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 ...

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. 

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.

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.

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.

AN UPDATE TO HERE (ONE) AND THIS (TWO), REGARDING EX- GATWICK EXPRESS CLASS 442S WHICH ARE CURRENTLY (OR ARE SOON TO BE, AS ARE STILL AT GE) GOING INTO STORAGE.......                                                                                                 As previously reported, Class 442s have gradually been going into storage following the arrival of Class 387s. Angel Trains, the leaser of these units, will undertake an overhaul on the fleet though to give them a lease of life. Well, since that announcement, Alliance Rail Holdings has proposed to launch a Southampton to London Waterloo service from December 2017, to compete with the current demand for services in the region, using this fleet of refurbished Class 442s.

RILA Equipment - Colchester ~ J Maxim 2016. Harry Here, With An Automated Post As I Post Rarely Now..... Great Work Jonathan Who Now Runs The Blog. I Thought You'd Appreciate Me Summarising Some Of The News Stories From October 2016.  The RILA equipment shown below monitors the track, and has been used on the Norwich to London mainline this autumn. Also, GWR have a new livery for one of their GWR green HSTs , following the reopening of the Severn Tunnel. 

TIM MILLER   First Video Progress Of The Manufacturing Of ScotRail Class 385 - First Units Undergo Tests -  CLICK HERE... SUMMARY ONCE AGAIN: The first 24 are due in service in December 2017, arriving from Japan .  The 385s will be used on routes around Edinburgh and Glasgow, replacing some of the TurboStars ( some already at Southern ) - Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street (via Falkirk), Edinburgh to Dunblane/Alloa, Glasgow to Dunblane/Alloa, Glasgow to Cumbernauld/Falkirk Grahamston, Edinburgh to North Berwick / Dunbar / Berwick and Edinburgh to Newton/Neilston routes  FACTFILE HE RE. 

06:19 London Midland Service from Milton Keynes to London Euston station formed of 350264 at the front  has derailed at Watford Junction.  This is after hitting obstruction on track as result of a landslide outside the Hunton Bridge tunnel which occured due to heavy rain. There are currently two injuries, and the train has some damage to the cab as it was clipped in by 350 233 going the other way. Line reopened 4 hours later. Now From George Browning Rail Photos: "66727 Approaching Eastleigh platform 3 working 0Z27 Eastleigh Works GBRF - Peterborough GBRF. Seen in a brand spanking new livery with a covered name plate. Previously in First GBRF Barbie livery."

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.

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.