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  • Doubt over Croxley extension

    Doubt over Croxley extension

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    Funding problems are again dogging the planned Metropolitan Line extension into Watford Junction via the Croxley Link. THE Mayoral Business Plan published in December 2016 made no explicit reference to the Croxley Link extension, raising fears about the plan to run Metropolitan Line trains into Watford Junction station. If given the green light, the works…

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  • Design changes needed for Class 230 D-Train gensets

    Design changes needed for Class 230 D-Train gensets

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    Vivarail promises no repeat of the engine fire in December that scuppered hopes of a first passenger trial for the converted trains. VIVARAIL has announced an action plan to prevent further fires occurring in its Class 230 ‘D-Train’ units, such as the one in the trailing vehicle of test unit No. 230001 near Kenilworth on December 30.…

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  • CHANNEL TUNNEL TANKS:

    CHANNEL TUNNEL TANKS:

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    The use of European loading-gauge wagons as far as Dollands Moor, or even into East London, is no longer a surprise, writes Gareth Bayer. However, the night of January 17 brought the unexpected sight of DB six-axle Samms flat wagons in the UK on a trial for the Ministry of Defence to assess the possibility…

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  • The Class 01 story

    The Class 01 story

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    Thirty five years ago this February, one of British Rail’s most interesting operations came to an end. Steve Morris looks back at the Holyhead Breakwater Railway and the Class 01 shunters that were based there. FEBRUARY 1982 saw the end of one of British Rail’s more enigmatic loco fleets – the Holyhead Breakwater Class 01s.…

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  • An Oxfordshire renaissance

    An Oxfordshire renaissance

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    Chiltern Railways is now running services through to the main Oxford station, competing with Great Western Railway for commuters to London. Robin Whitlock describes how the project was realised. CHILTERN Railways announced Project Evergreen 3 in August 2008, with the aim of running a regular passenger service from Oxford to London Marylebone via Bicester. The…

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  • FREIGHT FROM CHINA ARRIVES

    FREIGHT FROM CHINA ARRIVES

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    The first containers to travel by rail from China to London reached the terminal at Barking on January 18. In a staged event, DB Cargo’s No. 92015 broke through a banner, the train being pushed from the rear by No. 66136 – with both locos wearing a specially branded livery. The train originated in Yiwu,…

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  • Government begins HS2 train procurement process

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    Construction of the line has yet to begin, but the search is on for the HS2 fleet By Murray Brown Even before the first physical work starts on building HS2 – the high speed London to Birmingham route – the Government has begun the procurement process for the trainsets needed for the new route. It…

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  • Bi-mode finally fulfills potential

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    With the imminent introduction of Class 800 units and Class 88 locomotives, which are able to bridge the gaps in the electrified network by running on diesel power, the age of the bi-mode is upon us. THE restricted reach of the electrified network has always been a headache for freight and passenger operators where traffic…

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  • DRS GETS FIRST CLASS 88

    DRS GETS FIRST CLASS 88

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    The long-awaited arrival of the first Class 88 in the UK finally occurred on January 22, with No. 88002 Prometheus being unloaded at Southampton. Transported from Spain aboard the Autostar, a roll on/roll off ship, the loco departed the docks by road that afternoon as far as Allelys’ haulage yard at Studley, Warwickshire. It is…

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  • Overseas operators step in as British TOCs deem profit margins too low

    by

    Sam Hewitt

    –

    Trenitalia and Mitsui are the latest two companies to enter the UK franchise market, as British firms back away due to the high risk of low profit margins. THE expense and expertise involved in franchise bidding has generally deterred foreign railway companies from participating and, until recently, they have preferred to form partnerships with British-based…

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