Enjoy the latest news, in-depth features and much more, all from your favourite monthly modern railway magazine.
North of England rails against disintegrated plan
Integrated Rail Plan lets down the North of England, says our columnist
ALAN WILLIAMSTrackwatch - January 2022
A digest of the main changes on Network Rail, London Underground and Northern Ireland Railways infrastructure during October 2021; compiled by Martyn Brailsford of the Branch Line Society (www.branchline.uk).
Martyn Brailsford
Threat of ‘managed decline’ without TfL funding
Fleet replacements would be postponed and enhancements abandoned
MML wires may soon reach Wigston
TRANSPORT SECRETARY Grant Shapps announced investment of £249 million in the Midland main line on 18 November as he published the Integrated Rail Plan.
DfT outlines future role for operators
■ First PSC tendered next year – let in 2024
■ Includes responsibility for train procurement
GCRE promises to be testing gamechanger
Progress is being made with the Welsh Government’s plans to build a world class rail testing centre at the Nant Helen surface mine and Onllwyn coal washery at the head of the Dulais and Tawe valleys, with around £80 million pledged of the approximately £200 million needed to build the facility.
James Abbott
Half-term success for Staycation Express
Rail Charter Services reported good loadings on its tourist trains on the Settle and Carlisle line, which returned during the autumn half-term holiday at the end of October.
From little ‘Okes’ could mighty routes bloom?
Could the Okehampton reopening provide a template for other projects?
Andy Roden
A REVOLUTION FOR THE PICCADILLY LINE
A new generation of trains for the Piccadilly Line is now under construction. Siemens Director of Major Programmes DAVE HOOPER and TfL Programme Delivery Engineer SIMON FORD talk to ANDY RODEN about the challenges in designing and introducing them
Andy Roden
Siemens challenges HS2 train contract award
▄ Preferred Joint Venture bid failed on technical assessment
▄ Injunction sought to halt ministerial approval
▄ Third legal challenge after CAF and Talgo
High-speed people
High Speed 2 and contractors are running a major programme to recruit apprentices. One of them, JOAB LITTLEFIELD, talks to ANDY RODEN about his experiences on Britain’s new railway
North to South Wales Mk 4 service expanded
Three return workings a day with '67s' and Mk 4s
Rhodri Clark
ROUTING HIGH SPEED 2
During High Speed 2’s extensive planning, many options were considered for the route. DAN HARVEY explains how and why the final selection was made
REACH FOR THE WIRE
Innovation where it is most needed, cutting the cost of electrification
Ian Walmsley
Czech Republic looks to high-speed future
The Czech Republic has ambitious plans to expand its high-speed rail network. KEITH FENDER reveals how the network will be transformed by 2050
Bringing new life to Scottish stations
JOHN YELLOWLEES, ScotRail’s Honorary Rail Ambassador and a member of the Railway Heritage Trust’s Advisory Panel, reviews recent restoration projects north of the border
Welsh service enhancements will go ahead
Second hourly service on Ebbw Vale line in December
Rhodri Clark
HIGHLANDS BOUNCE BACK
Scotland’s Highland railways have survived the pandemic and are full of potential for the future, HITRANS’ FRANK ROACH tells JAMES ABBOTT
WIGAN – BOLTON ELECTRIFICATION - Business case trumps high cost
■ Six route miles tops GWEP unit costs
■ 17 bridges highlights civils cost challenge
■ National Electrification Efficiency Panel in challenge mode
ELECTRIFICATION U-TURN - Taken to task on central direction
■ Centralisation deprecated all round
■ Industry proposes turnkey contracts
■ Informed sources put me straight