FOUR GENERATIONS OF TRACTION FOR ECML SPECTACULAR
g Magazine
BRITAIN’S BEST-SELLING RAIL TITLE 1897 April 2017
2017
PUBLIC OR PRIVATE? The arguments
for and against re-nationalisation
First/MTR wins SWT franchise
AMERICAN CLASSIC The ‘Pennsy’ GG1s
OLD DOGS DOGS, NEW TRICKS Refurbishing old diesels
92 SQUADRON draws the crowds
GARRATTS AND GUITARS 30 years of trainspotting
READER OFFER: RIDE THE RAILMOTOR ON A GW BRANCH LINE
The
EDITORIAL
Editor: Chris Milner Deputy editor: Gary Boyd-Hope Senior correspondent: Ben Jones Designer: Tim Pipes Picture desk: Paul Fincham and Jonathan Schofield Publisher: Tim Hartley Editorial assistant: Jane Skayman Production editor: Sarah Wilkinson Sub-editor: Nigel Devereux Consultant editor: Nick Pigott Classic Traction News: Peter Nicholson Operations News: Ashley Butlin Narrow Gauge News: Cliff Thomas Metro News: Paul Bickerdyke World News: Keith Fender By post: The Railway Magazine, Mortons Media Group, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR Tel: 01507 529589 Fax: 01507 371066 Email: railway@mortons.co.uk © 2017 Mortons Media ISSN 0033-8923
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This issue was published on April 5, 2017. The next will be on sale on May 3, 2017.
One train that could be affected by the cut in the Modal Shift Revenue Support (see p8) is intermodal working 4S43 from Daventry to Grangemouth, seen here at Docker with Nos. 68002 and 68023 in charge on March 24. CAMERON WALKER
Mixed messages from the DfT – do they give a damn about the future of rail?
T
HERE’S often a nagging feeling that information from Government lacks thought and co-ordinaton. Take Transport Secretary Chris Grayling’s suggestion that private motorists should now hesitate before buying a diesel car and buy the “least polluting vehicle they can”. Yet at around the same time came an announcement that the Mode Shift Revenue Support, a subsidy that assists the movement of freight traffic from road to rail would be cut by 21%, making rail a far less competitive option. This is a move that will save the Government a mere £4million this year, which is almost pocket money considering the £50bn being spent on HS2. More worringly, it begins to shift the balance back in favour of road and has led to estimates of 190,000 extra truck movements every year. Cutting the support makes even less sense when, just six months ago, the Freight Transport Association claimed 35,000 additional lorry drivers were needed. Plus, the extra truck movements will worsen the air quality in many built-up areas, so isn’t that at odds with Grayling’s suggestion to
TRAIN OF THOUGHT
Editor’s Comment
private motorists to ditch the diesel car? We have a fast, efficient rail freight system that is being ripped apart by nonsensical Government decisions. With virtually all the country’s coal traffic being lost because of a carbon tax that made burning coal uncompetitive, is rail about to suffer another massive blow because of a penny-pinching Government that only half-heartedly supports rail freight? It’s even more of a slap in the face for rail when the DfT (or should that be DafT?) spins out weasel words saying “it is committed to supporting the long-term growth of the rail industry”. Really? Seems to me they don’t give a toss.
The Big Renationalisation debate THE RM has, by and large, been an apolitical publication, yet despite the many calls over the past 20 years for the railways to be re-nationalised, we have stood firm and remained neutral. Many believe that a fully nationalised railway would bring cheaper fares and other benefits. Depending on your viewpoint, that may or may not be so, but had it continued under BR, would you have seen the phenomenal passenger growth experienced in the past five years? Would you have, what is in effect, a walk-on service to Birmingham and Manchester? Would you have seen levels of rolling stock
orders that simply never happened under BR? It is widely accepted the way Privatisation was introduced was badly flawed in both its concept and execution, and every week a union, a newspaper a passenger group or political party is calling for the railways to be renationalised – but would it work? While remaining on the political fence, so to speak, on page 24 consultant editor Nick Pigott presents the case for and against re-nationalising the railway. We’d be pleased to hear your views on whether our railways are a success story under privatisation or how differently it should have been approached – if at all.
Gone in 60 hours! WHEN a delegation from The RM sat around a table in Birmingham with representatives from Riviera Trains, Pathfinder and the Class 50 Alliance last November to discuss plans for our 120th anniversary railtour, we were quietly optimistic it would appeal to readers. However, little did we realise that all the tickets would have been sold in just 60 hours!
It’s an astonishing achievement, and to every reader or friend of a reader who has bought a ticket, we say thank you. The fact that many were disappointed has prompted thoughts of a second trip, possibly to a different destination, so keep an eye on The RM for any further details. CHRIS MILNER, Editor
April 2017 • The Railway Magazine • 3
Contents
April 2017. No. 1,393. Vol 163. A journal of record since 1897.
Headline News
On The Cover MAIN IMAGE: Air-smoothed 'Battle of Britain' 4-6-2 No. 34081 92 Squadron returned to steam in December and was one of the star guests at the Severn Valley Railway's Spring Gala on March 17-19. BOB GREEN
First/MTR wins South West Trains franchise, putting future of brand new Class 707s in doubt - p7.
Stagecoach loses SWT after 21 years; four generations of ECML traction to side-by-side in Yorkshire this month; Public Accounts Committee criticises Network Rail and DfT handling of GW route modernisation; work starts on GCR bridge link; GWR Railmotor to work on Chinnor branch.
INSET 1: One of the Pennsylvania Railroad's legendary 'GG-1s'. INSET 2: Colas Rail D6757 on an NR test train at Ferme Park. JIM SCOTT
INSET 3: John Stretton looks back on his first 30 yeears of trainspotting. p g JOHN STRETTON
Track Record The Railway Magazine’s monthly news digest 70 Steam & Heritage Severn Valley targets 2020 comeback for Hagley Hall; Wootton Hall restoration progressing well at Ribble Steam Railway; British India Line is back - and in black; Gloucs-Warks will open to Broadway next year; Clan Line boiler signed off.
76 Industrial Steam 78 Steam Portfolio 80 Irish News 82 Narrow Gauge 84 Metro 86 Classic Traction Restoration of rare Cravens DMU nears completion at ELR; GCR-based '37/7' outshopped in Railfreight sector colours; ex-DRS No. 37688 to join Mid-Norfolk fleet and regain its Buxton identity.
90 Traction & Stock More Class 88s land in UK and main line test running starts; withdrawal dates for Northern 'Pacers' confirmed; first TPE Mk5a under construction; Colas Class 67s start work; next Class 70/8 lands in Liverpool.
93 Stock Update
Last surviving Cravens two-car DMU close to completion at East Lancs - p86.
94 Traction Portfolio 98 World 102 Railtours 106 Network Network Rail sets out options for dealing with expected growth on SE London and Kent routes, collapsed wall closes Lime Street for a week, new station for Inverness Airport, northern England falls well behind in transport infrastructure spending.
108 Freight 111 Operations News from the train- and freight-operating companies.
PAUL A BIGGS
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62 Railways in Parliament 65 Panorama Our monthly gallery of the best railway photography.
68 From The RM Archives Find out what The RM was reporting 20, 50 and 100 years ago.
116 Meetings Railway society meetings near you – all the details.
120 Heritage Diary Pannier-rama: The South Devon Railway's '1366' 0-6-0PT No. 1369 is captured at speed as it hustles along with a demonstration goods train. DAVE BOWLES.
Recently joining the Colas Rail fleet is Type 5 No. 67027 seen with a four-coach infrastructure test train passing Barrow-upon-Trent on March 21 heading towards Castle Donington with the 08.31 Derby RTC to Tyseley working. At the rear is a second Class 67, No. 67023.
Details of when heritage railways and centres are open.
130 Prize Crossword and Where Is It?
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Features
14 Garratts and Guitars
33 Practice & Performance
51 Old Dogs, New Tricks
John Stretton looks back at his first 30 years as a railway enthusiast, and how he combined it with his other passions for sport, music and girls.
This month, the world's longest-running railway series looks at how trains gain and lose time, and how poor regulation can lead to delays, even on slack schedules.
Ben Jones looks at the recent trend for rebuilding ex-BR diesels to make them fit for use on the main line and talks to some of the major players in the railway engineering business to find out why they are needed.
24 Should Britain's railways be re-nationalised?
56 Engineering South Devon Railway style
Nick Pigott considers the arguments for and against returning the operation of our railways to the public sector, 20 years on from the break-up and sale of British Rail.
40 The Pennsylvania‘GG-1’ The word 'iconic' is over-used, but these incomparable US electrics fit that description perfectly, as Robert Humm explains.
Deep in rural Devon, this preserved railway has carved itself a useful niche offering specialist engineering services to the heritage movement, and the main line railway, as Cliff Thomas discovers.
PUBLIC OR PRIVATE? The arguments for and against re-nationalisation – p24
AMERICAN ICON: The Pennsylvania Railroad GG-1s – p40
PROPER ENGINEERING: South Devon Railway makes its mark – p56
April 2017 • The Railway Magazine • 5
HeadlineNews
RMT rejects deal between ASLEF and Southern – and calls more strikes AN AGREEMENT between rail union ASLEF and Southern Railway that is subject to a member referendum and could bring the year-long driver-only operation (DOO) dispute to an end has been rejected by the RMT union, which had not been involved in the talks. The result of the ASLEF referendum is due on April 3, but the detail of the deal has not been made public. Back in February, a previous ASLEF vote on what had been agreed saw 55% of members reject the offer; whether that offer has been changed has not been announced. On confirming that an agreement had been reached, ASLEF general secretary Mick Whelan said:“ASLEF members now have the opportunity to decide on the new terms of the agreed resolution with GTR Southern. “This agreement has the full support of the negotiating team and the executive committee, and offers solutions to our concerns, as well as restoring the confidence of all parties and the travelling public.” ASLEF, which represents a large number of drivers on
With a new strike called on Merseyrail by the RMT, on March 15 Class 508 No 508134 arrives at Chester with the 13.51 from Liverpool James Street. ROBIN STEWARTSMITH
Southern, reached an agreement on March 16 after several days of talks. However, the following day, RMT union leader Mick Cash dismissed it, saying: “This is basically the old deal in a new envelope and RMT does not believe for a moment that drivers and guards will be hoodwinked.” The RMT also called a strike for April 4, but later changed it to the 8th. Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), the parent company of Southern, has invited the RMT to
talks provided they suspend the proposed strike action. In a letter to Mr Cash, GTR CEO Charles Horton said: “Our passengers, staff and the regional economy want certainty and an end to your industrial action, not a 24-hour truce. “It’s disappointing that the RMT are now threatening a 31st day of strike action. Over the past year we have met with the RMT countless times to try and settle your dispute. Unfortunately, each time it has ended in disappointment.”
Just where this bitter dispute goes next could depend on the ASLEF referendum result. In the north, there is unease over industrial relations following orders from both Northern and Merseyrail for new trains that can run as DOO. While Merseyrail has said it wants to run the new trains as DOO – but envisages a second member of staff would often be carried to assist passengers – Northern says its proposals are in the early stages and plans are still evolving.
Legends of the Great Western for Old Oak Common open day A PUBLIC open day to mark 111 years of Old Oak Common depot is being planned by GWR for September 2. Under the banner of Legends of the Great Western, there will be a unique display of locomotives and units, old and new. The line-up is still being agreed, but is expected to include some of the legendary
classes that have graced the Great Western main line. GWR say that proceeds will go to the depot’s chosen charity Place2Be, which provides mental health support for children in schools. Details of how to obtain tickets will appear in The RM and on our website at: www.railwaymagazine.co.uk
First class could be dropped on SouthEastern
Andrew Jones, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the DfT, celebrates with workers after the HS2 bill received Royal Assent. ANDREW WIARD
Right: An Alstom HS2 concept train with the Birmingham backdrop.
Royal Assent for HS2 bill
A GWR steam presence is envisaged at the Old Oak open day. Here, No. 5043 Earl of Mount Edgcumbe passes Ashchurch on March 25. JOHN STRETTON
6 • The Railway Magazine • April 2017
Even so, the RMT has called a second strike on those networks following the first on March 13. The new strike will be on April 8, the same day as the Grand National at Aintree. There will also be a strike on Southern on the same day. ■ Prompt action by a Merseyrail guard, who realised a diabetic passenger was having a hypoglycaemic attack, is said to have saved the life of a male passenger on March 7. The guard recognised the signs and summoned medical help.
ROYAL Assent for the HS2 bill that will pave the way for the construction of phase one of the line from London to Birmingham was granted on February 23. Construction is due to begin in April or May, with the building phase creating around 25,000 jobs as well as 2,000 apprenticeships. It will also support growth in the wider economy, bringing an estimated additional 100,000 jobs. The construction of HS2 is still fiercely opposed in many areas, but when open it will allow capacity enhancements
on the West Coast Main Line for passenger and freight traffic, expansion of which has reached saturation point. The Government has announced a £70million funding package for communities along the route, of which £30m will go towards local road safety schemes in areas not currently accustomed to construction traffic. Procurement for rolling stock, which has been underway for some months, looks as if it will be fiercely competitive, with interest from Siemens, Alstom, Bombardier and Hitachi.
THE Department for Transport has begun a consultation ahead of determining needs for the next SouthEastern franchise. Increasing passenger capacity is one of the key areas bidders will need to focus upon, with the elimination of first class seating a possibility, leading to the provision of more standard class seats. The DfT says its other ambitions include: ■ running longer trains and upgrading or replacing older trains ■ increasing reliability and reducing delays by closer working with Network Rail ■ introducing a simple compensation automated system ■ use of a smarter payment system, including mobile phones The consultation closes on May 23 with the new franchise beginning in December 2018.
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Four generations of ECML power to run side-by-side By Ben Jones
PAST, present and future East Coast express power will run side-by-side on the ECML north of York on April 23 in a unique public relations event to promote the line. In the spirit of legendary railway PR stunts of the 1930s, Virgin Inter-City 125 and IC225 sets will be joined by the National Railway Museum’s Gresley‘A3’ No. 60103 Flying Scotsman and one of the pre-series Hitachi ‘Azuma’bi-mode units due to enter service in 2018. The trains will run southbound on the four-track section from Tollerton towards York for several miles, in staggered formation, at around 20-25mph. Although trains have run in parallel on double track lines for special events before, it is thought to be the first time it has been attempted with four trains in the UK.
‘A3’ No. 60103 Flying Scotsman, an HST set, a Class 91 and Mk4 set, plus a Class 800 'Azuma', are seen separately on the East Coast Main Line, but will run side-by-side on April 23 from Tollerton towards York.
Style and speed
Virgin Trains East Coast (VTEC) and Stagecoach are working with Network Rail, Hitachi Rail Europe, Welcome to Yorkshire and the National Railway Museum to celebrate Yorkshire’s contribution to style and speed on the ECML since the 19th century. The event will be a curtainraiser for the Tour de Yorkshire cycle race later in the week. The public will be able to view the unique spectacle at various locations, but the organisers are
already urging visitors to stay off the tracks and private land as trespassers will cause the trains to stop and put at risk both this parade and any future events to showcase the route and its iconic locos. Mass trespass during the Flying Scotsman King’s Cross to York comeback trip in February 2016 caused severe delays to
the special train and scheduled ECML services. As a result, the legendary‘A3’s’main line movements are no longer widely publicised in advance. Although there is no place for a Class 55 ‘Deltic’in the main parade, one of the surviving locomotives will be involved, accompanying No. 60103 to put it in position at the start of the
run, and will be at the rear of the formation.
Iconic moment
Rob McIntosh, NR’s managing director for the London North Eastern and East Midlands route, said: “The area has a very proud rail heritage and by working closely with our industry partners we’ve been able to
turn what has been a logistically challenging vision – to create an iconic railway moment on the ECML without impacting on regular passengers – into what will be a truly special occasion.” Further details will be announced during April, and these will appear on The RM website, www.railwaymagazine. co.uk and our Facebook page.
Stagecoach loses South West Trains to First/MTR after 21 years By Ben Jones
FIRSTGROUP and Hong Kong’s MTR have been awarded the lucrative SouthWestTrains franchise, ending Stagecoach’s 21-year association with one of the country’s busiest operations. Starting on August 20, 2017 for seven years, First MTR SouthWest Trains will oversee a £1.2billion investment – £80m of which will come from the franchisee – providing 22,000 extra seats into London Waterloo during the weekday morning peak, and 30,000 in the evening peak. Waterloo is the UK’s busiest station and will gain five extra platforms from December 2018. The former Eurostar platforms are currently being rebuilt as part of an £800m package of enhancements. The joint venture, which brings together UK-based First (70%) and the operator of Hong Kong’s mass transit system (30%) is committed to introducing 90 new‘metro’ trains (750 vehicles) by December 2020. It has also promised 18 refurbished five-car Class 442 EMUs for the Portsmouth route by December 2018. The supplier of First/MTR’s new trains has not yet been decided, but the trains will feature airconditioning, toilets, wide doors and gangways.They are intended for theWindsor, Reading and
London inner-suburban routes, bid will deliver the tangible putting the future of the yet-to-be- improvements that customers introduced Siemens Class 707 EMU and stakeholders have told us they fleets in doubt. want from this franchise.” Two‘707s’were tested on Jeremy Long, MTR’s CEO for Thameslink’s cross-London route European Business, added:“MTR on March 20, making use of their is known across the world for the 25kV AC overhead capability for excellent quality of its rail services, the first time. and we look forward to working Other franchise commitments with FirstGroup to provide a include simpler fares with best-in-class travel experience.” pay-as-you-go smartcards, During the franchise period, smartphone ticketing, new fares there will also be a £90m for 16-18-year-olds, and a‘refresh’ investment in stations, including of the mainland fleet with more a major rebuild of Southampton reliable wi-fi, information screens, Central, starting in March 2019. at-seat charging points on the Three new stations are also Class 158/159 DMUs and Class proposed: at Park Barn and 442/444/450 EMUs by December Merrow in Guildford andWilton 2020, faster schedules and Parkway, west of Salisbury. higher-frequency services on Anthony Smith, chief executive some routes from December ofTransport Focus, said: 2018, and an increase in Sunday “We are looking forward to afternoon services to match working closely with First MTR. Saturday frequencies on most The introduction of boosted routes during 2018. compensation through‘Delay Journeys are to be cut by Repay’triggers being set at the eight minutes fromWaterloo lower level of 15 minutes is a to Southampton, five minutes big step in the right direction in from Portsmouth, 10 minutes building trust with passengers.” from Reading, 12 minutes from However, the decision was Hounslow, and 11 minutes from not universally welcomed, with Salisbury. RMT general secretary Mick There will be earlier first and Cash saying:“Once again the later last trains on the Portsmouth, Government has refused to Salisbury, Epsom, Hounslow, consider the public sector option Reading and Windsor lines. and instead it’s a foreign state FirstGroup chief executiveTim operator, in this case the Chinese O’Toole said:“Our successful state, which is set to make a killing
at the British taxpayers’expense. “RMT is deeply concerned at exactly what this announcement will mean for our members, these crucial rail services and the safety of the travelling public.” SWT operates a 600-mile network, combining an intensive suburban operation with inter-city style routes to Hampshire, Dorset and Devon; almost 200 stations, served by 1,700 trains each day; and carries around 230m passengers a year. In 2015/16, passenger revenues were £991m. Over the seven-year core period of the franchise, First/MTR will pay £2.6bn in premiums (at 2017/18 prices) to the Government,
although the franchise terms include revenue protection mechanisms to mitigate the impact of any economic downturn on passenger numbers. Subject to performance, the Department forTransport has the option of granting an 11-month extension period from August 2024. Stagecoach CEO Martin Griffiths said the company was “disappointed”to have lost the franchise, adding:“Over the past two decades, we have delivered real improvements for our customers. We believe we submitted a strong bid and we will be seeking detailed feedback from DfT.”
SWT ‘Desiro City’ EMUs Nos. 707001/002 performed the type’s first 25kV AC test runs on the evening of March 20. The pair are seen switching over from 750V DC to AC overhead power at Farringdon while working 5E20, the 22.20 Wimbledon Park CSD-Ferme Park Sidings. The Siemens-built units continued via the East Coast Main Line to Peterborough during the night. EIKI SEKINE
April 2017 • The Railway Magazine • 7
HeadlineNews New depots for Merseyside and Exeter STADLER has confirmed it will build a £20million depot at Kirkdale to maintain its fleet of new trains for Merseyrail. Civil engineering company BAM Nuttall has been contracted to construct the state-of-the-art depot and refurbish the facility at Birkenhead North. The deal is part of the £700million contract signed last month for Stadler to manufacture and maintain a fleet of 52 new EMUs for Merseyrail. The Kirkdale facility will include washing and stabling facilities, a maintenance shed with run-through tracks, office space, and a simulator suite. The design includes potential for the depot to be extended for 80-metre long trainsets. Birkenhead North will be upgraded with a new washing facility. Once the new Kirkdale depot is ready it will focus on overnight servicing and cleaning. Construction work is due to be completed in 2019, in time for the arrival of new vehicles for testing. Stadler will transfer around 150 Merseyrail engineering
staff into its own operations, bringing the number of Stadler employees in the UK to more than 200 by 2019. Meanwhile, in the South West, Great Western Railway and Network Rail are seeking planning permission for a major expansion of the maintenance depot alongside Exeter’s St David’s station. Larger facilities are required in the Devon city to maintain more of GWR’s regional DMU fleet, which will be transferred west as new EMUs and bi-mode Hitachi IEP sets are introduced on London suburban and Thames Valley services. The additional DMUs will allow GWR to increase train lengths and frequencies on its regional services in the West Country. The £40million depot will be situated alongside the Olds View yard and will provide enhanced servicing, cleaning and maintenance facilities, plus offices and welfare facilities for train staff. GWR is seeking to start construction work, subject to planning consent, in spring 2018 and will complete the depot in mid-2019.
Above: An artist’s impression of the new Merseyrail depot that Stadler are planning to build at Kirkdale. Right: Subject to planning approval, a substantial DMU depot will be built next to Exeter St Davids station as part of an enhancement of facilities and an increase in the area's DMU fleet.
Transport for Greater Manchester in plan to take control of region’s stations TRANSPORT for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is proposing to take over the ownership and operation of 94 stations in the Manchester city region. The £400million plan would see TfGM remove responsibility for small and medium stations in the region from train operators by 2020 and turn them into ‘community hubs’. Funding for improvements would come from selling surplus land around the stations
for housing and commercial development and greater investment from regional authorities. TfGM has also expressed a desire to take control of Manchester’s three city centre stations – Victoria, Oxford Road and Piccadilly – the latter operated by Network Rail. The plan has been submitted to the DfT and could be the biggest change to operations in the region since railway
privatisation in 1994-97. Local leaders have criticised the quality of railway stations in the area, saying that the present franchising structure does not allow for ‘long-term customer focus’, while stations and their facilities ‘have not evolved in line with customer expectations’. Stations, reborn as community hubs, could include art galleries, performing arts, festivals and local weekend markets, plus space for offices.
Reclaim option for forgetful railcard holders PASSENGERS who buy tickets in advance and then forget to carry their railcards when travelling will now get the chance to reclaim the extra money paid. The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) says train operators will provide a refund on at least the first occasion in any year, provided passengers can produce the Railcard later. Jacqueline Starr, of the RDG, said: “Customers make
honest mistakes and Railcard holders should have one chance a year to be refunded. “We are also planning digital Railcards that can be kept on smartphones and other devices, making them harder to forget and easier to replace if lost or stolen.” The change is the first improvement for customers under an action plan agreed last year between train operators, the Government and consumer groups.
Freight grant cuts will hit rail
A Northern Class 150/2 calls at Salford Crescent, one of a number of stations where management could be taken over by Transport for Greater Manchester. ROBERT FRANCE
8 • The Railway Magazine • April 2017
CUTS to the Mode Shift Revenue Support, which helps companies move goods by rail instead of road, could impact the Daventry to Grangemouth and other intermodal services. In what has been called a‘penny-pinching move’the Department for Transport is cutting £4.2million from the current support grant of £19.9m, with a further cut to £15.2m planned for 2018/9. The result is that freight subsidies will be cut, and for some logistics companies it could tip the balance to return to road haulage. Ken Russell, joint owner of Russell Logistics, has said his firm would seriously consider buying around 100 new trucks and moving more of its operations to
road after losing its MSRS grant. Mr Russell estimated it could put 190,000 extra lorry movements on the road. Maggie Simpson, executive director of the Rail Freight Group, told The RM:“We are very concerned over the impact of this, particularly on domestic intermodal services such as Daventry to Grangemouth for retail traffic. “These have been particularly badly affected by the reduction, and operators and customers are now looking at how best to proceed. There is a very real risk of volume being lost to road. “We are raising it with DfT, which is engaging, but there is no positive news yet.” ■ See editor’s comment on page 3
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Branch Line railtours raise £55,000 for two charities TWO Branch Line Society conjunction with Virgin Trains railtours in March raised a total East Coast, the 125 Group of £55,000 for charity. and Preserved Locomotives More than £43,000 of the total Enthusiasts Group (PLEG). was from March 18’s ‘Bound Those on board the tour for Craigy’ InterCity 125 tour of included HST designer unusual lines and depots along Sir Kenneth Grange, who said: the length of the East Coast “Four decades on, the HST Main Line. remains the backbone of the rail Another £12,000 was raised network and has had a major on March 12, when the BLS ran impact on the general life of a farewell tour for Southern’s most people in this country. Class 442 EMUs (see Railtours). “I think it’s still fair to say that Funds raised by the HST the Inter-City 125 remains one tour will go to the Railway of my proudest achievements Children charity, which supports and it has given me a great children at risk on the streets deal of pleasure to share this in the UK, India and East anniversary with so many other Africa, while those from the HST fans for such a good cause.” ‘442’ trip are being donated to The 800 miles travelled by Southern’s corporate charities – a one-day railtour was the Eastbourne-based Embrace and longest in the society’s 62-year Luton’s Keech Hospice. history, and has created a new The ‘Bound for Craigy’ tour UK record for a one-day charity was promoted by the BLS in railtour in terms of funds raised.
A bespoke lamp bracket had been made to fit the ‘Bound for Craigy’ headboard onto power car No. 43300 Craigentinny 100 on March 18 prior to the train's departure at 05.30. The initial destination was Bounds Green depot. GEOFF PLUMB
RM selects Railway Children charity for 120th anniversary railtour to Glasgow
National Express to lose Midland Metro concession
THE PROCEEDS of The Railway Magazine’s 120th anniversary railtour will be donated to the Railway Children charity, specifically its UK-based safeguarding on transport programme. ‘The Caledonian’ tour will run from London to Glasgow on October 7. The safeguarding initiative was launched by Railway Children in close partnership with British Transport Police and the rail industry to make the UK transport system safer for vulnerable children. The charity supports children who run away from home or are forced to leave due to poverty, violence or neglect. Suzanne Parsons, business development manager at
NATIONAL Express, which into improvements. operates the Midland Metro tram Before taking the decision, the network under a concession WMCA board was told that the agreement, will not have it tendering process to appoint a renewed when it ends in October private operator would in itself 2018. cost taxpayers several million Transport for West Midlands pounds. (TfWM) – the transport arm of The decision means National the West Midlands Combined Express has now ended all rail Authority (WMCA) – says it will and metro interests in the UK, a take over the day-to-day running move Colin Saward of National of the network, a move that will Express Midlands Metro called enable it to plough millions back “disappointing”. into improving and expanding the Approval from the WCMA board tram system. National Express staff has been provided to submit a will be transferred over to a new Transport &Works Act Order to company – Midland Metro Ltd. extend from Century Square Ridership over the next decade to Edgbaston in Birmingham is expected to rise from 6.5 to by 2021. ATWA Order has also 30 million, and this is expected been submitted for an extension to generate around £50million through Digbeth, from Bull Street in profits over the first 11 years, via Albert Street, to a proposed which the WMCA will feed back HS2 station at Curzon Street.
Railway Children, said: “Every year, 100,000 children under 16 run away, with many using the rail network to escape a range of issues, often putting themselves at great risk.
Key partners
“Our long-term aim is to create a national safety network throughout the UK transport system, with improved rail staff awareness and confidence in how to respond when suspecting a young person is at risk. “The success of the programme depends on the continued support from key partners that include BTP, the wider rail industry and now The Railway Magazine. “Railway Children is delighted
First Hitachi IEP visits South Wales Swansea saw the first appearance of an Hitachi IEP in the city on March 20 when Class 800 set No. 800002 worked from Stoke Gifford depot to the new maintenance depot at Swansea Maliphant for clearance tests. Sitting in platform 3, the new train makes a contrast to HST power car No. 43185 in the next platform. Inset: The IEP running into the new depot. BOTH: MARTIN TURNER
to be able to play a part in celebrating its 120th anniversary and greatly appreciates the support from the publication and its readers in helping to improve the protection of vulnerable children in the UK.” Editor Chris Milner said: “This will be a superb occasion for all involved and couldn’t be for a more deserving cause. It seems fitting that we join forces to help raise awareness and funds to improve safeguarding of children on public transport in the UK.” For more information on the charity visit: www.railwaychildren.org.uk. ■ Because all of the Class 50 railtour tickets sold out in just 60 hours, plans for a second railtour are being discussed.
Bus group sold due to Borders rail success THE success of the Borders Railway has forced First Group to sell its Midlothian and Borders bus operation to West Coast Motors, which runs a network of bus operations across Scotland and the north of England. First Scotland East managing director Paul McGowan said the railway had impacted demand for bus travel and the services had become unsustainable. The Borders Railway carries more than one million passengers every year.
Like us facebook.com/ TheRailwayMagazine Follow us @railwaymagazine April 2017 • The Railway Magazine • 9
HeadlineNews SIDELINES Shots fired as new high-speed line opens THE opening of the new LGV Sud Europe Atlantique high-speed line from Tours to Bordeaux by French President Francois Hollande claimed worldwide publicity for all the wrong reasons when a police marksman accidentally fired a bullet into the marquee. The shooting atVillognon on February 28 injured a waiter and a guest from a railway engineering firm.The new 302km high-speed line opens to passenger services on July 2 and will reduce the Paris to Bordeaux journey time to 2hr 4min.
RAIB investigates Bank DLR incident THE Rail Accident Investigation Branch is investigating an incident on the Docklands Light Railway at Bank station on February 6 when a passenger became trapped by their coat in the closing doors of a train. The passenger managed to quickly get out of the coat, which remained trapped and was dragged into the tunnel by the train.The passenger was not dragged or injured but was very distressed by the incident.
30,000 turn out to see IEP carriage AROUND 30,000 Japanese rail enthusiasts and public lined the streets of Kudamatsu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, to witness the movement of a GWR-liveried Class 800 driving car being transported through the streets on March 5.The vehicle was being moved the short distance from the Kasado Works in Kudamatsu to the docks. Normally the vehicles are moved at night, but this took place just after lunch.
Thurso sleeper plan PROPOSALS to introduce a Thurso to Glasgow/Edinburgh sleeper train using the soon-to-be displaced Mk3 vehicles has been put forward by the Highland & Islands Transport Partnership. With a working name of the ‘Nighthawk’, journey time would be around seven hours, but offer improved ferry connections for Orkney and Shetland.
RM archive upgrade THE Railway Magazine’s digital archive of nearly 120 years of issues has been enhanced by the inclusion of a search facility by decade, rather than all the years in a long list.To access the archive, call 01507 529529 for details.
SWT MD steps down SOUTH WestTrains managing director Christian Roth is stepping down after just a year in the position. Margaret Kay will act as successor for the remainder of the current franchise, which expires on August 19. See page 7.
Rise in Brigg line use THE Saturday-only Gainsborough Central-BriggBarnetby service carried 197 passengers during February 2017, up from 80 the previous February.The line sees just three return trains.
GW RAILMOTOR TO MARK 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF LAST CHINNOR PASSENGER SERVICE
Chance for RM readers to ride the railmotor on a GWR branchline THE Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway (C&PRR) and Mortons Media have teamed up for a special offer for readers of The Railway Magazine and its sister titles, Heritage Railway and Rail Express. The Didcot-based, 1907-built Great Western Railway Steam Railmotor No. 93 and Trailer car No. 92 will be operating on the Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway between June 25 and July 16 (inclusive) to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the line losing its passenger services. A special ceremonial operating day will be held on June 29, the actual anniversary. To mark this rare outing on an ex-GWR branchline for the Railmotor, where such trains once operated, Mortons and the C&PRR are offering readers the chance of a seat in the compartment behind the engine on every train. These tickets are available for the eight-mile round trip from Chinnor to Princes Risborough, which includes a two-mile climb of 1-in-68. Seats cost £15 (no discounts) and are strictly limited to 10 on every train. They must be booked in advance via the
The Great Western Society's GWR rail motor No. 93 on the Didcot demonstration line. It is due to appear on the Chinnor branch. CLIFF THOMAS
C&PRR website at www.chinnorrailway.co.uk (bookings close at 18.00 on day before departure). Eligibility for these tickets will be checked and every reader must bring a current, or previous month’s copy of The Railway Magazine, Heritage Railway or Rail Express with them, otherwise a £5 surcharge will be levied.
Get a second trip free!
The dates of operation are: HOLDERS of these special RM/ Thursday, June 29 and the first Mortons’ tickets will be entitled three Saturdays and Sundays in to a second round-trip in the July: 1/2, 8/9 and 15/16. trailer car at no extra cost. This ■ The GWR Steam Railmotor offer is not available to any operated on the branch other visitors. between Princes Risborough Passengers will only be able and Chinnor from 1906 to join the train at Chinnor and – as reported in the June they must specify the date and 1956-dated Railway Magazine – time required when booking via so this is a re-enactment of 110 the website. years ago.
DB still planning to run Frankfurt to London trains By Keith Fender
THE RM has confirmed that Deutsche Bahn (DB) still sees London as a viable market. This follows denials in a national newspaper report that the company planned to begin Frankfurt to London services in 2020. In a statement to The RM, DB said: “In the medium-term DB is still interested in operating an ICE train service from Germany to London. “We were pleased to have been granted the operating certificate to run passenger services through the Channel Tunnel in June 2013, however the start date of our ICE services to London depends on the delivery of the Class 407 ICE trains.
“As the approval for these new ICE trains for both Belgium and northern France is behind schedule, and as the economics of the service have yet to be fully evaluated, we cannot give a definite start date or any further details about the planned services.” Significant numbers of banking and other financial services are likely to move from London to Europe following Brexit, almost certainly leading to more people travelling, and a new direct London to Frankfurt service, sometime after 2020, is likely to find a growing market DB Class 406 ICE No. 4685 on display at St Pancras International on as it is already one of Europe’s October 19, 2010. KEITH FENDER busiest short-haul air routes. Approval of the Class 407 or less. These technically operation between London trains is likely to be completed very similar new Eurostar and Amsterdam in December within the next 18 months ‘Velaro e320’ trains will start this year.
Stockton firm ends its loco-scrapping operation THE scrapping of rolling stock at T J Thomson in Stockton-uponTees has ended because it is uneconomic. The firm will in future concentrate on metal trading. For more than 85 years, the yard has cut up numerous diesel locos as well as wagons and other vehicles, and had been one of the country’s leading
10 • The Railway Magazine • April 2017
metal processors. The fall in the value of scrap, the closure of the SSI steel firm on Teesside, coupled with the lack of rail vehicles to be scrapped, is said to have played a part in the company’s decision. One of the firm’s six shunting locos, Helen, has found a new home at the Chasewater Railway in Staffordshire.
The cabs are all that remain of No. 56109, which met its end at Thomson’s scrapyard in May 2011. RICHARD LILLIE
Have you got a story for us? Email: railway@mortons.co.uk
Great Central begins construction of MML bridge Council gives CONSTRUCTION of the 30m-long bridge that will carry the preserved Great Central Railway over the Midland Main Line at Loughborough has begun. This follows the signing of final contracts, land transfer and lease agreements in mid-March. Specialist rail contractor MPB is on site to complete the bridge abutments and prepare the ground for bringing in the bridge deck steelwork. This will be completed off-site. The steel and concrete components will be assembled on site, being craned into place over three consecutive weekends during the late summer. Overall construction time is expected to last around 30 weeks. “Rebuilding this bridge is a bold statement of intent, which secures a vision for the future, where heritage trains can run between Leicester and the south of Nottingham,” said Andy Munro, chief executive of the Great Central Railway. “To see our contractors in action on site is very exciting and we look forward to ‘bridging the gap’!” Installation of the bridge is the first major piece of infrastructure to go in as part of the of the GCR’s Bridging
its backing to Rother Valley/KESR reconnection
In just 30 weeks the Great Central Railway will have finally achieved its long-term goal of spanning the Midland Main Line at Loughborough. The size of the ‘gap’ can be appreciated in this March 21 view looking from the southern abutment to the formation on the northern side. ANDREW MORLEY
the Gap project, which will ultimately create an 18-mile preserved line by linking the northern and southern sections. The final cost of rebuilding the bridge will be close to £3million, raised largely through £1.154m in public donations, rounded up to £1.2m by the David Clarke Railway Trust, which has also
pledged an additional £200,000. Contributions have also come from the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership and the purchase of shares in the Great Central Railway by Leicestershire County Council. “I would like to thank everyone who has supported
our appeal or worked hard behind the scenes so this project can proceed. That includes Network Rail, Charnwood Borough Council, Leicestershire and Leicester City Councils and our immediate neighbours next to the bridge, Preci Spark,” concluded Mr Munro.
GW electrification: “Flawed planning and an appalling waste of public money” – Public Accounts Committee By Ben Jones
NETWORK Rail’s management of the Great Western Route Modernisation (GWRM) has been severely criticised by the influential House of Commons Public Accounts Committee (PAC). The PAC’s Modernising the Great Western Railway report says that NR and the Department for Transport must learn from serious failings in the design, planning and costing of the project. It also casts doubt on whether it can be delivered by the December 2018 deadline or to the current cost of £2.8billion. ‘Significant flaws’identified in the report also raise concerns about the ability of NR and the DfT to manage similar projects in the future, such as the Midland Main Line and Trans-Pennine electrification schemes. The PAC recommends that the DfT should urgently reassess the case for electrification section-by-section and fund schemes“only where worthwhile benefits for passengers could not be achieved otherwise at lower cost”. It cites the“staggering and unacceptable”£1.2bn increase in the cost of the Great Western electrification in just one year as evidence that more must be done to safeguard public money and ensure that projects are planned and costed more effectively in the future.
The report adds that NR failed to plan the work properly and that the DfT“failed to challenge NR’s plans effectively, despite the significant sums of public money at risk”.
‘Linked projects’
The £5.58bn modernisation and electrification scheme to allow electric trains to run to Oxford, Bristol and Cardiff, and the £4.1bn procurement of new trains, were regarded as‘linked projects’ rather than being managed as a whole to ensure the infrastructure was ready to accept the trains when they were ready. The committee recommends that future projects that combine infrastructure upgrades and new trains must be planned in a way that brings together operations, trains and infrastructure work. The DfT signed the deal for new Hitachi IEP trains in 2012, before it was sure that NR could deliver the infrastructure on time and this risk exposed taxpayers to having to pay £400,000 to the Agility Trains consortium for every day that the infrastructure was delayed. All of GWR’s IEP sets will now be delivered as bi-mode sets with extra diesel engines, rather than a mix of electric and bi-mode – but at extra cost. Meg Hillier MP, chairman of the PAC, said:“This is a stark example of how not to run a major project, from flawed planning at the earliest stage to
GWR Class 387 387140 at Didcot on the first daylight driver training runs from Reading on March 20. DARREN FORD
weak accountability and what remain serious questions about the reasons for embarking on the work in the first place. “The sums of public money wasted are appalling and Government accepts it got this project badly wrong, but must demonstrate it has learned the lessons.” The report says the DfT and NR are now confident that the project is‘on track’, but NR admits that that“every single part of the programme is absolutely on the limit”. Risk analysis is still to be completed and a £49m gap between its risk exposure of £274m and the available contingency funding of £225m
“suggests that costs may not yet be fully under control”.
Defer electrification
In November 2016 the DfT announced it would defer electrification between Bristol Parkway and Bristol Temple Meads, Thingley Junction and Bristol Temple Meads, Oxford and Didcot Parkway, and the Thames Valley branches until the next rail investment period (2019-2024), to reduce spending in the current period. Around £130m has already been spent erecting catenary on these sections. Electrification of some sections of the route will be delayed by up to three years.
ROTHER District Council has cleared the way for the unification of the Rother Valley (RVR) and Kent & East Sussex railways. This follows its unanimous approval of the Rother Valley Railway’s Northbridge Street to Junction Road section of the Robertsbridge to Bodiam Reconnection Project. The backing is centred on the two-mile section, which required the RVR to meet three key criteria and work with the Environment Agency to ensure that the restored railway will not compromise the local flood defences. Assurances cover the use of three level crossings over Robertsbridge High Street, the A21 and the B2244 near Bodiam, as well as taking into account future parking issues in Robertsbridge. Additionally, several landowners have expressed concerns over disruption caused by the construction of the railway, and the RVR will continue to engage with them with a view to acquiring the original trackbed by agreement. The backing of the council will enable the RVR to push ahead with its dream to not only see steam-hauled trains working from Tenterden to Robertsbridge, but also allowing railtours to work in off the national network. The main line connection at Robertsbridge was opened in December last year, and has since been signed off to enable ballast trains to work into the RVR. At the eastern end, the RVR has rebuilt a section of the railway from the KESR’s Bodiam station to Junction Road (B22444). The RVR will now work on completion of the Transport & Works Act Order, which will provide the statutory powers to build and operate the railway.
PUTTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT (RM MARCH) p32: The reference to March 7, 1967, should read March 5. p35 (Subscription copies only): The location should be Kimbridge Junction and not Kinbridge p37: Describing LR2182 as the only surviving 40hp armoured Simplex in the northern hemisphere is incorrect given one also survives on Antigua, which is 17° north of the equator. p65: The BRS lorry is of Bristol manufacture, not Foden. ■ This month’s letters page has been held over due to the large volume of news.
April 2017 • The Railway Magazine • 11
HeadlineNews
‘Caley’ No. 828 returns to traffic Five West Coast Railways stalwarts retire
WEST Coast Railways held a retirement gathering for five members of staff at Rugby Railway Club. The event was led by WCR operations managers Andy Taylor and Peter Walker, and supported by more than 60 members of train crew with around 2,000 years of railway service between them. Leading the retirees was steam inspector John Daniel, who was presented with his second railway retirement certificate after becoming what must be Britain’s longest-serving member of railway staff. His first career began in August 1954 at Bedford shed
and ended 51 years later running the Virgin West Coast training school before joining WCR, where he completed another 11½ years on steam, diesel and electric traction. Retirement certificates were also presented to driver Gordon Hodgson, who worked from Carlisle Canal and Kingmoor depots, attaining 60 years experience; Alan Rich, with 50 years experience, working out of Leeds, York, Margate and Selhurst, then working for EWS and later GBRf, before joining WCR; diesel fleet fitter Allan Brown, formerly of Old Oak Common; and guard Dick Skevington.
Three make East Midlands franchise bidding short list THE Department for Transport has shortlisted three bidders for the East Midlands franchise, which is due to begin on November 11, 2018. The three are: Arriva Rail East Midlands; First Trenitalia East Midlands Rail, which is a joint venture between First Rail Holdings and Trenitalia UK Ltd; and the incumbent Stagecoach
East Midlands Trains, which has held the franchise since November 2007. The new franchisee will also be expected to satisfy predicted growth in demand, particularly into London St Pancras, where shorter journey times are needed, but also for overcrowded local services such as Derby to Crewe.
Vivarail tests battery DMU VIVARAIL has started battery power testing on a converted former D78 Underground carriage at its Long Marston base. The demonstrator project involves Valence Technology, Strukton Rail and Traktionssysteme Austria, which have supplied the
lithium batteries, control systems and AC traction motors, respectively. Vivarail envisages that battery-powered trains could be used on lines where electrification is expensive, and could feature automatic charging that begins when the train stops.
CALEDONIAN Railway ‘812’ class 0-6-0 No. 828 made a welcome return to Strathspey Railway service over the weekend of March 25-26, working its first trains since the summer of 2013. Fresh from a major programme of frame repairs, and with new tender wheel tyres fitted, the ‘Jumbo’ makes a volcanic start as it departs Boat of Garten heading towards Aviemore with the first morning train on March 26. JONATHAN GOURLAY
DRS Class 88 makes its debut on the WCML
Rare public opening at Downs LR to celebrate restoration project THE private Downs Light Railway at Colwall, near Great Malvern, will celebrate the completion of a major restoration project on its 9½in-gauge miniature rail line with a gala on April 30 and May 1, writes Peter Nicholson. The railway first opened in 1925 and over the last four years substantial drainage and engineering repairs have been undertaken that has saved the line from abandonment. Pupils at the Downs Malvern school are involved at all levels of its operation and this event will be a chance to celebrate
their achievements during a rare public opening. Exhibits will include visiting locomotives plus railway models and some fascinating static displays. Organisers have secured the operational display of Templeford, a vintage ‘O’ gauge Hornby tin plate layout of large proportions. The event is open from 10.00 to 16.00 each day. Admission is adults £5, children £2.50, including train rides. Parking is free. More information at: www.dlrtrust.btck.co.uk
12 • The Railway Magazine • April 2017
Fresh out of the box! DRS Class 88 No. 88002 Prometheus made a test run from Carlisle Kingmoor to Crewe on March 27 as part of ongoing driver training and acceptance testing. The loco is seen arriving into the bay, platform 10. Testing on Daventry to Grangemouth intermodal trains is expected during April. IAN SHARPE