Week Overview ~ 18th July 2015.

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.
  • Updates on the TransPennine and Midland Main Line electrification projects are unlikely until later on in the year (Autumn 2015.)
Dawlish Station, October 2014.
  • The DfT has announced an option report on Dawlish is due in November 2015, with all studies due to be completed by Easter next year. The report will focus on alternative routes including the Okehampton line, which could be crucial if Dawlish is disrupted by sea or weather conditions in the years to come. 
  • RMT (Rail, Maritime and Transport) union and FGW were back in discussions after the strike last week. In a latest letter from First Great Western managing director Mark Hopwood, he said there could be further strikes.
  • The Chancellor George Osborne has indicated that electrification could take place in North Wales; a decision could be affected by the HS2 project and a rail hub being created at Crewe.
  • A joint operation between Network Rail and Lafarge Tarmac have started work to link two quarries (Arcow and Dry Rigg) near Horton, Ribblesdale which is on the Settle to Carlisle Line.
© Andy Crawley.
  • Major electrification work has begun in the Bath Area. Major changes will be made to the infrastructure in Bath and the surrounding areas in order to make room for the overhead lines needed to power the new fleet of electric trains.
  • Steam made a return to the SWML for the first of a series of trips down to Weymouth and Swanage. Unfortunately the light was fading as I saw the Mayflower passing near Woking on the return leg of the Swanage Belle,but to the right is The Mayflower on the Portsmouth Direct Line earlier in 2015. 

  • 37 401 made a return to the mainline from Derby up to Crewe and then Carlisle for testing with the DBSO on the Cumbrian Coast. Pictured on the right is refurbished DBSO 9705 with 37 401 and then re liveried in to Scot Rail Livery 47 712 at the open day - thanks to Anthony for this!


Partners 37 602 and 603 sit together at Kingmoor Depot.
DRS Open Day 2015.




Today, thousands of people visited Direct Rail Services Open Day 2015 at Carlisle Kingmoor Depot. The Open Day marked a special anniversary for DRS; their 20th anniversary. Rail enthusiasts got the treat to look behind the scenes and see a variety of Locos including Class 37's, Class 47's, Class 57/0's and 57/3's, Class 66's and Class 68's. Thanks to Anthony from TSUK for allowing us exclusive access to use his photos in our week review.

Picture - General overview of the yard at Carlisle featuring Class 37, Class 47 and Class 66.







Below: 57 307 receiving a special 20 years of Direct Rail Service vinyl in front of hundreds of people today.











Below: 68 004 hauling the Pathfinders tour to Carlisle. The stock was then taken to Kingmoor Depot and then the stock went back around 5pm, and then the stock went back to it's starting location Newport in South Wales.

















That's it for this weeks weekly review, I hope you enjoyed it! Andy
Regards:

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