Marcus' Model Railway Journey

28th February 2023

Tramtown Vision launched to secure future of Blackpool’s tram heritage​

Tram 717

Plans to secure the continued operation of Blackpool’s heritage trams has moved forward with the launch of Tramtown Vision, to secure the future of the town’s tram heritage centre project.

The Vision is based on four parts, and the combined efforts from public donations, ticket sales from visitors to Tramtown, and support from Blackpool Council and Blackpool Transport have secured the necessary finance to deliver phase one.

In Phase One, a third of the Tramshed will receive a new roof, new head beam, and a new partition wall.

The gutters and drains will also be repaired, and the engineering equipment relocated to the redeveloped facility.

This will ensure that heritage trams can receive ongoing maintenance and continue running for years to come.

With the public’s support, an enhanced Phase One scheme can be delivered by installing new purpose-built doors for a third of the Tram shed.

These new purpose-built doors will cost £70,000, but their benefit is that they will keep wind and rain out of the new facility, create better working conditions for the engineers, and protect the trams stored in that part of the Tramshed.

It would result in the Tramshed’s first truly water-tight area and support the next three development phases.

As well as helping support the maintenance and development of the Tram fleet, Tramtown will support Blackpool’s regeneration by bringing in visitors and creating economic growth, as well as ensuring the future of Blackpool’s transport heritage is assured for the future.

Anyone wishing to support the appeal for new doors for the Tramshed can do so at the project’s gofundme page at Donate to Rigby Road Tram Shed Doors.

Every penny raised will take the project closer to its target to provide a safe and inspirational future for Blackpool’s heritage and Illuminated trams.

Blackpool Heritage Trams

A funding bid work is now being prepared for the three other phases of Tramtown.

That includes a complete replacement of the roof on the remaining two-thirds of the depot, new doors, and a new exhibition area that will include a cafe, conference facilities, retail areas, and a mezzanine floor, which will allow visitors the chance to walk and view all the trams from above.

28th February 2023

East Anglia Railway Museum makes progress on steam locomotive No. 9621​

Work has progressed on the rebuilding of the N7 9621 boiler in 2023, hopefully seeing a full return to steam in 2024.

Heritage Boiler Steam Services based in Liverpool have been working on a new firebox, fitting of transverse stays, sling stay bracketry and most recently; outer door plating for the outer wrapper.

During this process, engineers will be working on the doubling plates for the inner copper door.

This process was waiting on the return of the copper tubing from being machined, as the thickness requirement is different for both the tube nest and the remainder of the plating (1″ for the tube nest and 9/16″ for the rest of the plating).

Engineers hope to move forward with getting the newly constructed outer firebox paired with the boiler barrel, to line up correctly with the holes that were added during the forming process which will then act as the new copper inner firebox.

The frames for the firebox (located at Chappel) are progressing nicely despite also assisting with other projects.

Refitting of the brake rigging has also progressed nicely, with JB engineering soon to undertake the removal of the pistons which will allow for the matching of the valve bores.

The team in Liverpool is now looking to deliver the new completed N7 boiler by late 2023 or early 2024 if finances are good enough.

1st March 2023

RMT to join ASLEF in Underground strike​

Underground strike ++

Members of the RMT are joining ASLEF in a 24-hour strike on 15 March, which is Budget day.

The unions are in dispute with Transport for London over jobs, pensions and contracts.

The RMT said that staff ‘deserve decent pensions, job security and good working conditions’, but TfL denied that pension changes were on the table, adding that ‘We want to make London Underground a better place to work so we urge ASLEF and the RMT to call off this damaging strike’.

Most train operators on the Underground are members of ASLEF, while RMT’s membership includes station staff.

Freight trains ++

Rail Partners, which lobbies on behalf of the private sector, has unveiled new research into the prospects for freight on trains.

The group says if the government sets an ‘ambitious’ target to treble the amount of rail freight by 2050, the economic benefits would be almost £5.2 billion a year and replace 20 million lorry journeys annually.

Rail Partners, whose members include the five largest freight operators, is quoting conclusions by the environmental data analysis consultants Aether, the Logistics Institute at the University of Hull and Railfreight Consulting.

Eastern promise ++

Rail investment in the East is not keeping pace with the economic, social and environmental needs of the region according the regional partnership Transport East.

It has published a report, ‘State of Rail in the East’, which highlights poor connections, particularly between Norwich and Ipswich, and Cambridge and Peterborough.

It adds that trains are slow, compared with services on other main lines, leading to longer journeys.

Frequencies are also poor, especially on local lines serving smaller communities, and to Stansted Airport.

Rail degrees ++

Aston University is inviting former students to get in touch to help it to celebrate 50 years of transport education.

Transport studies at Aston began in 1973, when the subject appeared as part of a combined honours degree course.

The first transport students graduated in 1976.

In 1982 the course became a degree in its own right and 40 years later the university is still teaching the transport professionals of the future.

1st March 2023

Inside The Train Shed

Made some good progress today.

I've reached the half way point in upper assembly manufacture.

Here's a drawing of how the baseboard assemblies are made up.

The drawing is not to scale.

Here's an assembly showing the baseboard with the two end pieces fitted.

The side pieces can be seen waiting to be clamped into place.

You can also see some of the usual tools I use.

Clamps, square and technical adjuster (hammer).

Ribs fitted.

Legs are to be cut to length and fitted at a later date.

Usual mess!

The test roads baseboard is used as an extra table at the moment.

1st March 2023

Network Rail urges passengers to check before they travel as multi-million-pound Ebbw Vale upgrade continues​

Region & Route: Wales & Western: Wales & Borders


The Ebbw Vale line will be closed on three separate occasions across March and April, with further closures planned between May and July, as considerable work continues to be carried out across the entire line.

Engineers from Network Rail and principal contractor, Amco, will continue platform construction work at both Llanhilleth and Newbridge stations and install part of a new fully accessible footbridge and lifts at Llanhilleth station.

Network Rail’s internal Construction Services team will undertake substantial track work between Crosskeys and Crumlin and alongside our contractors Siemens, we will continue to upgrade and renew signals along the line.

This work is part of the Ebbw Vale enhancement scheme that will enable an additional hourly passenger service from Ebbw Vale to Newport in the future.

The dates of the upcoming closures across March and April are:

• Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 March
• Saturday 25 to Thursday 30 March (inclusive)
• Sunday 23 April to Sunday 30 April (inclusive)

During these line closures, buses will replace trains between Ebbw Vale Town and Cardiff Central. Passengers are urged to plan ahead and check www.nationalrail.co.uk before travelling.

As well as line closures, Network Rail will close Colliery Way, opposite St Illtyd’s Primary School from 05.00 on Tuesday 27 to 05.00 on Thursday 29 March and again at the end of April (exact dates TBC) to safely lift in the stairs and bridge for the new fully accessible footbridge at Llanhilleth station.

A fully signposted diversionary route will be in place during these periods.

Last October, there was a nine-day closure of the line to replace Bridge Street rail bridge in Newbridge, install new track and regrade an embankment near Riverside Park.

In addition to this, 53km of new signalling cable was installed as well as four trackside cabinets to house the new signalling equipment.

Nick Millington, interim route director at Network Rail Wales & Borders, said:

“It’s fantastic to see the transformation of the Ebbw Vale line really taking shape after last year’s huge upgrades and our continued work in 2023. This multi-million-pound investment will transform services on the line and really benefit the communities it serves.

“I would like to thank the local communities and passengers, in advance, for their patience while we safely carry out this work.”

Tom Edwards, Project Manager at Network Rail, said:

“As well as enabling more frequent services in the future, it is vital that we deliver this new footbridge and lifts at Llanhilleth station to provide accessible, step-free access for those who need it.

“We know there is never a right time to carry out work of this nature but closing the line and specific roads will allow us unlimited access to the railway to safely complete this essential work.”

This £70m project has been funded by Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council via a loan from the Welsh Government.

The Department for Transport and Network Rail are providing a further £17m of funding to deliver the signalling upgrade and renewal work.

Work will continue across the whole Ebbw Vale Line until late Summer 2023.

Further line closures will be needed to carry out the work safely:

• Sunday 21 May
• Wednesday 24 May to Sunday 11 June (inclusive)
• Sunday 18 June
• Sunday 25 June
• Sunday 2 July
• Sunday 9 July
• Sunday 16 July

Traffic Management:

Road closure: To enable us to safely lift the new footbridge into place, we need to temporarily close Colliery Way, adjacent to the site compound, opposite St Illtyd’s Primary School, from 05.00 on Tuesday 27 to 05.00 on Thursday 29 March and again at the end of April (exact date TBC).

A fully signposted diversionary route will be in place during these periods.

If we can offer safe access to pedestrians through the road closure, we will – however, please note that this will be dependent on site activities.

Access will be maintained for vehicles to and from the Institute (via Meadow Street bridge) and the rugby club (from the A467 only).

Traffic lights: From Monday 6 February, there will be two-way traffic lights at the entrance to the station car park.

This is to enable a cable diversion as well as work to the new platform at the northern end of the station, to take place safely.

1st March 2023

Rail freight could boost UK’s economy by £5.2bn annually by 2050​

A new report by Rail Partners suggests that a growing rail freight market if it is supported by the right policies, can deliver significant economic and environmental benefits between now and 2050.

Rail Partners is the trade body that brings together the five largest freight operators that between them move 99% of this country’s rail freight.

The report titled “Freight expectations: How rail freight can support Britain’s economy and environment.” includes independent analysis by Aether, which is an Air Quality and Climate Change Emissions Consultancy, the University of Hull’s Logistics Institute, and Railfreight Consulting, that highlights how rail freight has an environmental advantage over the road haulage sector.

The report also shows that if the rail freight sector was supported by the right policy environment, it could flourish and help to support a more prosperous and greener economy in the future.

When comparing today’s road and rail traffic, Aether concluded that a typical freight train produces 76% less CO2 per tonne than the equivalent movement by road.

By operating longer and heavier freight trains, rail freight operators are significantly improving productivity and growing the rail freight market.

Analysis shows how these innovative services ease road congestion, as each train removes up to 129 HGVs from the road network, while further enhancing rail freight’s carbon and air quality performance.

If the Government were to set an ambitious target to treble rail freight by 2050, the sector would deliver a minimum of nearly £5.2bn in economic benefits.

It would also support road decongestion and improve air quality, with a forecast that the sector needs to remove over 20 million HGV journeys annually.

To achieve the ambitious target of trebling freight, a largely private rail freight sector will be needed to work in partnership with the government.

In order to grow and decarbonise the freight sector, freight operators and their customers will need to invest in new assets and infrastructure.

So that freight operators have the confidence to make these investments, Rail Partners and its members have called for the government to deliver the following policy framework:

• set an ambitious growth target of trebling rail freight by 2050;
• maintain a stable access, charging, and performance regime;
• make optimal use of existing capacity on the rail network;
• target infrastructure investments in those areas of the network that have a high potential for growth in freight;
• expand the incentives to make rail the mode of choice for freight customers.

Rail Partners’ chief executive, Andy Bagnall, said:

“With the right support, rail freight can deliver for Britain – boosting the economy and reducing carbon emissions as well as improving air quality and reducing congestion, especially in cities.

“We welcome recent commitments to deliver rail reform and must now focus on the detail. Setting an ambitious rail freight growth target – underpinned by legislation – is critical to capturing the benefits that a vibrant rail freight sector can offer.”

Morwen Mands, Head of Sustainability at Highland Spring Group – who feature within one of the case studies in the report and recently made an investment in a new rail-connected facility – said:

“Environmental sustainability has been at the heart of our business for over 40 years, and our new rail freight facility is a critical part of our commitment to tackling climate change and being a considerate neighbour to the local community.

“We believe the landmark project in Blackford is an excellent example of the power of partnership working between the rail industry, government and business which will provide wider benefits to the Scottish environment and economy. We hope this facility inspires other businesses to explore using rail freight to support their own journey to net zero.”

Welcoming the new analysis, CEO Andrea Rossi said it gave further weight to the company’s argument that ‘Freight Belongs on Rail.’

“We’ve spent the last two years lobbying politicians and civil servants of the significant economic and environmental benefits of rail freight over road haulage,” said Andrea.

“Freight Belongs On Rail. We know it. Our existing customers know it. The public knows it. We now need the UK Government to work with us to enable more of it to switch from road to rail.” he added.

“Setting a clear and ambitious target for rail freight growth, like already exists in Scotland, will give confidence in the sector, stimulate investment and unlock rail freight’s true potential.”

Andrea said the latest research, commissioned by Rail Partners, showed the size of the economic and environmental benefits was increasing all the time, with freight operating companies now able to run longer and heavier trains.

He said DB Cargo UK’s pioneering use of hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO) to fuel its locomotive fleet was also helping to drive down carbon emissions even further.

“This latest research shows that a single freight train can now carry the equivalent of 129 HGVs. If you then run that train on HVO, as opposed to diesel, the reduction in carbon emissions is even greater!” added Andrea.

1st March 2023

Lake District railway to install fully accessible facilities​

Later this year the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway will be installing a fully accessible changing room and toilet at a station.

This project, funded by Copeland Council’s Changing Places fund, will provide freedom at the station to those with complex needs.

The Council has drawn £68,000 from the fund to design the facility which will be carried out by the railway.

The state of the art facility will be made in a converted building on platform one of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway site.

The toilet will be available to anyone with out of hours being accessed by Radar key.

The facility will have adult sized changing bench as well as hoists and space for carers.

The railway hope that this will make the railway more accessible along side their disabled parking spaces and access to the platform.

Mike Starkie, Elected Mayor of Copeland, said:

“It’s fantastic to see another Changing Places room built – we already have one in our swimming pool at Whitehaven and it is very well used. It’s also good to see we are partnering a great local business, the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, to deliver it.

“It’s important everyone is able to get out and visit our top class attractions and countryside. These purpose-built facilities mean everyone can have a day out, or holiday, and know they have access to the space they need.”

Rachel Bell, Head of Marketing and Development at the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, said:

“To install a Changing Places venue has been on our five year accessibility action plan. Now we can convert this into reality, providing an ideal location on the west coast for placement of a Changing Places facility.”

1st March 2023

Alstom delivers first 8900 train to Brazil​

The order will see Alstom build a further 35 trains which are made of stainless steel, feature state-of-the-art technology and provide capacity for 2,600 passengers​

Smart and sustainability mobility giant, Alstom, has now delivered the very first 8900 series train for ViaMobilidade which operate lines 8-Diamante and 9-Esmeralda in São Paulo and marks the next step in urban mobility for the greater São Paulo area.

The contract with ViaMobilidade will see Alstom deliver a further 36 8-car trains from its factory in Taubaté which has recently seen investment in the form of a new industrial line, doubling the factory’s capacity and creating over 500 jobs.

Alstom has also recently been awarded certification as the Global Top Employer for 2023, after receiving certificates as a Top Employer in 22 countries which was an increase of 8 countries when compared to 2022.

Alstom’s Metropolis trains which are being produced for lines 8 and 9 are made using stainless steel which offers greater durability with the shells expected to last over 40 years.

A further benefit of stainless steel is its light weight which therefore sees lower energy consumption.

Carrying 2,600 passengers, the innovative trains carry the line’s jewelled tones and aim to bring smoother, safer and more comfortable journeys for passengers. The new trains feature:

• Doors and corridors designed to offer greater freedom of movement for passengers
• Spaces specially reserved for passengers with reduced mobility
• Large windows and doors provide excellent views
• Passenger counting technology
• Dynamic line maps and monitors
• Video Surveillance
• Fire detectors and extinguishers

Pierre Bercaire, General Director of Alstom Brazil said:

“Proud to be part of the modernisation of urban mobility in São Paulo, Alstom delivers the first train for lines 8-Diamante and 9-Esmeralda. This advanced train, with Alstom automatic train control technology, will allow for more fluid and comfortable circulation for the local population, and marks the beginning of a journey towards the continuous improvement of people’s quality of life through the rail network,”

Marcio Hannas, President of CCR Mobilidade said:

“We have been investing heavily in improvements to lines 8 and 9 since we took over the concession in January 2022. The arrival of the first train, out of a total of 36 new trains that we acquired from Alstom, is a fundamental chapter in the path of transformation that we are implementing, while always focusing on providing better services to passengers,”

Pre-pandemic figures have revealed that ViaMobilidade lines 8 and 9 carried over 1 million passengers each day.

Line 8 is 41.6km and connects Júlio Prestes to Amador Bueno serving 22 stations and the municipalities of São Paulo, Osasco, Carapicuíba, Barueri, Jandira and Itapevi.

Line 9 is 37.3km and connects Osasco to Bruno Covas – Mendes/Vila Natal serving 20 stations and the cities of São Paulo and Osasco a Bruno Covas – Mendes/Vila Natal.

1st March 2023

Yorkshire-based Class 04 locomotive up for sale​

BR Class 04 0-6-0DM No. D2203, built by Vulcan/Drewry in 1952, has been put for up sale, with a new owner sought after.

This loco is privately owned and currently located on the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Steam Railway in Skipton, North Yorkshire.

It is an historic locomotive, the last remaining from the initial batch of four locomotives, and purportedly the last remaining locomotive to have worked on the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway.

Following use by British Railways, it worked in industry at Hemel Concrete Company, before preservation at Embsay.

The locomotive was operational until its radiator was removed for repair around two-and-a-half years ago, but is not currently operational.

The locomotive is for sale as seen, with the seller inviting offers in the region of £11,000.00

1st March 2023

Norfolk station pays homage to the past with retro style signs​

Brundall Gardens station is paying homage to the past with its newest signs, combining old styles with a new modern twist.

For the past 20 years, Greg Chandler has cared for Brundall Gardens station as its adopter (located on the Wherry Lines between Norwich, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft), earning the station several awards and credit for wildlife friendly environments.

Recently, Brundall Gardens station has received investment courtesy of Greater Anglia, which has been used to further increase both functionality and aesthetic.

These improvements include the resurfacing of the platforms as well as new lighting for the station.

This has allowed changes to be made to the station planting, which in turn has allowed for station name signs (AKA Running in Boards) to be installed.

With a history dating all the way back to the 1920s, these new signs offer a modern twist, made possible by the funding of the Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership.

Working in conjunction with his son, Greg is handling the creation of these signs.

His son has been responsible for the creation of the mahogany architrave.

The installation of these signs was done with the assistance of Phil Hogg, Greater Anglia’s delivery site manager, who has been overseeing the station’s improvements.

“I’ve wanted to reinstate the traditional Running in Boards at the station for several years, having seen them pictured in old photographs.” said station adopter Greg Chandler, “When the project to install new lighting at the station began, it was necessary to remove some of the hedging and this gave the opportunity to create a little more space, enabling the installation of the new signs.

“They are a modern take on the original signage and I am grateful to Phil Hogg at Greater Anglia for his assistance in installing them and to the Wherry Lines Community Rail Partnership for providing the funding.”

Martin Halliday, Community Rail development Officer added;

“We were delighted to assist Greg with funding for new signage at Brundall Gardens. Based upon original designs from the 1920s, these splendid additions include a modern element that will make them more friendly for passengers. We are continually looking to improve station signage across the area and where possible incorporating larger signs which are also helpful for those with dementia.”

To assist with future planting, a composting unit has also been installed at the station which should be a massive help when it comes to planting in the spring.

This compost box was donated to the station by principle contractor Braybrook.

Phil Hogg, project delivery site manager at Greater Anglia said;

“We have worked closely with Greg and Gillian to carefully undertake improvements to the station infrastructure, the work involved removing a substantial amount of hedging, new lighting, and re-surfacing and we were pleased to be able to support efforts to install this excellent new signage.”

First opening in 1924, under the name of Brundall Gardens Halt, Brundall Gardens has a rich history.

Such history includes its joint funding by a Mr. Frederick Cooper who owned the adjacent gardens where the station gets its name.

Today, roughly 14,000 people use the station each year, still using it for the same reasons that they did in the 20s, to visit the serene lakes, waterways and a restaurant which was part of the original gardens.

Been recognised on both a regional and national level for its wildlife friendly environment Brundall Gardens station has two very proud adopters: Greg Chandler and Gillian Lincoln.

The biodiversity in the gardens is very impressive with its variety of plants and many species of different insects, such as bees and butterflies.

Despite its already impressive nature, Gillian has managed to make space for even more planting to take place, which is currently in its planning phase.

1st March 2023

Freight operator XPO starts three-month trial of new rail freight service to Scotland​

Freight transportation operator XPO has started a three-month trial of a multimodal solution that is both innovative and the only one of its kind in the UK.

Freight destined for Scotland will be migrated from its shared user pallet network to a new multimodal solution that uses an overnight rail service operated by Malcolm Logistics for the linehaul part of the journey.

Malcolm Logistics will provide the rail service through a key partnership agreement with XPO, and is able to accommodate loads of all sizes.

In 2022, XPO started its first UK road-rail option for pipe manufacturer Wavin by combining full truckload transport and a daytime rail service.

The combination of a pallet network and overnight rail freight maintains companies’ required lead times and is expected to be quicker than traditional road transport.

The multimodal option also has the added benefit that the cost is much the same but comes with a significantly reduced environmental impact.

Customers of XPO in the Midlands who consign traffic to Scotland can reduce a pallet’s greenhouse gas emissions by up to 79%.

The current trial covers a distance of more than 500 kilometres from Crick to XPO’s distribution hub at Motherwell in Scotland.

Road transport is used for the short distance from Crick to the Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal in Northamptonshire, where it is transferred to rail for onward transport to Mossend Rail Terminal in Scotland, and then by road to XPO’s distribution hub in Motherwell.

By using the multimodal combination, the total journey time from Crick to Motherwell is about two hours less than the same journey by truck, but without the consequent risk of road delays and also reducing road congestion.

With each vehicle journey being about 600 miles, it equates to a saving of 705 kg of CO2 per trip.

Dan Myers, XPO’s Managing Director for UK and Ireland, said,

“The passion of our entire team is to challenge ourselves to be better, to support our customers and to realise improvements, which is hugely motivating. This single initiative will reduce emissions by almost 513,000 kilos of CO2 per annum for a customer whose shipments require two vehicle trips per day.”

1st March 2023

London North Eastern Railway summer tickets on sale from tomorrow​

So that its customers can plan and book ahead for this year’s holiday season, from tomorrow, Thursday, 2nd March, London North Eastern Railway (LNER) has hundreds of thousands of tickets on sale for this summer.

Tickets will be available for many weekday London North Eastern Railway services until Friday, 8th September and weekend services until Saturday, 26th August 2023.

By making tickets available now, customers will be able to book in advance to enjoy great value getaways.

Customers can also be kept up to date as tickets are released by signing up for ticket alerts on London North Eastern Railway’s website.

London North Eastern Railway serves dozens of attractive destinations along its 956-mile route between the scenic Scottish Highlands, Northumberland coast, Yorkshire, Newark, Lincoln, Peterborough, and London.

The best value fares on London North Eastern Railway services are available when customers book them direct on the company’s website or app.

On average a saving of 51 per cent can be achieved by purchasing LNER Advance tickets, whilst railcards also provide savings of up to a third.

The company does not charge a booking fee and can provide customers with live journey alerts.

As services are expected to be popular, customers are advised to reserve a seat in advance.

During their journey, customers can enjoy a delicious range of locally sourced food and drinks, with a complimentary at-seat service available in First Class.

In Standard Class, a wide range of refreshments can be delivered directly to customers’ seats thanks to LNER’s Let’s Eat At Your Seat service.

The company has compiled data that shows more than six-million journeys were made between the beginning of June and the end of August 2022.

Trips between Edinburgh and London King’s Cross were the most popular, followed by journeys between Leeds and King’s Cross were almost as popular, with Newcastle, York and Peterborough also on the list.

Among the hidden gems along the route are Berwick-upon-Tweed, Alnmouth, Harrogate, and Lincoln.

In its latest data, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) reveals that London North Eastern Railway continues to welcome more customers onboard before the pandemic, with passenger journeys now at 105 per cent compared with the same period in 2019.

The company also overtook the air market for journeys between Edinburgh and London in June 2021, securing 59.7 per cent of customers as people increasingly looked to travel in a more sustainable way.

David Horne, Managing Director at LNER, said:

“We know how much those memorable breaks mean to our customers, whether it is spending time with family or friends, or a special day trip or short break. We also know how important it is for people to be able to plan ahead, so placing our summer tickets on sale now means customers can do just that.

“LNER’s new ‘Deal Finder’ on the LNER app provides both inspiration and best value fares to meet budgets. There’s an extra bonus for members of LNER’s loyalty scheme, LNER Perks until mid-April. As well as receiving £5 credit for signing up, members can enjoy 10 per cent credit on all future ticket purchases between now and 16 April 2023 – five times more than usual.”

1st March 2023

Take a trip along Great Central Railway’s Mountsorrel branch line​

The Great Central Railway is offering a different experience this month by making a journey that has previously only rarely been possible by taking a trip on the Mountsorrel branch line.

The railway has introduced the new journey as two 125-years-old bridges are being replaced near Quorn and Woodhouse station, which require the temporary closure of the usual ‘main line’ route between Loughborough and Leicester.

Whilst the bridge works are taking place, heritage trains will depart from Leicester North station, pause at the Edwardian splendour of Rothley, then divert onto the Mountsorrel branch line near Swithland and head to Nunckley Hill visitor centre and museum.

The Mountsorrel branch line was originally built to carry trains loaded with stone from a local quarry, but fell out of use in the 1950s.

Volunteers have since relaid the branch as a community project, and have transformed an empty site into a visitor centre that tells the story of the quarrying and railways in the area and other village stories.

Vintage diesel multiple units dating from the 1950s will operate branch line services between Leicester and Mountsorrel.

There is a separate admission fee of £1 for adults and 50p for children for anyone wishing to visit the Mountsorrel Heritage Centre.

The Great Central Railway has been voted number 12 on the list of the 50 greatest railway journeys in the world, is the main line heritage railway in the UK with a double track, and is the only place in the world where full-size steam engines can be seen passing each other.

In 2019, the railway celebrated its 50th anniversary in preservation and has around 800 volunteers and a team of permanent staff.

The route was originally part of a main line from Sheffield to London. Its eight-mile preserved section between Loughborough and Leicester is fully operational and its stations reflect a different period of the railway’s 111-year history.

Trains run every weekend and bank holiday, as well as daily in the summer.

Visitors can also enjoy a First Class Restaurant Car Service with a dining experience of up to five courses whilst travelling between Loughborough and Leicester.

There are also opportunities to relive childhood dreams with a Drive a Train Experience, as well as enjoying family events such as Santa Specials and a Wartime Weekend.

Great Central Railway Chairman Richard Patching said:

“ We’re looking forward to offering this treat to our visitors, the contrast between the branch line and our main line is really something. The train slows right down leaving plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and relax.

“As our main line was built in the 1890s we need to keep investing in the railway so we continue to serve the community as a leading attraction and employer. The work will take the whole of March to complete.

“We’re relieved we don’t have to close entirely, so now is definitely the time to come and see us for this very rare chance to travel from Leicester to Mountsorrel!”

1st March 2023

Video: Shocking near miss between train and moped in West Sussex​

Toddington near miss

Network Rail has released a “shocking” video captured by CCTV cameras showing the moment a moped carrying a rider and passenger narrowly missed being struck by a train travelling at up to 70mph.

The rider had swerved round the barrier at Toddington level crossing near Littlehampton in West Sussex.

WATCH: Video

Click link to watch video: https://fast.wistia.net/embed/iframe/s83n0xqw6b

Toddington is an Automatic Half-Barrier level crossing, which operates automatically, with lights flashing, sirens sounding and barriers descending 27 seconds before the train is due across the road.

The barriers extend halfway across the road so that people are not trapped behind them if they are inside the barriers on the crossing.

The rider had ridden the moped through red lights, and caused delays to Southern’s services from 15:09 on 21 February, the time of the incident.

The driver of the train – the 14:30 service from Brighton to Southampton – made an emergency stop.

He then took some time to compose himself before carrying on with the journey.

The incident took place on a stretch of 70mph railway between Angmering and Ford/Littlehampton.

The British Transport Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact them by texting 61016 quoting log 411 of 21/02/23.

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

“We came very close to having two deaths on our railway last week and a train driver living with the memories of that. We try to make our network as safe as possible but we do need people to work with us by paying attention to red lights and barriers.

“We need to track these people down and make sure they know the consequences of their actions.”

Inspector Emma Boulton, of the British Transport Police, said:

“Put simply – this is some of the most stupidly reckless behaviour on a level crossing I have seen in my entire career. These riders blatantly ignored the red light in front of them and were just split seconds away from a truly catastrophic collision, which I have no doubt would have had fatal consequences. This footage should serve as a very explicit reminder to everyone of the dangers of misusing level crossings.”

Samantha Facey, Southern’s Health, Safety and Security Director, said:

“This video beggars belief. Today we could be talking about a double death with all the misery and heartache that would cause the bikers’ families and friends.

“And think of our driver: no-one should have to be put through this trauma and none of our passengers should find themselves put at risk in this way.

“Sadly, we’ve also seen a rise in young people trespassing on the railway – it’s an incredibly dangerous place so please, please, please keep off the tracks.”

1st March 2023

Fence damaged in Staffordshire heritage railway trespass​

Several people entered Churnet Valley Railway in Staffordshire on Sunday 19 February, causing damage.

The company posted images from CCTV and from passengers on social media, and commented that,

“Sadly again some members of the public believe its perfectly acceptable to trespass on the railway. Some people don’t understand that even a heritage railway such as ours will kill.”

The company argued that its statement was not scaremongering or bullying but a statement of facts.

It reported that one person involved had damaged a fence, using tools they had brought with this.

Churnet Valley Railway will renew and repair the fencing, but is concerned that there may come a time when it can not carry out repairs in time to prevent a fatal accident.

Churnet Valley Railway also reports that protective equipment on its level crossing at Leekbrook had been destroyed.

1st March 2023

Trains run again between Buxton, Derbyshire and Hazel Grove, Stockport​

The closure, to enable railway engineers to replace a Victorian railway bridge, had been scheduled to last for ten days, but was extended by a day due to unexpected complications with demolishing the old structure.

Network Rail is spending £5.1m on replacing and rebuilding the 160-year-old heritage structure.

The work will secure the railway link for several decades.

Work during the closure began on Saturday 18 February, and was carried out day and night by ninety workers from fifteen separate contractors.

The work involved:

• removing the old railway lines
• demolishing the old concrete and cast iron bridge structure, removing 45 tonnes of cast iron
• using cranes to move the new steel into place
• construction of a new bridge deck from pre-cast concrete panels
• reinstating the railway.

Work continues on the new bridge, including painting, masonry work and road sign installation.

To facilitate this, Buxton Road will remain closed to traffic until Friday 31 March.

The project is expected to be complete by April 2023.Network Rail, High Peak Borough Council and Historic England worked to ensure that the work took maximum consideration of the heritage status of the bridge, which was built in 1863.

Around one third of the original structure has been preserved, with new additions created at a specialist factory in Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Helena Williams, Network Rail project manager, said:

“I’d really like to thank passengers and local people for their patience while we’ve been making Buxton Road bridge fit for the future. I do hope that when people see this new structure they will be impressed and understand why we’ve had to carry out this essential work.

“We will still be working on the underside of the bridge throughout March so road diversions will still be in place, but I’m pleased to say we’ve been able to reopen the footpath today instead of Sunday as we had originally expected, reconnecting the town’s main thoroughfare for pedestrians.”

Chris Jackson, regional director at Northern, said:

“All investment in rail infrastructure is to be welcomed and I would like to thank customers for their patience and understanding whilst these improvements have been made between Hazel Grove and Buxton.”

2nd March 2023



Future of Caledonian Sleeper in balance

The future of sleeper services between Scotland and London is set to be decided today, when transport minister Jenny Gilruth makes a statement to the Scottish Parliament.

The government decided last year not to extend or renew Serco’s contract to operate the Sleeper, which expires on 23 June.

On 5 October Jenny Gilruth said:

‘Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited has been advised that its proposal to rebase the Franchise Agreement with Scottish Ministers has been rejected on the grounds of not representing value for money to the public.

‘Additionally, I can confirm that a notice was served today which confirms that the Scottish Ministers will terminate the Franchise Agreement with Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited on 25 June 2023.

‘Work is underway to determine arrangements for the continued provision of Caledonian Sleeper rail services. It is worth noting that Serco Caledonian Sleepers Limited has, broadly, delivered well and significantly improved Caledonian Sleeper services over the last 7 years.’

The statement is due after 14.00 today.

2nd March 2023



BREAKING NEWS!
Caledonian Sleeper to be nationalised

Caledonian Sleeper is to pass into public ownership when the present Serco contract ends in June.

Transport minister Jenny Gilruth has just announced the decision to MSPs at Holyrood.

She said that management of the Caledonian Sleeper will pass to an arms-length company owned by the Scottish Government on 25 June.

Breaking news: more follows.

EDIT:

Caledonian Sleeper is to pass into public ownership when the present Serco contract ends in June.

Transport minister Jenny Gilruth has announced the decision to MSPs at Holyrood.

She said that management of the Caledonian Sleeper will pass to an arms-length company owned by the Scottish Government on 25 June.

She also criticised the pace of railway reform in England, saying that the London government is 'not going far enough', and that it was 'very unclear' when the changes proposed in the Williams-Shapps report, which recommends the creation of the guiding mind Great British Railways, will come about.

She confirmed that the terms and conditions of the employment of sleeper staff would be protected when they are transferred to the state-owned company.

2nd March 2023

One month to go until Oxford rail station and railway upgrade work requires part of Botley Road to be temporarily closed until October​

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


As part of a £161million station and railway upgrade, Botley Road will be temporarily closed near Oxford station from 11 April until the end of October to enable station and track improvements and highways redevelopment.

Network Rail, Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council are encouraging motorists and Oxford residents to plan ahead as the £161m Oxford rail station and railway area upgrade programme gets underway in earnest on 11 April.

The rail station and railway upgrades, part of the Oxfordshire Connect programme, involves building a bigger and better Oxford station, expanding the railway to allow more rail services for passengers and freight and reduce journey times in the future.

The road network near the station will also be improved to create safer junctions with Botley Road, encourage sustainable transport by enhancing bus travel as well as providing more space for cyclists and pedestrians through the addition of a four-metre cycle/footway on each side of the main road.

This will require the replacement of the current bridge at Botley Road by the station so that an additional railway line can be added into the station and buses, cyclists and pedestrians can more easily access the city centre.

Before the bridge is physically replaced next year, 11 different utility providers must divert their infrastructure that currently runs underneath the existing bridge and Network Rail must undertake other preliminary works.