The May 2023 issue of Today's Railways UK is full of interesting articles and features covering all aspects of Britain’s railways, plus all the very latest news from across Britain’s railway network. This month we look in depth at new trains on Britain’s railways, but we also include all our regular monthly sections covering light rail, heritage railways, preservation and railtours, with readers’ letters and our grumpy old man also in attendance.
Feature articles this month include:
Tyne & Wear Metro Launches its New Trains: Tyne & Wear Metro hosted an event for local and national media and stakeholders on 17 March to show off the first of its new Class 555 units, which over the next couple of years will replace the original Tyne & Wear fleet, the oldest of which is approaching 50 years old. Robert Pritchard takes a trip to Newcastle to find out more about the new fleet and other develoipments on the Tyne & Wear Metro.
25 Years of EWS/DB Cargo Class 66s: April marks a significant quarter-century anniversary in terms of UK modern tracttion - the arrival of the first Class 66 for EWS from Canada at Immingham Docks. EWS ordered 250 of these locos which were following by future orders (totalling almost 700) by many other companies in the UK, Europe and beyond. See a freight train in the UK today and there is probably at least an 80% chance it will have a Class 66 at its head, although not all of EWS's 66s are still active in this country. Robert Pritchard gives a brief history of the class, provides a current fleet status and visits the 66's home depot at Toton, whilst David Haydock looks at the DB Cargo 66s in operation in France and visits their home depot at Alizay.
On Diversion: Glasgow & South West: Diverted freight and passengers services via the scenic Glasgow & South Western Line as a result of the Carstairs remodelling works.
Riding the Welsh Marches: Shrewsbury to Chester: Mark Lee Inman continues his trip north along the Welsh Marches line, this time covering the route between Shrewsbury and Chester.
What Future for Britain's Heritage Railways?: To coincide with the publication of the new and updated third edition of Britain's Heritage Railways, Andy Chard provides an overview of the vast and unprecedented challenges that are now facing our heritage railways, and a brief historical overview of the movement.
News stories this month include:
- Next phases of HS2 to be slowed
- RMT members vote to accept Network Rail pay offer
- Derby to be new Great British Railways Headquarters
- More cuts to train fleets to come
- Another six months for Avanti
- Scottish Government to take over Caledonian Sleeper franchise
- First phase of Carstairs upgrade complete
- Treherbert line to close for eight months for electrification
- Harper guarantees 2024 opening for Northumberland Line...
- Storm Larisa brings rail network to a standstill
- West Midlands prioritises five more new stations
- Overground lines to get their own names
- London Transport Museum hosts first Acton open weekend of the year
- Dates announced for final phase of Barmouth Viaduct restoration works
- Tram testing starts on Newhaven Line in Edinburgh
- Luton DART people-mover opens for business
- TfL plans to end paper tickets
- Locomotive Services 60081 prepared for repainting
- West Midlands Railway Class 196s named
- TfW Class 175s withdrawn following fires
- First TfW tram-train delivered to Taff's Well
- First Southern 313s moved for disposal
- Time runs out for Lynton & Barnstaple Railway' extension plans
- Great Western collaboration announced as Castles visit Didcot
- Ffestiniog Railway scoops top award
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