June - News Roundup

Today, I cover for Matthew who's at the peak of Mount Snowdon! And as this is pre-scheduled, I'm probably occupied myself (Harry). 

 So I bring a news roundup. Some stories are quite outdated, but unfortunately I haven't had much time to research into new articles. 

This month, there are rumours that we say farewell to many 442s, except from 402, 406, 408, 410, 413 and 419 which will apparently remain until 2018. We'll have to wait and see whether this becomes reality!
Details of the additional South West Trains services are stated here. SWT add:
'The new services follow an agreement between South West Trains and Dorset County Council and provide direct services from Gillingham and Sherborne to Dorchester and Weymouth on Saturdays and Bank Holiday Mondays throughout the spring and summer. 
South West Trains will also be serving Maiden Newton, Chetnole, Yetminster and Thornford for the first time as well as restoring a direct link between Maiden Newton and London for the first time since 1968. 
Tickets are now on sale and returns start from just £5 for adults and £2.50 for children. 
Chris Loder, Head of Service Strategy for South West Trains, said: “The summer special services will provide new services on the Heart of Wessex line – helping to support local communities, businesses and provide even better connectivity for local residents and visitors during the booming spring and summer months."

Talking of Additional Services, VTEC also have new connections - 42 of them - to Edinburgh up to every half hour. Here's the first departure!

And heading South East, 375630 is the latest SE unit to receive the new livery and a thorough internal overhaul.

Photo: Anthony Whiteford (right), Jonathan Maxim (below).

And here's the new Reception Welcome Desk for London Liverpool Street, snazzy! It's apart of the Station Overhaul, as we've announced! 

And another, ooh la la! And another here, with the Flying Scotsman!

New bike area at Kettering, thanks to EastMidlandsTrains.

Well, that's all from me. Just a short post I know, but I hope you can appreciate I haven't had much time to compile this post (FYI I compiled five posts at once for the post, so I could schedule them and have them already prepared). Harry
Regards:

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07/02/17: Recent Goings On

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As Many Of You Are Aware, The AGA Franchise Renews This October For Services In East Anglia, Including To Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire. Abellio Continue The Franchise, But Renamed East Anglia Ltd.  Greater Anglia, as it was at first, began in February 2012 - operating the short term tender which was due to expire in July 2014. However, the Government later extended this franchise, and it then became the rebranded Abellio Greater Anglia.
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Reminder: Stock + Service Changes, Abellio East Anglia.

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To get into the Xmas spirit, Virgin Trains have unveiled East Coast  82209 & 91128  and Virgin West Coast revealed Pendolino 390013 in their Winter-style livery, as designed by Madeleine Deakin (aged 11) and Amber Maxfield (age 9) whom won a competition earlier this season.  The units were unveiled at London Kings Cross this morning and will remain in the livery until January. Claus 91, as it's been named, operates on the East Coast mainline between Kings Cross and Scotland via Penguinborough, whilst the Penguilino can be found on Virgin Trains West Coast services between London Euston and The North (North Pole) via Ho Ho Crewe.
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©Liam Jenkins Good Evening, Liam here, offering you a post regarding the last day of South West Trains Class 458/0 service. Enjoy! On Sunday 8th November 2015, South West Trains operated the last day of Class 458/0s on the units' final day of operations. These units are to be sent to Doncaster Works, where they will be refurbished with the Gatwick Express Class 460s into a new Class 458/5 class.
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Special - Rebuilding the 1960's Class 73's.

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It's Friday, and today's post is a special! Not as I'm here (Andy)... Class 73's were built in the 1960's and generally used in the Southern region. In 2013, it was announced that GB Railfreight would initially be re-building 5 Class 73's to make them Class 73/9's. The complete re stripping and rebuilding has taken place at Brush Traction in Loughborough.  The Class 73/9's first started testing in late 2014 (73 961 - 965) as there had been some issues, however they were all resolved pretty soon. The 73/9's are intended to work infrastructure trains (test trains under Network Rail) and also to be used on Rail Head Treatment Trains. As a result of the rebuild, it has given the Class 73/9's up to 25 years more in service, and more 73/9's are to be released over the coming months which should see them introduced on to the Serco Sleeper eventually!
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Peter Skuce Reports (6A)

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Chiltern 168. (C) P Skuce. Peter. Part A is for the Chiltern Line Modernisation. Part B will lead from this. During the 1960s British Railways built forty one, 4 carriage Class 115 DMU trains for the London Marylebone – Aylesbury Chiltern Line. One trailer carriage had entirely Standard Class accommodation with 106 seats, whilst the other trailer carriage was a composite, featuring First Class cabins with seating to the 2+2 layout and Standard Class with two toilets. They were powered by Leyland Albion engines, with mechanical transmission and their maximum speed was 70 mph. A new maintenance depot was built at Aylesbury to accommodate the trains.
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