TheGreatBritishRailScene

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...

Happy New Year! Best Wishes From All Of Us Here At GBRailScene, The Unbiased/Accurate Blog For UK Rail News.  Also, Sorry Once Again For The Lack Of Posts, Difficult To Keep This Page Going Considering We're All Busy. Apologies For Reduced Effort - We Aim To Keep The Page Open As Long As Possible!  Anyway, Now A Welcome To The Latest Long-Awaited Summary Regarding Automated Announcements Currently Used On The UK Rail Network......  This article will highlight which voiceover artists are used for pre-automated announcements at each of the UK Train Operating Companies.  Generally, Anne from ATOS is the main person used ( she's even heard in Ireland ), as the ATOS system becomes the most popular information provision system. 

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 ...

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, I'm on the Saturday shift as Matthew's away. Just a quick report today.... Between 2002 and 2004, Southern acquired nine 2-car ( 171721-730 ) and six 4-car ( 172801-171806 ) 171 Turbostars for the non-electrified routes. In 2006, one further 171 transferred from South West Trains.  Now, all of these units are used for the Marshlink Line, between Ashford and Hastings, for Ashford-Brighton, London Bridge to Oxted, Ashford to Rye/Hastings (Peak-Time, using 171/7s) and also the Oxted to Uckfield Branch (6 or 8 car units, so 2x 4-car or 1x 4-car coupled to a 2-car).

FURTHER TO LIAM'A REPORT, I BRING YOU ALL A BRIEF TOC FOCUS, HIGHLIGHTING THE PROGRESS OF OVERHAULS AT GWR..... This is 158956 , a hybrid unit at GWR. What makes this unit different to the rest is that two units have been combined into one - so 1 driver cab off a 158 is attached to a 2-car 158, leading to 3 cabs (though only 2 operational, obviously). All 158/7 series was apparently 2-cars originally, converted to 3-cars, except the unused cab was removed. So this is why 056 is so different!

The DFT Rolling Stock Perspective has been compiled. I will summarise some of the most significant updates and news, including what stock is going where and when. The Report States The UK Needs: 'Introducing emission toilets putting an end, finally, to toilets discharging onto the track ahead of the January 2020 deadline we have set. The industry’s Sustainable Development Principles are about to be re-launched and we want to see all trains complying with these; 

PART 1 IS HERE IF YOU'VE MISSED IT, FOR GENERAL NEWS. Fleet News.   The New Livery As stated by  Matthew , the FTPE fleet of nine 2-car 170s are all to be subleased to Chiltern Rail, all departing within the next year, for their benefit. Five of these 170/3 units have already transferred, meaning that FTPE were naturally under capacity. Thus, the same amount (six at present) of  156 Sprinters are sub-leased  from Arriva Northern to bring up numbers, used for the hourly service on the Manchester Airport to Blackpool North corridor  - as announced in January 2015.

Old FTPE livery on a Class 185 at York. This livery is  soon to be extinct (more explained in Part 2!) Since Keolis left the Transpennine franchise, leaving just FirstGroup, we haven't had any updates. So here we go with a TOC focus. First and foremost, a summary of the operator. In total, FTE operate 71 units over their network serving: Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hull, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester (Piccadilly and Airport) Middlesbrough, Newcastle Central, Scarborough and Sheffield.

Welcome to Part 3 of the AGA Fleet Focus, this time for the Class 317/379 West Anglia EMU units. If you've missed Part 1 it's here , whilst Part 2 is here.  Class 317s are gradually being overhauled and operate on all of the Abellio Greater Anglia West Anglia routes aside from the Stansted Express (317s only operate a few odd SExp Diagrams). See here for interior shots.

Welcome to Part 2, which will focus on Intercity Stock (Class 90s, MK3s and DVTs). Part 1 is here.  By October, will it be the current Abellio, or new First East Anglia, or National Express? The DFT will be revealing their opinion in roughly June, for the new franchise in October.  90034  continues to be loaned (until the refurb programme or franchise is complete, whichever comes first). In the same image, we see  90007  which is still in ONE livery (the last Class 90 in this style). Now  90006  is home in AGA colours,  90007  is ready for imminent departure for the same treatment.

As part of the TOC Focus Series, we welcome you to Part 1 of the AbellioGreaterAnglia Fleet Focus. Now, we will focus on the Class 153, 156 and 170 DMU stock before moving onto the Short Set and the Class 321/360 mainline units. Here, we see an Abellio Greater Anglia Class 156 at Bury St Edmunds. I assume this is 402 , as there aren't any fleet names on the sides of the saloon. 156402 is one of 9 Class 156 units operated by AGA. They have been passed down from ONE and NXEA days, along with the five Class 153 Bubble/Scud Units.  Of course we couldn't make an Anglia update post without mentioning the Class 37 hauled set. It still operates on the regular diagram on most weekdays, although it is now currently formed of MK2s 6117, 6046 and 9525 (brake van), and locomotives 37419 and 37422.

Good evening all, Liam here bringing you everything you need to know regarding the refurbishments of stock currently under the Great Western Railway franchise. First off with the basics, Great Western Railway (commonly abbreviated to Great Western Railway) is a train operating company owned by FirstGroup currently serving many lines in the South and West of England, including the Brunel's iconic Great Western Mainline, the Cotswald Line, and many others. The company rebranded from First Great Western into the more classic Great Western Railway on 20th September 2015. ©FirstGroup PLC - New GWR logo

Class 180 Sister, this ones at (Firdy Group) Great Western Rail (GWR) Hey all! Lucas here for a focus on the TOC's First Hull Trains and Grand Central. My final post for some time, so hope you enjoy! Hull Trains:  Hull trains are operated by FirstGroup company. Hull trains operate between Hull Hull Hull and London King's Cross. Hull trains operating up to 6 daily returns services between Hull and London Kings Cross. Current fleet is Class 180. Around the time of 2020, a new class will be introduced, which is class 800 - I (Lucas) think!

Morning. Lucas here, back from vacation. I'm providing cover today. Lewis (C) I'll resume the TOC Focus series, beginning with the South Eastern railway franchise (2006 to 2018). SERVICES: South Eastern trains run, as you might expect, in the south east of England. They operate numerous services from London Bridge, Cannon Street, London Blackfriars and Charing Cross towards Kent and Sussex.