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Showing posts from August, 2017

GWR: DEVELOPMENTS

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All Updates at GWR Will Be Either Shown Below Or By Clicking Here.  ******   Until 2015, the company was known as First Great Western. Aside from general fleet overhauls and livery changes (painted from the 'dynamic lines' royal blue with pink livery into dark green with silver vinyls and decals) when it became GWR in 2015, there wasn't really much news to report at this time.  All significant news between 2013/2015 is contained in our blog articles - CLICK HERE  to browse. For example, did you know that in 2012 five Class 180s entered service with GWR (as it's known today). Meanwhile, 150001/002 (prototype 3-car 150s) transferred from London Midland for the purpose of operating the Reading-Basingstoke route?! Fact! ******* Class 365s will no longer transfer from GTR, due to further 387s planned instead. GWR will also take on 37 387s in total instead - their first unit to be tested is  seen here at Derby.   Details here about the 3

TOC Focus ~ Heathrow Express & Connect

Hea throw Connect provides a direct rail link between Heathrow Airport and central London with a service running every 30 minutes.  Heathrow Connect also provide the only direct rail service between London and Heathrow Terminal 4. Heathrow Connect services depart from London Paddington train station, which connects to the Bakerloo, Circle, District and Hammersmith London Underground lines.

Farewell South West Trains

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This Is A TOC Focus, Summarising What Has Been The Stagecoach South West Trains Franchise, Which Passes Over To FirstGroup.... Since 1996, Stagecoach have operated the franchise. During this time: More frequent services across the network, Smart Cards have been introduced, and Automated ticket barriers have been installed at many stations, Eight class 170s moved to Transpennine Express (now these are at Chiltern) whilst the final of the batch was converted into a 171 for Southern Rail. This was in favour for eight 159/1s, which were overhauled at Wabtec Doncaster before entering service with SWT.  29 class 411 units, seven 412s, 34 421s and 66 class 423s were withdrawn, between 2005 and 2010, in favour for a brand new fleet of Siemens Desiro units. These consist of 45 444s and 127 450s.  In 2015, door-select software was fitted to these Desiro units, which means that the crew can control which doors are opened at stations with shorter platforms. Prior to this, cus

Greater Anglia (+ Their Short Set(s)) - DEVELOPMENTS

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FAREWELL CLASS 68 SHORT SET:  CLICK HERE FOR  THE LATEST SHORT SET NEWS.  CLICK  HERE   FOR THE LATEST GREATER ANGLIA NEWS.  Greater Anglia Operate Services Throughout East Anglia Using: - Class 153/156/170s (Rural Local Lines) - Class 90 Hauled MK3 Carriages (Norwich-London) - 317/379 EMUs for West Anglia routes. - 321/360 units for Mainline Corridor Use. Also Currently Leased Is A 37 Class  Hauled Short Set. It Operates On The Norwich To Great Yarmouth  and Lowestoft Line, With The 37s Sandwiching 3 MK2 Coaches In.  The Class 68 Set Came To Anglia When 170204 Was Sent Away Following Collision Damage, But Went Off Lease In September 2017 When It Returned. Here It Is Snapped  By JMaxim.  The Sets Occasionally Left Their Home Patch Though,  For Example: - April 2016, They Operated A Charity Rail Tour . - Then On February 23rd 2016 They Saw  Use  On The Norwich to Colchester Mainline,  Stepped  In Due To T