UK Rail Update

Harry here, for what looks to be my final post, as you were probably all expecting at some point now. Though saying this, it's still an exciting time for UK Railways at the minute, with so much investment and improvements being made.

Edinburgh Gateway Tram station is officially open, as seen by this report. Meanwhile, the Class 800s are being assembled at Newton Aycliffe, destined for GWR.

Meanwhile , Hitachi are also to make the new ScotRail 385s (as reported numerous times) and 5 new trains for First Group Hull Trains at Newton Aycliffe too. The first 385 arrives in Scotland on Sunday for testing! UPDATE 11/12/16: as anticipated, the 385 has now arrived for tests and trials. By 2018, 70 of these units will be on the network.

ScotRail will also be receiving HSTs and additional DMUs from GWR, whom don't need them once the 800s/801s and all of the 37 387s arrive leading to other units displaced along the network (like the Networker Turbo 165/166 units, moving South West; the Pacers being withdrawn; Class 150/153/156 units being cascaded or transferred).

Anyway, some 387s have already entered service with GWR, running between Hayes & Harlington and London Paddington. Meanwhile, sister 387 units are being built for C2C, and will operate from Christmas up until 2019 to boost capacity.

Also there are the 707s on order for SouthWestTrains (the first two of which are now with them for trials and training), plus new units planned for Northern, new carriages for the Caledonian Sleeper and not forgetting the MK5s hauled by 68s and units too for Transpennine Express. Plus, the MK4s at Virgin East Coast are also being replaced by the Hitachi Units, along with HSTS also being pushed aside.

There's also the 700 units for GTR, and the first of the 387/1s have transferred to Great Northern, so their 317s/321s go to Greater Anglia next spring for a short-term (until they get their Bombardier and Stadler FLIRT UK units), whilst the 313s are withdrawn. Class 717s will replace Moorgate stock from 2019, whilst numerous 387s are now at Great Northern for the Kings Cross to Cambridge and Kings Lynn corridor following displacement from sister operator Thameslink.

The first CrossRail unit is beginning its tests, before being introduced on the first section of the route in May 2017. 345002 is seen here. The Elizabeth Line, as it's now known, will run between Shenfield, Romford, Ilford Maryland and Liverpool Street on the existing line, but also extending towards Abbey Wood and Woolwich in the South, and Paddington, Slough, Hayes and Harlington, Heathrow and Reading in the West.

Also, not forgetting the D-Train prototype, 230001, which is converted from old tube-stock. Perhaps there'll be more of these very soon? We already have reported that some carriages had been salvaged and purchased, before TFL scrapped then. UPDATE 30/12/16: Class 230 Viva-Train Prototype Catches Fire: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-38470783

And finally, all the S-Stock Units have now arrived at TFL for use on the Underground. These units feature train-width vestibules, so you can literally see down the entire train between all the carriages. 

Full details of where stock is anticipated to be headed is here... so far these plans we stated have been accurate, such as the 170s from Transpennine Express going to Chiltern, the ex-Southern 456 to SouthWestTrains, and also the 319s to Northern, but as always plans can change so don't rely 100% on these arrangements highlighted in the link.

It looks like many 317s, 321s, MK3s and other types of stock will be potentially homeless - possibly planned for scrap? We already know Pacers for one aren't DDA compliant, and ar destined for withdrawal, and there are only 6 442s left with Gatwick Express and a few 313s at GTR until they come off-lease in the Spring, however the 170s, 360s and 379s at Greater Anglia, 185s at Transpennine Express, for example, and many other TOCs stock is compliant, is fairly new, and in good condition - so a home surely has to be found some way or another.

I guess we'll have to see how it'll pan out - pan out literally, due to the electrification programmes being undertaken by Network Rail meaning more electric trains can operate! 

That's all from me, Harry. I hope to return to the blog one day to reopen it and get it up and going again - but not for at least a few years.