Network
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TransPennine accepts first Hitachi-built ‘Nova 1’ set
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TRANSPENNINE Express has accepted the first Hitachi Class 802 bi-mode train into its fleet. Dubbed ‘Nova 1’, TPE received the set following approval from the Office of Rail and Road. TPE has ordered 19 five-carriage ‘Nova 1’ trains, each containing 342 seats, an extra 161 compared to its current Class 185 trains. They will be…
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First Class 91 withdrawn to become spares donor
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LNER Class 91 No. 91108 became the first of the 31-strong class to be taken out of service on July 22. Withdrawal of Class 91s was anticipated following the introduction of the Hitachi ‘Azuma’ trains on LNER services, and is in line with LNER’s plans to hand locos back to the leasing company. The operator made…
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GWR gives ‘Castle’ names to its HST power cars… and revives Class 255 designation
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GWR has unveiled a series of new cast nameplates with ‘Castle’ names that will be applied to its HST power cars. The HST power cars are used on the shortened 2+4 formations, which run between Bristol and Penzance. The plates are of a new design and feature the outline of a 2+4 HST set as…
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NNR launches Reedham signalbox appeal
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THE North Norfolk Railway (NNR) has launched a £35,000 appeal to cover the costs of transporting Reedham Junction signalbox in Norfolk to its new location at Holt, and its restoration as a working museum, reports Richard Horner. The 1904-built Great Eastern Railway ‘box has been gifted to the NNR by Network Rail (RM May, p85),…
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Stoneblower derailment causes chaos at Victoria
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GATWICK Express and Southern services suffered severe disruption on July 9 after a Network Rail stoneblower derailed at London Victoria. The vehicles had been engaged in overnight track maintenance in the station throat when one of the three sections became derailed on pointwork at around 03.00. GEX services were suspended and Southern operated an emergency…
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Conwy Valley reopens after washout repairs
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THE Conwy Valley Line in North Wales was due to reopen throughout on July 24 following extensive repairs to six miles of track washed out by a storm in March. Llandudno Junction to Llanrwst North reopened to passengers on July 18, in connection with the Welsh National Eisteddfod, while the southern section to Blaenau Ffestiniog…
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Worksop wins heritage award
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WORKSOP station in Nottinghamshire has won a prestigious National Railway Heritage Award following a £1.1million investment to restore and conserve parts of its listed structures. The Railway Heritage Trust’s Conservation Award was given to the station following work carried out by Network Rail to strengthen and refurbish the lattice footbridge, re-glaze and refurbish the platform…
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Landor Street bridge reopens – with a warning from Network Rail
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A RAILWAY bridge struck by lorries 32 times since 2009 reopened to road traffic in July after a five-month closure to repair damaged sustained in January. The bridge, which carries the Camp Hill line over Landor Street in the Bordesley Green area of Birmingham, had to be closed for repair, and a collision protection beam,…
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ScotRail remedial plan delivering on its promises
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A PROGRAMME of improvements demanded by Transport Scotland earlier this year is delivering more reliable and more punctual train services, according to the ScotRail Alliance. More trains are running to time, with fewer cancellations, less ‘skip-stopping’, and more seats on ScotRail trains as new trains come into service. Training of additional drivers and conductors has…
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Cardiff electrics pushed back to January
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RESCHEDULED engineering and testing work in South Wales means electric operation to Cardiff will not now start until January 2020. The December 2019 timetable will see a typical journey time saving of 14 minutes between Cardiff and London Paddington, but the final 10-mile section of 25kV equipment between Newport and the Welsh capital will not be ready in…
