TheGreatBritishRailScene

321426 - Refurbished First Class on a Class 321. Smart, hey?! The other 321s will be in similar style as part of Renatus scheme (10 units) and also GA overhaul project (remainder of fleet). Peter.  Harry and Lewis both here for today's post. Abellio Greater Anglia has unveiled the first internally refurbished Class 321 -  321310 - the first of approximately 30 units to be overhauled (photos attached to show what they look like when complete). NOTE: This programme is NOT apart of the Renatus Project, where 10 units (believed to be 321 301-310, with 303/304 being complete by Spring 2017) will receive new seat covers, grabrails, air-con and lighting updates and traction modifications.

Essex Thameside, known as c2c and owned by National Express, operate rail services between Shoeburyness, Southend, Basildon, Tilbury, Barking and London Fenchurch Street. c2c regularly score highly in passenger satisfaction surveys and are top of the punctuality table virtually every time. c2c have operated the Essex Thameside franchise since 1996. Before 1996 the line was known as the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway (LTS). c2c is now the only rail franchise in the UK operated by National Express. When the franchise began in 1996, c2c inherited an aging fleet of rolling stock. The company inherited a fleet of Class 302, Class 310 and Class 312's from British Rail.When the franchise began, c2c hired 17 Class 317's from 1996 until 1999 from WAGN (West Anglia Great Northern) to replace the Class 302's. The fleet was very old and the majority of the fleet was slam door. As a result one of the franchise commitments was to replace the whole fleet. To achieve this, c2c or...

The Class 700s for Thameslink are *alleged* to be behind schedule by approximately 1 year (now scheduled to arrive in 2017), so the Class 365s are staying a bit longer before tranferring to FirstGreatWestern. This will also postpone when the Class 166 Turbostars move west along the FGW Network. At present, this delay is just a rumour, so we'll have to see!

Hi all! Harry and Liam here! What a week it has been! In general news, US President Obama visited Kenya, Lord Sewel has quit from the Houses of Parliament as Deputy Speaker after allegedly taking drugs, and Alex Sammond has said that a second independance referendum for Scotland is inevitable. Railway-wise, Harry has helped me out with the Week Review this week, and the news is as follows.... NEWS FLASH: Ian Sharman (C) This week, the loanee Class 37s (hauling MK2 stock) began operating their additional Summer diagram, which will be operating on both Mondays and Fridays until September. These extra services are the  0906, 1025 and 1318 Norwich to Great Yarmouth (direct) and return at 09:52, 1112 and 1353.  The 37s services are on top of the additional Saturday services during the Summer also operated by these locos.  However, the extra  14:25 Norwich to Great Yarmouth and 15:42 return services have been operated by 170s this week. They are expected to...

Today's post is a special and further afield report on my trip to Reading and Reading West for particular reasons which will be explained as the report goes on. (ANDY) Without further a do, here's how my day planned out; I boarded the 08:23 Redhill - Reading service at North Camp and arrived promptly at Reading around 9am. I had chosen to go early for a particular reason: Britannia was in town!  After a search on Real Time Trains,  I found that Britannia was in fact late arriving at London Paddington and consequently didn't depart London Paddington until 08:28 (22 minutes late.) However, Britannia must have hauled very well as she made it on time to Reading Platform 7. 

Andy's bringing you another post later, so I don't want to overload you with too much. Therefore, I have decided to condense down my post today... BLOG NEWS: Our Abellio Greater Anglia , TFL Rail (Cross Rail) and Govia ThamesLink  FleetLists are updated. By clicking on the TOC name, the link *should* direct you to the FleetList itself. We've got a number of FleetLists that will be updated soon (some new ones added to our vast range). Furthermore, we'll add more diagrams soon. 

Archive: EastAngliaRailScene. Copyright: Jonathan Maxim. 90034 on stock move duties at Ipswich.  You're on EastAngliaRailScene, and t he latest fleet summary from the region is as follows.... At AbellioGreaterAnglia, MK3 Coach 10200 is now at Wolveton for repaint into AbellioGreaterAnglia colours. Meanwhile, returning the other way, 12060, 12061, 11069 & 12089 are all now in Abellio Greater Anglia livery. 90034 has been on Thunderbird duties, and is returning from Ilford today, whilst the 37 hauled set has been out. However, 37425 has been decoupled and replaced by 37419 whilst it goes for its exam. Richard Clinnick of RAIL magazine reports that when 37425 returns from its exam, 37405 will also go (currently on short set). Once complete, 37419 returns off loan.

Good afternoon, this report will give you some information about Chiltern Railways and an insight into their rolling stock, routes and history. Chiltern Railways are known for being one of the most punctual rail operators in the UK and regularly score the highest passenger satisfaction levels in the UK. Chiltern Railways have held the franchise since July 1996 and have gone from strength to strength and seen phenomenal levels of growth. It operates commuter, regional and InterCity services from its London terminus at Marylebone to destinations such as Gerrards Cross, High Wycombe, Bicester, Aylesbury, Banbury, Leamington Spa, Warwick, Stratford-upon-Avon, Birmingham and even as far as Kidderminster. At present, there is one train an hour to, High Wycombe, Gerrards Cross and Princes Risborough with trains every half hour to Birmingham, Aylesbury and Bicester North. There is a train direct from London Marylebone to Stratford-upon-Avon every two hours and in the peak hours t...

DRS Open Day 2015 - © Anthony. Andy here, bringing you this weeks overview - please note Lewis will now be posting a Train Operating Company Focus of Chiltern Railways tomorrow! Without further a do, here's this weeks news; 37 405 - © Ian Sharman. NEWS : It has been confirmed that FOUR additional trains will run between Norwich and Great Yarmouth each day, Monday to Friday only. The extra services are to cope with increased passenger numbers for holidaymakers visiting the seaside resort. The extra trains begin on July 20th, and will finish on Friday 4th September 2015. The extra trains will depart Norwich at 09:06, 10:25, 13:18 and 14:25, which will return (departing Great Yarmouth) at 09:52, 11:12, 13:54 and 15:42. Thanks Harry and others.

Good afternoon. Today I present a selection of photographs that I have taken over the past 3 weeks. This is my first post for the blog and in this photo review there is a variety of different locos, units and train operating companies. Please do enjoy. Firstly, here is 66119 at Princes Risborough working a Bow Depot to Calvert train and is about to cross over on to the single line to Aylesbury. 09/07/15. Here we see DRS 66433 passing through Gospel Oak with an intermodal service from Daventry to Purfleet. 05/07/15.

Hello, wherever you all may be! Having a great week so far? I know I am! Anyway, this post focuses on the combined TOC (Train Operating Company) Govia Thameslink Railway. This is a combination of the Great Northern and Thameslink franchises, both operated by Govia (a collaboration between Go-Ahead Group (65%) and Keolis (35%).

It's Wednesday and only two days until the weekend! Lucas and Harry are currently on vacation which leaves myself, Liam and Lewis here to bring you posts! Coming up: Tomorrow will bring a TOC Focus from Liam. Lewis will have a photo review of his recent trips on Friday . I have a post on Saturday which is TBC. And finally on Sunday Lewis will bring the weekly review! You may have missed some of our recent posts ? Well do not fear, because they are available to take a look at here;  Week Review -  http://eastangliarailscene.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/week-review-12072015-do-not-post-yet.html . Special - Direct Rail Services -  http://eastangliarailscene.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/special-direct-rail-services.html . 

68 007 "Valiant" and a Class 37 sat in the sidings at Norwich. Today's post brings a special on Direct Rail Services! Direct Rail Services is obviously a freight operating company with it's headquarters up north in Carlisle, United Kingdom. DRS started operations in 1995 using five refurbished Class 20/3 locomotives. Obviously the company has expanded massively and has gained new locomotives, with the latest being Class 68's.  The ownership of the company has been with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority since 2015 when the NDA was created under the Energy Act announced by the Government just over 10 years ago in 2004. DRS is unique in it's own ways, and to date is the only remaining publicly owned rail freight company in the UK.

Hi everyone! What a week it has been! On Tuesday 7th, we observed a 1 minute silence for all the people who sadly lost their lives on the 10th anniversary of the 7/7 London attacks, Greece's economy moves further into turmoil, and of course, who could forget?! The man himself Prince Phillip was caught on camera swearing at a photographer! ©Harry Rawding RAIL NEWS: On some DRS MK2 stock, anti-window-hang bars have been fitted on the NorthernRail Loco Hauled Cumbrian Coast services. This is to prevent people putting their safety at risk by putting their head too far out of the window. ©Jonathan Maxim New Sunday services include 8.20am and 3.20pm Norwich to London and 2 return trains, an extra service from Lowestoft to Ipswich at 17:05 & 19:07 Ipswich to Lowestoft and also the new 09:55 Ipswich to Felixstowe & 10:25 return.  These services will be operated by Abellio Greater Anglia (AGA) 'Sprinter DMUs'. These are comprised of Class 153s, 1...

We observe a 1 minute silence at 11:30am on Tuesday (7th July) , to mark 10 years of the tragic London 7/7 bombings which occurred in 2005, leaving 52 deceased and hundreds injured. Please join us. TFL Tube announcements will be stopped and buses brought to a standstill during the silence. Thoughts and condolences continue to go out. Harry & Team. NEWS THIS WEEK: I start of with saddened news about Railway Publisher Ian Allan. Unfortunately he passed away on June 28th, aged 93. Allan created all the useful information which resulted in the first Ian Allan ABC book during WW2 in 1943, focusing on the ABC of Southern Locomotives.

What an exciting 5 days of tennis at Wimbledon with the British players doing quite well! Of course my post is train related, and today I bring a special post on VTEC after my latest visit to London Kings Cross. I start off with an image of 91 130, 91 110 and 43 239 waiting for their next journeys from KGX.

I am Lucas, and I am back from my Vacation with this Station Focus Brighton station post. In summary, Brighton station is managed by station Southern Rail and it opened on 11th May 1840. Brighton Mainline Southern Three trains hourly to London Victoria (of which are two express fast and one semi). Whilst provided by Thameslink are 2 trains per hour to Bedford via Gatwick Airport and London St Pancras and also two trains per hour to London Bridge & Gatwick Airport (stopping service). West Coastsway line Operated by Southern are: Two trains per hour to West Worthing (stopping service); Two trains per hour to Hove; One train per hour to Portsmouth Harbour; One train per hour to Southampton Central. East Coast way line Two trains per hour to via Lewes, one train to Ore via Lewis, Eastbourne and Hastings and one train per hour to Ashford International. These are all operated by Southern. Platform layout Platform 1 hosts services on the West Coastway line only. Platfor...