting of the canopies at Windsor & Eton Riverside
  • Renewal of the footbridge at Ashford station
  • Renewal of Star Lane Level Crossing
  • Vegetation clearance along the line including litter clearance
  • Surveying of the railway infrastructure.
Passengers are advised to check their travel plans ahead of making a journey by visiting nationalrail.co.uk

Christian Neill, South Western Railway’s service delivery director, said:

“We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by these closures, but these works are essential for the maintenance and improvement of the railway, and customers can look forward to more reliable services once this new signalling system is fully delivered. We advise customers to check before travelling and to allow extra time to complete their journeys using the rail replacement buses that will be operating.”

Steven Hawker, Great Western Railway’s station manager for the North Downs Line, said:

“These works are essential to maintaining and improving the railway and while it has been timed for half-term to interrupt as few customers as possible, we thank our customers for their patience during this time.

“Great Western Railway services between Reading and Gatwick Airport will be affected from Monday 13 to Friday 17 February as well as Sunday 19 February, so we encourage passengers to check their journey beforehand.”

The work being carried out comes as part of a £375m programme which began in 2021 and will cover 80 miles of railway and 500 pieces of signalling equipment. Follow-up work will be ongoing for stage five of the project which is set to be finalised in early 2024.
 
4th February 2023

More room and supplementary fare removed on Highland Explorer service​

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ScotRail Class 153

From 1st April, extra carriages and cycle spaces are being added to ScotRail’s Highland Explorer service and the supplementary fare is being removed.

The additional fare to use the Highland Explorer service on the Mallaig branch of the West Highland Line is to be removed, whilst more carriages and an additional 20 cycle spaces are being added to the service to provide more seats and enhanced on-board facilities for customers.

From the start of the summer timetable at the end of March, two services each day will have the carriages.

An early morning service will operate from Mallaig to Glasgow Queen Street on Tuesdays to Saturdays and an evening service from Glasgow Queen Street to Mallaig will run on Mondays to Fridays.

The Mallaig to Glasgow Queen Street early morning service will call at Fort William during the morning peak to provide more seats for commuters.

As well as benefitting cyclists, the changes will benefit local communities as the extra carriages will provide 15 per cent more seats, more luggage space, and access to an additional toilet.

The Highland Explorer carriages feature larger, cushioned seats, USB and plug charging points, maps incorporated in tables detailing the route with recommendations on where to walk, cycle, and visit.

Also, each table has QR codes that provide links to suggestions for other places to visit in Scotl
 
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ScotRail's 156445 slows to a halt at Corrour station with 1Y41 0822 Glasgow Queen Street to Mallaig service​

The additional charge that was previously added to Highland Explorer tickets is being removed from 1st April 2023, meaning that passengers using the will have access to the active travel carriage without needing to pay a £10 supplement.

As the supplementary charge is being withdrawn, from next Thursday, 9th February, the £10 Highland Explorer ticket for travel on 1 April onwards will also be withdrawn and all seats within the carriage will be available at the standard class fare.

Previously, the supplement charged for Highland Explorer tickets provided customers with guaranteed access to the carriage and a hospitality service when it was available.

ScotRail has not yet finalised the procedures for making seat reservations on the services from 1st April onwards, but will make the details available as soon as possible.
 
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Glenfinnan Viaduct as seen on the Harry Potter movies

Lesley Kane, ScotRail Commercial Director, said:

“Our Highland Explorer carriages were the first of their kind in the UK, and can accommodate up to 20 cycles, allowing more people before to enjoy the iconic scenery the West Highland Line has to offer.

“The changes we’re making, by removing the additional fare for our Highland Explorer service and by introducing the carriages to the Mallaig line, proves that we’ve been listening to feedback from both customers and stakeholders on how make the most of these fantastic carriages and deliver the best service possible.

“Customers will benefit from more seats as the whole train will be accessible for the price of a standard class ticket, and customers will no longer have to pay an additional charge to sit with their bikes.

“These changes will help make the service a more attractive option, as well as support active travel and our continued recovery from the pandemic.”

Karen McGregor, Scotland Director at Sustrans, added:

“The Highland Explorer services have already shown the positive impact of public transport and active travel working hand in hand.

“From families planning days out on traffic-free National Cycle Network routes to experienced cyclists setting off along the iconic Caledonia Way, the Highland Explorer carriages make it easier to leave the car at home and experience the stunning west coast by foot or by bike.

“We’re delighted to see more, sustainable travel options created for joined-up everyday journeys, and for everyone hoping to enjoy some of Scotland’s most famous walking, wheeling and cycling routes.”

John Barnes, Vice-President Friends of the West Highland Lines, said:

“It is good news that the 153 carriages are now planned to provide a service north of Crianlarich over Rannoch Moor and onward to Fort William and Mallaig.

“It is important that the Outdoor Capital of the UK is served by these carriages, and we hope to be seeing them on even more trains in the future.

“Both Friends of the West Highland Lines and the West Highland Community Rail Partnership have raised our concerns about the Highland Explorer surcharge for some time, so we are delighted that it will now be removed.”
 
4th February 2023

Steam locomotive 34028 Eddystone to visit the North Norfolk Railway​

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The North Norfolk Railway has announced that SR ‘West Country’ No. 34028 ‘Eddystone’ will be visiting them for their Spring Steam Gala.

Taking place between the 14th and 16th April 2023, the gala will see an intensive timetable with double-heading, non-stop expresses, local stopers and goods trains.

34028 Eddystone visits Norfolk thanks to Southern Locomotives Ltd and the Swanage Railway.

Joining Eddystone will be resident locomotives from a pool, including GER Class Y14 No. 564; 1957-built BR Standard 4MT No. 76084; powerful 2-10-0 , BR Standard 9F No. 92203 “Black Prince”; Somerset & Dorset 7F No. 53809 dating from 1925; and War Department 2-10-0 No. 90775 “The Royal Norfolk Regiment”
 
5th February 2023

SPOTLIGHT

British Rail Class 09​

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BR Green livery shunter, under all the dirt, was Eastleigh class 09025 seen at the station on 28th August 1976

The British Rail Class 09 is a class of 0-6-0 diesel locomotive designed primarily for shunting and short-distance freight trips along branch lines.

The 26 locos are nearly identical to the more numerous Class 08 shunting locomotives but have different gearing, giving a higher top speed of 27.5 mph (44 km/h) at the expense of a lower tractive effort.

They were introduced from 1959 to 1962 and latterly operated in the Southern Region of British Railways, although some of the class were originally allocated to depots in the Midlands and North.

Further locomotives were converted from Class 08 in 1992 and, following this and privatisation in 1997, the class has been distributed much further afield.
 
Class 09 Fleet

BR (Pre Tops)BR (Tops)BR (09/0)BR (Dept)BR (09/1)BR (09/2)Date To ServiceRebuilt FromDate WithdrawnSvc Age (Yrs)FateWhenTot Age (Yrs)
D3536084210920108/08/195822/09/1992 from 0864.50
D36650900102/02/1959Preserved64.01
D36660900203/02/195925/09/199233.58Preserved64.01
D36670900319/02/195963.97
D36680900417/02/195931/07/200748.42Preserved63.97
D36690900519/02/1959Scrapped63.97
D36700900625/03/195963.87
D36710900726/03/1959Preserved63.87
D37190900813/04/195963.82
D37200900915/04/195963.82
D37210901013/04/1959Preserved63.82
D3787086200920526/09/195910/12/1992 from 0863.37
D3884087170920419/05/196023/10/1992 from 08Preserved62.72
D3900087320920208/09/196024/11/1992 from 0862.41
D3917087490910412/12/196005/01/1993 from 0862.15
D3927087590910616/02/196109/06/1993 from 0861.97
D3934087660910328/03/196105/01/1993 from 0861.86
D3949087810920309/04/196002/10/1992 from 0862.83
D4000088320910229/10/196022/09/1992 from 0862.27
D4001088330910105/11/196017/08/1992 from 0862.25
D4003088350910512/11/196015/03/1993 from 0862.24
D4013088450910702/05/196123/07/1993 from 0861.77
D40990901119/09/196161.38
D41000901226/09/196161.36
D41010901303/10/1961Scrapped 61.35
D41020901412/10/196161.32
D41030901526/10/1961Preserved61.28
D41040901626/10/1961Scrapped 61.28
D4105090179780607/11/196161.25
D41060901813/11/196161.23
D41070901916/11/196161.22
D41080902023/11/196161.21
D41090902129/11/196131/12/200746.08Scrapped 07/200846.66
D41100902208/12/196161.16
D41110902315/12/196161.15
D41120902422/12/196161.13
D41130902504/01/196231/08/200543.58Preserved61.09
D41140902621/01/196201/10/200543.75Preserved61.04
 
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Post-Privatisation​

The following liveries have been carried since the privatisation of British Rail:
  • 09006/007/019/024 carried Mainline Freight livery
  • 09008 in EWS livery
  • 09025 in Connex Livery
  • 09204 in Arriva TrainCare livery
  • 09201 in Railfreight grey and is currently in the Knottingley area working at EWS Depot
image.png

Class09 09006 in Mainline Freight livery, Southall, 21 September 1996​
 
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