Spring 2017 News Summary - Pt 2

Aside from the stories already highlighted in our developments page, there isn't really much to report news-wise.....

First Group MTR to take on the South Western franchise from August. Stagecoach South West Trains will unfortunately be no more....
However we still have the class 707s to look forward to, plus 18 refurburbished class 442s are allegedly planned for the Portsmouth to Waterloo line and the withdrawal of the class 455 metro units..




Plus, class 707s continue to arrive at the current South West Trains franchise, for trials and tests, preparing for entering service on the Windsor route. With 275 seats per unit, in both 2+1 and 2+2 style formations, these are indeed suited to the SWT network. Full details of the SWT timeline is here.

Meanwhile, the South Eastern unit overhaul programme is ongoing and, on 21st April, class 67s went on a rail-tour from London to Chesterfield and back.

Farewell to the Great Northern 317s, which operated their last booked service on 30th April. As stated, these units transfer to Greater Anglia until 2019 - who'll gain their own new fleet too then.

Chiltern will be withdrawing 121020 / 121034 from the Aylesbury to Princes Risborough line on May 19th - just due to their age and ever growing maintenance challenges. These units are being replaced by 165s, with the 121 bubble cars being sold on.

As reported, Mk5 carriages are being built currently for Transpennine Express and these will be hauled by locos. Well it's confirmed the first batch of coaches are almost ready, and will by on trial from September before being prepared for public service operation.

Two class 156 units are now repainted into the new Northern livery, since the franchise renewed last year. For all of the latest updates in northern england, see here. 

Finally, not forgetting the #FourTrains event on the 23rd April. A new Azuma, the Flying Scotsman 91 Set, a HST set and also The Flying Scotsman Steam Train went side by side. The even was organised by Virgin Trains East coast, who stated in their press report....

"Today, enthusiasts and history buffs were treated to a world first as four generations of trains representing the past, present and future of passenger rail travel ran side by side, in the same direction on the East Coast main line.

The once in a lifetime event was organised by Virgin Trains, National Railway Museum, Network Rail, Welcome to Yorkshire and Hitachi to celebrate the start of a new chapter for one of the country’s most iconic railway lines.
The journey though the Yorkshire countryside was enjoyed by crowds of rail fans who took advantage of viewing points along the route to marvel at the unique spectacle, which concluded at York station."
Regards:

Our Popular Posts....

07/02/17: Recent Goings On

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Harry Here, Summarising Some Of The Interesting Fleet News Between Oct 2016 and Spring 2017...... 10/2016: 142073 heads to  Doncaster for overhaul , as all ArrivaTrainsWales are going into the new livery gradually. 27/01/2017: 37423 and an extra DRS MK2 arrive at Norwich from  Derby, for Short Set usage.  Meanwhile, 68021 and 68016 arrive to take over duty's on the 68 Hauled Anglia Short Set, because 68025 and 68005 both need exams.  01/17: Virgin East coast finish the overhaul of all 45 trains! 
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Abellio Greater Anglia to Abellio East Anglia

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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.

IN SUMMARY: - Free Wi-Fi on Many Trains and also an  improved WiFi service at stations .  - Additional seats on trains across the network, by increasing train lengths and capacity.  - CET toilets, so waste isn't flushed onto tracks. This is already on MK3s.  - Increasing train punctuality and performance. - Entire fleet replacement (stated below), so other units are displaced or withdrawn. - Norwich to Cambridge trains extended to Stansted, and Sudbury branch lines running to Colchester. - Lowestoft connections to London Liverpool Street reinstated, using the electro-diesel units, four times per day. - Trains half hourly to Great Yarmouth, plus later connections to Sheringham and Lowestoft.
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Exclusive ~ VirginTrains ~ Penguilino & Claus 91

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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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SOUTH - Last Day of Class 458/0 Operations

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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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