TheGreatBritishRailScene

Saturday 22nd July saw the return of the DRS Charity Open Day, which took place between 10am and 4pm at Kingmoor Depot in Carlisle.  The 2016 event saw 4,000 guests, and it's fair to say that this year's was just as popular - also prominent due to the fact that, once again all proceeds are distributed to charities and local causes. Not only did the occasion see the presence of the class 37s and 68s, there was also the unveiling of the class 88. This is the first public event the class 88 type has attended.  Rather than just summarising the event, some links to photos from the event follow next..... - 68026 , in plain blue livery as it'll be transferring to TPE. - Avro Vulcan, XH558, class 37424 . - Class 68s, in Chiltern, Scotrail and standard DRS colours stand side-by-side. Well done to DRS for organising this, it looks like it was another great event. Hope everyone who attended had a good time, and fingers crossed you managed to avoid the sudden showers? ...

As previously reported , GWR are gradually repainting their fleet. Rather than being in "Dynamic Lines" (with the colourful swirls) or "Local Lines" (with place-names of stations on their network) livery, they're going into a two-tone green guise.  This is most certainly a hint of nostalgia for how GWR used to be before privatisation. This is as part of First Group's, whom run the Great Western franchise, plan to create the new brand identity.  Rather than summarising all the different units again in the livery, I'm just going to reproduce these images so you can see for yourself.....  As you can see, even the 153s are getting a facelift! I take the opportunity now to t hank J.Greener for the photos.  Here you can compare the old blue livery to the shiny new guise. Also note the affirm of the logo to the doorway..... But of course, it isn't all green galore. Here is their variation of their heritage Intercity Swallow colours...

As you've probably seen, Southern Rail let a 15 year old on work experience takeover their Twitter account earlier this week. Within hours, #AskEddie was trending on Twitter, with many people asking questions like what they should have for tea, and requesting that Eddie solved their riddles or answered their dilemmas. Exactly one month ago Greater Anglia unveiled an artist's impression of the Stadler FLIRT, which will replace class 153s, 156, and 170 units on its rural lines, as well as having another variation of the stock for the Intercity Norwich to London mainline and the Stansted Express.  This invoked over 1000 responses, with feedback on the seating layout, wide doorways and vestibules, USB ports and plug sockets. Greater Anglia have used the Feedback to finalise the design of the Stadler FLIRT fleet.  Also this week, the BBC have reported that Sugar Loaf station on the Arriva Trains network is Wales quietest station. A visitor book has bee...

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. .

GENERAL NEWS AND UPDATES..... Firstly, class 88  testing is soon to commence , as reported in this link from Rail Magazine. Meanwhile, sister 68027 of the older batch is currently being used on the Greater Anglia Short Hauled Set. It's only in standard blue livery because it'll be transferring to Transpennine Express to haul their MK5 coaches, thus will be repainted.