Automatic metro trains in
#Copenhagen
have a ‘control desk’ on the front shelf so kids can ‘drive’ the train. It’s just a small thing, costing virtually nothing but (if recent experience is any guide) it’s VERY popular & easy, feelgood PR for public transport.
@dlr_london
A machine to strike fear into the hearts of anyone who suffered Maxpax hot drinks on BR in the 1980s. An unforgettable combo of genuinely horrific taste & superheated fluid in a plastic cup so thin you could melt off your fingerprints. Seen at
@geevormuseum
Amazing photos of new trains being delivered to the Gruetschalp-Murren line in the Bernese Oberland🇨🇭
Other than cable car, this tiny road is the only way to reach the isolated line, perched 1,600m asl on a ledge above Lauterbrunnen. Pics from
#Stadler
@JungfrauRegion
How Italy's high-speed trains helped kill
#Alitalia
(final flights tomorrow) - passenger nos. rocketed from 6.5m in 2008 to 40m in 2018 - not including NTV’s HS ‘Italo’ trains. A fantastic example of how HS rail reduces domestic air travel.
@CNNTravel
Nipped out for a better look at this today. First time I’ve been inside an APT since the early-1980s & it still smells like the 1980s in here.
And comfy seats that line up with the windows. Who knew such things were possible?
One of the perks of this job is the occasional chance to sit up front and see drivers doing their thing. There’s an awful lot more to it than ‘just pushing a few buttons’. Thanks to
@AvantiWestCoast
for today’s Class 805 trip.
@RAIL
A classic example of how today’s railway lets down occasional users when there’s an easy win to be had. League ⚽️ fixtures are known months ahead - does anyone at the TOCs check? If we’re going to rely on leisure traffic we need to be better at meeting demand for events like this
Rebranded e320 374024 and
@thalys_en
PBKA set 4304 showing off the new unified
@Eurostar
branding at Brussels Midi. Fleets will retain current liveries, so no red e320s or blue TGVs for the moment.
So, the new
#Stadler
Class 398 tram-train for
@tfwrail
. It’s not exactly a looker is it? Interior looks OK, 2+2 seating, but this will be a very different experience for Valley Lines passengers vs traditional heavy rail DMUs.
#Wales
#Cardiff
#ValleyLines
#tramtrain
Today’s task is get from Odense 🇩🇰 to Grantham 🇬🇧 in one day (and one piece) via Hamburg, Koeln, Brussels & London. First up, a train change. IC3 instead of the expected Vectron.
Relying on
@omDSB
@DB_Bahn
@Eurostar
@
@LNER
to do the business. Mission impossible? Let’s find out.
Just been for a quick visit to
@networkrail
Peterborough powerbox, which will signal its last train at 19.59 tomorrow after 51yrs of service. Control of a 68-mile section of the ECML between Biggleswade & Stoke Tunnel passes to York ROC but will switch to ETCS from 2028.
Mrs J is in Devon this weekend. She has just sent me this photo, asking: “Is it anything special?”
As you’d expect, I am in no way jealous that she’s just seen a pair of 50s on the sea wall. 🤦🏻
@FiftyFund
It's good news because it needs doing, but £3.9bn to upgrade EIGHT MILES of railway makes
#HS2
look like a bargain. Rebuilding while the shop is open is very expensive and guarantees years of disruption to passengers.
Hearing that Network Rail has landed the funding it needs for the major TransPennine Route Upgrade remodelling work around Huddersfield. I can imagine DfT ministers will want to announce this one - hopefully soon.
And another one:
@DB_Bahn
keen to revive plans for Frankfurt-London route, 14yrs after original proposal. Changes to tunnel safety regs should solve one obstacle but what about station capacity?
First complete FLIRT unit for
@tfwrail
on its way from
#Stadler
Bussnang factory to Basel (and eventually to
#Wales
) in
#Switzerland
yesterday. With some classic🇨🇭electric traction on the front - former
@SBBCargo
421 374, now operated by SRT. Photo by Gerry Klaus.
Next up for the UK contingent it’s
#Stadler
FLIRT 756102. Unlike the DEMUs already testing with
@tfwrail
these are tri-mode with 25kv AC, batteries & Diesel engines housed in the power pack. A massive step up fwd from existing units with level boarding, no underfloor engines etc
New
@Eurostar
branding just unveiled in
#Brussels
.
@thalys_en
brand disappears in new merged operator. All trains will carry new branding by end of ‘23. Unified website, app & loyalty scheme. E* fleet to be used on ex-Thalys routes to increase capacity by 2025.
What do you do when you don’t have a 1,500V DC track in Switzerland to test the new Cl.555
@My_Metro
trains? Take it to the Arth-Rigi Bahn rack railway at Arth-Goldau & use their exchange sidings - the only std gauge track with 1.5kV DC in🇨🇭
#Stadler
@Rigi_CH
An eBay bargain. ‘British Rail Design’ published by the Danish Design Council in 1986. Lots of lovely BR artwork (immediately pre-NSE - note the Jaffa Cake 317) & info about the corporate image as it was in the mid-80s. Also helps me with my 🇩🇰 skills.
@_doublearrow
@MrTimDunn
It might just be more obvious at this time of year, but one thing that was really noticeable from yesterday’s
@AvantiWestCoast
cab ride was how dense the lineside vegetation is on much of the WCML now. This is the approach to Rugby from N’hampton Loop.
@networkrail
Say hello to
@RPSITrains
@SteamTrains_Dub
Cravens Bar Car - the only one in the world serving (a very fine pint of) draught
#Guinness
. A wonderful place to spend a day with some of the friendliest & most knowledgeable railway people you’ll ever meet. (1/2)
@GarethDennis
Holy Moly. Who'd have thought we'd ever see double stack boxes on an electrified railway?
#India
showing the rest of the world how it's done.
Finally for the UK contingent at
#InnoTrans2022
, it’s
@merseyrail
777140. A superbly presented, box fresh IPEMU with batteries for working away from the 3rd rail network. When they’re finally in service the 777s will deliver a huge leap in quality for Merseyrail users.
@InnoTrans
A little bit English Electric quality far from home in north-eastern Hungary 🇭🇺.
VHid Class 86s 450005 & 007 (can’t recall off the top of my head what their BR numbers were) stabled at Szerencs just now.
@Clinnick1
@RAIL
@Captain_Deltic
Spent the weekend at the NEC for
#Warley
Model Railway Show. Lots of lovely layouts and very nice new models, but this wonderful narrow gauge GWR Pacer was by far my favourite thing at the show. Hats off to whoever made them!
Just another new high speed railway under construction, through three countries, linking 🇪🇪🇱🇻🇱🇹 to 🇵🇱 and the wider European rail network.
#RailBaltica
First views of
@HitachiRailEU
AT300/Class 802 in full
@TPExpressTrains
livery. First set has now completed 15k miles of fault free running and made 1st trip over N Transpennine route last night. More testing there & on WCML over coming weeks.
#Nova1
@RailwayMagazine
Chapeau
@fsitaliane
- perfect timing, perfect advertising. Whoever diagrammed the pink EMU to run alongside the
@giroditalia
peloton today deserves a big glass of wine. 😘
Not saying the French rail network is Paris-centric, but it’s quicker to go Marseille-Bordeaux via Paris than direct on the classic line. 😮
On the upside, you can spend that extra hour enjoying the views from a loco-hauled Corail coach rather than than squeezed into Duplex.
Fun fact : un TGV direct Marseille - Bordeaux transitant via Paris mettrait 5h08 pour ~1300 km parcourus, contre 6h05 pour l'Intercités actuel (~650 km).
Island Line class 484, 484004 is seen pushing former island line class 483, 483006. Both are seen approaching Smallbrook Junction heading for Sandown Yard
20th October 2021
@south_railway
@TractionLondon
@IslandLineUK
Tidying up my office & found a big stack of 1980s/90s BR window labels. I used to 'collect' these when I was a kid without ever realising how historic & evocative they would become. Can't imagine that too many survive nowadays, so here are a few of my favourites.
@_doublearrow
Utterly tone deaf. No government that does this & maintains the freeze on fuel duty while massively underfunding public transport & active travel is serious about meeting climate change targets.
If anyone is watching at
@northernassist
or
@ScotRail
- when you replace your Class 150/156/158 DMUs in the next few years (if there's any money for it), can we have something like this for the scenic routes please?
#Panorama
#scenicrailways
With the looming replacement of Cl. 15X DMUs & new importance of leisure travel, there's a unique chance to procure new trains to exploit the potential of
@ScotRail
@tfwrail
@northern_pr
@GWRHelp
scenic lines. Imagine seeing the West Highland Line or S&C from one of these.
1) I‘m all for more competition & more trains on London-Paris route. the demand is 100% there. But, is it deliverable by 2025? It seems unlikely. Reports say Evolyn has ordered 12
@Alstom
Avelia trains, likely to be similar to
@SNCFVoyageurs
new TGV-M…
This would make a fantastic railway themed visitor centre attraction to generate positive PR for the railway. A viewing platform over the stn throat, model railway, exhibition spaces etc - it could be GB Rail’s Pompidou Centre.
A landmark railway signal box which has helped guide passengers safely into one of the UK's busiest stations will close on Christmas Eve.
Full story:
@networkrail
@NetworkRailBHM
Great to see freight back on the Cambrian for the first time since 2005. Last Friday's trial run saw
@ColasRail_off
use 2x
@networkrail
Class 37s (the only locos able to work the line) to move 700t of timber from
#Aberystwyth
to Kronospan in
#Chirk
, taking 16 HGVs off Welsh roads
First look at one of the 23 new
@HitachiRailENG
trains now being built for
@AvantiWestCoast
. Bi-mode Cl 805s will replace Super Voyagers on N Wales route & eliminate diesel working under the wires. Cl 807 7-car EMUs will add extra capacity on WCML.
Class 379s finally confirmed for
@GNRailUK
in £50m deal to provide additional capacity (see link) but when did ownership switch from Akiem to
@PorterbrookRail
?
Tremendous news. Congratulations to everyone who has worked so hard and for so long to make this happen.
@SwanRailway
Can’t wait to travel all the way to Swanage by train.
Breaking:
@transportgovuk
just confirmed that the
@TPExpressTrains
contract with
@FirstGroupplc
will not be renewed/extended and it will be run by the Operator of Last Resort from May 28. SoS Mark Harper has asked the Northern Metro Mayors to work with DfT on improving services.
Stunning press photo from
@TPExpressTrains
of its new
@HitachiRailEU
Nova 1 (Class 802) train at the Cross. Livery really suits the design. Dynamic, modern and sleek. Needs a yellow end though... ;-)
*grabs tin hat and dashes for cover*
A few more views and video of
@postractionuk
08e moving quietly away from its unveiling. That unmistakable English Electric traction motor whine is still there though!
@barrowhill41
@RAIL
Putting together a few bits on
@VirginTrains
for next
@RailwayMagazine
& found my shots of 'Super Voyager' 221101 tilt testing on the Paris-Toulouse main line in Feb 2002. One of the best press trips I ever did with/for
@RAIL
I seem to recall a flying visit by
@Captain_Deltic
too
Nice of our Danish friends to lay on some quality vintage action for our arrival in
#Copenhagen
.
Beautiful 4-4-0 with a collection of wooden bodied 4/6/8 wheel coaches on a Christmas ‘Veterantog’ to Helsingør.
@omDSB
#Steam
Railway companies! Why not promote one of your finest scenic train journeys by offering a SIX HOUR connection at a remote junction. Or even better, arriving in the other direction FOUR minutes after the last train has departed!
Welcome to France.
Tentative de voyager sur la ligne du train jaune (qui a l'air exceptionnelle) : C'EST UN ENFER
SIX HEURES de correspondance à Latour-d. avec l'arrivée du train de nuit
Et dans l'autre sens ? Arrivée du train jaune à 18h51 (ou 12h31), DÉPART DU TRAIN DE NUIT À 18h47 SA MÈRE
Success of high-speed open access in 🇪🇸 prompts infra manager Adif to open more routes up to competition - notably the under-used HS lines to Galicia & Basque Country. Rail now holds 80% share on Madrid-Barcelona with
@Renfe
@iryo_eu
&
@OUIGO_Es
Just rolled off the ferry into
#Denmark
- Puttgarden-Rodby is one of only three routes now in Europe where passenger trains run onto ferries. Others are Malmo-Berlin
@berlinexpress1
(seasonal) and the Straits of Messina in Italy. A rare treat!
@seatsixtyone
@RailwayMagazine
Second new train launch of the day -
@Hull_Trains
802301 arrives at Hull Paragon for the official launch in its new home city. First of 5 bi-mode sets built by
@HitachiRailEU
in Italy. All due to be in service by January.
@RailwayMagazine
1/ V lucky to visit the
@SellafieldLtd
rail team this wk to find out how it operates in such a unique & challenging site & to check out their
@ClaytonEquipltd
battery locos. Totally worth the 2yrs of asking & planning to get security clearance! Look out for feature in
@RAIL
soon
Those of a certain age might remember the German Pacific at Carnforth. Well, it’s just returned to the main line in 🇩🇪 after a gap of 50+ years. What could be better than an 01 on a big train to Westerland on a summer Saturday?
@Eisenbahnkurier
pic of it crossing the Kiel Canal.
🇮🇹 "Circumvesuviana train at Pompeii (Naples) left at 9:25 am from Porta Nolana station when a fire broke out on the roof of the train. No injuries"
Hate to say it, but Circumvesuviana must take the prize for worst railway in Europe.
Scruffy, dirty, old, graffiti-covered trains.
@DB_Bahn
Always a highlight of any trip on this route - crossing the Nord-Ostsee Canal on the Rendsburger Hochbrucke. An amazing piece of engineering, complete with spiral approach on the N side. Was always more fun seeing it from the open droplight of an IR train hauled by a 103 though!
Instead of providing solutions to problems, the railway’s default response to disruption now seems to be ‘please don’t travel’.
Not content with voting for Christmas, the self-basting turkey seems content to load itself into the oven too.
Chiltern is saying please don't travel because we are going to be so busy with the Nuneham Viaduct closure.
If we had a proper Integrated railway, extra rolling stock would have been brought in and max length trains would be running a max frequency Oxford Shuttle service.