Marcus' Model Railway Journey

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29th April 2023

West Somerset Railway announces new Hymek running dates​

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D7017​

The West Somerset Railway (WSR) has announced that Class 35 ‘Hymek' D7017 has been rostered for use on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 May on the 10:00 Minehead to Bishops Lydeard covering over eighty-miles during the day.

This follows progress made with maintenance and engine oil checks at Williton last weekend,

This is a change from the previously published running dates of 13 and 14 May, which will instead see Class 33 hauled.

The Railway has made the change because of crew rostering constraints.

The BLUE timetable will apply and the booked times are as follows (Saturday 20 may differ slightly but details are not yet available):
  • Depart Minehead 10:00 arrive Bishops Lydeard 11:30
  • Depart Bishops Lydeard 12:30 arrive Minehead 13:50
  • Depart Minehead 14:30 arrive Bishops Lydeard 15:55
  • Depart Bishops Lydeard 16:35 arrive Minehead 18:00
Other public services are also scheduled, which are detailed on the WSR timetable web page.
 
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Sister loco D7018 is now receiving attention to minor tasks, all of which will be completed in time for her to return to service for the 2023 Summer Diesel Festival which will take place on the WSR from Thursday 8 June through to Saturday 10 June.

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D7018 23.06.19 Minehead​
 
30th April 2023

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NetworkRail:

Rail industry comes together to enable Flying Scotsman visit to the south west​

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

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Today marked the first time that Flying Scotsman was turned around using the St Blazey turntable​

Network Rail has worked with partners from across the rail industry to upgrade the track and restore St Blazey turntable to its former glory in preparation for Flying Scotsman’s visit Cornwall this weekend.

The turntable, which allows trains to be turned back in the direction they came from, is an important part of Cornwall’s industrial heritage and earlier today (Sunday 30 April) the world-famous locomotive was turned around at St Blazey so that it could make its return journey to Bristol.

It marked the first time that the St Blazey turntable had the honour of assisting Flying Scotsman.

Engineers from Network Rail used some of their dedicated volunteering days to help with the refurbishment of the turntable, working with MPower Kernow CIC, a social enterprise dedicated to providing unique technical training for science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

The project was also made possible by a generous grant from Railway Heritage Trust and companies such as Quattro, Ground Control and GPX, who provided equipment and staff free of charge.

Volunteers from Network Rail teams based in Exeter, Par and Plymouth assisted with the track refurbishment.
 
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Volunteers worked to upgrade the track​

Daniel Parkes, Network Rail programme manager who worked on the project, said: “It’s been absolutely incredible to see so many people and companies from across the industry and beyond come together to refurbish the track and manage logistical challenges to enable the return of the turntable at St Blazey to working condition and former glory.

“The generosity of those involved is amazing – from people volunteering their time, to the provision of equipment free of charge, everyone has pulled together to ensure this historic locomotive gets a fitting welcome in Cornwall.

“I’d like to thank my colleagues at Network Rail, Railway Heritage Trust, MPower Kernow and all the companies who donated the use of their equipment and staff. It’s been such a pleasure and an honour to work with every single one of you to achieve this fantastic goal.”
 
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The project was made possible with the assistance from a range of organisations​

Peter, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill, Chair of Network Rail, said: “It is great to see Network Rail teams working with partners to bring an important piece of railway heritage back into operation, and I am confident that it will be of real benefit to Cornwall.

“As we approach the 200th anniversary of the first passenger rail journey in 2025 it is important that we continue to support the reuse of historic railway infrastructure to ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy the romance of travelling by rail, and in the case of the St Blazey turntable, to support education, training and railway industry jobs through MPower Kernow. Thank you to everyone who’s helped, and in particular DB Cargo, and our great Network Rail volunteers."
 
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Flying Scotsman was successfully turned around for its return journey to Bristol​

On Sunday Flying Scotsman was hauling ‘The Royal Duchy’, a train organised by heritage rail tour promoter The Railway Touring Company.

Tim Hedley-Jones, director of the Railway Heritage Trust, said: “We are pleased to have supported Network Rail and MPower Kernow with this project to restore the listed turntable at St Blazey and bring the Flying Scotsman to Cornwall. It is good to see railway heritage fostering collaboration across the railway industry.”
 
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Flying Scotsman coming into St Blazey sidings​

Kelly Osborne, The Railway Touring Company’s managing director, said: “Congratulations to MPower and Network Rail for spearheading this initiative to ensure that Flying Scotsman could be turned at St Blazey.

“The turntable refurbishment is excellent news for steam operations and opens up opportunities to run more steam hauled trains on Cornwall’s railways.

We have plans for The Royal Duchy hauled by other historic locomotives to travel this route again in July, August and September and the working turntable will facilitate those visits and others in the future.

Well done and many thanks to all those who sponsored this project and to those who worked hard to make it happen.”
 
1st May 2023

Alstom to supply new Citadis trams to Toulouse, Brest and Besançon​

Three French cities place joint order for twenty-two trams​

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Citadis Besancon​

Alstom has announced that it will be providing new-generation trams to French cities Toulouse, Brest and Besançon.

The company has been awarded a joint contract by the three transport authorities: Toulouse Métropole and Tisséo; Brest Métropole; and Grand Besançon Métropole and Ginko.
 
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Citadis Besancon​

Other trams may be ordered during the period of the contract in order to meet the needs of the metropolitan areas' transport services.

The first deliveries will take place in Besançon in March 2025, with entry into service scheduled for September of the same year.

The first deliveries will follow for Brest in July 2025 and for Toulouse in January 2026 for commissioning in January 2026 and September 2026, respectively.
 
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Citadis Brest

The three metropolitan areas jointly agreed the contract, aiming to optimise costs.

Alstom's teams relied on the Citadis portfolio, which benefits from the experience of more than three thousand tramsets already ordered in seventy cities in twenty countries around the world.

This includes twenty-four cities in France, most recently Strasbourg, as well as French-speaking Quebec in Canada.

The new rolling stock will retain the iconic features and design elements of the trams currently in service in these cities.
 
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Citadis Brest​

They are 32.5 metres long and 2.4 metres wide, and have four double doors of 1.30 metres and two single doors per side.

They can carry 201 passengers and are equipped with fully glazed doors to enhance comfort and safety for passengers.

In compliance with the PMR (Persons with Reduced Mobility) regulation, the trams are equipped with door opening buttons at the appropriate height, wider seats and areas reserved for wheelchair users and pushchairs.
 
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Citadis Brest​

They are air-conditioned and equipped with a dynamic passenger information system as well as a video protection system.

The Citadis trams will reduce energy consumption by a quarter compared to the current trams, thanks to a new motorisation, efficient management of climatic comfort and fully LED lighting.

The trams are eco-designed, 95% recyclable and 99% reusable.
 
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Citadis Toulouse​

The new Citadis trams will also reduce maintenance operations by 18% during their thirty years of commercial operation.

Maintenance requirements have been taken into account with a reduced number of spare part references, improved accessibility of components and sensors distributed throughout the tram to allow remote diagnosis, so anticipating periods of downtime and offering optimum availability for the commercial service.
 
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Citadis Toulouse​

Nine Alstom sites in France are involved in the manufacturing of these trams: La Rochelle, for design and assembly, Le Creusot, for the bogies, Ornans, for the motors, Villeurbanne, for on-board electronics and cyber security, Aix-en-Provence, for the tachometric units, Sens, Gennevilliers and Saint-Florentin, for brake discs and linings, and Saint-Ouen, for design.
 
1st May 2023

Great Western Railway adds extra trains and carriages for the King’s Coronation​

The rail operator has warned passengers heading to central London for the King's Coronation that it will be extremely busy​

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Great Western Railway is making preparations for the weekend of the King's Coronation, however, is issuing a warning to those making their way to central London that it will be extremely busy.

The rail operator has already added plenty of extra trains and carriages to provide further capacity for passengers, who are also being advised to leave more time than usual for their journeys.

It is expected that approximately 1.2 million people will make their way to London to line the streets for the special occasion on Saturday, the 6th of May, in order to watch the procession head to Westminster Abbey.

South Wales, Devon, Cornwall, London and the Thames Valley will see extra early morning trains added by Great Western Railway in order to get customers to central London.

Alongside the early morning trains, the rail operator has added an hourly overnight service on both Friday the 5th and Saturday the 6th of May.
 
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Greater Western Railway Intercity Express Trains

The Windsor branch line will see Great Western Railway operating as many trains as it can between Slough and Windsor for those who hold tickets for the coronation concert.

Usually, two services operate this line each hour and this has now been increased to three per hour, with trains featuring extra carriages.

Slough station will also see a queuing system put in place and later at Windsor in order to get attendees on board trains in a safe and orderly manner.

Following the Coronation on Sunday, approximately 30,000 people are expected to visit Windsor for a celebratory concert taking place in the castle grounds during the evening.

Great Western Railway will once again be running extra late night and early morning service between Windsor and Slough and also London Paddington and Reading in order to accommodate those travelling.

Passengers are warned to expect queuing systems for designated areas to be in operation in order to support the boarding of trains safely.

GWR Sales and Marketing Director Amanda Burns said “The Coronation really will be a one-off event for so many people and one that showcases Great Britain on the global stage.”

“We are incredibly proud to be able to serve the communities that we do across the southwest and Wales, and we will be pulling out all the stops to help those who wish to travel to the capital to do so.”

“Trains will, however, be really busy, so please do check your journey in advance, and allow plenty of time.”

To find out more, please visit www.gwr.com/coronation.
 
2nd May 2023

Plan ahead for Coronation bank holiday weekend travel​

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Rail operators are reminding passengers that public transport will be the best way of travelling around during the forthcoming bank holiday weekend, but that some services and stations are expected to be busy and queueing systems may be in place in some areas.

Various events will be taking place over the weekend, including sporting fixtures as well as royal celebrations, so it is important for passengers should plan their journey in advance, allow extra time and check live updates while travelling
  • For more information on travelling over the bank holiday weekend, check here.
  • Passengers traveling to or around London are asked to check here.
Public transport providers are working hard to keep journeys running smoothly over the weekend, including running additional services and longer trains where possible.

Services and stations are expected to be busy and queueing systems may be in place.

Passengers are advised to keep checking real-time travel information during their journeys, to take account of any short notice changes that may take place while they are en route.

To make sure that Londoners and visitors to the capital are able to get around safely and as easily as possible during 6-8 May, the Rail Delivery Group, Network Rail and Transport for London (TfL) are working closely together – along with the government and other bodies.

As public transport may be very busy within London, passengers may consider walking to their final destinations.

TfL will be running a full service with no planned closures.

Travel ambassadors will be present at National Rail, London Underground and bus stations to provide directions and assistance.

Some roads will be closed and people are advised to avoid driving in central London.

Visitors exiting from London Victoria station on Saturday may only be able to access the screening site at Hyde Park.
 
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London Victoria station​

Passengers travelling to the ticket-only Coronation concert from London are advised to use South Western Railway services from London Waterloo to Windsor and Eton Riverside.

Passengers travelling from the Midlands and the South West are advised to use GWR services from Reading, changing at Slough for Windsor and Eton Central.

Both stations are around a five-to-ten-minute walk away from Windsor Castle.

There are no ceremonial events in Windsor for the Coronation.
 
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Windsor station​

Jacqueline Starr, Chief Executive Officer at Rail Delivery Group, said: “Many people from across the country will be travelling over the upcoming weekend to celebrate the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla and the rail industry is working tirelessly to make sure that people can do so in a safe manner.

“We encourage our passengers to check service details before travelling and to be prepared for busy trains and stations.

“For up-to-date travel information, please check www.nationalrail.co.uk/coronation or your train operator's website. For London travel information visit www.tfl.gov.uk/coronation.”

Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines said: “We're proud to be playing a part in bringing thousands of people to celebrate the coronation of King Charles, and our stations will be welcoming people to London with entertainment and special events.”

Andy Lord, London's Transport Commissioner, said: “We are delighted that London is hosting ceremonial events for the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla, and look forward to welcoming visitors and Londoners alike for this historic occasion. We expect central London to be very busy and the large-scale events will mean road closures in central London, so I'd advise people to check their journey and route before they travel. All of our public transport network will be running with no planned engineering closures on the day of the Coronation and I'd encourage everyone to make the most of the public transport options.”
 
2nd May 2023

More frequent trains on the London’s Docklands Light Railway​

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DLR at Canary Wharf​

From Monday, 15th May, services across the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) will be improved when a new timetable is introduced.

The new timetable will mean more frequent services on all routes, especially at peak times, reduce waiting times and provide better connections with the Elizabeth line at Canary Wharf, Custom House, and Stratford.

The peak time will be extended by half an hour on all routes in both the morning and evening peaks.

From the same date a new timetable is being introduced on the Elizabeth line which increases peak time services and reduces journey times.
 
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The Docklands Light Railway depot at Beckton​

Additional services are also being introduced, including direct from Stratford to Lewisham during the evening peak for the first time.

The frequency of evening services between Canning Town and Beckton will also be doubled, as well as between Stratford and Canary Wharf on Saturday nights.
 
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Docklands Light Railway train​

The main changes include:
  • Peak service levels will run half an hour longer on all routes in both morning and evening peaks, with the morning peak service ending at 10:00 and the evening peak service extended to 19:30.
  • For the first time, there will be direct Stratford-Lewisham services during the evening peak, with alternate trains from Stratford to Canary Wharf service continuing to/from Lewisham, which will waiting times for customers between Canary Wharf and Lewisham. There will be a service every two to four minutes between Canary Wharf and Lewisham and direct services between Stratford and Lewisham every eight minutes.
  • Services between Canning Town and Beckton on Monday to Saturday evenings will be doubled, and the shuttle service between Canning Town and Beckton will continue until 23:30 on weekdays and 22:00 on Saturdays, a five minutes service between Canning Town and Beckton. Sunday service will be unchanged.
  • Between Stratford and Canary Wharf on Saturday evenings trains will run every five minutes until 22:00.
Full details of the timetable changes can be found at tfl.gov.uk/modes/dlr/improving-the-dlr, and journeys can be planned using the new timetables on the TfL Go app or TfL Journey Planner.
 
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New Docklands Light Railway train

Seb Dance, Deputy Mayor for Transport said: “After some incredibly challenging years, ridership on the Tube and DLR is beginning to return to pre-pandemic levels, And I am pleased that changes coming into the DLR timetable in May will mean people travelling around east London will now benefit from additional services and quicker, easier, more frequent journeys.

“With the entire DLR fleet also being updated over the coming years, this is just one of the ways the Mayor and TfL are continuing to improve London's world-class public transport network, which is key for to building a better, more efficient London for everyone.”

Tom Page, TfL's General Manager for the Docklands Light Railway, said: “It's an exciting time for DLR as we continue to see strong ridership and have now begun testing of the new trains that will transform journeys for millions of customers every year. This latest timetable change builds on last September's changes to help ensure we have capacity where it's needed the most. These changes will deliver an improvement for customers with quicker, easier and more comfortable journeys.”
 
2nd May 2023

Škoda Group to modernise couchette coaches for Austria’s ÖBB​

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Nightjet Coaches​

Austria's national railway company, ÖBB (Österreichische Bundesbahnen), has awarded the contract for the modernisation of couchette coaches to public transport vehicle manufacturer Škoda Group.

The contract includes the modernisation of six coaches for the ÖBB Nightjet fleet.

Škoda Group will carry out the work at its production site in Šumperk, with the modernised coaches to be delivered by for 2024.

Škoda considers the contract, which includes an option for twenty-eight more coach modernisations, to be a significant milestone in its attempts to strengthen its market position in the Region West.
 
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The Škoda production site in Šumperk has experience in modernisation and repairs of different types of railway vehicles.

The modernised couchette coaches will feature comfortable beds, modern lighting and updated bathrooms as well as a new barrier-free compartment.

Škoda asserts that with its expertise and innovative solutions, the modernised coaches will offer passengers a comfortable and enjoyable night train journey.

Coaches modernised by Škoda are already in operation in Finland and other European countries.

Škoda Group will be producing nine sleeping coaches and eight freight wagons for cars for Finnish state railway company VR Group.

The trains will be produced at Škoda's Finnish production site in Otanmäki, and will be in service by the end of 2025.

The individual cabins are designed to resemble hotel rooms, so that passengers can work comfortably and rest undisturbed during the journey.
 
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Jan Christoph Harder, President Region West at Škoda Group, said, “We are thrilled to have been awarded this contract by ÖBB and to have the opportunity to modernise their couchette coaches. We have years of experience in the field of service and modernisation and we'll deliver products to enhance the passenger experience. Austria and the wider region West are very important markets for our group, and this contract further strengthens our commitment to the region. However, we aren't newcomers to the region. We produce state of the art trams for a number of German cities. And in February this year, we established Škoda Group Austria subsidiary with the team of technical engineers and designers, providing a home for our business in Austria and giving us the opportunity to grow.”
 
2nd May 2023

Two more guest locomotives for Severn Valley Railway’s Spring Diesel Festival​

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88010 'Aurora' crosses Bewdley South Viaduct with a Bridgnorth bound service on 17th May 2018​

Severn Valley Railway has added an two more guests to the line-up for its Spring Diesel Festival, which will take place between Thursday 18 and Sunday 21 May.

Class 31 31270 and an as-yet-unnamed Class 88 join the roster of locomotives, courtesy of Colne Valley Diesels and Direct Rail Services respectively.

The Class 88 loco will operate services only on the Saturday and Sunday of the event.
 
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Class 57 57309​

Following last month's successful Steam Gala, this event will celebrate fifty years of diesel preservation, and will feature fourteen different classes, including D821 and Class 33 33108, both with eye-catching new liveries.

Tickets can be bought on the Severn Valley Railway website, with savings to be made when purchasing tickets for multiple days or if booking as a Severn Valley Railway member.

Jonathan ‘Gus' Dunster, managing director of the Severn Valley Railway, said: “This is a truly momentous occasion that we think deserved a locomotive line-up on a scale that has never been seen before on a heritage railway.

“Whatever your preference of locomotive traction, there's definitely going to be something to interest you during four days of intensively timetabled celebrations.”
 
3rd May 2023

TransPennine Express’ Eurovision train revealed by singing soprano​

The specially wrapped train will operate services for passengers making their way to the well-loved song contest in Liverpool​

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Soprano Morgan Carter serenades the TPE Eurovision wrapped train before it's inaugural service​

A TransPennine Express train has been specially wrapped for Eurovision and will be operating services for passengers heading over to the host city of Liverpool.

The Nova 2 train now features the iconic and eye-catching Eurovision livery alongside ‘Welcome to Liverpool' on the cab.

The unveiling of the train saw award-winning soprano Morgan Carter of the Royal Northern College of Music serenade its inaugural service.

Morgan also treated passengers and rail workers to an array of operatic classics as they arrived into Manchester Airport station.

The rail operator operates services direct to Liverpool Lime Street from a number of major cities in the north and into Scotland and in celebration of the special event has installed ‘Eurovision Song Zones' at some stations which will allow local artists and musicians to show their talents off to passengers waiting for their trains.
 
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Soprano Morgan Carter serenades the TPE Eurovision wrapped train​

Matthew Golton, Managing Director at TPE, said:

“We're delighted that the Eurovision Song Contest is being held in such an iconic northern city that has music running through its veins.

“We're proud that Liverpool and the UK is stepping up in support of Ukraine and we wanted to get into the rhythm of the musical extravaganza by wrapping one of our Nova 2 trains in Eurovision livery.

“Listening to Morgan serenading the train and passengers as it departed on its first journey across the north was a fantastic experience and certainly built the excitement ahead of the main event.”

Morgan Carter, who is currently taking an intensive Master of Music in Opera Performance at the Royal Northern College of Music said:

“It was an absolute honour to perform some of the most iconic soprano arias for passengers boarding the TPE Eurovision train and celebrate the much-loved song contest.

“Watching the train depart whilst serenading it with my performance was truly a special moment!”

To find out more about TransPennine Express service to Liverpool, please visit: visit https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/explore-the-north-and-scotland/destinations/liverpool
 

WATCH:​

Rails in Wales. Inside the cab of Class 231001 and naming "Sultan" at Caerphilly Station. March 2023​

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To watch video click the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DklOWCCabSU

Mar 29, 2023

Join us and fellow guests at the naming ceremony at Caerphilly Station of class 231001 "Sultan".

Sultan the Pit Pony is a modern sculpture here in Caerphilly.

The young man who suggested the name is included in this video as well as senior executives from TfW and the trains Swiss manufacturer.

Despite heavy rain a good gathering enjoyed the mornings event.
 
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