The January 2024 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:
Lifting the Lid on the GB Railfreight Class 99s: With the first of GB Railfreight's new Class 99s set to enter service in 2025, in November, GBRf's Asset Director David Golding and former Engineering Director Bob Tiller provided an updated on the project to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.
New Piccadilly Line Stock Showcased: Keith Fender reports from the launch of the first of the new Piccadilly Line trains for London Underground in Germany.
Signalling Changes in Mid-Cornwall: With not long to go before semaphore and absolute block signalling is removed from mid-Cornwall, Richard Horner visits the mechanical signal boxes between Lostwithiel and Truro, soon to be consigned to history.
The New December Timetable: Mike Stone presents his biannual guide to the new December 2023 timetable which in particular sees major changes for TransPennine Express, Transport for Wales and ScotRail, and Robert Pritchard provides details of forthcoming changes to the LNER Class 91+Mark 4 and GWR HST diagrams.
20 Years of the Class 360/1s: From the GEML to the MML: Now enjoying a new life on the Midland Main Line, it is 20 years since the Class 360 Desiros entered service on the Great Eastern. Graham Hardinge looks back on their 18-year reign on the GEML and Robert Pritchard looks at the units' new life on the Midland Main Line.
Cwmbargoed Coal Finale: With the closure of the last opencast coal mine in the UK, Ffros-y-Fran, due at the end of November, Kieran Marshall looks back at the operation of coal trains on the scenic Cwmbargoed branch in South Wales that served this mine.
News stories this month include:
- CAF to supply ten tri-mode 10-car trains for LNER
- Heuro plans Amsterdam-London service
- ASLEF announces further strike action, as a way forward is agreed with the RMT
- 30 000 now employed in building HS2
- Alstom warns of job losses at Derby factory
- Grand Central gets permission to call at Peterborough
- Landslips hit Midland Main Line and Trans Pennine routes
- South Wales Metro overhead now energised
- Mayor reads riot act over Stadler battery train failures
- East Linton station to open on 13 December
- Gatwick Airport rebuild complete
- Tyne & Wear Metro Gosforth depot rebuild nears completion
- Last new tram arrives for West Midlands
- DB Cargo to pull plug on Class 60 fleet
- Class 222s to get much-needed refresh
- Voyager maintenance contract extended
- Low ley launch for Class 730s as LNR withdraws 319s
- Swanage Railway launches £450 000 Save Your Railway appeal
- Somerset & Dorset Heritage Trust secures vital stretch of trackbed
- Ffestiniog Railway launches its new-build Fairlie
- Battery-electric loco finds new home at East Lancashire Railway
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