Latest News from Railways Illustrated

Double track for Gowerton

A £40m plan to improve the rail infrastructure between Swansea and Gowerton has been unveiled by Network Rail.

Backed by the Welsh Government and the South West Wales Integrated Transport Consortium, and jointly funded by Network Rail and the Welsh Government, the money will be used to replace Loughor viaduct and double the six-mile single track between Cockett West Junction and Duffryn West Junction. This will also see the disused eastbound platform at Gowerton station reinstated.

The scheme is to improve performance, and cater for a predicted increase in passenger numbers in West Wales by 20% by the end of the decade. The work will be undertaken in stages from spring 2012 to spring 2013.

Minister launches 12-car Thameslink trains

Rail Minister Theresa Villiers was on hand on December 12 to launch First Capital Connect’s 12-coach services between Bedford and Brighton on the Thameslink route, riding in the cab of one of the first southbound services. Eight peak trains a day will now have 12 coaches, while another four will be strengthened from four to eight vehicles.

Three Class 377 EMUs have moved on loan from Southern to First Capital Connect as part of the scheme to provide these longer trains. 377207/211/212 are being revinyled in FCC colours.

Alliance looks to new operations

Potential Open Access operator Alliance Rail Holdings has submitted a revised application for its Great North Western Railway Company (GNWR) WCML services to the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR). This follows a significant period of industry consultation.

Alliance is seeking to introduce 60 trains a day with new rolling stock and hopes to create almost 400 new jobs and deliver over £3.5bn of wider economic benefits to the areas it will serve.

Network Rail and Alliance have identified a significant number of train paths that could be utilised by GNWR to introduce the trains, with over 50% of the paths sought validated to prove the current position on available capacity. Further paths continue to be evaluated and it is expected that the future proposed WCML timetable recast will reveal further opportunities.

In brief

N A Winter Sunday train service has been introduced on the Par-Newquay ‘Atlantic Coast Line’ from the December timetable change.

N Leicester passengers now benefit from an earlier train to Sheffield providing improved connections to major northern cities. The 0711 Leicester-Sheffield is 25 minutes earlier than the previous best of 0736.

N A new website for the ELR Diesel Group can be found at www.elrdiesel.info/

N Freightliner Heavy Haul has unveiled its new prototype covered hopper wagon for the biomass market. It is a modified HHA coal hopper wagon with covers fitted to ensure that the product is kept dry whilst being conveyed from loading site to destination. The wagon modification was manufactured at the WH Davies workshops at Shirebrook.

Electric railway museum wins major national award

One of the highest accolades given to railway preservation has been awarded to the Electric Railway Museum. The Coventry museum has received the Small Groups Award from the Heritage Railway Association (HRA).

The award identifies the work done by the ERM since its creation in 2008 as ‘an outstanding contribution to railway preservation’, specifically ‘in recognition of its excellence in the preservation of less fashionable stock outside the scope of most heritage railways’.

The ERM aims to promote the heritage of all electric trains in the UK through traction and rolling stock restoration, display and operation, along with work in gathering historically relevant technical and photographic archives.

The ERM ends 2011 with the announcement of a new arrival of Laboratory 4, the first vehicle to run with the Advanced Passenger Train Prototype’s suspension and tilt systems. A former buffet car on the Hastings line, it also had a specially built tilt system hydraulic pack that could be used to test alternative components.

The Advanced Passenger Train Prototype (APT-P) was the first train to successfully implement an active tilt mechanism in passenger service in the UK, increasing speeds significantly on tight rail curves. The ERM already houses an APT-P non-driving power car, 49006, on loan from the National Railway Museum, as well as HSFV 1 (High Speed Freight Vehicle), which was fundamental in the development of the APT project.

With Laboratory 4 arriving in Coventry, the trio of historic objects can enable ERM to tell the story of the development of high-speed electric rail travel within the UK, as well as the influence the APT project had internationally.

Laboratory 4, (Departmental RDB975386), is a bogie coach built by British Rail in 1958 and withdrawn from service as a buffet car in 1964. For 10 years it was used as a paint store before seeing a new life as a suspension test vehicle for the APT-P project, when it was transferred to British Rail’s R&D Division in 1974. After its work on the APT project was complete, Laboratory 4 was converted during 1988-89 to a test vehicle for an active air vertical suspension, and further developed into an air tilt system, but these projects did not continue further.

Laboratory 4 was sold to the APT-Experimental (APT-E) Conservation & Support Group in April 2011 and has now moved to the ERM. Current plans will see repairs made to a corroded side of the vehicle and for it to be repainted into the original livery given by the Railway Technical Centre (RTC) in Derby.

Forth Bridge repainting complete

The iconic Forth Bridge has lost its scaffolding for the first time in over a decade as Network Rail’s repair and repainting programme draws to a close after a £130m refurbishment project was completed which means no full-scale repainting of the 125-year-old structure for at least two decades

The project, delivered by NR and Balfour Beatty Regional Civil Engineering, involved encasing the bridge in up to 4,000 tonnes of scaffolding, painting over 230,000m2 of steel and all 6.5m rivets in the structure.

Over the life of the project more than 1,500 people have worked on the structure, with up to 400 people a day on the bridge at the height of the refurbishment works.

David Simpson, NR route managing director for Scotland, said: “The completion of this refurbishment will safeguard the future of one of the country’s most famous landmarks.

“Repainting the bridge has long been considered one of the world’s never-ending tasks, and the refurbishment just completed has been one of the biggest engineering challenges we have faced.

“Our staff and contractors can take real pride in their achievements on this project, not least in the fact that through their efforts this amazing structure will remain free of major maintenance work for at least two decades.”

In the years ahead, a small team of specialists and engineers will continue to monitor and maintain the bridge, which is regularly exposed to extreme conditions due to its location above the Firth of Forth.

ECML diversions via the Joint

On two Saturday afternoons in October, East Coast, Hull Trains and First Hull Trains were diverted between Peterborough and Newark/Doncaster. This led to some EC trains being hauled by DB Schenker Class 67s.
EC used HSTs on all its Scottish services, which ran via Spalding, Lincoln and Gainsborough, while the Leeds trains were 91-hauled and then had a 67 working from Peterborough via Spalding, Lincoln and Newark Northgate where the diesels were detached and the trains reversed. The 1400 from King’s Cross was 67-hauled from Peterborough to Doncaster. All Up trains used the Sleaford avoiding line, although Down trains had to run via the station because the Down line on the Sleaford avoider is not fit for traffic.

On the first weekend, 67003/019/020/022/023/029 were used while the second weekend saw the same locos in service apart from 67024 working one train and 67020 being stabled at Doncaster in reserve.
Various HSTs and Class 180s also took this route, as well as some freight. On October 16, a problem coupling 67003 to the 1500 King’s Cross-Leeds saw the train cancelled at Peterborough and the set returned empty to Bounds Green while the 67 ran light to Newark to take up its next working.

NatEx’s Class 379 launched
Bombardier launched its new Class 379 units for National Express East Anglia on October 14 at its Litchurch Lane factory in Derby. Rides on the works’ test track using the first of the 30 four-car 25kV AC EMUs, 379001, allowed guests a chance to see the units first hand.
The new trains will be used for the Liverpool Street-Stansted Airport shuttle (20 units) while the other ten will be deployed on Liverpool St-Cambridge semi-fast services. The units will be in a common shared pool for these duties.
379001 will leave Derby and head to Velim in the Czech Republic on November 2 for comprehensive shakedown testing while 379002, also built, will tested in the UK. Construction up to 379007 is underway.
The trains feature 20 First Class seats in 2+1 formation while the 189 Standard Class seats are mainly in 2+2 set up, with a mix of tables and airline seats. Because of their use on Airport trains, there is ample luggage provision. The trains also feature wi-fi, plug sockets and CCTV.
Because NatEx’s franchise only runs to October 2011 (having just had a 28 week extension), the trains are being delivered in plain white with blue doors, although National Express branding will be applied.
The units, which will be the last order for heavy rail trains from Bombardier, to be delivered from the current order book, will be based at Ilford depot – which has just benefited from a new carriage washer.

EMT refurbishes its first 153
East Midland Trains unveiled its first fully-refurbished Class 153 single-car DMU at Lincoln on September 28 as part of a £5m programme to overhaul the company’s 17 Class 153s and 11 two-car Class 156s.
The work on 153319 was undertaken ‘in house’ at Neville Hill depot and all of the 39 vehicles will pass through the Leeds depot by the end of 2011. The unit now has a new interior with the same red seats to match the overhauled Class 158s and has new carpets, flooring, lighting, CCTV and toilet areas.
Already EMT has overhauled its HST fleet, its 25 Class 158s and after the 153s and 156s have been dealt with, attention will turn to a full refurbishment of the company’s 27 Class 222 Meridian DEMUs.
The Class 153/156s work local routes, such as Peterborough-Lincoln-Doncaster, Lincoln-Nottingham/Leicester, Nottingham-Derby-Matlock, Derby-Crewe, Nottingham-Worksop and Nottingham-Skegness.

BARS buys Hanson
British American Railway Services has acquired spot hire company Hanson Traction, with Garcia Hanson, HT’s managing director becoming BARS’s commercial director, with responsibility for railfreight, locomotive hire and operations.
The deal sees BARS take ownership of HT’s six main line locos: 31190, 31602, 56114/128, 56311/312 of which all but 56114/128 are presently main line registered. Mr Hanson retains ownership of 50008 Thunderer, which he hopes to register for main line use in the fullness of time.
BARS already owns the locos from the defunct ECT’s Mainline Rail organisation; 31422/452/454/468, 31601, 56022 (withdrawn) and 73139 as well as an extensive shunter fleet that was formerly owned by RT Rail and acquired by ECT in 2008.
Ed Ellis, president of BARS said: “Hanson Traction will substantially enhance our ability to serve the market. It will support our goals in railfreight and increase the ability to maintain and repair locomotives in-house. We are particularly excited about having Garcia Hanson join our management team, as he brings a wealth of commercial expertise to the company.”
Mr Hanson said “I am delighted to be able to build on the track record Hanson Traction has established in locomotive refurbishment and hire operations. Our proven record in rail freight haulage will enable British American to provide fully integrated solutions for both new and established customers. My team and I look forward to working with British American’s managers and staff to grow and expand the scope of the company.”
N BARS has confirmed its proposed Okehampton-Exeter service, using Class 31s and push-pull stock has no confirmed start date, rendering its previously anticipated December start highly unlikely.
Kevin Busath from BARS said: “as regards the proposed Okehampton-Exeter service, Devon & Cornwall Railway (DCR) is currently updating and revising the original business plan that was prepared for this service. While our goal is to initiate services as soon as possible, we are not in a position to specify a date.”

Bi-modal Voyagers plan proposed
Voyager DMUs in use by CrossCountry Trains and possibly other operators could be transformed into bi-modal units if Government ministers decide to go ahead with a plan proposed by train manufacturer Bombardier.
The company has suggested spending £300m to construct 123 new pantograph trailers which could be inserted into existing Class 220s or 221s, enabling trains to pick up current from overhead wires and use it to drive the units’ traction motors. 21 further vehicles would also be modified as part of the programme.
Advantages claimed for the proposal are the increased capacity of the extended units and the elimination of diesel working “under the wires”. The converted units would still be capable of diesel working when on non-electrified sections of line. EGH

Final 172 arrives in London
The final Class 172 DMU for London Overground has now arrived in the capital following tests on the class at the Old Dalby Test Track.
172003 arrived at Willesden under its own power on October 11 after undergoing high speed testing which also involved classmate 172008. The two were coupled together for the high speed runs and were said to have been recorded at 100mph. The exhaust problem suffered by the class in its early days now appears to be resolved and has not involved major modifications as originally thought.
Also entering service this month has been 172001, which worked its first public trains on October 6. The latest deliveries have resulted in the Gospel Oak-Barking services being worked almost exclusively by the class on most days.
Four-car Class 378 EMUs have become a regular sight on London Overground's Willesden Junction to Gospel Oak line now that the extended platforms at stations on the route have now been opened.
Two more have been to Bombardier, Derby, for the addition of their fourth car, 378211/214 were returned to London by 66404 on October 9. Meanwhile 378216 remains at Derby where it is being used to test the additional cars which are being inserted into other sets. EGH

Refurbished 313s enter use with Southern
Fully refurbished Class 313 EMUs with upgraded interiors have begun to enter service with Southern for services around Brighton.
They have replaced similar sets which have been externally repainted but which have yet to receive their new interiors. The moves are in anticipation of the December timetable changes which will require around ten more class 313s to be available to cover local Coastway services between Brighton, Worthing, Littlehampton and Portsmouth.
In service so far have been 313204/206/209/210/214/216/217 displacing 313202/203/205 which have moved back to Stewart's Lane. Unrefurbished 313108 has been moved to Wolverton for repaint and renumber while 313204/211/213 have moved to Doncaster for interior upgrade. Returning from Wolverton after repainting have been 313209/215/220 (formerly 313109/115/120) and back from Doncaster after fitment of new interior is 313219.
Meanwhile the four Class 313s transferring from London Overground to First Capital Connect have now left Willesden. 313121/123 have gone direct to Wolverton where they are expected to be repainted while 313122/134 have gone to Hornsey depot. EGH

Virgin honours Alstom
Virgin Trains revealed another unit in one-off livery on September 16 when 390004 was renamed Alstom Pendolino at a ceremony at Euston Station by CEO Tony Collins.
The renaming is in recognition of the partnership between Virgin and Alstom and the driving cars now have a large black semi-circle covering almost half the sides with the word Pendolino on it.
The 52 Pendolinos have now covered 90m miles since their introduction in 1999 and are currently achieving 1,100 miles per day each. The newly named set is fitted with special monitoring equipment and will also be used to trial potential fleet modifications. EGH