TheGreatBritishRailScene

SouthEastern have updated the software for CIS screens at their stations.  More information here.  Meanwhile, South Western Railway will introduce the ATOS system for their announcements as of October 28th.  Default announcements, using Roger (also heard on Great Western Railway) and Anne (used around most of the UK).  In other news: GWR Night Riviera Lounge Cars fully refurbished . 3 ScotRail 314s off-lease, as the new fleet is introduced.  Class 320 on test with LNWR.  HST for ScotRail. 

Welcome to this long-awaited summary of rail news, covering February and March 2018.  The main news from March was of course owing to the Beast From The East. Let's not mention the weather, though. I'll just direct you to some fantastic shots... WALKING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND. AND snow ploughs.... CLICK RIGHT HERE.   Oh, here is another photo you may like, it features 37s in East Anglia.  If you're a fan of 66s instead though, this'll tickle your fancy... DAB THIS BUTTON. Leading  on from our special post about CIS displays at stations , it has recently been announced that Greater Anglia will also upgrade information screens at stations. NOTE - THESE ARE NOT PROVIDED BY INFOTECH. Simone Bailey, Greater Anglia’s Asset Management Director, said: “We have been focusing our efforts on improving information provision for our customers – especially during disruption - and these new screens demonstrate our commitment to providing up-to-date information, in ...

It's that time of year again - the results for the National Rail Passenger Survey 2018 are in. Click here for a summary of the news.  Effectively though, Virgin East Coast are the highest performers.  The GTR group though are at the bottom.  Meanwhile, at the Golden Whistle Awards, Greater Anglia was named the 'most improved' operator for punctuality on the Norwich to London Liverpool Street Mainline. This is a 5.8% increase compared to 2017!  Whilst on the topic of Greater Anglia, we've seen a first look at the Stadler FLIRTS which are now being built. These class 755 units are currently on the production line, and 3 or 4 carriages will be coupled together to form a unit. As reported previously , from Summer this year the tests and trials will commence. Then in 2019, 38 of these 3-car and 4-car units will enter service to replace Class 153/156/170 Rural Units in 2019. Below, a photo of the Stadler FLIRT power-unit. Effectively, this carriage will...

Now, the latest Railway Related news and updates from around the UK for November 2017!  Fleet Summary:   In conjunction with the 10 year anniversary of HST sets operating for Grand Central,  the time has also come to bid farewell to them.  The power cars will go off-lease in December, returning to their leasing company Angel Trains. 

For those of you who follow us on Twitter, you'll see us sharing, liking and posting news, stories and photos.  However, for those of you who aren't apart of the social media platform, I wouldn't want you to miss out on anything exciting .  So that's why we've condensed down the year so far from our Twitter feed into this handy dosage.... It's practically a year review, so we'll call it just that....  At the start of 2017,  345002 was on tests and trials prior to entering service on the Liverpool Street to Shenfield section of the Cross-Rail route. In June, the first of the new fleet  went into passenger service. Also in February, Thameslink 387124 went on hire to Gatwick Express. Brand spanking new  EMUs were planned for Mersey Rail. Between the 8th and 23rd April, there were significant upgrades to Bath Spa station. Primarily, the platform were widened to ensure that the gap isn't so big between the train & platform edge once the ne...

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! 

This Is The 2017 Summary, To State The Voices Used In Announcements At Stations And On Trains Around The UK: 

As stated last December , 7 catering coaches at Abellio Greater Anglia were to be overhauled and converted. FORM COACH H ON NORWICH TO LONDON LIVERPOOL STREET LINE. Reducing the size of the kitchen area to just a counter and stock storage has meant that more seating has been added... 600,000 more seats each year. Rather than having just 24 First Class seats, each of the 7 carriages now have 54 standard seats due to the additional space.

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.

Above, we see AGA 90s off to repair at Crewe. They returned separately, as seen here.

As Many Of You Will Be Aware, The Abellio GreaterAnglia Franchise Ends In October. Abellio Have Been Awarded The New Franchise Until 2025, And They Aim To Bring Many Upgrades.....

PETER: Lea Valley Lines/West Anglia Main Line modernisation through the years.... During the mid 1950s British Railways electrified the Lea Valley Line between London Liverpool Street – Chingford/Enfield Town with chunky, heavy duty, sturdy steel gantries holding both the catenary wire and contact wire itself. Electrification of the West Anglia Main Line to Cheshunt (as well as the branch line to Hertford East), Harlow and Bishops Stortford was approved and this was completed in 1969.

As reported recently, the first Eversholt Renatus unit 321303 was due back immediately following overhaul - as 1 of the units to undergo the overhaul by Eversholt to upgrade the traction package, interior and general efficiency / appearance. And we have had many blog team members like Jonathan and contributors such as NXEA321446 (photo below) keeping close tabs on these movements whilst I've been busy. Updates on the Renatus were only made about this a few months ago , with news on the project here by Lewis