New operator and electrification in Auckland

A new ‘ Withered Arm’?

The cancellation of HS2’s Eastern Leg north of

Integrated Rail Plan focuses on journey times not capacity

Plans for new high-speed lines in the North have been partially replaced by upgrades to conventional lines, missing the full capacity benefits of building HS2 to both Leeds and Manchester

IRP: The winners and losers

Integrated Rail Plan sees West Coast destinations gain but Yorkshire and the North East lose out as plans for high-speed lines scaled back and replaced by conventional line upgrades

Step forward for North Norfolk route into Holt

THE Norfolk-based charity The Melton Constable Trust has

‘City Valley Link’ feasibility funds prompt ELR concerns

Proposal could see heritage railway route shared by local commuter services

Slippery rails ‘almost certainly’ caused Salisbury crash

Fourteen people were hospitalised after two trains collided to the east of the city

SIDELINES

Paris-London rival SPANISH state-owned operator Renfe has reportedly

Mk.3s go to school

Porterbrook has donated two former LNER coaches for educational use

‘A1’ Tornado stopped with wheel flats

THE A1 Steam Locomotive Trust’s (A1SLT) flagship 4-6-2

Award for Middleton VP

IN A ceremony delayed by the pandemic, the

Bahamas to Worth Valley and East Lancs

LMS ‘Jubilee’ No. 45596 Bahamas is set to

New NRM role for Sir Peter

Network Rail’s chairman has taken on a new role to help strengthen links between the rail industry and the National Railway Museum

Passengers preview Cambrian extension

MEMBERS of the Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA)

Government grants provide heritage lifeline

THE London Transport Museum has received £450,000 from

SIDELINES

Tours recommence DARJEELING Tours has announced it is

Panorama

Panorama is brought to you in association with Proterbook

Lower carbon footprint for Britain’s longest rail bridge

COMPILED BY GRAEME PICKERING Your reports and pictures

Boring machine Dorothy named

THE first tunnel boring machine on the northern

Design and delivery shortlist

JACOBS UK and joint ventures 2 Connect (AECOM

Minister confirms scaled down Euston station

Costs reduced by opting for a 10-platform, single-stage design

Railways in Parliament

Bootle branch upgrade LIFE peer Lord Bradshaw wanted

Readers’ Platform

Send yo ur letters to: The Railway Magazine, Media

FROM THE RAILWAY MAGAZINE ARCHIVES

100 YEARS AGO DECEMBER 1921 Line washed away

The RCTS: then and now

Britain’s leading Railway Society

Reviews

Built in Britain

LOCO REVIEW VOLUMES 1 & 2

BACK after a break of five years is

Reviews

Traction Times A Second Selection

NEVER AGAIN – ENCORE

BACK in 2019 came the publication of a

Prize crossword

£100 worth of Nostalgia Collection books to be won

Where is it?

Our pictorial quiz, for fun only

Hitachi plans Class 802 batteryhybrid trial

HITACHI Rail is working on battery-hybrid trials involving

Vivarail’s little train has big ambitions for the future

The company’s in-house battery technology could be applied to other fleets for ‘off wires’ operations

COP visitors get ‘HydroFLEX’ preview

Former Class 319 has been transformed into a 'hydrogen-ready' tri-mode unit

Agreement for UK’s first new hydrogen fleet

A computer visualisation of how the new hydrogen-powered

Namings showcase low carbon rail freight

DRS’s No. 68006 Pride of the North is

HOW CAN RAIL HELP TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE?

Keith Fender looks at the differing ways around the world that rail is being used to help limit carbon emissions and the effects of climate change

THE CASE FOR A RAIL REVOLUTION

Following the launch of its demonstration vehicle at the former Ironbridge Power Station site, Graeme Pickering explores the Revolution Very Light Rail concept and speaks to the pioneering operator proposing new VLR services

The Green Arrows!

John Heaton FCILT examines the highs and lows of Gresleydesigned ‘V2s’ in their latter days of working on the East Coast Main Line

WILL EAST WEST RAIL GO SOUTH?

Work is already underway rebuilding EWR Stage One from Oxford to Bletchley, to be followed by Stage Two upgrading from Bletchley to Bedford. But Stage Three to Cambridge is looking increasingly controversial, as Ashley Butlin discovers

STEAM ODDITIES

These two amazing shots came to light in our archive just too late to include in our feature last month on how King George V broke British Rail’s ban in 1971 and paved the way for steam to return to the main line

The hermit, the devil and the beast

Our annual ghost story returns with a tale of retribution, written by John Heaton FCILT

SIDELINES

Your reports and pictures are most welcome. Highly

Future of steam secured after Environment Bill fears

Latest available figures show that total steam locomotive emissions were just 0.023% of total UK carbon dioxide emissions

Hagley Hall to star in SVR spring gala?

With lagging fitted and refitting of casing underway,

North Norfolk ‘B12’ bows out for overhaul

92 SQUADRON BACK ON THE FRONT

Polar Express results in fleet variety

THE running of Polar Express trains during the

SIDELINES

Duke wheels back to Birmingham THE wheels

More ‘County’ parts cast

First cylinder cast as second set of coupled wheels emerge from the moulds for new-build ‘County’ 4-4-0

Earlstoke Manor set for 2022 Severn Valley return

WR ‘Manor’ No. 7812 Earlstoke Manor is on

Sheringham set for ‘refreshed’ carriages

The North Norfolk Railway’s Carriage and Wagon (C&W)

Bahamas is among the stars of The Railway Children Return film

LMS ‘Jubilee’ No. 45596 Bahamas enters Oakworth with

£200k grant boosts new Corwen station project

Ballast was dropped on November 4 within

‘T3’ chassis focus

EFFORTS to return LSWR ‘T3’ 4-4-0 No. 563

SIDELINES

‘Birdcage’ acquisition THE Isle of Wight Steam Railway’s

Gala adds traction to season

Resident steam and diesel fleet helps celebrate GWSR’s 40th anniversary year

Ivatt to remain maroon

THE Beet family’s BR Ivatt ‘2MT’ 2-6-0 No.

Grants provide boost for Swanage Railway museum

SWANAGE Railway museum volunteers at Corfe Castle station

New Great Western ‘Night Owl’ locomotive front end takes shape

WORK on the Great Western Society’s new-build ‘Night

Taff Vale strip

THE return to steam of the last surviving

Chasewater projects progress

Speedlink and MGR wagons receive welcome boost

After hard graft, Queen Mary rides again!

PICTURE: IAN CROWDER VOLUNTEERS at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire

Steam test success for Spa Valley’s Lady Ingrid

Your reports and pictures are most welcome. Highly

Quainton Road gains another Peckett as No. 1903 relocates

Dockyard line bids farewell to 1936-built ‘M5’

Last public appearance for Beamish museum’s Lewin

SEAHAM Harbour Dock Co. 0-4-0ST No. 18, built

Tanfield’s ‘Cochrane’ returns after repaint

THE Tanfield Railway’s stalwart Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns

Williton completes restoration of Hudswell ‘PLA’ boiler

THE first preservation era steaming of Hudswell, Clarke

Steam Portfolio

GOLDEN GARRATT: Beyer Peacock NG/G16 No. 130 turns

SINGLE LINES

Your reports and pictures are most welcome. Highly

Red ‘Dragon’s Mountain’ breathes steam in valley

NG/G13 Garratt hauls Vale of Rheidol Railway trains

Last train over section of original LBR trackbed

STATFOLD Barn Railway’s Hudswell Clarke P class 0-6-0T

Return to steam in sight for Teifi Valley Railway’s Sgt Murphy

THE boiler of Amberley’s Bagnall 0-4-0ST Peter was

Plans being developed to celebrate WHR centenary

FFESTINIOG & Welsh Highland Railways, Welsh Highland Heritage

Georgina joins PRCLT collection at West Shed

NEW-BUILD Bagnall ‘Sipat’ 0-4-0ST Georgina, offered for sale

Sylfaen project milestone as passing loop reinstated

THIS atmospheric image was captured at Sittingbourne &

SINGLE LINES

■ RISING water levels in Afon Gwyrfai, amid

SIDELINES

COMPILED BY CHRIS MILNER Your reports and pictures

Network Rail makes big step with drone technology

Breakthrough in how drones can be used to inspect the national network safely, quickly and cost-effectively from the air

Signs of Marsh Barton station emerge

GWR Class 150 units Nos. 150244 and 150234

Longer wait for more trains to serve Teesside Airport

ANY hope of increasing the number of train

Disused GE signalbox off to Wensleydale Railway

A DISUSED Grade II Victorian signalbox from Hertford

Bridlington semaphores replaced by colour lights

The new NX panel in place. BOTH: NETWORK

Hull Trains returns to pre- Covid levels

FROM the December timetable change, open access operator

£17m for Leicester station revival

A GRANT of £17.6m from the Government’s Levelling

Second Hartlepool platform plan gathers pace

A PLAN to reopen the disused former through

SIDELINES

Summit Tunnel track upgraded A NINE-day closure of

New DB Cargo COO

COMPILED BY GRAEME PICKERING Your reports and pictures

Peel stresses importance of rail links

PEEL Ports Group says expanding rail connectivity is

Freightliner award

FREIGHTLINER won ‘Rail Freight Operator of the Year’

Potential distribution role for former ironworks site

Rail hubs could be incorporated within final plan for 200-acre redevelopment

New traffic for former South Lanarkshire coal terminal

AGGREGATES supplier Cloburn Quarry Company Ltd has purchased

Spoil traffic could last up to four years

DB Cargo Class 66 No. 66021 is seen

SIDELINES

COMPILED BY GRAEME PICKERING Your reports and pictures

Sidings completed as rebuild progresses

Contractors will move on to next demolition phase at South Gosforth

‘Night Tube’ and full weekday Waterloo & City service resume

IN anticipation of a busy Christmas period, Transport

Cross Country modifications completed

COMPILED BY GRAEME PICKERING Your reports and pictures

‘08’ makeover at Barton Hill

FORMERLY in rather tired-looking all-over grey livery, Bristol

CO2 reduction for Hull Trains

HULL Trains says that, compared to its previous

‘On track to net zero’

Scottish Hydrogen Train unveiled at the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway

In-service trial for DB track monitoring system

Chiltern Railways DVT to be fitted-out for tests

Railway remembers and wears poppies with pride

VETERANS of the armed forces gathered at Euston

GWR sets Class 387 route target

GREAT Western Railway hopes to have 12 drivers

£2m upgrade underway at Eastcroft

Greater stabling capacity for depot at the heart of EMR’s regional operations

WAGON REPORT

Bayer Weed Control set, KFA Flat No VTG

Stock Update

COMPILED BY ASHLEY BUTLIN Your reports and pictures

Operations

COMPILED BY ASHLEY BUTLIN Your reports and pictures

Second public consultation on DART+ South West line

COMPILED BY GARY BOYD-HOPE Your reports and pictures

RPSI main line steam returns in Northern Ireland

Although society says there will be no Dublin steam this year

Painting begins on RPSI’s No. 134 at Inchicore Works

PICTURE: GERRY MOONEY THE restoration of the Railway

Funds sought for Merlin lubricator

THE RPSI has launched a £3000 appeal to

Former NIR ‘Thumper’ railcars gain welcome attention in the spotlight at Downpatrick

THE Downpatrick & County Down Railway (DCDR) has

SNCF loses out in first French rail tender

COMPILED BY KEITH FENDER Your reports and pictures

Metro for Malta?

THE Maltese government has released plans for a

Old and new in the Harz

Newly manufactured standard gauge Alstom electric multiple units destined for Holland tested alongside heritage steam locomotives in East Germany

Regiojet to expand international services

CZECH open access operator Regiojet has ambitious expansion

Romanian diesel temporarily replaces steam in Austria

IN much of 2021 the 760mm gauge Stainzerbahn

New CAF trams modernise Amsterdam tram fleet

AMSTERDAM tram operator GVB has withdrawn all its

Restoration progress for British built steam locos preserved in Argentina

RESTORATION of Vulcan Foundry-built, former Buenos Aires Great

A new ‘old’ loco for Watford

Your reports and pictures are most welcome. Highly competitive rates are paid, especially if exclusive to The RM.

Wells Harbour Railway closes

End of an era for popular East of England seaside line as track is lifted

Another railway and gauge for Statfold Barn

VISITORS to Statfold Barn Railway’s Halloween event were

South Devon Miniature Railway operations back in full swing

THE 7¼in gauge South Devon Miniature Railway takes

SIDELINES

Manchester 765 progress PUT on hold earlier this

Royal visitor marks tram restoration completion

Duke of Gloucester drives Newcastle 102 out of the workshop at Crich

Wirral Transport Museum reopens

HAVING been closed to the public since the

SIDELINES

Crewe Heritage Centre receives a Class 86 FREIGHTLINER

Diesel power aids Llangollen Railway resurgence

North Wales heritage line recovery assisted by use of diesel traction

Isle of Wight Class 483 arrives at Cynheidre

THE first of two ex-London Transport tube trains

Colne Valley to operate a ‘full-set ’ HST

HST power cars Nos. 43082 and 43073 Neville

A Class 317 EMU driving trailer for EATM

THE East Anglian Railway Museum, Chappel & Wakes

Waterman ‘Rat’ runs again after nearly a quarter of a century

RESTORATION of Class 25 No. D7659 (25309/25909) has

Former East Lancs ‘Thumper’ runs again

CLASS 207 DEMU, set No. 1305, acquired by

KWVR reveals transformed ‘Pacer’

KWVR ‘Pacer’ No. 144011 is seen in its

Last surviving Class 506 cab to be restored

THE Woodhead Railway Museum at Guide Bridge station,

SIDELINES

Whistler’ moves to Battlefield Line CLASS 40 No.

Bideford rides again!

Public services resume at North Devon heritage venue after 15-year absence

Class 03 powers fitted freight at MSN gala

THE Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust at

‘Deltic’ days at the GCR

CLASS 55019 Royal Highland Fusilier continues its visit

Classic Traction Portfolio

AUTUMN GLORY: The magnificently restored Cravens Class 105

LNER to run extra trains for Lincoln market

WHILE not strictly in the railtour category, LNER

LSL plans ‘Peak’ tour to Devon

THE return of a ‘Peak’ to the main

Pathfinder unveils new tour programme

Itineraries offer ‘rare track’, haulage and multi-day excursions

HST makes first visit to West Highland lines

LSL’s Blue Pullman HST set visited the West

Steam Dreams to run more regular excursions

‘DUCHESS’ BACK ON TRACK: Running fast past Wadborough

Class 37s tour to criss-cross Pennines

THE exploration of the three routes across the

WESTERN ‘WHISTLERS’:

The incredible sight of a pair of Class