Railways Illustrated

The best coverage of today's railway scene. Each issue of Railways Illustrated offers a comprehensive round-up of the latest news and topical events from the UK across the present-day railway, including heritage traction in operation on the main lines. Railways Illustrated reflects the energy and vitality of the present-day railway scene.

Welcome

Railways Illustrated

Huge public backlash sees ticket office closure proposal scrapped

DB Cargo announces consultation into train crew redundancy plans

IN BRIEF

CAF wins contract to build new tri-mode train fleet for LNER

Passenger trains finally return to the Marston Vale line

New bi-mode trains planned for TransPennine Express

RMT holds referendum vote in long-running pay dispute

New cross-Channel operator from 2025?

Improved and expanded station at Gatwick Airport opens to public

Merseyrail’s ‘The 5:08 Sunset’ charter raises £12,200 for four Merseyside good causes

Deutsche Bahn agrees to sell Arriva Group

Network Rail completes repairs to damaged Plessey Viaduct

East Midlands Railway begins £3m Meridian standard class seat refurbishment project

Class 68s and Nova 3’s to remain leased by TransPennine Express until May 2024

Alstom secures £825m CrossCountry Voyager maintenance contract extension

This is the age of the train, as the ORR releases its newest and oldest passenger fleet table

IN BRIEF

Traction News • Battery-powered Class 08 testing gets underway

Welcome return for Network Rail NMT’s HST power car

DB Cargo Class 60s in decline

Alstom Class 730 Aventras enter service with London Northwestern

Class 175s made available for lease or disposal?

Now HST power cars and coaches head to Nigeria

Shunter News

Unit News

Unit Focus

Wagon News

Naming Update

Coaching Stock News

Livery Changes

Avocet prepares to take flight

Lion set to roar again following generator repairs

New owner moves 20087 to KESR on long-term loan

Triumph for 125 Group after inaugural charter success

Heavy Tractor Group carries out heavy maintenance on 37714

Wensleydale Railways welcomes new arrivals

NVR launches new ‘Ho Ho Ho Santa Train’ using 125 Preservation HST set

First-built Class 313 is preserved by 400 Series Preservation Group

In memory of Peter Nicholson 1948-2023

2024 diesel event calendar starts to take shape

Repainted and overhauled PNP Events Mk.2s move to Wensleydale

IN BRIEF

Make your Christmas even better

What’s happening to… • Our monthly round-up of restoration projects around the country, compiled by Pip Dunn.

InterCity has an opportunity – but will it take it?

Fleet survey: The Class 43s • High Speed Train power cars have perhaps never been so newsworthy as they are at the moment, with new operators and new countries seeking to make use of the vehicles that are now well into their fifth decade of operation. Richard Clinnick rounds up the latest developments.

PICTORIAL

The colourful Class 60s • Although it’s a long time since all 100 Brush-built Class 60s were in traffic, the surviving DB Cargo examples would appear to now be entering their twilight period in traffic. However, those employed by DC Rail and GB Railfreight seem to still have a positive future ahead of them. Ian Edmondson presents a two-part photographic study of some of the main liveries carried by the Class 60s, looking this month at the colour schemes carried up to and including their operation by English Welsh & Scottish Railways.

West Somerset sensation • The Diesel & Electric Preservation Group is...