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 ...

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at Wabtec Doncaster before entering service with SWT.  29 class 411 units, seven 412s, 34 421s and 66 class 423s were withdrawn, between 2005 and 2010, in favour for a brand new fleet of Siemens Desiro units.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 ...

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.

Soon we'll say farewell to the final few 442s which are being leased at Gatwick Express, as 387s step in fully.  But the 442s aren't going without a fight. On Sunday 12th March, it'll be there farewell tour as arranged by the Branch Line Society and Govia. The service will be formed of at least 5-cars, 442 402 or 410, and there'll be catering facilities onboard. The route currently planned (awaiting Network Rail schedule) is: 10:30 London Victoria - Clapham Junction - Beckenham Junction - West Norwood and then back to London Victoria via Clapham Jctn. The train will then run south towards East Croydon and Three Bridges, then onto Brighton before heading back up towards New Cross Gate, Selhurst Depot and London Victoria (19.43). Finally the train will operate down to Stewarts lane and back to Victoria in time for 21:09. 

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! 

London Midland have defended the short formation of some of their services. January 2017 "Customers regularly using our weekday trains to and from Euston during November and December will probably have noticed one or more services operating with fewer carriages than advertised. If you are one of these people, we are very sorry for any discomfort and inconvenience you have experienced. Below you will find information on why there has been an increase in short trains on the route and what we are doing to improve things."

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

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.

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 you probably remember, the milestone SPM Depot Open Day was at the start of May, with an array of locomotives, stock and DMUs.  Such a good event, with such variety, that we've decided to take a trip down memory lane - we return to the Open Day for lots of photos plus a few descriptions.

East Coast Main Line Modernisation, by Peter Skuce. The East Coast Main Line is Britain’s flagship main line, with a length of 393 miles between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh Waverley, with a secondary main line from Doncaster via Wakefield to Leeds. It is noted for both it’s high speed of 125 mph and also the sheer amount of tunnels on the route, particularly on the southern stretch of line, indeed Gasworks Tunnel is located immediately north of Kings Cross and then it is quickly followed by Copenhagen Tunnel.

Harry Back From Vacation! No Week Review Today Though, As Peter Skuce Has Sent In Some Great Images Of His.  First, Chiltern Rail. This is the interior of a Class 168 clubman, used on their services in Western England. Chiltern operate many types of this unit... 5 from 1999 (168001-005), 8 from the year 2000 (168107-113), 6 from 2004 (214/218/219 are 3-car, and 215-217 are 4-car) and also 2-car 168/3s numbered 168321-329.

Interestingly the Great Western Main Line consists of three main lines: * London Paddington – Reading – Didcot – Swindon – Bath – Bristol * London Paddington – Reading – Didcot – Swindon – Newport – Cardiff – Swansea * London Paddington – Reading – Newbury – Taunton – Exeter – Plymouth – Penzance History: British Railways built thirty eight Class 42 Warship Diesel Hydraulic locomotives between the period 1958 – 1961 at Swindon Works, powered by two Maybach MD650 engines. Also British Railways built seventy four Class 52 Western Diesel Hydraulic locomotives between the period 1961 – 1964 at Swindon Works, powered by two Maybach MD655 engines. Both classes 42 and 52 were designed for intercity express passenger trains formed of British Railways Mark 1. They had a top speed of 90 mph.

Harry Here, for a Rail News Summary For London, South East England and East Anglia.... First, Anglia. A thumper went down the Great Eastern Mainline last month off  to Sheringham . Plus another uncommon site was the Network Rail test train at Lowestoft which doesn't visit regularly. 

SEE YESTERDAY'S POST FOR PART 1 OF THE WCML MODERNISATION, TAKING YOU UP TO THE EIGHTEES! In 1982 Milton Keynes Central station opened and was to become a major interchange station between suburban and intercity express services. Also in 1984, Watford Junction was completely rebuilt with the demolition of the Victorian buildings and replaced by modern buildings. KingsLangley station was rebuilt during the mid 1980s due to theruction of the M25 motorway During the mid 1980s British Rail constructed fifteen Class 90 AC Electric Locomotives to replace ageing and unreliable Classes 81 and 85 AC Electric Locomotives. The Class 90 was supposed to be a development of the Class 87, however the Class 90 were not as reliable as the Class 87 as the electrical components were poorly placed within the body shell of the Class 90 from an engineer’s point of view.

WEST COAST MAINLINE MODERNISATION: During the early 1960s, British Railways commenced a major electrification and modernisation of the West Coast Main Line between London Euston - Crewe and Liverpool/Manchester. Electrification was completed by 1965, with regular service from Easter 1966. The route was the first in the country to be energised at the now standard 25,000 Volts alternating current and featured the chunky heavy duty, sturdy steel gantries holding both the catenary wire and contact wire itself (it is this latter wire that the train’s pantograph receives electricity from). At the same time the signalling was modernised from semaphore to colour light signals. The through trains to Glasgow Central, such as 'The Royal Scot', were hauled by Class 40 Diesel Electric locomotives.