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17/08/2017

Viaduct paint job high above Highlands river [BBC News]

A paint job is being done 44m (144.4ft) above a river in the Highlands. The Findhorn Viaduct, which carries a railway over the River Findhorn near Tomatin, is getting a revamp by NetworkRail Scotland. Workers are carrying out repairs to the crossing's steelwork as well as repainting and waterproofing the structure. The 400m (1,312.4ft) curved viaduct south of Inverness was opened in 1897 as part of the Highland Railway. More

70013 Oliver Cromwell pilots 61994 The Great Marquess over Findhorn Viaduct on 13 April 2010 with the southbound Great Britain III railtour.
Findhorn Viaduct
[Jim Peebles 13/04/2010]

The meandering River Findhorn, illuminated by a low autumn sun during a pleasant October afternoon in 2005, with the piers of the viaduct casting long shadows across the valley floor. View is south west, with the village of Tomatin off picture to the right.
Findhorn Viaduct
[John Furnevel 31/10/2005]

View from a southbound train crossing Findhorn Viaduct near Tomatin in the early 1960s behind a pair of type 2 locomotives.
Findhorn Viaduct
[Frank Spaven Collection (Courtesy David Spaven) //]

16/08/2017

Virgin Trains Azuma crosses Border for first time [Scotsman]

A brand new Virgin Azuma which will replace 40-year-old trains on the east coast main line made its debut visit to Scotland today. The test run from Doncaster to Dunbar was the first of a series north of the Border in the run-up to the trains entering service late next year. More

15/08/2017

Rail fares to rise by up to 3.6% [BBC News]

Millions of rail users in the UK will see a 3.6% increase in regulated rail fares from January 2018. Train operators can raise fares by as much as the Retail Prices Index (RPI) figure for July. This figure is the highest since 2011, when it was 5%. Passenger groups said commuters would be worst-hit, and suggested that the RPI measure should be scrapped. The most widely watched and used measure, the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), was unchanged at 2.6%. More

15/08/2017

Meeting over Glasgow train violence concerns [BBC News]

Train drivers are to meet with police, council staff and transport agencies to discuss concerns about anti-social behaviour on some Glasgow services. The multi-agency meeting was arranged after ASLEF union said more needed to be done to protect passengers and staff on services to Helensburgh and Balloch. The union said its members would refuse to work on the line unless something was done to protect staff. British Transport Police said it had stepped up patrols along the route. More

15/08/2017

Train derails outside London Waterloo station [BBC News]

Passengers have been advised to avoid London Waterloo station all day after a train derailed outside the station. The train partly left the tracks as it was pulling away from at platform at low speed at 05:40 BST, Network Rail said. Three people were checked over by London Ambulance Service but nobody was taken to hospital. Ten platforms are already shut as part of engineering works to enlarge the station's capacity More

12/08/2017

Egypt trains collide in Alexandria killing dozens [BBC News]

Two passenger trains have collided in northern Egypt, killing at least 41 people and injuring more than 120 others, health officials say. A number of carriage were derailed by the accident in the coastal city of Alexandria. Reports said one of the trains had been brought to a halt after a malfunction. Transport Minister Hisham Arafat blamed 'human error'. More

11/08/2017

Rail violence prompts urgent action call [BBC News]

Train drivers are calling on Scotland's transport minister to intervene over concern about anti-social behaviour on some services out of Glasgow. The ASLEF union said Humza Yousaf had to act to protect passengers and staff on services to Helensburgh and Balloch. British Transport Police said it had stepped up patrols along the route. More

10/08/2017

London Midland loses West Midlands rail franchise [BBC News]

A new rail operator has been awarded a contract to run the West Midlands rail franchise, the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced. West Midlands Trains Ltd will take over routes currently operated by London Midland from December. The company is a joint venture between Dutch firm Abellio and Japanese partners. The deal will see almost £1bn of investment and new, longer trains, the DfT said. The franchise covers routes in the West Midlands, as well as from London Euston to Crewe, and Liverpool to Birmingham. More

London Midland EMU 350267 about to leave platform 18 at Euston on 29 August 2014. The heavily loaded twelve coach train, running slightly late, is the 18.13 service to Birmingham New Street via Northampton.
Euston
[David Pesterfield 29/08/2014]

Passengers familiar with operations at MKC will know that many Pendolinos and Voyagers pass through platform 6 - plus the occasional mail train [see image 35686]. But now that London Midland have tuned up their 350^s for 110mph running, they are mixing it with Virgin trains. This unit got me to Nuneaton in 35 minutes.
Milton Keynes Central
[Ken Strachan 08/02/2013]

Scene on platform 8 at Liverpool Lime Street station on 21 June 2013. London Midland 350241 is preparing to depart with a service to Birmingham New Street.
Liverpool Lime street
[Veronica Clibbery 21/06/2013]

09/08/2017

Aberdour station up for top award [ScotRail]

The ScotRail Alliance has congratulated a local artist whose work to restore part of a West Fife railway station has been nominated for a major award. Aberdour signal box, located on the platform at Aberdour station, has been shortlisted in the 'Most enhanced station buildings and surroundings' category at the Community Rail Awards after it was restored and converted into a studio for local artist Lynette Gray earlier this year. Lynette, from Kinghorn, was encouraged to visit the signal box after her success in converting disused space within Kinghorn station into a studio and gallery. Seeing the potential in the grade B listed space, which had lain empty since it fell out of use in 1981, she agreed to take it on. Renovation works began in February, with the official opening in April, and was made possible through support from the ScotRail Alliance, the Stations Community Regeneration Fund and the Railway Heritage Trust. James Ledgerwood, the ScotRail Alliance's head of economic development, said: 'We are absolutely delighted for Lynette. It's wonderful to see redundant buildings being given a new lease of life. I know I won't be the only one wishing Lynette the very best of luck, given just how much she has done for stations in Fife and the local community. The ScotRail Alliance is working with people across the country not just to deliver the best railway Scotland's ever had, but to also to make a difference to local communities.' More

The official re-opening of the former Aberdour signal box in April 2017. Lynette Gray (centre) stands with Colin Whyte (left), ScotRail Alliance commercial property manager, and John Yellowlees (right), honorary ScotRail Alliance community ambassador.
Aberdour
[ScotRail 25/04/2017]

09/08/2017

Work to extend Edinburgh trams to Leith could start in 2019 [Scotsman]

The case to extend the 1A line from York Place to Newhaven is now set to go under the scrutiny of councillors over the coming weeks. While the case itself could be given the go ahead by the end of September, a final decision on whether to proceed - and with which contractor - would not happen until autumn 2018. Council leader Adam McVey said: As the fastest growing city in Scotland, and with our existing system nearing capacity, we have to look at ways of enhancing our public transport system. The planned tram extension route takes in Scotlands most densely populated area. Taken with low car ownership, developing high capacity transport to Newhaven would bring a range of local benefits in terms of boosting economic growth, creating jobs, enhancing accessibility, reducing congestion and improving air quality. More

The city end of the present Edinburgh Tram network finishes at this simple stop block located at the eastern end of York Place, by Broughton Street junction, as seen in this view towards Leith Walk on 21 May 2014.
York Place [Tram]
[David Pesterfield 21/05/2014]

Sign of the times * Leith Walk * November 2008. (No sign of rails yet...)
Leith Walk
[Bill Roberton 06/11/2008]

The new sign for Major Roadworks in Edinburgh. View north along Leith Walk towards Princes Street on 8 October 2007 with activity underway on the rerouting of gas, electricity and water supplies in advance of tram works proper.
Leith Walk
[John Furnevel 08/10/2007]

08/08/2017

North Yorkshire Moors Railway awarded £4.6m lottery grant [BBC News]

A heritage steam railway has been awarded £4.6m by the Heritage Lottery fund. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) said the funding represented half of a planned £9.2m sustainability project which aimed to secure the railway's future. The railway, which runs steam trains between Pickering and Whitby, attracts 350,000 passengers a year. Owned and operated by a charitable trust it employs 100 people. It also relies on about 1,000 volunteers and NYMR claims it contributes around £30m to the regional tourist economy. More

Sure footed and with clear exhaust, BR Standard Class 4MT 4-6-0, No. 75029 ascends the 1 in 49 bank between Grosmont and Goathland with a six-coach set at Darnholm on the NYMR, having departed Whitby at 14.00 on 22 May 2015.
Darnholm
[Brian Taylor 22/05/2015]

60163 Tornado with a train on the NYMR at Levisham on 5 October 2013.
Levisham
[Peter Todd 05/10/2013]

D7628 comes off a train of empty stock at Pickering on 28 June 2011. Note the station^s recently completed overall roof, a replacement for the original 1846 structure removed by BR in the 1950s.
Pickering
[John Furnevel 28/06/2011]

07/08/2017

Half of ScotRail trains miss punctuality targets at Scotland's busiest stations - updated [Herald]

The Herald updated this news item with a correction on the 8th thus; We reported yesterday that ScotRail missed punctuality targets at nearly 60 per cent of stations. This was inaccurate. There are no punctuality targets for individual stations and the stations quoted represent only 20 per cent of those from which ScotRail operates. The most recent figures show that 93.7 per cent of ScotRail trains met the industry standard public performance measure (PPM).

SCOTLANDS rail operator has failed to meet a target for trains to arrive on time at nearly three-fifths of stations, according to figures. A total of 43 out of 73 stations missed ScotRails public performance measure, which currently stands at 90.8 per cent, to arrive or terminate within five minutes of schedule in July. The stations include Edinburgh Waverley, Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth and Inverness. Passenger watchdog Transport Focus described the performance as disappointing while Scottish Labour said the number of trains arriving late is unacceptable. More

07/08/2017

Waterloo station: Commuters hit by engineering upgrade work [BBC News]

Thousands of commuters are facing severe disruption after engineering works at the UK's busiest train station closed almost half of the platforms. Ten platforms at Waterloo station will be shut until 28 August to enlarge station capacity. No trains will run from seven stations in south-west London while Network Rail has warned others like Vauxhall and Wimbledon will be 'exceptionally busy'. An average of 270,000 journeys are made to and from Waterloo each day. The £800m will get the station ready for longer trains and provide space for 30% extra passengers during the busiest times of the day. More

Waterloo, 30th May, this is the train from Yeovil junction, a few class 158 made into a sizeable train.
Waterloo
[Alan Cormack 30/05/2017]

View south east over Waterloo Station in August 2009 from the London Eye.
Waterloo
[Alistair MacKenzie 23/08/2009]

Bulleid Merchant Navy Pacific no 35008 Orient Line stands ready to take a train out of Waterloo station in the sixties. The locomotive was finally withdrawn by BR in 1967 and cut up at Buttigieg^s, Newport, the following year.
Waterloo
[K A Gray //]

06/08/2017

Aberdour's history stays on track [Dunfermline Press]

ABERDOUR can look back on its history with pride thanks to the new heritage centre at the village's railway station. Now open to the public, the venue is in two previously vacant rooms that have been refurbished and fitted out for exhibitions and displays. A steering group, under the auspices of Aberdour Community Council, planned and oversaw the development of the centre with the support of many local volunteers. More

Dunfermline Press

06/08/2017

Teas with added care [Cumnock Chronicle]

STAFF at East Ayrshire Carers' Wee Train Cafe at New Cumnock Station have served more than 500 cups of tea and coffee since opening in May. They are also earning a growing reputation for quality snacks such as traybakes, which are selling like hot cakes, and sandwiches. An added bonus is that many of the products are from local suppliers such as Pathhead Bakery, a near neighbour of the cafe. More

East Ayrshire Carers has opened ^The Wee Train Cafe^ at New Cumnock Station on 23 May. Light meals, cold and hot drinks are available Tuesdays-Saturdays from 0900 to 1500.
New Cumnock
[John Yellowlees 27/05/2017]

Cumnock Chronicle

03/08/2017

Old loco back on track at NYMR [The Press]

RAILWAY locomotive Repton is making a return on the heritage North Yorkshire Moors Railway for the summer run. The SR No. 926 Repton has undergone an extensive overhaul. She has been running in her British Railways colours and numbering as 30926 but will return to traffic in Southern Railways olive green livery under her old number 926. Designed by Richard Maunsell for Southern Railway in 1930, the V Class, better known as the Schools Class as all locomotives were named after English public schools. These engines were intended to meet a need for an intermediate passenger locomotive for routes which needed power, but couldn't handle large express engines. More

30926 Repton leaves Levisham bound for Pickering in May 2004.
Levisham
[Colin Miller /05/2004]

The SR Schools class locomotives were the most powerful 4-4-0s ever built. Preserved example 30926 Repton, is receiving attention at Grosmont shed on 3 April 2008.
Grosmont
[John Furnevel 03/04/2008]

Ex-SR Schools class 4-4-0 no 30926 Repton drifts into Goathland in July 2007 with a train for Whitby.
Goathland
[Bruce McCartney 09/07/2007]

01/08/2017

Aberdours past brought back to life with new heritage centre [Courier]

Aberdours future is bright thanks to a new heritage centre. It will open to the public in Aberdour railway station on Friday July 28. Two vacant rooms in the station building have been refurbished and fitted out for exhibitions and displays, serving as a hub for a variety of activities in and around the village. A steering group, under the auspices of Aberdour Community Council, planned and oversaw the development of the centre with the support of many local volunteers. The new centre has been made possible through fundraising activities in the Forthside village over the past two years. Bill Rennie, the chairman of the Aberdour Heritage Centre steering committee, said generous grant contributions had come from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Railway Heritage Trust, the Stations Communities Regeneration Fund, Fife Environment Trust and local organisations. More

The interior of the new Aberdour Heritage Centre in Aberdour station.
Aberdour
[John Yellowlees 26/07/2017]

Aberdour in Bloom. A different design of barrel train at Aberdour. (Looks a bit Caley blue though? -Ed).
Aberdour
[John Yellowlees 09/02/2017]

45407 charges into Aberdour with the SRPS Fife and Borders steam special, banked by 37685, on 13 August 2017.
Aberdour
[Bill Roberton 13/08/2017]

31/07/2017

Government bombarded by signatures calling for cash injection into northern England transport [IET]

A petition calling for the government to invest more in transport in the north of England is currently attracting 5,000 signatures a day. More

Petition (38 degrees site)

31/07/2017

Edinburgh to Glasgow line upgrade faces one-year delay [Herald]

FASTER journey times and longer trains promised under the flagship Edinburgh- Glasgow rail electrification will be delivered as much as a year late, it has been claimed. Ministers expect the fastest journey time on the route to be cut by 10 minutes, to 42 minutes, by December 2018. Capacity is also supposed to be boosted by the introduction of eight-car trains on the commuter line, which is the busiest in Scotland. More

30/07/2017

Pair on quest to visit all British railway stations [BBC News]

Two railway enthusiasts are travelling to every station in Britain in a bid to inspire people to explore more of the country by train. Geoff Marshall and Vicki Pipe are visiting all 2,563 railway stations in England, Scotland and Wales over the summer, creating an online documentary as they go. BBC Look North caught up with the pair as they travelled through Yorkshire. More

28/07/2017

Five new rail stations to 'boost' regional economies [BBC News]

Five new rail stations should be completed by March 2020 after funding was confirmed, officials have said. The Department For Transport (DFT) said it will invest more than £16m in four stations in England and one in Wales. The stations will be at Horden in County Durham, Warrington West in Cheshire, Reading Green Park, Portway Parkway in Bristol and Bow Street in Ceredigion. [From Charlie Niven] More

28/07/2017

Next phase of Glasgow Queen Street station redevelopment gets underway [Network Rail]

Work will begin on the next phase of redevelopment of Glasgow Queen Street station on Sunday 6th August. Although customer journeys should not in general be disrupted by the work, those using the station and the surrounding roads will see some changes to walking routes and entrances/exits. This will include changes to the road network, bus stops and services, and taxi rank. To enable the work to be carried out safely and efficiently, the station ticket office will move to the former Vale pub on Dundas Street and the George Square entrance to the station will close. Additionally, hoardings will be erected on Dundas Street and West George Street where bus stops will be relocated and the taxi rank will close. More

View over the building site at the east side of the station. Part of the new staff buildings under construction can be seen (centre); to the right the demolition of the buildings adjacent to platform 7 is under way.
Glasgow Queen Street
[Colin McDonald 28/07/2017]

28/07/2017

Barcelona train crash injures 54 [BBC News]

At least 54 people have been injured, one seriously, after a train crashed at a station in the Spanish city of Barcelona, officials now say. The incident happened during the morning rush hour at the Francia station, in the city centre. Reports said the train did not brake when entering the station, hitting the buffers at the platform. Dozens of emergency personnel were sent to the station, with most of the injured being treated at the platform. More

28/07/2017

Most overcrowded trains revealed [BBC News]

A morning train from West Sussex to London is the most overcrowded in England and Wales, new figures show. Southern's 07:16 BST service from East Grinstead to London Bridge usually has more than double the passengers it was designed to carry. The Department for Transport (DfT) data showed 1,366 people typically crammed into 12 carriages designed for 640. The DfT said improvement works were under way as some customers had 'not received the service they deserve'. Lianna Etkind, of the Campaign for Better Transport, said: 'Overcrowding continues to make passengers' lives a misery. More

Happy to be leaving - 365502 certainly has that ^bugs in its teeth^ look as it awaits its 10.30 departure time for King^s Cross in platform 7 at Cambridge on 5 December.
Cambridge
[Ken Strachan 05/12/2015]

London Bridge station forecourt, dominated by The Shard, on a wet 25 July 2014.
London Bridge
[Bill Roberton 25/07/2014]

A terminated Thameslink 319 service from the south stands at St Albans on 19 September.
St Albans City
[Veronica Clibbery 19/09/2010]

27/07/2017

SNP pledges to consider reopening of north-east railway at party conference [Press and Journal]

Proposals to reintroduce the Buchan railway from Aberdeen to Peterhead and Fraserburgh have been given a boost with the SNP pledging to debate the idea at its party conference. The original Formartine and Buchan line closed in 1979 after more than a century of service between the two north-east ports and the city. The route was scrapped as part of the controversial Beeching closures. Reintroducing the track to the towns which are the furthest from the national rail network has been a divisive issue for years. More

D6141 stands ready to leave Fraserburgh with the 3.15pm train for Aberdeen on 2 September 1963.
Fraserburgh
[K A Gray 02/09/1963]

View over the buffer stops at Peterhead on 24 May 1969 showing D5323 at the platform with the Formartine and Buchan Railtour preparing to return to Aberdeen.
Peterhead
[Robin Barbour Collection (Courtesy Bruce McCartney) 24/05/1969]

NBL Type 2 D6148 arrives at Ellon with a northbound train in July 1963.
Ellon
[Colin Miller /07/1963]

Press and Journal

25/07/2017

Anger over Hamilton station 'mosquito' device [BBC News]

Scotland's children's commissioner has condemned ScotRail for installing a sound device to deter young people from gathering at a train station in South Lanarkshire. Bruce Adamson said the device at Hamilton Central Station was a breach of children's rights. ScotRail said it had taken the step as a result of anti-social behaviour. It follows protests by the RMT union, who said staff were in fear after a 'surge in violence' at the station. The electronic device, often referred to as a 'mosquito', is used to deter loitering by emitting sound at high frequencies that is mostly heard by younger people. More

Trains for Dalmuir (left) and Larkhall meet at Hamilton Central in March 2006.
Hamilton Central
[John Furnevel 17/03/2006]

The new pedestrian bridge under construction at Hamilton Central in January 2017. The old footbridge can be see in the background.
Hamilton Central
[Colin McDonald 27/01/2017]

Scene at Hamilton Central on 15 February 2008.
Hamilton Central
[Bill Roberton 15/02/2008]

25/07/2017

ScotRail passenger satisfaction increases to 90% [BBC News]

Passenger satisfaction with ScotRail services has increased, an independent survey of train users has found. The nationwide study by watchdog group Transport Focus found 90% of passengers were satisfied overall with ScotRail services, compared with 83% previously. The group spoke to more than 1,200 commuters, business and leisure travellers across Scotland. There were increased ratings for journey times and train frequency, but satisfaction with value for money fell. ScotRail managing director Alex Hynes said the 90% score 'equals our best ever result', saying the firm was building 'the best railway Scotland has ever had'. More

25/07/2017

Rail passengers 'happier with train firms' [BBC News]

More rail passengers across Britain are satisfied with their train services than last year, according to the industry's independent watchdog. Transport Focus said 83% of 27,000 people surveyed were satisfied with services, up by 3% on last year. Toilet provision on long journeys, seating in stations, and punctuality were rated better than a year earlier. Hull Trains and the Heathrow Express scored joint first in the National Rail Passenger Survey - on 97%. More

23/07/2017

Downton Abbey railway carriages ruined by vandals [BBC News]

Vandals have caused thousands of pounds of damage to heritage railway carriages used in the filming of TV drama Downton Abbey. Eight teak carriages on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway in Pickering had windows smashed overnight, with furniture and fixings also ruined. The carriages, dating from 1930 to 1950, have regularly been featured in films and television, the railway said. North Yorkshire Police is investigating the attack. More

Sir Nigel brings a southbound train into Goathland on 18 October 2009. The leading carriages are LNER teak stock which look the part, especially with an A4 on the front even when it is in post Nationalisation Blue.
Goathland
[John McIntyre 18/10/2009]

S15 no 825 runs into Levisham station from Grosmont on 2 October 2009 hauling the LNER teak coach set.
Levisham
[Colin Miller 02/10/2009]

The unique ex-GNR teak Invalid Saloon no 3087, built at Doncaster in 1909. The coach was modified in more recent times to incorporate an ^observation end^. The vehicle is seen here on the rear of a NYMR train leaving Pickering for Grosmont in June 2013.
Pickering
[John Furnevel 01/06/2013]

22/07/2017

Spanish rolling stock manufacturer CAF to open train production plant in Wales [Rail News]

Spanish rolling stock manufacturer CAF will open a train production plant in South Wales next year, the company has announced. Around 300 jobs will be created at the site near Newport when it opens in the autumn. Previously, the company has supplied rolling stock to UK companies the likes of Midland Metro and Edinburgh Trams from its factories in Spain. The new £30 million facility will be more than 46,000 square metres in size and is being designed so that CAF can build diesel multiple units, electric multiple units, trams and high-speed trains. More

KML version