Railnews Magazine Mar-18 Back Issue

THE lead story in the March edition of Railnews broke on press day, when Siemens announced that it is leasing a site in Goole for a train-building plant. However, progress will depend on new train orders, the company added. Hitachi Intercity Expresses have continued to make progress too: we have pictures of Class 802s for GWR being built in Italy, while we also show an IET at Inverness – the first time one of the new trains has reached the capital of the Highlands. Meanwhile, the design of the ‘fishbowl’ windscreen on new Hitachi Class 385s in Scotland is dazzling drivers – who say they can see two or even three signals simultaneously after dark.

Details of Network Rail’s Strategic Plan for the five years from 2019 have been revealed. The emphasis will be different, with few ‘mega projects’ such as London Bridge, and Network Rail chairman Sir Peter Hendy has said that the CP5 programme ‘could not be paid for nor delivered’, with ‘no business case in many instances’.

The RMT has called a new strike on Southern on 12 March but also called for new talks in the continuing dispute over train staffing. Southern said the action was ‘pointless’. Strikes were also called on 3 March on Merseyrail and Northern.

The first Eurostar to carry through passengers from London to Amsterdam arrived in the Dutch capital on 20 February, and Railnews was there. Regular services will start next month.

There is continuing uncertainty over franchises. Abellio has withdrawn from the competition for the next Wales & Borders franchise following the collapse of its contracting partner Carillion, and in our extended feature this month we ask: ‘Why does East Coast keep failing?’

Finally, a future driver has made his first trip in a cab on South Western Railway, but Luke won’t be able to continue his training for seven years or so. He has just celebrated his 11th birthday.

Railnews for March is out now.