Tabla de contenidos para July 2023 en Rail Express

THROUGH services between Shenfield and Heathrow Airport as well as 24 trains operating during peak periods were introduced from May 21, finally completing the £19 billion Crossrail project. Originally the railway was due to open in phases from May 2018 until December 2019, but a series of delays caused by various issues including systems integrations and the pandemic saw the central section from Abbey Wood to Paddington open on May 24, 2022, with trains from Shenfield to Paddington and Reading/ Heathrow Airport to Abbey Wood commencing on November 6, 2022. The final phase, to introduce trains from Shenfield through to the western section, was introduced on May 21, with the new peak time service introduced the following day. There are now six trains per hour (tph) serving Heathrow Airport, with…

CLASS 720/6 electric multiple units will enter traffic with c2c this autumn, the operator confirmed on June 2. A preview trip using Nos. 720605/607 ran between London Fenchurch Street and Southend Central to showcase the new trains, built by Alstom at Derby Litchurch Lane, to stakeholders on the line. Financed by Porterbrook, the 12 five-car Aventra EMUs were due to enter traffic last year but have been delayed due to technical issues. So far eight of the 12 have been accepted by c2c and driver training is now underway ahead of their introduction. Each Class 720/6 features 443 standard class seats, 14 tip-up seats, two wheelchair spaces and four bicycle storage spaces. Overall, the trains have capacity for 459 seated passengers and 236 standing passengers, making it a total of…

DIRECT Rail Services has begun preparing locomotives that will leave its fleet in the near future. Three Class 37s (Nos. 37069, 37402 Stephen Middlemore 23.12.1954-8.6.2013 and 37423 Spirit of the Lakes) have been made available for sale and were all redesignated from the XWSS storage pool to the XSDP disposal pool. With No. 37402 this also included a physical transfer from Carlisle Kingmoor to Crewe Gresty Bridge on May 5, being moved with Nos. 37422 Victorious and 66430. Two of the Class 37s, Nos. 37402/423, were part of last year’s sale and leaseback arrangement, which was subsequently cancelled, while the ‘37/0’ was offered for sale outright along with No. 37602. Only the ‘37/6’ was eventually sold, with Harry Needle Railroad Company (HNRC) adding the locomotive to its roster of former…

TWO railtours to and from the Swanage Railway, the ‘Jurassic Crompton’ and ‘The Return of the Jurassic Crompton’ in early May were cancelled as the certification work for the set had yet to be completed to allow it to carry passengers on the national network. The four-coach set was still able to take part the Swanage Railway’s diesel gala and was moved to the heritage railway on Network Rail infrastructure via an empty stock move. A significant amount of work has been undertaken on the 4TC unit during 2023. On January 9, it was moved from the Central Line’s Ruislip Depot to St Leonards Engineering, hauled by GB Railfreight No. 56081, for fitting of controlled emission toilets, involving the installation of a retention tank (RE321). The following month, on February…

EASTERN Rail Services (ERS) has bought eight Mk.3s recently offered for sale by Rail Engineering Solutions on behalf of Data Acquisition Testing Services (DATS). They were moved from Gascoigne Wood to ERS’ Great Yarmouth base by No. 37418 An Comunn Gaidhealach on May 12. The vehicles had been stored at Gascoigne Wood for several months, and six of the Mk.3s are former ‘Pretendolino’ vehicles; ERS already owns the two former Restaurant First Modular (RFMs) from this set, Nos. 10212/229. As well as the eight Mk.3s, First Open (FO) Nos. 11018/048/074 and Standard Open (SO) Nos. 12078/092, 12122/133/138, a pair of ERS Mk.2 coaches, SO No. 5810 and Driving Brake Standard Open (DBSO) No. 9705, were included in the formation of the 5Z50 10.50 Gascoigne Wood-Yarmouth Vauxhall CS. These two coaches…

IT has been a long journey for MTR Elizabeth line (MTREL) since it operated its first trains between London Liverpool Street and Shenfield on May 31, 2015. While Crossrail and Transport for London (TfL) have been the public face of the development of the £19 billion new railway, MTREL, part of MTR UK, has not only been developing plans for operating the cross-capital line but also looking at the future. On April 20, Rail Express took a trip in the cab of No. 345010 as it formed the 10.37 departure from Stratford running to Paddington. Upon leaving the east London station, MTREL trains enter a new tunnel at Pudding Mill Lane. Before it departs, the train switches to Automatic Train Operation (ATO) with the driver there in case of an…

REVIEW 00 GAUGE 4mm:1ft 1930-1985 ERA Multiple toolings MODELLING the GWR Siphon G vans from introduction in 1930 through to the newspaper and Enparts traffic of the 1970s and 1980s is an enormous undertaking. Constructed by the GWR from 1930 and BR between 1950 and 1955, the Siphon G established itself as a useful general utility van capable of being operated at express passenger train speeds. The Siphon G enjoyed an interesting history prior to Nationalisation, but it is the post Nationalisation history that interests us the most. Many of the GWR-built Diagram O.33 vans were converted to ambulance vehicles for the Second World War and their return to civilian use resulted in the first variations in the Diagram O.33 design and new Diagram numbers being issued. Those vans constructed…

MODELLING AS PART of extensive layout testing of the new Accurascale Class 37, the closer-to-scale wheels offered by Accurascale as a straightforward, drop-in accessory for the model are evaluated for ease of installation and performance. Previously, Rail Express Modeller tested drop-in wheels sets for the Deltic model and reported its findings in the September 2021 issue (REM221). It was concluded that they much improved the accessibility of ‘EM’ (18.2mm) and ‘P4’ (18.83) gauge modelling without breaking the bank. It is the turn of the Class 37 wheel pack which, like those intended for the Deltic, are priced at a touch under £20 for six fully assembled axles. Conversion with closer-to-scale wheels should only be undertaken when the model is checked and determined to be fault-free. It is a smooth, quiet…

PROPOSALS for the new East West Rail route from Bedford to Cambridge were published on May 26. The proposals are designed to unlock the region’s potential, while trains are due to begin operating between Oxford and Milton Keynes from 2025. A direct link to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus is part of the plans published by East West Railway Company (EWR Co). The plans have been published following feedback from the second non-statutory public consultation with local residents. These were analysed alongside environmental and technical studies. The updated proposals include a new station near Tempsford that would connect the Bedford-Cambridge section with the East Coast Main Line, faster journey times for those living in Bedford and travelling to Cambridge or Milton Keynes, trains every 20 minutes on the Marston Vale Line,…

THE troubled TransPennine Express (TPE) contract transferred to government control on May 28, after the decision was made not to extend FirstGroup’s contract. In a statement on May 11, the Department for Transport (DfT) said that the decision was made following months of significant disruption and regular cancellations on the TPE network. A recovery plan had been put in place in February and the DfT said that while there had been some improvements in the past few months it was felt that to achieve the levels passengers deserve, both the contract and underlying relationships required resetting. FirstGroup said cancellations had fallen by approximately 40%. The DfT claimed that the decision to put TPE into the control of the Operator of Last Resort (OLR), where it joins London North Eastern Railway…

PRESERVATION THE 125 Heritage fleet at Castle Hedingham has been expanded with the purchase of a pair of power cars by member and volunteer Matt Golding. First to arrive from Ely was No. 43023 on May 2, and this was followed by No. 43165 on May 4. Both power cars had been in store for some time – No. 43023 last saw use in December 2019 (when it was loaned to Hull Trains) and was placed in store in February 2020, while No. 43165 has been out of service for longer, having arrived at Ely in April 2019. While No. 43023 is the seventh of the first batch of power cars delivered to the Western Region (for sets 253001-027) to be saved, No. 43165 is the first from the original…

RAILTOURS THE Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has awarded Hanson & Hall Rail Services Solutions Limited (H&H) a passenger licence. The award was made on February 23, and the first tour to operate using the licence was Retro Railtours’ ‘The Retro Devon Belle II’ on May 27, using No. 50008 Thunderer and a rake of Mk.3s. Founder and managing director Jason Hall told Rail Express that H&H is keen to talk to owners of main line certified heritage traction. The Deltic Preservation Society (DPS) is booked to supply No. 55009 Alycidon for a tour, with the details to be confirmed. He added that because his company could now provide operations and traction and rolling stock, this will allow prices to be highly competitive. At a time when the charter…

CLASS 20 Having gained useful employment with Victa Railfreight as shunt locomotives at Peak Forest since mid-October last year, Nos. 20007 and 20205 left for attention at Barrow Hill on May 22. Nos. 20142 Sir John Betjeman and 20189 ran light from Tyseley to Kidderminster for the Severn Valley Railway on May 5, while 10 days later Harry Needle Railroad Company Nos. 20901/905 returned to action heading from Barrow Hill to Midland Road. No. 20901 was to undergo tyre turning, while No. 20905 last worked on the main line almost four years ago. Rail Operations Group (ROG) has hired the ‘20/9s’ from HNRC, and on May 18, No. 20905 set off in charge of the 5L46 09.18 Derby RTC-Ely Papworth with four translator coaches and ROG No. 37884 Cepheus at…

DC Rail may be the smallest of the six freight operating companies, but it is playing a crucial role in the construction of mega projects across London and the South East as well as the first phase of HS2 between the capital and Birmingham. The operator specialises in the movement of bulk materials for customers in the construction, energy and manufacturing sectors and is part of the Cappagh Group of companies, based in Wimbledon. Cappagh’s formal history began when Cappagh Contractors was incorporated in 1973, and 50 years on the Group serves a wide range of sectors with civil engineering, transport, recycling and material services. Customers such as water and power utility companies are not viewed as traditional users of railfreight, however by incorporating DCR into its supply chain, Cappagh…

MAY 21’s 9T41 07.26 departure from Shenfield made history as it was the first direct train from the Essex town to Heathrow Airport, thereby completing the introduction of Elizabeth line services. Crossrail, as it was once known, was complete. The following morning, almost a year to the day since the central section opened between Abbey Wood and Paddington, the much-awaited 24 trains per hour (tph) through the central section began. Operating during an extended peak time, there is a train between Paddington and Whitechapel roughly every two-and-a-half minutes, an increase from 22tph. Off-peak 16tph operate. Transport for London (TfL) says more trains now serve the London Liverpool Street national rail station from Gidea Park to meet demand on the eastern section. Some trains operated by Great Western Railway (GWR) from…

DURING his successful career with Hornby which spanned over forty years, Simon Kohler presided over a period of change that was to dramatically shape the fortunes of the company well into the 2000s. In the 1990s, there was a switch to manufacturing in the Far East together with a step change in the quality of the models being produced which is seen today in some of the most recent releases featured on this page such as the Hitachi 800-series models and retooled product such as the Class 91 and Mk.1 coaches. The Hornby brand expanded during this period with the acquisition of businesses such as Lima. Much of that range was relaunched under the Railroad label with new drives, upgraded electronics and improved liveries. Towards the end of Simon Kohler’s…

N GAUGE 2mm:1ft 1950s to early 1990s ERA First impressions REVOLUTION TRAINS first released its ‘N’ gauge 35t Class B tank wagon in 2018 to much acclaim. The model has been reissued alongside a new model of the Class A equivalent, both of which arrived earlier in the year. The decision was made to produce a spin-off from the model by producing the MTV/ZKV two-axle box wagon too, which used redundant underframes from the 35t tank wagon fleet. It is an impressive-looking model of fine appearance which is immediately apparent when it is lifted from the clear plastic box. Although delicate in construction, it had not shed any parts in transit and at first sight, is neatly assembled and finished. The review sample is decorated in Class A tank wagon…

Part  2 MODELLING Base models FIVE Oxford Rail and one Bachmann DBSO were selected to model the six coaches pulled together by LSL to re-create, as closely as possible, a ScotRail Class 47 hauled push-pull set. The Mk.3 coaches used in the push-pull set includes two Mk.3a TSOs and two Mk.3b FOs which are different from each other requiring some conversion work. The LSL set also includes a former Anglia MK.3a TSOB No. 10404 (former TSO 12010) which also demands some workbench time to undertake a conversion. Oxford Rail Mk.3s were used for all five intermediate coaches for consistency of detail. Finally, the Bachmann former Anglia DBSO was modified with revised running lights. The project to complete the Mk.3 coaches can be done in a week or so if minimal…

A former Great Western Railway Castle High Speed Train is to be scrapped in the near future to provide spares for HSTs in use with other operators. Angel Trains has made both its GWR and CrossCountry Class 43 power cars and Mk.3 coaches available for disposal on its website. A source told RE in mid-May that discussions were being held regarding the future of various vehicles. However, four ex-GWR power cars and four ex-GWR coaches are to be scrapped to provide parts for other fleets, mainly the ScotRail Inter7City fleet. The Castle vehicles will be stripped at Laira before being disposed of. They are expected to leave the Plymouth depot by road. A GWR source told RE that Nos. 43005/041 and 43171 were to be scrapped, with Mk.3 Trailer Standard…

ANOTHER section of the new Dawlish sea wall opened on May 25, as part of an £80 million scheme to offer the railway protection from the sea. The 415-metre section between Coastguards and Colonnade breakwaters officially opened at 14.00 on May 25, and is linked to the first section of the new wall at Marine Parade by a new footbridge that runs parallel to the railway viaduct. This also wraps around the station. The wall is 8m high, some 2.5m taller than the previous structure and was developed as part of the South West Rail Resilience Programme that was created following the collapse of the structure in February 2014, which closed the railway for almost two months. Network Rail said that the new structure has also created an accessible high-level…

AS planned, the last of Southern’s Class 313 EMUs were switched off in advance of the timetable change on May 21. The final timetabled passenger working took place on May 19, when No. 313213 worked the 2C74 23.41 Brighton-Seaford, after which it returned on an additional working (1Z13 00.23 Seaford-Brighton) in the early hours the next morning before running empty to Lovers Walk depot. Other units in service on May 19 were Nos. 313203/209/211/215/219. Having operated the Branch Line Society ‘PEPS on Tour: Sussex Rambler’ charter on April 29 (RE325), Nos. 313201/208 ran to Hove Yard for temporary stabling on May 2, returning to Brighton Lovers Walk three days later. May 10 saw the pair run to Arlington, Eastleigh for storage, joining Nos. 313202/214/217 which had arrived on site for…

THE first of 10 five-unit MRA side-tipping formations has received dust suppression equipment following conversion at Langwith Junction. Looking radically different from its as-built condition, Network Rail MRA generator-fitted ‘outer’ wagon No. 501305 is the first recipient of a new water-based dust suppression system that has been installed by WH Davis of Langwith Junction in partnership with TUV Rheinland and Cotswold Fluid Power. This vehicle is formed with ‘inners’ Nos. 501353-5 and standard ‘outer’ No. 501325, all of which include spraying equipment to tamp down ballast particles before the load is tipped. The five-unit set had moved to Davis’ site in October 2022 to commence the rebuild, which involves the decommissioning of one half of the productive capacity of the generator-fitted ‘outer’ wagon to make room for a water tank…

A procurement process for a new fleet of trains to operate an hourly Belfast-Dublin ‘Enterprise’ service began on April 25. Translink and Iarnród Éireann (IE) operate the cross-border service jointly and consider the replacement of the current fleet of 201/8201 Class locomotives which were first introduced in 1994, and De Dietrich/Mk.3 coaches (first introduced in 1997 and 2011 respectively) as essential in company corporate plans. The Mk.3 vans removed the need for the locomotives to provide Head End Power (HEP) that had proved to be problematic. However, reliability remains an issue with the locomotive-hauled sets, which are intensively used. More than one million passenger journeys were made between the two capital cities during the year ending March 2023. Rail Express understands that a fleet of multiple units powered by…

DESPITE an announcement in February this year, that Government would go ahead with legislation to bring about the creation of Great British Railways (GBR), it has been made clear that there will not be a Railways Bill in the next session of parliament to provide the necessary legal powers. Although there are leaked reports that passenger numbers have recovered to pre-Covid levels, for any operators it will not be until after this issue of Rail Express goes to press that official statistics are released by the rail regulator that will also show the level of demand and revenue being paid by passengers. If previous statistics are anything to go by then the average fare paid will have continued to lag behind that recorded prior to travel restrictions being imposed in…

THE Severn Valley Railway’s Spring Diesel Festival, held on May 18-21, broke records not only for its visitor attendance but for the number of locomotives used. More than 6500 people attended the event, which brought together what is claimed to be the largest collection of diesel traction at a heritage railway, with the event celebrating 50 years of diesel preservation. Some 22 locomotives were used, with more on display. SVR managing director Jonathan ‘Gus’ Dunster said: “There have been quite a few nights burning the midnight oil to bring this together, but yet again, the SVR has shown its true colours and talents. My heartfelt thanks go to everyone who’s worked tirelessly to deliver another event showcasing our railway at its very best. We have smashed our target for passengers,…

TWO ICONIC Class 37/0s from the 1980s are the next special ‘OO’ gauge editions from Kernow Model Rail Centre. Both models are based on Bachmann’s successful new model with its locomotive-specific tooling and fully redesigned mechanism which was first released last year. The first is BR rail blue No. 37207, a Western Region locomotive which was transferred from South Wales to Laira in 1981. It was named William Cookworthy in 1982 to commemorate its link to china clay traffic and the industry in Cornwall. The locomotive carried the unique lizard logo (Wizzy Lizard) for the Cornish Railways for a number of years and the limited edition model represents the locomotive in a roughly 18-month time slot from early 1986 to mid 1987. The second model is No. 37196 Tre Pol…

TT GAUGE 1:120 SCALE 1950s and 1960s ERA Straight from the box A HANDFUL of Mk.1 coaches fitted with B1 bogies were included in the first release of brand-new 1:120 scale ‘TT’ gauge models announced by Hornby. The first Mk.1 coach models, together with some wagons and a couple of steam locomotives, arrived at Hornby in recent months, in the first of several batches due during 2023. The BR lined maroon coaches include a corridor brake second coach; a composite and brake composite stock, leaving open coaches, catering and NPCCS stock to follow at some stage. When starting a completely new range from scratch, it is unreasonable to expect every variation of coach to be offered from the start. Eventually, a Full Brake (BG), TSO and catering vehicle could be…