Marcus' Model Railway Journey

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D9553 at Toddington 26-07-13

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Class 14 No.D9555 at Old Oak Common Open Day 5th August 2000.

Entered traffic 22nd October 1965.

The loco was withdrawn 26th April 1969.

Sold to the NCB in the North East and carried the No.9107/57.

Sold for preservation 24th September 1987.

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11th March 2023

Mayor hails progress at Headbolt Lane station as opening approaches​

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Cllr Tony Brennan and Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, look at the progress on the new Headbolt Lane station site​

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram has welcomed the progress so far on the £80m Headbolt Lane station scheme, as the first of the new battery-powered trains to serve the station begins its final tests on the local network.

Mayor Rotheram visited the site of the new station in Kirkby this week to mark one year since works began.

Work is underway to construct the platforms for the station alongside the ticket office and waiting area.

A new bridge over the brook on the site has already been installed, as have two new rail bridges.

Work is also being carried out to double the track between the existing Kirkby and new Headbolt Lane stations.

Headbolt Lane will be the second new station opened by the Mayor since his election, and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority sees it as a key part of his Merseyrail for All ambitions, aiming to deliver new stations and expand the Merseyrail network across the region.

Battery technology on board the region’s new £500m publicly-owned trains could see services extended into to new areas of the city region and beyond, including possible links to places such as Wrexham, Warrington and Runcorn.

The new station plans include:
  • step-free access throughout the station
  • a bus interchange
  • cycle parking
  • links to active travel networks
  • passenger waiting facilities and toilets
  • 300 park and ride spaces
  • electric vehicle charging points
Alongside this work, last month saw the arrival of the first of the new battery-powered trains that will serve the station, which is being built without the need to extend the ‘third rail’ power source that serves the rest of the Merseyrail network.

Testing of the unit to prepare for it entering service once the station opens is progressing well.

The full scheme includes the extension of the Merseyrail network beyond the existing Kirkby station and will see Merseyrail services run into the new station.

Northern services from Wigan and Manchester will also operate to and from the new, three-platform station, which is due to open in later this year.

The scheme is being delivered by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority in partnership with Knowsley Council, Network Rail, Merseyrail and Northern.

Funding for the scheme has come from the Transforming Cities Fund.

It is also aligned to Knowsley Council’s plans to improve transport access in the area for residents whilst also supporting workers and visitors to one of Europe’s largest employment sites, Knowsley Business Park.
 
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Headbolt Station​

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:

“As a Kirkby native, I’ve heard talk about a new station coming to Headbolt Lane for as long as I can remember. I’m really proud that our £80m investment has turned that dream into delivery.

“The new station is another step on our journey towards my ambition of building a London-style transport system for our region. I want to make getting around as quick, cheap, clean and reliable as possible.

“Headbolt will be the second station I have opened in the region and, while it was great to take a look at the site today, I can’t wait to see local people on board our brand new publicly owned trains really bringing it to life.”

The new station is a key part of Mayor Rotheram’s plans to deliver a London-style transport system, which aims to make the region’s public transport quicker, cheaper, greener and more reliable.

Cllr Tony Brennan, Knowsley’s Cabinet member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said:

“Headbolt Lane Station will improve transport options to a wider number of Kirkby residents, providing access to the new battery trains and all the fantastic facilities the new station has to offer.

“The new station will also improve access to Knowsley Business Park, which will help attract further investment into the area at such an exciting time for Knowsley.”

Philippa Britton, Principal Programme Sponsor at Network Rail, said:

“It was great to be on site and see the progress that’s been made to build the brand-new station at Headbolt Lane. Residents will soon be able to benefit from improved rail connectivity in Liverpool and the Northwest.

“We welcome the investment in the rail network and we’re delighted to be working with Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and other stakeholders to deliver this project.”
 
12th March 2023

Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway scoops prestigious top award​

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Gravity Slate Train on the Ffestiniog Railway​

The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway have been honoured with the Peter Manisty Award for Excellence, the Heritage Railway Association’s most prestigious award, which was presented to the Ffestiniog Team that has rescued, restored and now operates, the railway’s unique gravity slate train.

The team is based at the railway’s Boston Lodge Works, which is currently undergoing £4m heritage development project, and so far, has rescued over 200 wagons.

They are thought to be the largest collection of heritage wagons indigenous to a particular railway and can be seen during special events held at the railway throughout the year.
 
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Gravity Slate Train on the Ffestiniog Railway​

The Peter Manisty Award is only awarded for exceptional achievements in the heritage railway world and is not granted every year.

The Ffestiniog’s submission included work to preserve a gravity slate train, the construction of a building to house 200 wagons, the creation of a workshop in the original forge building at Boston Lodge, and all the work required to operate the train safely in the 21st Century.

As well as running an enormously popular tourist railway, the Ffestiniog Team have been working for nearly 40 years to preserve North Wales’ slate heritage.

The Ffestiniog Railway owes its existence to the need to transport slates from quarries in Blaenau Ffestiniog to the sea.

The line is an engineering miracle, as it is on a continuous gentle gradient for some 13 miles, which allowed loaded slate wagons to travel to the port by gravity, whilst the empty wagons were hauled back up the hill by teams of ponies.
 
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Gravity Slate Train on the Ffestiniog Railway​

This arrangement was highly successful and lasted until 1863, when steam engines replaced the ponies.

There were over a thousand wagons, which were maintained in the oldest part of the workshops at Boston Lodge works.

These buildings are now being used for the same wagon maintenance work that kept them going during the original railway operation.
 
WATCH:

A Matter of Utmost Gravity​

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www.youtube.com

A Matter of Utmost Gravity

A short video, providing a brief history of our railway’s fantastic efforts to rescue, restore and operate the unique gravity slate train. On the 11th of Mar...
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com

Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways

Mar 11, 2023 HARBOUR STATION

A short video, providing a brief history of our railway’s fantastic efforts to rescue, restore and operate the unique gravity slate train.

On the 11th of March 2023, the FFWHR were awarded the prestigious ‘Peter Manisty Award for Excellence’ at the Heritage Railway Association Annual Awards, in recognition of these efforts.


MATER O DDISGYRCHIANT LLWYR

Fideo byr, yn rhoi hanes cryno ymdrechion gwych ein rheilffordd i achub, adfer a gweithredu’r trên llechi disgyrchiant unigryw.

Ar yr 11eg o Fawrth 2023, dyfarnwyd y ‘Peter Manisty Award for Excellence’ fawreddog i RhFfE yng Ngwobrau Blynyddol yr ‘Heritage Railway Association’, i gydnabod yr ymdrechion hyn.
 
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Gravity Slate Train on the Ffestiniog Railway​

So that the story of the early railway can once again be told, the buildings that remain from the original railway are currently being restored and missing buildings recreated.

The project is being funded jointly by the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway Trust, The Ffestiniog Railway Society and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and will give visitors the opportunity to learn more of the history, become actively involved, and through skills workshops learn heritage skills.

The project is now in progress and the hope is that visitors will be able to view it in around 18 months’ time.

This summer, it is expected that local residents and lottery players will be able to view progress with the project on Hard Hat tours.

Paul Lewin, FfWHR Director and General Manager comments:

“The award could not come at a better time. The efforts of this team over more than thirty years are truly outstanding and it is more than overdue that their contribution to railway conservation should come into focus.

“The team involved are one of the longest standing and most committed in the world of railway preservation. We are working hard to tell our story of the Ffestiniog Railway’s part in the slate industry world heritage site.

“The gravity train really brings that alive and shortly visitors will be able to hear the full story, learn new skills and get involved, but for now we will be taking a little time to celebrate this award and the achievements of over three decades work.”
 
12th March 2023

South Western Railway to run limited services on 16 and 18 March​

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South Western Railway train

South Western Railway (SWR) train services will be affected on Thursday, 16th and Saturday, 18th March because of industrial action by the RMT union.

Although strike action by Network Rail staff has been called off, strike action will still take place on South Western Railway and other train operators, which will still severely reduce the number of services that the company can operate.

As 40% of South Western Railway’s overall workforce is eligible to strike, including guards, dispatchers, and depot shunters, the company’s contingency managers will only be able to cover a limited number of services between 0700 and 1830 on both strike days, with trains that do run not stopping at all stations.

Because of long-planned engineering work on Saturday, 18th March, the usual strike day route between London Waterloo and Windsor & Eton Riverside will not be available, and trains will terminate at Hounslow instead.

Trains between London Waterloo and Southampton Central will also be affected, as no trains will run between Woking and Basingstoke.

There will be no rail-replacement bus services on either route.
 
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South Western Railway train

On Thursday 16 March

Services will only operate between 0700 and 1830 and only on the following routes:
  • Between London Waterloo and Southampton Central – two trains per hour in each direction;
  • Between London Waterloo and Woking – four trains per hour in each direction;
  • Between London Waterloo and Basingstoke – two trains per hour in each direction;
  • Between London Waterloo and Windsor & Eton Riverside – four trains per hour in each direction;
  • Between Guildford and Woking – one train per hour in each direction;
  • Between Salisbury and Basingstoke – one train per hour in each direction.
On Friday 17 March

Services will start later than usual at around 0700, and customers should check before travelling.

On Saturday 18 March

Services will only operate between 0700 and 1830 and only on the following routes::
  • Between London Waterloo and Hounslow – two trains per hour in each direction;
  • Between London Waterloo and Woking – four trains per hour in each direction;
  • Between Basingstoke and Southampton Central – one train per hour in each direction;
  • Between Woking and Guildford – one train per hour in each direction;
  • Between Basingstoke and Salisbury- one train per hour in each direction;
Journey planners for Saturday, 18th March will be updated on Tuesday, 14th March.

Island Line

Normal service will operate on both strike days.

Shuttle services will operate throughout the day on both strike days as follows:
  • Between Guildford and Woking, with the first train from Guildford in the morning running through to London Waterloo, and the last train to Guildford in the evening will run through from London Waterloo.
  • Between Salisbury and Basingstoke, but on Thursday, 16th March only, the first train from Salisbury in the morning will run through to London Waterloo, and the last train to Salisbury in the evening will run through from London Waterloo. Because of engineering works between Basingstoke and Woking these through trains will not operate on Saturday, 18th March.
Information about the strikes including network maps showing the strike day services operating on Thursday, 16th and Saturday, 18th March can be found at www.southwesternrailway.com/strike

On Sunday 19 March, a normal Sunday timetable will operate.

Further strike action is planned for Thursday, 30th March and Saturday, 1st April, and service levels for those days will be confirmed as soon as possible.

South Western Railway’s Chief Operating Officer, Stuart Meek, said:

“I’m afraid I have to once again urge our customers to only travel if absolutely necessary on Thursday 16 and Saturday 18 March, and if you do have to travel, please check your entire journey as long-planned engineering works will affect services on the Saturday.

“While we are pleased to be able to provide additional services for Guildford and Salisbury during this round of strikes, we’re sorry that large parts of our network will still be closed. Our contingency managers are stepping in to provide the best service we can, and we thank our customers for their ongoing patience during these latest RMT strikes.”
 
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12th March 2023

Inside The Train Shed

Made great progress today.

All upper assemblies have been assembled. :salute:

It was a milder 11°C outside, and it was sunny for a short time too and once again 'sun shining on shed = warmer shed'.

The shed was 16°C inside!

The 'Train Shed' in the morning sun
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12th March 2023

OO Gauge Model Railway News Announcements

Hornby Railroad Plus OO Gauge Class 47 Available Now​

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Hornby produce a model of the Class 47 locomotive in OO gauge.

A varied selection of models in unique liveries are available to purchase now, with even more due to arrive across 2023 and 2024!

Railroad Plus models are designed to be more durable, with little compromise on detail, and also feature improved livery application and DCC functions.
 
Product CodeImageDescriptionAvailability
R30040TTS
Hornby R30040TTS
Class 47 47583 "County of Hertfordshire" in BR large logo blue with Royal Wedding embellishments - Railroad plus range - TTS sound fittedAvailable now
R30042TTS
Hornby R30042TTS
Class 47 47813 "Jack Frost" in Rail Operations Group livery - Railroad plus range - TTS sound fittedAvailable now
R30045
Hornby R30045
Class 47/7 47749 "City of Truro" in Colas Rail Freight livery - Railroad plus rangeAvailable now
R30080
Hornby R30080
Class 47/4 47593 "Galloway Princess" in BR large logo blue (as part of the 'Staycation Express') - Railroad Plus rangeAvailable now
R30079TTS
Hornby R30079TTS
Class 47/7 47712 "Lady Diana Spencer" in ScotRail livery (as part of the 'Staycation Express') - TTS sound fitted - Railroad Plus rangeAvailable now
R30046
Hornby R30046
Class 47/8 47812 in Rail Operations Group livery - Railroad plus rangeAvailable now
R30179
Hornby R30179
Class 47/4 47656 in BR large logo blue - Railroad Plus rangeQ2 2023
R30186
Hornby R30186
Class 47/8 47803 in Infrastructure yellow and white - Railroad Plus rangeQ2 2023
R30187
Hornby R30187
Class 47/4 47598 in revised Network SouthEast livery - Railroad Plus rangeQ2 2023
R30182
Hornby R30182
Class 47 D1683 in BR two-tone green - Railroad Plus RangeQ2 2024
R30321TXS
Hornby R30321TXS
Class 47 47188 'Herbert Austin' in Railfreight Distribution Sector triple grey - Triplex Sound fitted - Railroad Plus rangeQ4 2023/ Q1 2024
 
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13th March 2023

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Avanti tries out new ‘flexible’ fares​

Avanti West Coast is launching a new ‘flexible’ Advance ticket today.

Passengers who buy a ‘Superfare’ choose the date of travel and one of three ‘slots’ – morning, afternoon or evening. But the precise time of departure will be sent to the passenger 24 hours in advance.

Avanti said the fares are fixed by destination and start from £12 for a single ticket between London and Birmingham.

Other destinations in the trial are Liverpool, Preston and Manchester.

The number of tickets available on a route each day will vary and bookings can be made at least seven days and up to 21 days before travel.

Sarah Copley, who is AWC’s executive director for commercial, said:

‘Superfare tickets are aimed at customers who can be more flexible with their journeys. Not only does it provide a cheaper option, but it’s also quick and easy. Customers pick their date and time of day. Then, 24 hours before their journey, we match them to an empty seat and give them their departure time and reservation.

‘We want to give our customers more cost-effective ticketing options in an innovative way when travelling with us, as well as encouraging more people to take the train.’

Meanwhile, third-party retailer Virgin Trains Ticketing has announced that it is now making ’split’ tickets available.

By buying more than one ticket, each covering a section of a longer journey, the total of fares can be lower than a through booking.

Virgin Trains ticketing director Mark Plowright is due to speak at an All-Party Parliamentary Rail Group meeting this afternoon.

He said:

’Split tickets is just a sticking plaster on the bigger issue of complicated rail fares. Passengers shouldn’t need to split their tickets to get the best deal; rail fares should be simple, easy to understand and offer the best value for money.

‘When we launched the Virgin Trains Ticketing app in June 2022, we genuinely hoped that meaningful fares reform would have already been introduced to negate the need for split tickets, but unfortunately that’s not yet happened. While we wait, we’ve made the decision to invest in the functionality to ensure our customers can get the cheapest fares.’
 
13th March 2023

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Rail strikes set to go ahead​

Two 24-hour RMT walkouts at most English train operators are set to go ahead on Thursday and Saturday this week, after talks arranged between the Rail Delivery Group and the union before the weekend appeared to make little progress.

The sticking points are pay and ‘modernisation’, which the RMT fears could mean the mass closure of ticket offices.

However, the union has called a ballot of its Network Rail members after a new offer was received.

The RMT National Executive is making no recommendations to its members about whether they should accept or reject the offer, but industrial action on Network Rail has been suspended, at least for the time being, which should mean that this week’s strikes at train operators may be slightly less disruptive than in the past, because signallers should be working normally.

The Network Rail ballot closes on 20 March.

Further strikes affecting the operators have been called for 30 March and 1 April, unless the negotiations succeed before then.

Meanwhile, London Underground services will also be disrupted on Wednesday this week, when ASLEF and RMT members walk out for 24 hours in a dispute which ASLEF claims has been caused by ‘management’s failure to accept that changes to our working arrangements and pensions should only happen by agreement’.

The RMT is particularly unhappy about job losses at stations and what it sees as the possibility of ‘attacks on pensions or ripping up agreements’.

ASLEF’s Undeground organiser Finn Brennan said:

‘We understand that TfL faces financial challenges, post-pandemic, but our members are simply not prepared to pay the price for the government’s failure to properly fund London’s public transport system.

‘Cuts to safety training have already been forced through and management is open that they plan to remove all current working agreements under the guise of “modernisation” and “flexibility” and to replace the agreed attendance and discipline policies. Proposals to slash pension benefits are due to be announced in the next week.’

Transport for London’s chief operating officer Glynn Barton said:

‘ASLEF and the RMT are planning strike action on the London Underground on Wednesday 15 March. Strikes are bad news for everyone and we are encouraging them to withdraw this action and continue to engage with us to avoid disruption to our customers.

‘Our advice for our customers is clear; please check before you travel as strike action impacts varying services throughout the week. Expect services to be busy and please allow extra time to complete your journeys.’

The strikes in London on Wednesday will affect Underground lines, but services on London Overground, the Elizabeth Line, the Docklands Light Railway and tram routes are not expected to be disrupted.

On Thursday and Saturday TfL said the walkouts on National Rail may cause problems on those sections of the Underground, the Elizabeth Line and London Overground which use Network Rail tracks.

TfL added:

‘This action on London Underground comes following the government's mandated review into TfL's pensions scheme and despite the fact that no proposals have been tabled on pensions. If any proposal is made in the future this would require appropriate consultation and extensive further work.’
 
13th March 2023

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Transport for Wales service update​

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Class 175 at Cardiff Central​

Transport for Wales (TfW) is advising its customers to check for the latest information before travelling this week as some services will be affected by train shortages and industrial action.

Class 175 update

As announced earlier this month, TfW has temporarily withdrawn a number of its Class 175 trains to allow additional maintenance checks to be carried out following some recent mechanical issues.

While it was hoped these units would be back in service by Friday 10 March, safety checks are still on-going and as a result disruption is likely to continue for the remainder of the coming week (w/c 13 March).

Disruption is likely across the Wales and Borders network, not just on those routes served by the Class 175s, as trains are moved to provide capacity where demand is highest.

Customers are asked to check before they travel. This includes first and last trains and any ferry connections to ensure sufficient time is allowed.

Routes affected by the changes are:
  • Newport - Crosskeys – service cancelled (no rail replacement).
  • Chester-Liverpool – service cancelled (Merseyrail ticket acceptance).
  • Conwy Valley Line – service cancelled (rail replacement).
  • Wrexham-Bidston Line – service cancelled with rail replacement buses.
  • West Wales lines – some services to Pembroke Dock (w/c 13/03) cancelled with rail replacement buses.
  • All Milford Haven and Fishguard services cancelled west of Carmarthen - majority of services will have rail replacement buses.
  • Cambrian Coast – early morning Barmouth service cancelled, with rail replacement buses.
  • Core Valley Lines – reduced service on some routes.
Jan Chaudhry-Van der Velde, Chief Operations Officer at TfW, said:

“The safety of our customers and colleagues remains our priority and it is important that all the necessary checks and repairs have been completed on each of our Class 175 trains before being allowed back into service.

"The Class 175s are maintained on our behalf by CAF at their depot in Chester, and while we have this shortage of rolling stock, we are moving trains around the network to try and minimise the impact on the busiest routes.

“We’re very sorry for any disruption to customers’ journeys while we work to carry out the repairs as quickly as possible.”

Industrial action – March 16 and 18

The National Union of Rail, Maritime, and Transport Workers (RMT) has announced planned strike action at Network Rail has been suspended.

However, strike action at 14 train operating companies (not including TfW) will still go ahead as planned on 16 and 18 March.

There will be some changes to TfW’s timetable as a result.

Some services are also likely to be extremely busy as a result of the severely-reduced timetable put in place by other operators.

Jan Chaudhry-Van der Velde, Chief Operations Officer at TfW, added:

“Strike action at 14 Train Operating Companies will still go ahead as planned. This will include station staff who are responsible for key operational roles such as train dispatch. As a result, we’re not able to provide some services at certain times to stations managed by the affected operators.”

Timetable changes:
  • Services between Chester and Liverpool will not run.
  • Services will not call at Wilmslow.
  • Services calling at Stockport will be set down only towards Manchester and pick up only towards Crewe.
  • Before 09:15 and after 21:15 - services between South Wales and Cheltenham will terminate at Lydney
  • Before 07:00 and after 19:00 - services between North Wales and Manchester will terminate at Chester.
  • Services on the Marches Line will terminate at Shrewsbury.
  • Services to Birmingham International will terminate at Birmingham New Street.
Cheltenham Festival

Passengers travelling to Cheltenham Festival are advised to seek alternative travel arrangements as services to Cheltenham between 0915 and 2115 will be limited and very busy.

Gloucester station will be closed all day.

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13th March 2023

Avanti West Coast introduces Superfare for flexible rail travel​

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Avanti West Coast​

Avanti West Coast has launched an innovative low-cost ticket aimed at passengers who can be more flexible about what time they travel.

Superfare tickets will enable passengers to buy a ticket for a specific date with the choice of morning, afternoon or evening slots, but Avanti will select the time.

It will allocate a seat on a quieter train around 24 hours before the journey, and inform the passenger of their train’s departure and their seat reservation.

Superfare tickets are available for single journeys between London and Birmingham, Liverpool, Preston, and Manchester Piccadilly. Fares will be fixed, and will cost between £12 and £22.

The number of tickets available on a route each day will vary. Bookings can be made at least seven days and up to 21 days before travel.

Avanti West Coast is currently trialling the Superfare tickets, and has partnered with discount website Student Beans to promote the offer.

It is aimed at people who would not normally opt for the train to travel to their favoured destination.
 
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Avanti Superfare​

Sarah Copley, Avanti West Coast’s Executive Director for Commercial, said:

“Superfare tickets are aimed at customers who can be more flexible with their journeys. Not only does it provide a cheaper option, but it’s also quick and easy. Customers pick their date and time of day. Then, 24 hours before their journey, we match them to an empty seat and give them their departure time and reservation.

“We want to give our customers more cost-effective ticketing options in an innovative way when travelling with us, as well as encouraging more people to take the train.”
 
13th March 2023

North Yorks Moors Railway’s ‘Golden Ticket’ for 50th anniversary​

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NYMR Golden Ticket​

To mark fifty years as an iconic heritage railway, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) has announced an anniversary campaign gifting fifty family passes to lucky finders of its special Golden Tickets.

The campaign launches today (13 March), and the Railway is encouraging families to “keep their eyes peeled” for news on how to claim one of the limited-edition golden tickets.

Clues and updates will appear in local Yorkshire newspapers, radio stations and across the NYMR’s social media channels.

The Railway has also confirmed the following events for 2023:
  • 50th Anniversary Steam Gala (21-24 September)
  • Heritage Open Days (8-17 September)
  • *New Event* – Through the Decades 40s, 50s, 60s, & 70s (14-15 October)
  • Santa Specials (25-26 November and 2-3, 9-10, 16-17 and 23-24 December)
The charity will continue to present its passengers with the opportunity to explore 24 miles of glorious heritage railway, taking in the breathtaking scenery of the North York Moors National Park, including Goathland railway station, known to millions as the filming location for the iconic Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

Chris Price, CEO at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, commented:

“Not only are we gearing up for another exciting season opening, but this will be our most rewarding yet. This year is a momentous one for everyone at the NYMR, our volunteers, our visitors and the heritage railway sector. For the last 50 years, since we first officially opened on 1st May 1973, we like to believe that we’ve played a vital role in providing an authentic evocation of the steam age for everyone to enjoy, helping preserve the past and protect the legacy of steam travel for future generations”.

“It’s been a challenging few years given events that were often completely out of our control but this year we’re going full steam ahead as we celebrate every aspect of the NYMR, honouring and thanking our supporters for keeping us on track for the last five decades and inspiring us to continue to drive forward into the next 50 years.

“We’ve also listened to our visitors and simplified our ticket offering with the view to providing better value for money, to enable more visitors to experience the railway.”
 
13th March 2023

Flooding beneath the railway between Aylesbury and Princes Risborough stations sees trains suspended​

Chiltern Railways advises passengers to plan their journey between the stations as flood damage requires emergency repairs.​

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Aylesbury Culvert aerial view with close up​

Flooding beneath the railway between Aylesbury and Princes Risborough stations has seen rail services suspended as Network Rail teams complete emergency repair work to a damaged Victorian brick-built culvert which usually carries a waterway under the tracks south of Aylesbury station.

The last few days have seen heavy rainfall and has seen a swell in water levels within the structure which has made it extremely difficult to monitor repair work underway inside the culvert and has led to the suspension of trains between Aylesbury and Princes Risborough stations.

Engineers are working day and night in order to complete the necessary repairs, making the railway safe for use once again and able to reopen for both passengers and freight as quickly as possible.

The team are working hand in hand with the Canal and River Trust alongside the Environment Agency in order to control the flow of water feeding into California Brook from the Grand Union Canal basin which is nearby.

Chiltern Railways will be running an hourly rail replacement bus service whilst the closure of the line is in place and will operate between the following stations:
  • Aylesbury
  • Little Kimble
  • Monks Risborough
  • Princes Risborough
People travelling between Aylesbury and Princes Risborough stations are advised to check via www.nationalrail.co.uk ahead of travelling and to add a good amount of extra time for journeys.
 
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Chiltern Railways

Adam Checkley, infrastructure director for Network Rail’s Central route, said:

“We’re really sorry to passengers affected by the closure of the railway between Aylesbury and Princes Risborough while we complete a vital safety assessment and repair of a culvert beneath the tracks.

“The safety of passengers and staff is our number one priority and we’re working hard to reopen the railway as soon as possible. In the meantime, I’d urge passengers to check www.nationailrail.co.uk and with Chiltern Railways for the latest travel advice.”

Jacqueline Dey, operations director for Chiltern Railways, said:

“Chiltern Railways is providing rail replacement buses to keep our customers moving between the affected stations. We apologise to those who will be impacted by the suspension of our services, and thank our colleagues at Network Rail who are working flat out to get the route open as soon as it’s safe to do so.”
 
13th March 2023

RMT strike: Racegoers warned to check before travelling to Cheltenham Festival​

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Cheltenham Racecourse

People travelling to Cheltenham Festival this week are being urged to plan ahead and to expect longer journeys if getting to the races by train.

Rail services between Birmingham and Cheltenham will be impacted by RMT industrial action on Thursday 16 and Saturday 18 March, in the ongoing dispute about pay, staffing levels, job security and working conditions.

Trains will be busier and will start later and finish earlier, with no services at all in some places.

Although RMT has suspended strike action on Network Rail, industrial action at some rail operators is planned to go ahead, impacting train services to and from Cheltenham Festival.

With thousands of people expected to travel by train from Birmingham to the world-famous event, Network Rail is advising passengers to:
  • plan their journeys,
  • allow extra time to catch their train, and
  • expect services to start later, and finish much earlier than usual.
 
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CrossCountry 170106 & 220015 on February 4, 2023. XC operate trains all over the UK and Birmingham New Street seems to be the main hub where most services stop.

Steven Ireland, Network Rail’s Central route head of stations and customer relations, said:

“Though we’re looking forward to seeing festival-goers through the station, industrial action is going to have a significant impact on passengers’ experience at New Street and I’d urge people to leave extra time to travel and to plan their journey carefully.

“Services will start later and finish earlier which means trains will be extremely busy and queueing systems will be in operation for all those travelling towards Cheltenham and Bristol. On other routes there will be no services at all so I’d ask all those planning to travel by train to factor this into their journeys and be respectful of station staff.”

Nick Chadwick, CrossCountry’s regional managing director for West Midlands & North West, said:

“We want to make sure as many people as possible can get to this year’s Festival as swiftly and safely as ever, but this week’s industrial action means passengers should plan their journeys that bit more carefully on Thursday and Saturday.

“It’s really important that people check before travelling and know which train they’re going to get – especially on the way home. On Thursday and Saturday our final services will be as early as 7pm, so make sure you leave enough time to get back to the station and safely onto the train.”

Additional staff will be on hand at Birmingham New Street station during the festival to help passengers to travel safely.

The station team has been planning for weeks to get ready for the thousands of extra passengers who use the station to get to Cheltenham Racecourse.

Passengers can check their journeys on the National Rail Enquries website here or with their train operator for the latest travel information.
 
14th March 2023

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Network Rail urges railway neighbours to keep objects secure​

People living alongside railways are being urged to keep objects in their gardens safely tied down after a wind-blown gazebo caused 60 trains to be cancelled or delayed on one London line.

Gospel Oak to Barking Riverside Overground services were disrupted for about three hours after a gazebo was reported to be blocking the line between Upper Holloway and Crouch Hill stations at around 09.45 on Friday.

Passenger and freight trains had to be halted until a Network Response Unit could clear the line.

While it was blocked, there were 15 full train cancellations and eight partial cancellations.

Another 37 trains were delayed.

Network Rail Anglia’s head of network delivery Juwad Nasir said:

‘We worked hard to get the railway running again as soon as possible, but unfortunately there was still a big impact on London Overground passengers.

‘I’d ask all our neighbours to tie down anything on their properties that could get on to the tracks. Thank you for helping us keep passengers and freight moving safely and reliably.’
 
14th March 2023

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News story: Passenger dragged at Beeston Centre tram stop, Nottingham, 22 February 2023.​


Published: 13th March 2023

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Beeston Centre tram stop​

At around 18:04 hrs on 22 February 2023, a passenger was dragged several metres before falling onto the platform at Beeston Centre tram stop, after placing a walking stick in a departing tram’s closing doors.

The passenger sustained facial and chest injuries.

We have undertaken a preliminary examination into the circumstances surrounding this accident.

Having assessed the evidence which has been gathered to date, we have decided to publish a safety digest.

The safety digest will be made available in the near future.
 
14th March 2023

Leighton Buzzard Railway reopens for 2023​

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Baldwin 778 prepares to operate the first train of 2023​

After a record-breaking Christmas in which it carried a total of 6,316 passengers, the Leighton Buzzard Railway reopened for 2023 on Sunday 12 March.

Leighton Linslade's Deputy Mayor Cllr Sheona Hemmings ceremonially flagged away the first train of the year – the 10:30 departure from Page's Park – giving customers the chance to see the new station sign at Munday's Hill.

The season continues on Sunday 19 March with a Mother's Day event.

The Railway is offering visitors a choice of five departures, as well as additional activities and treats, promising a fun trip for the whole family.

Visitors may have a family photo, gathered on the platform, taken by a resident photographer and printed ready to collect after the train ride.
 
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