Reading guide

Below we list articles from various publications, mainly British but also some from abroad, which feature subject matter relating to electric railways and traction. If you subscribe to other magazines and notice appropriate articles please advise the details to the Secretary.

 

New Eurostar launched,  Today’s Railways UK, January 2015, page 30.
Another article describing the new E320 trains, with four illustrations and a diagram displaying the seating layout.

Stadler sees a bigger Europe, Railway Gazette International, January 2015, page 28.
The Swiss rolling stock builder has expanded its business across Europe with Flirt and Kiss multiple unit trains delivered to twelve European countries. Future prospects considered.

IEP design awaits the acid test, Railway Gazette International, January 2015, page 32.
The first of the new train sets destined for the East Coast and Great Western main lines has been unveiled at Hitachi’s Kasado Works on |Honshu Island, Japan.    Various details of layout and catering service are still to be finalised.

Stronger together,  Railway Gazette International,  January 2015, page 36.
Examination of the proposal for Chinese rolling stock companies CNR and CSR to amalgamate.  They would form the world’s largest rolling stock builder.

Eurostar unveils e320 and orders 7 more, Railway Gazette International, January 2015, page 42
A look at Eurostar’s development plans involving refurbishment of some old stock and the introduction of brand new trains.

Lyria celebrates 30 years,  Today’s Railways Europe, January 2015, page 24.
French and Swiss Railways set  up a joint company, Lyria, thirty years ago to operate through services between Paris and Lausanne cutting an hour off the previous best times.   Traffic increased by 165% during the first year of operation.   The article examines the further progress and plans of the company extending services to additional Swiss destinations.

Endangered species: Mat ’64,  Today’s Railways Europe, January 2015, page 44.
The ’64 class of emus is the last of a series of classes of streamlined emus and is now nearing withdrawal.   The article includes a history of the class and gives an indication of where the last units in service may be found.   Eight illustrations.

AC or DC – that is the question, Railways Illustrated, February 2015, page 40.
Long presentation of the question thrown up in the Modernisation Plan of 1955 in which considerable electrification was proposed.   Low voltage DC schemes would require the costly building of substation every 5 or 6 miles in order to maintain a high enough voltage along the route.   High voltage AC schemes would require more headroom between the power wires and overhead structures including bridges, tunnels, and other structures, and this required substantial capital expenditure but when completed the operating costs of the high voltage railway were lower.

The articles goes on to examine the several different AC locomotives built to examine the qualities of each with a view to deciding the builder of a large fleet.

Fifty years of the Skokie Swift,   Passenger Train Journal,  Issue 2014/4, page 16.
Following the abandonment of the North Shore interurban in January 1963, the fast shuttle between Howard Street and Skokie Dempster Street was introduced by the Chicago Transit Authority on 20 April 1964.   Rail service was restored to communities that had once enjoyed service from the interurban.   Sixteen illustrations, one map.

The later ac electrics,  Traction,  January/February 2015, page 20.
Review of classes 90, 91, and 92 with description of how and where they are used.   Mention of class 93 which was part of the InterCity 250 proposal which never received Government funding.

Thameslink on Time, Modern Railways, February 2016, page 46.
Progress report on this massive project including the rebuilding work at London Bridge Station.    There are 8 illustrations, old and new track layouts and traffic flow illustration at London Bridge, and a diagram of the future pattern of services along the Thameslink routes.

London Special, Rail, 4 February 2015, 34 page supplement published with Bombardier.
Topics include Improvements made to operation of Victoria Line; Success of S-Stock S7 and S8 trains; Description of Crossrail 2 plans; the New Tube for London Project.

New year; new lines, Railway Gazette International, February 2015, page 30.
One tram and eleven metro projects in China were completed in December 2014.   Details given supplemented by a very helpful metro/light rail map of Beijing.

Northern Line projects boost Underground capacity, Railway Gazette International, February 2015, page 34
With the Northern Line carrying nearly 1m passengers per day, and with traffic still rising, a series of improvements are described including resignalling to boost service frequency.

The most prolific year, Railway Gazette International , February 2015, page 53.
More than 3000 route km has been added to the Chinese main line network, mostly high-speed lines.   Includes very useful map showing the new high-speed routes as well as the conventional main lines.

Joining the 200 km/h club, Railway Gazette International, February 2015, page 58.
Polish Railways have launched its first 200km/hour services from 14 December 2014 using twenty non-tilting Pendolino train sets.   Lines served include Warsaw to Krakow and Warsaw to Gdansk/ – Gdynia.

Wartime Plan for Electrification on the Southern 1944, CC1 Was the Answer, British Railways Illustrated, February 2015, page 188
Very detailed 12 page article on the electrification plans for the Southern Railway. It includes 20 b/w photos and a drawing of CC1.

North Eastern Electrics, End of a Bold Experiment, British Railways Illustrated, March 2015, page 272
Short article about the plans of the North Eastern Railway to electrify the York to Newcastle main line. It includes four b/w photos of the locomotives being scrapped, with extended captions.

Great Eastern Class 90s,  Back Track, March 2015, page 152.
Photo-feature with five colour views of Class 90 locomotives in different liveries taken during the transition period in 2003/4 when the earlier Class 86s were being phased out.

New traction for Central Line fleet, Modern Railways, March 2015, page 31.
Details of a proposal to re-engine the fleet of trains operating London Underground’s Central Line services.   The existing DC engines would be replaced  by new AC equipment.

Hull to Selby. Privately-funded wiring?, Modern Railways, March 2015, page 51.
An investigation of the possible electrification of a line linking Hull with the ECML, by First Group at the Group’s expense.

Way forward for Wrexham?, Modern Railways, March 2015, page 54.
Comprehensive look at plans to upgrade services through Wrexham including third rail electrification to Liverpool via the Hawarden Bridge line, and 25 kV ac electrification to Chester and Crewe to give a link to the West Coast route.

Shinkansen in, Sleepers out, Railway Gazette International, March 2015, page 25.
Shinkansen services start between Tokyo and Kanazawa on 14 March 2015 upon opening of Hokiruko Shinkansen. The Twilight Sleeper service on the narrow gauge (1067mm) line between Osaka and Sapporo and the Tokyo – Sapporo Hokutosei sleeping car service are discontinued from the same date. The age of the sleeping cars used is given as a reason for the change.  The luxury tri-weekly Cassiopeia sleeping car train between Tokyo and Sapporo will continue at least until the Shinkansen is extended to Hakodate in March 2016.

Faster to the Gironde, Railway Gazette International, March 2015, page38.
Description of construction work taking the LGV Sud Europe Atlantique from Tours to Bordeaux. Detailed map that shows the many bridges and other structures that are on this route.

Great Eastern class 90s, Back Track, March 2015, page 152.
Photo-feature including five views of class 90 locomotives in five very different liveries reflecting the changes in TOCs operating on these lines.

15 Years of Passenger Service on the Erie Lackawanna, Passenger Train Journal,  No 1 of 2015,   page 30.
Detailed account of the suburban networks of the two constituent railways, diesel and electric, with detailed route map, and fifteen illustrations.

Twelve Northern lines to be electrified before 2024?, Rail, 18 March 2015, page 8.
Feature describing the network of routes across northern England between Liverpool, York and Hull that could be electrified before 2024 and possibly during the next few years.  Handy map.

Prospects for East Anglia, Rail, 18 March 2015, page 66.
Examination of the challenges facing the next holder of the East Anglia franchise.   Map shows the various routes covered ranging from Inter-City (London – Norwich), to suburban services, Stansted Express, and regional services in rural localities.    Numbers of travellers between key city pairs each weekday detailed with Norwich – London and Colchester – London by far the largest.

On the Wight track, Rail, 18 March  2015, page 73.
Description of the complex works to repair storm damage to “The Island Line” that have involved a ten week closure of the railway south of Ryde St Johns Road.    A single unit of 76 year old ex-London Underground stock has maintained an hourly shuttle between St Johns Road and Ryde Pier Head.  Map and six illustrations.

The Woes of Westinghouse, Back Track, April 2015, page 228
Long account of the early years of the company’s operations in the UK including the construction of rolling stock for the Mersey Railway, the Metropolitan Railway, and the Lancaster – Morecambe – Heysham service.   The problems with the Lots Road power station are also examined in detail.

Mariazellerbahn: Modernised but still charming, Today’s Railways Europe, April 2015, page 34
Detailed account of the 760mm gauge Austrian line operating from St Polten, where it connects with the Westbahn, to Mariazell (84km).   The first sections opened in 1898 using steam power with electrification coming in 1909.  Stadler emus took over from 2010.   Six illustrations and two maps.

Gotthard Pass Cab Ride, Trains, March 2015, page 34
Description of ride along the historic Gotthard Pass route.   Nine illustrations plus map showing the traditional route which includes the famous tunnel, and also the Base Tunnel route that will run straight under the mountains in a new very long tunnel.

The $10.8bn bore, Trains, March 2015, page 38.
Detailed article describing the task of linking the Long Island RR in Queens with an expanded Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan, New York.   Nine illustrations depicting the construction work which is now at an advanced stage.    Two detailed diagrams illustrating how the new Grand Central platforms will be laid out.

The Anglian AC changeover, Railways Illustrated, April 2015, page 38.
Long article recalling the problems of getting electric services to Norwich operating reliably.  Numerous failures of class 86 electric locomotives caused many service upsets.

Wonderful  Waverley, Rail, 1 April 2015, page 72.
Account of the work completed so far on the major upgrade to Edinburgh’s principal main line station.    The £130m project has seen the replacement of the massive roof, the creation of a new entrance from Market Street, the refurbishment of the main concourse.  The provision of lifts to the bridge across the concourse, and of covered escalators up the “Waverley Steps” to Princes Street have proved to be especially welcomed by the users.    The booking hall has been fitted out by many seats where passengers are now bathed in light streaming through the refurbished ceiling.   Eight illustrations.

Cross-Tokyo link completed, Railway Gazette International, April 2015, page 43.
Additional tracks have been built above the Tohoku Shinkansen to create the 3.8 km long 1067mm gauge Ueno – Tokyo Line which was opened on 14 March 2015.    The job was immensely complicated since the new structure creating space for double-deck commuter cars had be fitted in between existing structures.    Six illustrations, two diagrams.

Northern Sparks: Electrification for economic growth, Today’s Railways UK,  May 2015, page 48
Review of long-term plans with proposals for electrification of thirty two lines grouped into three tiers to indicate the priority of the plans.

Proud Preston:  A station for the 21st century,  Today’s Railways UK, May 2015, page 54.
History and review of services at this Northern Hub on the West Coast Main Line.   Eleven illustrations, track diagram, and two tables to show service patterns.

On track for Thameslink,  Rail, 15 April 2015, page 46
Detailed article describing a visit to the Siemens Krefeld factory and their Wildenrath Test Track, to observe progress being made with the construction of the new class 700 emus that are being built for Thameslink.   Twelve illustrations and one location map.

How the West will win with new trains, Rail, 15 April 2015, page 58.
Information on how services in many parts of the country will be improved once the Great Western main line is electrified through a series of cascades of older stock to operating companies across the nation.   Eight illustrations.

Endangered Species: OBB Class 1142,  Today’s Railways Europe,  May 2015, page 28.
The introduction of Desiro emus and planned new electric locos for freight services will see a major decline in the use of these about 50 years old locomotives.   Seven illustrations.

Genève: A Swiss part of France?  Today’s Railways Europe,  May 2015, page 32.
Major article describing railway activity around Geneva including planned new lines.   Map and seventeen illustrations (some monochrome historic scenes).

LU Sub-surface signalling twice the price and 4 years late, Modern Railways, May 2015, page 34.
The title says it all.  Bombardier won this contract but then withdrew.   The contract price then rose substantially and the timescale became severely extended.

A Railway for everyone, Railway Gazette International, May 2015, page 31.
To mark the start of the new Scotrail franchise on 1 April 2015, this article features the range of services operated including complex suburban networks across the central belt, to long distance interurban expresses and long extremely rural routes extending into the south west and north west corners of Scotland.    Four illustrations.

Class 700 is on track, Railway Gazette International, May 2015, page 44.
The first of the 115 class 700 emus being built in Germany has arrived in England for testing on the Thameslink route.   The 700s have been designed to take over the complex network of services that will use the Thameslink route.   Seven illustrations.

The ASEA electric locomotive family, Traction,  May/June 2015, page 36
Photofeature including twenty one illustrations of the family of locomotives that were sold to many nations across Europe but made little impact in the UK.

The Quintinshill firestorm, Life and Work, May 2015,  page 32.
Description and comment from a rather different viewpoint compared with the usual railway enthusiast magazines of Britain’s worst ever railway accident 100 years ago on 22 May 1915. Description of the rescue efforts and the mass burial at Rosebank Cemetery in Edinburgh near where most of the dead soldiers had lived.   Arrangements for commemoration events marking the centenary described.   Three illustrations.

East  from  Brighton. Today’s Railways UK,  June 2015, page 42.
Long description of the routes and services east from Brighton to Eastbourne (and Hastings) plus the Newhaven and Seaford branch.  Thirteen illustrations, track plan of much of these routes, and a table detailing the number of passengers using each station.

Brussels Regional Network, Today’s Railways Europe,  June 2015, page 6.
Short descriptive article giving an update to plans to reorganise services around the Belgian capital.   Include full page coloured diagram of the Brussels suburban rail, metro, and pre-metro networks.

The BLS Blue Arrows: Economy, Elegance and Endurance, Today’s Railways Europe, June 2015, page 22.
Detailed article concerning the family of stylish emus introduced in the 1930s as an economy measure.   Eight models were eventually produced with the last withdrawn from normal traffic in 2005 although one unit remains for charter purposes.    Fourteen illustrations.

CORROSION  Bakerloo  fleet suffers, Modern Railways, June 2015, page26.
Substantial corrosion problems have been found in the thirty six 7-car trains that work the services on LUL’s Bakerloo Line.    Dating from 1972, these are the oldest trains operating on a public railway in Britain and they will have reached an ago of around fifty before planned replacement takes place.     Some corrosion problems were discovered a few years ago and a detailed study has been undertaken on three trains to determine such factors as body strength in the event of a collision.   Details of the corrosion found and the extent of remedial work undertaken are presented.
Four illustrations.

Cutting queues at the Bank, Modern Railways, June 2015, page 56.
An examination of the overcrowding problems at LUL’s most congested station – Bank.   The work under way to relieve the problem is described together with a helpful diagram.

Growth for London Overground, Modern Railways, June 2015, page 56.
Review of how the London Overground has grown to six routes and will be extended significantly as several routes in North East London were added at the end of May 2015.    Tables show how traffic on Overground lines has increased during the period 2006-2014 (often doubles or trebled and as high as 716% on the West London Line).   Other tables include interchange station growth.   Good diagram of planned Overground network by 2026.   Three illustrations.

Tube modernisation meets signalling stumbling blocks, Rail, 27 May 2015,
page 32.
As traffic continues to rise various measures have been taken to boost capacity ranging from new trains, the possibility of train cooling systems to make travelling conditions better, and additional passageways at congested stations.   The article identifies one area where little progress has been achieved – a completely new signalling system for the sub-surface lines.   The tendering process has hit problems as appropriate suggestions have not been made by signalling firms.

Why electrification?, Rail, Electrification Special section, 27 May 2015, page 4.
This the first of a series of articles looking at a wide range of topics  in this 32 page supplement.

Consultants to report next year on Gautrain Extensions, Railway Gazette International, June 2015, page 45.
Details of possible extensions to the Gautrain network that links Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Tambo International Airport to reach outer suburban destinations in all directions. Map.

Success story for Staffordshire, Modern Railways, July 2015, page 62
Details of how the flyover at Norton Bridge is being built.  Two track diagrams, seven illustrations.

Virgin grapples with growth, Modern Railways, July 2015, page 68.
Description of how additional accommodation is being provided for standard class passengers. Four illustrations.

High Speed, Railway Gazette International, July 2015, page 31.
Sixteen pages of nine mostly short articles examining the progress made with building high-speed railways across the world. Sixteen photographs, two maps, several tables.

Railways in Berlin: Part three – new railways and heritage, Today’s Railways Europe July 2015, page 22.
Detailed description of lines recently built or planned.   2 maps.  11 illustrations.

Le Petit Train Jaune, Today’s Railways Europe, July 2015, page 34.
Excellent description of this metre gauge line linking Villefranche with Latour de Carol.   This line has major potential to attract tourist traffic but at the moment is a major money loser.  It is still operated by the original 1909 stock which takes power at 850 V dc through a third rail.   There is now a serious possibility that the railway will be closed.  Map.  Eleven photographs.

Note: Searching on YouTube for the above title brings up many video clips of the line.

TfL on the March, Today’s Railways UK, August 2015, page 48.
Long article describing the steady increase over a period of several years in Transport for London’s involvement in the operation of commuter railways around the city.   The takeover of Liverpool Street to the north eastern suburban lines is simply the most recent of a series of absorptions into the Overground.    The article surveys takeovers going back to July 1933 and the co-ordination of Underground, bus, and tram services.   Six illustrations.

The knock-on benefits of “Norwich in 90”, Rail, 22 July 2015, page 46.
Long article assessing the need for a major upgrade to the London Liverpool Street – Norwich 115 mile long route along which the half-hourly services take around 1 hour 20-25 minutes.    The locomotives and Mark 3 coaches are now around 35 years old.   The track needs to be improved and the trains themselves need to be renewed to give a smarter performance with the running time reduced to 90 minutes. Map and six illustrations.

Trains from Paris Austerlitz, Today’s Railways Europe, August 2015, page 24,
Long detailed article describing the services that still use the Austerlitz terminus in Paris.   This is the only terminus in the city that has lost traffic during recent years due to the diversion of some routes to other termini.  There are prospects for a limited revival of some other routes.    Fifteen illustrations (including passenger, freight, and one of LRVs), two maps and one table that lists the considerable number of long distance trains that still use the station.   

Supertrams come to Britain, Back Track, August 2015, page 497.
This superb long article has the subtitle “The origins and development of the Tyne and Wear Metro” which accurately describes this article.   In 2014 was the 30th anniversary of the opening of the first section of the Metro which was developed out of a failing local railway system.  The Beeching Report had recommended that co-ordinated local rail and road transport should be developed in localities where suburban heavy rail routes were hopelessly uneconomic and the response in Newcastle and Gateshead was to bring their local rail services into the town centres by building new tunnel sections and operate much more frequent services using new “lightish” rail cars.   There follows a full description of the politics involved, and the construction and operation of the system including the changing liveries.   Two maps show the initial planned system and the more extensive network actually built.   The twelve illustrations include the two electric locos that operated the Quayside branch, the articulated Metro-Cammell stock of 1937, and the test centre where much development work was achieved before the Metro opened.  Three tables give opening dates for each section and various statistics.

Longest tunnel will transform transalpine traffic flows, Railway Gazette International, August 2015, page 46.
Discussion about possible alterations to traditional services once the two Base Tunnels on the Gotthard route have opened.

Moving freight across the mountains, Railway Gazette International, August 2015, page 50.
Freight traffic across south-east Europe will be greatly changed once a series of major infrastructure projects are completed during the next decade in Eastern Switzerland.

Heavy haul electric on test, Railway Gazette International, August 2015, page 64.
Heavy coal traffic is to be handled by rail between mines in the Shanxi Province of China to destinations along the eastern seaboard.   The Shanxi area has been opened up by the building of a new railway, 1216 km long, and electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz.    A prototype new design of locomotive, the HXD2F, is now being tested on the new railway and will haul long coal trains at up to 100 km/hour.

End of the line for South West Trains?, Rail, 5 August 2013, page 56
The problems facing Stagecoach’s South West Trains as the company failed to win a two year extension to its franchise at a time when major developments at Waterloo require management stability.    Ten illustrations.

50 years and still going strong, Railway Magazine, August 2015, page 18.
Detailed account of the Class 86 electric locomotives of which 100 were built.   A table details the whereabouts of the 41 survivors of which eight are at work in Hungary, 20 are in use or are capable of use in the UK.    Nine illustrations.

Exploring West London by District Line, Today’s Railways UK, September 2015, page 28.
Detailed history of the routes from Earls Court to Ealing Broadway, Richmond, and Wimbledon seventeen illustrations and one diagrammatic route map.

Eastwards from Eastbourne, Today’s Railways UK, September 2015, page 54.
Good description of the route between Eastbourne, Hastings and Ore, plus the Hastings Cliff Lifts. Fourteen illustrations, track diagram, and table detailing current station usage.  Two of the stops have very little traffic indeed but the others are well supported by the local communities.  There are useful tips regarding places to visit from some of the stations.   Information is given about the aims of the Bexhill Rail Action Group which was formed in 2005 when there was a proposal to cease the operation of through trains to London via Haywards Heath.    

The iron ore giants, Traction, September/October 2015, page 20.
Description of the railway that handles the massive iron ore traffic between Kiruna in Sweden and the all-weather port of Narvik in Norway.      A table lists basic information about the four locomotive types that haul Europe’s heaviest freight trains.  Eleven illustrations.

Performance cinderellas, Traction, September /October 2015, page 44.
Details of several brisk runs given by the often ignored SUB and EPB emus.

Streetcar named high tech, Trains, August 2015, page 32.
Detailed look at the Alstom Citadis trams that have been introduced on the Dubai light rail system. The trams feature many high tech features and have a very stylish external appearance.  Ten illustrations and one map showing the tram route twisting around the new living areas alongside the waterfront.

A Snapshot of the Hong Kong Tramways, Locomotives International, August/September 2015, page 11.
Short history of the tramway which now has the largest (163) fleet of double-deck trams in the world.   Although new trams with a similar external appearance but improved interior fittings now operate, traffic on the system has fallen by 10% since the West Island Line of the Metro opened  in December 2014.    Nine illustrations.

Timber and electricity in Slovakia: the Lubochea – Macidlo Forestery railway, Locomotives International, August/September 2015, page 50.
550V dc line opened in 1904 and closed in 1966, which once carried heavy timber trains plus a minimal passenger service during its final years.   Locomotives include two early Ganz locomotives and one AEG machine.   Twelve illustrations and one small map.

Crossrail’s success, Rail, 19 August 2015.  Sixteen page supplement.
Four separate articles that examine different aspects of the massive construction challenges that have been overcome.

All change on the Midland Metro, Rail, 19 August 2015, page 54.
Detailed account of the original fleet of trams – the T69s – and their different liveries.  Thirteen illustrations with good views of the standard NX livery, tram 11 in the historic Birmingham Corporation tram livery which it received to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the closure of the trams, and of trams in the silver and magenta (pink) livery including No 10 named after local tram historian John Stanley Webb.    Tables list the names given to fourteen of the sixteen trams, with information about the date on which trams were put into store as the new CAF Urbos trams took over operations.   Good map.

A year to photograph the Gotthard Summit route, Today’s Railways Europe, September 2015, page 20.
Long detailed account about what will happen in December 2016 when the new Gotthard Base Tunnel becomes used by the majority of passenger and freight trains using the Gotthard route.  The present traffic is described stressing the point that the route is the busiest freight route for traffic between Germany and Italy.   The Base Tunnel route will shorten the distance between Zurich and Milan by about 30 km but the new tunnel will allow passengers expresses to run at 250 km/hour compared with 90 km/hour over the old line.   45 minutes will be cut from the journey time making rail competitive with the rival air service.   Most passenger services will switch to the new line in December 2016 and others will transfer a year later.    In the long term the old line with its scenic twists and turns at Wassen will be used by SBB Historic’s heritage trains.    Eleven illustrations. Detailed map in two sections plus detailed maps of three complex sections.     Diagrammatic gradient profile.

TFT: Regional suburban or museum line, Today’s Railways Europe, September 2015, page 30.
Description of a local route in northern Italy worked by a very mixed bag of locomotives and emus. Seven illustrations.  

EGIP gathers pace, Modern Railways, September 2015, page 50.
Fairly detailed article about the transformation of the Edinburgh – Glasgow main line including many details of the alternative routes used during the closure of some sections for electrification work.   Six illustrations, one map.

New era for c-2-c, Modern Railways, September 2015, page 68.
Comprehensive look at a wide range on improvements that National Express plans to introduce during its new 15 year franchise for services on the LT&S routes from London Fenchurch Street.  Six illustrations and tiny outline route map.

ECML: the promised land – – – -, Rail, 2 September 2015,  page 54.
An account of how with each letting of the franchise to operate services between Kings Cross, Leeds, and Edinburgh, there were promises of new trains, faster speeds, and many additional trains.   The article shows that most promises were either not kept or were partially fulfilled many years later.

Manchester sharpens its rail ambitions, Rail, 2 September 2015, page 62.
The city has published a 25-year Transport Vision for comments by the citizens.   The background to the present situation of heavy rail services around the city is explained.    Transport improvements are seen as a catalyst to new development and regeneration across the city as a whole and it is considered important to have achieved significant improvements to the local rail network before HS2 arrives.    Seven illustrations.

London Bridge is constantly evolving, Rail, 2 September 2015, page 70.
A look at the history and on-going transformation of the London station.  Seven illustrations.

Man and a van, Rail Express, September 2015, page 16.
Selection of photographs of class 87 locomotives at work in Bulgaria to show the various liveries used on the 87s.   Over half of the class 87 machines are now in use in Bulgaria.

ECTS and ATO through the Thameslink core, Railway Gazette International,      September 2015,  page 33.
Description of the new signalling systems that are being installed along the high-capacity two minute frequency, cross-London services which will be introduced in 2018.   Nine illustrations, one map, and one diagram.

Solving the Thameslink puzzle, Today’s Railways UK   October 2015, page 30.
To coincide with the delivery of the first of the class 700 emus that will operate the new services, this article examines the practicality of operating 24 trains per hour through the heart of London. Six illustrations.

What next for the Isle of Wight?, Today’s Railways UK, October 2015, page 54.
The article examines the various options and prospects for the Ryde – Shanklin line in an era when many fewer people are taking their annual holiday there.   Major repairs and upgrades if the 8½ mile line is to survive as the South West Trains franchise comes close to its renewal date.   The use of former London Underground stock has solved the problem of the low headroom through Ryde Esplanade Tunnel, but this stock has now a limited lifespan.  Options examined include a takeover by the operator of the steam line which connects at Smallbrook Jct, or conversion to light rail standards using some of the as yet unused trams in Edinburgh.    Diagram to show existing track layout, plus five illustrations.

Basel: Switzerland’s tram capital, Today’s Railways Europe, October 2015, page 32.
The complex and very busy tram network in the Swiss city, which extends for short distances into Germany and France, is described together with the varied liveries used by the two operators.    Plans for the future are discussed.    Ten illustrations plus a diagrammatic map of the network showing how 16 + routes come together through the heart of the city where trams can be nose-to-tail at busy times.  

A Century of Catenary. Classic Trains, Fall of 2015, page 20.
Comprehensive history of the North East Corridor overhead wire electrification.   Linking New York with Washington and Harrisburg plus various suburban and less important cross-country routes, the first sections opened in 1915.    Among the stock used were the famous GG1 locomotives, and numerous classes of emu.   Twenty illustrations.  Map.

New Street, Birmingham’s beating heart, Railway Magazine, October 2015, page 50.
Description of the rebuilt concourse which gives massively increased space for passengers. Six illustrations.

NET gains in Nottingham,   Railway Magazine, October 2015, page 58.
Description of the two new routes serving southern parts of the city.  Map and five illustrations.

Exploring the Piccadilly Line,  Today’s Railways UK, November 2015, page 38.
Very long article detailing the history of this north – West End -west route and explaining the major growth in the traffic handled in the 1930s and 1970s.  Twenty illustrations plus a table of the traffic handled at each station along the route and two reproductions of official items.

Rail renaissance in the West Midlands,  Today’s Railways UK  November 2015, page 48.
The recent growth in traffic handled during recent years is seen as perhaps leading to the creation of a separate West Midlands franchise with local control for local railways.   Map plus five illustrations.

Overground rejuvenates the London suburbs, Rail Express, November 2015, page 18.
History of how suburban routes all around London have been linked to create new routes that have been rewarded by a massive growth in traffic.   Future prospects examined.  Route diagram and fourteen illustrations.

Brussels: a railfan guide,  Today’s Railways Europe,  November 2015, page 20.
Part one of a three part article in which the passenger services around the city are described in some detail.   Eleven illustrations.   Three tables summarising the services given.

Sweden celebrates electric centenary,   Today’s Railways Europe, November 2015, page 38.
The Swedish Railway Museum at Gävle organised a special exhibition on 12 September 2015 to mark the centenary of the electrification of the iron ore line linking Kiruna and Riksgränsen.   The five illustrations depict some of the historic locomotives that were on view.

Trent Valley triumph,  Modern Railways, November 2015, page 64.
Description of how the London Midland TOC has upgraded the stopping service along the Trent Valley section of the West Coast Main Line resulting in a spectacular increase in the number of passengers using the services.    Five illustrations plus three tables/diagrams to show the steady growth in traffic from 2009 until 2015.

Euston: council petition seeks full station integration,  Rail, 25 November 2015, page 38.
Account of various problem areas linked to the planned enlargement of Euston Station and its use by HS2.    The local Camden Council wishes to see proper integration between the expansion for HS2, the creation of Crossrail, and the need for sound insulation in at least 1000 homes in the neighbourhood.    Detailed map of the locality around Euston showing the extent of the enlargement.

On the trail of the tram-train,  Rail, 25 November 2015, page 64.
Report of a visit to the Vossloh factory in Valencia, Spain, to observe the progress being made to build seven three-section tram-trains for use in Sheffield.   Six illustrations and a table to indicate specified performance information.

HS2 Britain’s high-speed spine,  Modern Railways,  December 2015, page 51.
Fifteen page group of related articles examining various aspects of the plans for HS2 including “a railway for 2100”, “a very busy railway” in which capacity limitations along the route are examined, “redevelopment of Euston” in which the staged creation of a double-deck station is considered, “connecting the West Midlands” including a description of how Curzon Street H-S station will have two levels.

Gatwick Express trains prepare for take-off,  Today’s Railways UK, January 2016, page 60.
Feature about the new 387/2 emus being put together at Bombardier’s Derby factory.   Their bright red livery with grey doors is certainly eye-catching!     Ten illustrations.

All change at Ilford, Today’s Railways UK, February 2016, page 32.
Description of the major changes transforming Ilford Depot as it prepares to handle the new class 345 emus.   Twelve illustrations.

The renaissance of the Wellington tramways, Locos International, Dec 2015/Jan 2016, page 56.
Recent developments on the 4’0” gauge tramways in the NZ capital recorded.   December 2015 marked the 50th anniversary of the opening of the first section and the tramway was closed finally in may 1964.   A tramway museum was established in the Queen Elizabeth Park near Paekakariki, thirty miles north of Wellington and a working tramway now 2km long was built in stages during 1964-80.   There are now nine preserved trams there several of which operate on the tramway.

On the Rock, Railway Magazine, January 2016, page 20.
Long very well illustrated article (the first of a planned two) about rack and similar railways explaining the different deigns employed by different railway companies and then describing the different railways operating in Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. Twenty one illustrations, and three maps to show the location of the lines in each nation.

On the Rock, Railway Magazine, February 2016, page 38
Part two of description of rack and similar railways this time giving details of lines in the rest of the world.  

Vintage electric traction in China, Locomotives International, Jan/Feb 2016, page 8.
Three views of 1930s trams still hard at work in Dalian – though soon to be replaced by a Metro. Three views of railway locomotives – One on the Fushun Mining Coy’s railway and two of locos at Qian’n where machines from the 1940-50s still haul mineral trains.   Useful text.

Railways of Trondheim, Today’s Railways Europe,  February 2016, page 24.
Good survey of the railways radiating from Norway’s second largest city, 9 illustrations.

The world’s northernmost tramway, Today’s Railways Europe, February 2016, page 28.
Description of the tramway/light railway in Trondheim. Norway.   Detailed map and five photos.

The new Swiss timetable, Today’s Railways Europe, February 2016, page 38.
Major changes followed the completion of the Letzigraben Viaduct on the route from Zurich Hbf LL towards Bern and similarly of a chord just south of Zurich allowing more direct services towards Chur and Zug.    The effect of these improvements is shown in two maps, the changes are detailed Canton by Canton, and there are seven photographs.

100 not out, Modern Railway,  February 2016, page 48.
South West Trains has marked the centenary of the electrification of the  first part of its present day network.   The routes that were converted a century ago serve Kingston Richmond, Hounslow, Hampton Court and Shepperton.    SWT’s present day franchise has now celebrated its 20th anniversary.

London Special, Rail 3 February 2014, Thirty page supplement to the magazine.
Several different topics considered including the success of the S Stock for the Tube lines, and a discussion about Crossrail stock.   Forty illustrations.

Overhead electric military railway, Narrow Gauge World,  January/February 2016, page 30.
To aid the movement of supplies along a valley close to the front line, the Austro-Hungarian army built a 12.8km long 600 mm gauge railway between Bohinjska Bistrica and Zlatorog in what is today part of Slovenia.   The use of electric traction was seen as something that would enable steam power to be replaced and hundreds of miles of such lines were considered but the Simplex tractor was developed instead and this was the only electric line built.   Ganz supplied ten centre-cab four axle (two bogies) locos with power taken from an overhead wire by a large bow collector.   The railway was opened on 19 November 1917 but the front line then moved a considerable distance and the railway saw little use being dismantled in 1920.   Five illustrations and one map.

Renatus to be delivered in April, Today’s Railways UK,  February 2016, page 29.
Description of major upgrade to Class 321 emus, the first of which will be delivered for use this spring.    Nine illustrations.

Erfurt to Leipzig in 43 minutes, Today’s Railways Europe, March 2016, page 20
Description of the 123 km long high speed line that was opened on 9 December 2015 by the German Chancellor and commenced public services on 13 December 2015.    Erfurt – Berlin and Dresden – Frankfurt journeys are cut be 45 minutes and 1 hour respectively.  Eight illustrations and one detailed map.

The Crash That Began Railtrack’s Demise, Rail 2 March 2016,  page 48.
Account of the mail train crash at Rickerscote (Stafford – Wolverhampton line) on 8 March 1996.  Ten of the twenty three vans were derailed and the cause was found to be a defective axle on one vehicle.   The quality of Railtrack’s maintenance work was in part blamed and led to major changes to the structure of the railway industry.  Five main photographs plus two thumbnail shots of experts, map/track diagram of the affected area.

You’ve Got Mail Rail … Again, Rail 2 March 2016,  page 52.
Description of how a portion of the Post Office Railway that linked various sorting offices and two major stations, will be a key feature of the new Post Office Museum that will be created at the site of Mount Pleasant Sorting Office.    Five illustrations, small map of the Railway, and more detailed map of the sections of the route that will be used to give visitors to the Museum a ride on a short section of the railway.

Island Line’s Future Under the Spotlight, Rail 2 March 2016, page 56.
Detailed look at the problems facing the Island Line (Ryde – Shanklin on the Isle of Wight) with the limited headroom through Ryde Tunnel making it impossible to cascade stock from the BR network. The only way ahead would be to use trams/LRVs that have become available in recent years, such as the earlier fleet on Midland Metro.   At present ex-London Underground tube stock is used but there will not be more such stock available for many years and the present units cannot soldier on for much longer.  Seven main illustrations, map of the Isle of Wight showing the full extent of the railways that once linked all parts of the island.

TFL’s Idiom Adds to Capital’s Character, Rail 2 March 2016,  page 68.
London Transport’s  logo – a roundel with a bar across the middle – has become one of the most recognised family of transport signs in the world.    Different colours signify the type of transport involved – Bus, Underground train, ferry etc.     LUL is attempting to achieve a tidier uncluttered appearance with excess signs removed and those which remain placed carefully to be of maximum use and help. Five main illustrations.

New Look Station Will Be Fit for a Queen, Rail 2 March 2016,  page 72.
Description of the work that will transform Glasgow’s Queen Street (High Level) station in preparation for the introduction of emu services to Edinburgh.   There will be longer platforms, a redesigned concourse, and an ugly 1970s building will be removed so that more light will reach the concourse.   The glorious arched roof will be restored and will let much more light into the station. The station will be closed from 20 March until 8 August 2016 to allow the work to proceed unimpeded.    Trains that normally use the station will be diverted over slightly longer routes to the Low Level station or to Glasgow’s other great terminus – Central Station.   Seven illustrations and a track plan of the modernised station.

TPE Looks to the Future with New Franchise, Today’s Railways UK, April 2016  page 46.
Examination of TransPennine Express’s plans for its newly won franchise with a network of routes branching from the Manchester – Leeds – York core.   Five illustrations, one map.

Rails to Morecambe, Back Track, April 2016, page 198
Extremely long article giving a great deal of information about the various routes that have served this one-time key resort together with the nearby ferry port of Heysham.   Seventeen illustrations showing steam, diesel and electric trains, one map.

Kensal Green Interludes, British Railways Illustrated, April 2016, page 316
Six photos taken near Kensal Green in the 1950s and 1960s, two steam, two diesel and two nice photos of Oerlikon electric units which operated out of Euston and Broad Street at that time.

Central Line through the Heart of London, Today’s Railways UK, May 2016, page 42.
Ten page article covering the history of line starting as the “Twopenny Tube” then extended at both ends over existing steam railways.   Twelve photographs, two tables showing the varied destinations of the 24 services each off-peak hour at Liverpool Street station. (No map.)

Focus on Nuneaton, Today’s Railways UK, May 2016, page 52.
Fourteen page article highlighting the services operating through this key junction station where the West Coast Main Line (electrified) crosses the west – east main line between the West Midlands and the East Coast ports.   Fourteen illustrations, track map with indication of the tracks that are electrified, two tables listing calls by Virgin trains and the times of freight services passing through the station.

NSB Type 69 Emus, Traction, May/June 2016, page 38.
Description of the various versions of emus that were introduced during the 1970s.  They saw extensive service on suburban services operating around Norway’s major cities and also proved popular on tourist orientated services including the “Norway in a Nutshell” tour trains.

Light Rail Supplement, Rail, 27 April 2016, Supplement in centre of issue.
A 32 page well illustrated supplement dealing with many aspects of light rail developments in  England and Scotland.

MailRail: The London Post Office’s Own Railway, Gibbons Stamp Monthly, May 2016,  page 56 and part 2, June 2016, page 58
History of the line including mention of the earlier experimental line at Plumstead Marshes where some ideas for the railway were tested.

Churchill’s Secret Station, Railway Magazine, May 2016, page 38.
London Transport Museum has started tours of Down Street station (close to Hyde Park Corner) which was closed due to lack of traffic in 1932.    The deep placed station with its network of corridors was considered to be safe from the expected bombing in World War 2 and was converted into offices and a communications nerve centre used at times by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and by the Railway Executive Committee.   Mention made of other closed stations that have found new uses.  Eleven illustrations.

4 Year Plan to Transform the Railways of the North, Today’s Railways UK, June 2016, page 8.
Long news presentation describing the aims of the new franchises including the development of fast more frequent services between the main population centres, the development of new rolling stock (emus and dmus), and new liveries.   Five illustrations.

The West Coastway, Part 1 – Brighton – Littlehampton, Today’s Railways UK, June 2016, page 38.
Ten page article giving potted history of the route, description of service pattern, and description of each station from east to west, track plan of the route, and description of features along the way such as Lancing College and the Littlehampton Miniature Railway. Seventeen illustrations.

Great Western Main Line wires in use by this September, Rail, 11 May 2016, page  6.
News feature including detailed diagram of routes to be electrified together with guide as to when each section would be switched on.

Rail conquers the Alps,  Railway Gazette International, May 2016, commencing at page 53.
Set of seven detailed articles, one celebrating the opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel on 1 June 2016, then two describing features of that tunnel, and finally articles considering the continuing policy of switching transit freight between Germany and Italy from road to rail, and the contribution of other base tunnels in this task.

A roam around Rome, Today’s Railways Europe, June 2016, page 24.
Long description of the railways around Rome with indications of interesting things to see and do. The eighteen illustrations show the wide variety of trains to be seen.  A helpful route map is included.

South Eastern at 180, Modern Railways, June 2016, page 46.
A summary of developments taking place on the Southeastern TOC’s network which had started as the London and Greenwich Railway 180 years ago.   Four illustrations plus detailed “before” and “after” track diagrams of the routes around and through London Bridge station.

London Special, Modern Railways, June 2016, pages 51 – 71.
A series of reports/articles dealing with some of the complex developments taking place on London’s railway network.    Notable among these is “Turning South London Orange” (pages 62-65) a proposal to extend the Overground type of upgrade to railways to Croydon and Epsom. Four illustrations and three route diagrams.

Station designs unveiled, Modern Railways, June 2016, page 94.
With Crossrail due to open in under three years, information about the design of some of the stations is revealed.   The stations will be spacious and capable of handling the vast crowds that will use the new railway.

Why the APT did not prove sufficiently apt, Rail, 22 June 2016, page 66.
This interesting article takes a detailed look at an important chapter in train development.   BR undertook research in the late 1960s to design a train capable of higher speeds on existing track and with the existing signalling.    The result was the APT with a tilt capability.    Cash limitations prevented the completion of the research and parallel work produced the HST with its excellent performance ability.   Today parts of the APT design can be seen in the successful Class 390 Pendolino trains and class 221 Super Voyager sets.  

Murphy’s Law: class 84, Back Track, July 2016, page 395
An analysis of the problems encountered with the five classes (81-85) of 25kV locomotive built by different locomotive suppliers to work on the West Coast route the first parts of which were then being electrified.     Of the five, class 84 (initially described as Class AL4) proved to be the most unreliable developing multiple faults, the worst and most persistent involving the rectifiers.  Five illustrations plus one plan.

Emile Bachalet and the dawn of the “Maglev” – Part 1, Back Track, July 2016. page 440
Description of this engineer’s work to design an elevated transport system and the model which he built to demonstrate his ideas to others. Eight illustrations.

Endangered Species:  DB class 151 and 155 six axle electrics, Today’s Railways Europe, July 2016, page 24.
Between 1957 and 1973 one hundred and seventy class 151 locos were built by three locomotive builders to handle growing heavy freight traffic.    As the electrification of more and more routes was undertaken more locomotives were required – for freight and often secondary passenger duties and classes 155 and 250 were built.    In recent years new TRAXX locos have taken over more and more of the heavy freight duties and some of the 151s have been sold to other operators.   Banking duties are the major activity for surviving 151s today and these locos are now nearing the end of their productive lives.

Southern strikes: a route in crisis,  Rail, 6 July 2016, page 76.
Assessment of the complicated dispute concerning the introduction of Driver Only Operation (DOO) and the strike action that is now underway against both the Southern TOC and Scotrail.

Safety studies reveal that DOO need not be dangerous, Rail, 6 July 2016, page 88.
More detailed analysis of the issues involved in the dispute that threatens operations on the Southern TOC and the Scotrail TOC both of which have many services operated by the driver only.

Nothing ‘boring’ here,  Trains, July 2016, page 12.
Short description of the opening of the 35.4 mile long Gotthard Base Tunnel – described as longer than the five longest North American railroad tunnels combined.   Two illustrations.  One map.

Commuter  rail:  “FrontRunner”, Trains, July 2016, page 22.
This issue of “Trains” features three articles on commuter rail services in the USA and this first article describes the suburban rail services north and south of Utah’s State capital Salt Lake City. Six illustrations, one map, one diagram.   This is shown to be a most attractive looking system with double deck coaches and the mountains in the background.   Mention made of the city’s new light rail system.

Regional service, national asset, Trains, July 2016, page 28
Survey of how suburban railway services emerged in the 19th century, and how funding for these loss-making services has developed with today major contributions from the Federal Highway Trust Fund, and from the local communities served.    As an example of the complex budget that is involved, the Virginia Railway Express Budget for the current year is given in a table.   Ten photos of widely scattered operations.

Map of the month:  North American Commuter Rail, Trains, July 2016, page 36
Diagrammatic map of the USA shows the location of the widely scattered systems.   Alongside is a table listing the 25 operations in the USA with the route miles operated by each, the number of stations served, the average number of weekday riders, and the year that the service started.  A similar table gives the same information for the three operations operating in Canada.

Concern as EGIP electrification falls behind schedule, Rail, 20 July 2016,
page 10.
The Scottish Government has expressed concern as the start date for electric services between Edinburgh and Glasgow is pushed back to July 2017 from December 2016.

The standard bearers for a new generation of rolling stock, Rail, 20 July 2016, page 34.
At a time when standardisation of train types is seen as the way ahead to reduce maintenance costs the fact that there are 37 different types of emu currently in service shows how much remains to be done.

Leeds is back at a rail crossroads, Rail, 20 July 2016, page46.
There have been several plans to reorganise public transport around Leeds, some involving trams then trolleybuses. All have failed to proceed and now there are suggestions about a possible tram-train system that would use the Harrogate line (with Horsforth – Airport branch) then the branch across to York, and finally a route through York to Copmanthorpe.    Five illustrations, two maps/diagrams.

West Midlands rail awaits its next great leap forwards, Rail, 20 July 2016,
page 60.
Consideration of how extra trains can be squeezed into the city centre now that the New Street major upgrade has been completed.    Enlargement of Snow Hill station is considered and the building of the Bordesley Chords with the reopening of the Camp Hill Line are among ideas mentioned.

Newton Station’s blackest day, Rail, 20 July 2016, page 62.
Two emus were in collision 25 years ago at the complex junction east of Glasgow where lines from Glasgow (direct) and via Kirkhill come together and then split into routes to Motherwell and Hamilton.  The collision took place just west of the station where the track layout had recently been simplified into a single lead junction. The accident caused BR to reconsider its policy and led to the restoration of sections of track at many junctions including the one at Newton.

UK electrics in Bulgaria, Today’s Railways UK, September 2016, page 46.
During the past ten years twenty eight class 86 and 87 electric locomotives have been exported to Bulgaria by Europhoenix plus four class 92s.    Various modifications are required before the locomotives can be used in Bulgaria and this work is undertaken by the private company Express Services.   The modified/upgraded locos are used across the national rail network on freight services of which details are given. Six illustrations.

BR Southern Region emus, Modern Locomotives Illustrated, August/September 2016.
The entire 82 pages of this issue are used to describe and illustrate the numerous classes of emu at present in service on the third rail network south of London.    There are seventeen sections with each devoted to a class or group of closely related classes of emu.    The routes upon which they operate are detailed and substantial tables give large amounts of information including building dates, modernisation dates, dimensions and weight of each coach, traction motor details, internal layout, seating details, and weight of each coach in a set.   The publication is profusely illustrated.

First SWT Class 707s unveiled, Today’s Railways UK, September 2016, page 40.
Thirty five-car emus were ordered in September 2014 for use on Waterloo suburban routes which have shown 68% passenger growth during the franchise period making it necessary to augment the emu fleet.   The first 707 was unveiled at the Wildenrath Test Centre in Germany on 15 July 2016.     Fourteen illustrations which show the view right through the length of the train and the seating layouts.   Several show class 700 and 707 units under construction in Krefeld.

Tyneside Electric Train Working, Back Track, September 2016, page 516.
The article describes how timetable planners achieved regular frequent services “to the Coast” with extra peak services for growing numbers of commuters.    These trains were skillfully fitted between East Coast main line expresses and heavy freight traffic to industries along both banks of the Tyne. Seven illustrations, one route diagram, three tables.

Closing the Gap, Back Track, September 2016, page 536.
History of the Staines – Wokingham line of the London and South Western Railway which was opened in July 1856.    Details of history, services, electrification, and deve3lopments such as the transformation of freight yards into car parks for the ever growing commuter traffic.   Fourteen illustrations and map.

Four new high-speed lines – in 18 months!, Today’s Railways Europe, September 2016, page 20.
Long very well illustrated article including numerous maps and track diagrams describing four extensions totalling 650 route km to the French high-speed network.    These will all open during the next 12 – 18 months and are the LGV Est into Strasbourg; the LGV BPL operating from near Le Mans to Rennes;  the LGV Sud Europe Atlantique extending 300 km from the end of the LGV Atlantique near Tours to Bordeaux;and finally the Nimes – Montpellier bypassing the congested areas around Nimes and Montpellier stations on the classic railway lines.

London Bridge moves on, Modern Railways, September 2016, page 60.
Details of the work to transform the London terminal.   Six illustrations plus track diagram covering the lines from the New Cross area, through London Bridge to the terminals at Charing Cross, Blackfriars and Cannon Street.

The new Kansas City Star, Passenger Train Journal, issue three of 2016, page 18.
Report of the opening of the 2.2 mile long tramway in Kansas City, operating across the city centre from Union Station with the River Market area.   Nearly 382,000 people rode the trams during the first two months of operation.    It is hoped that this short line will be the start of a city-wide network.

Denver’s commuter rail awakening, Passenger Train Journal, issue 3 of 2016,
page 20.
Denver Union Station, until recently used by a single Amtrak train daily, is now alive with passengers all day long following the opening on 22 April 2016 of the first suburban route – Line A – operating 23 miles through suburbia to the International Airport.   The first six mile long section of Line B, running into the north west suburbs opens during 2016, as will the third route – the “Gold Line” may also open during 2016.    Hyundai-Rotem emus, built in Philadelphia, take power at 750V dc from an overhead wire.   Five illustrations.

Tyneside Electric Train Working, Back Track, September 2016, page 516
An article describing the workings of the electric suburban services around Newcastle with a short historical introduction. There are seven photos (two in colour) plus a route diagram and three tables of statistics.

Closing the Gap: The First 150 Years of the Staines to Wokingham Line, Back Track, September 2016, page 536
An article detailing the history and services of this line, electrified in the late 1930s. There are 14 photos (7 in colour) plus a map of the line.

London Bridge moves on, Modern Railways, September 2016, page 60.
Details of the work to transform the London terminal.   Six illustrations plus track diagram covering the lines from the New Cross area, through London Bridge to the terminals at Charing Cross, Blackfriars and Cannon Street.

The new Kansas City Star, Passenger Train Journal, issue three of 2016, page 18.
Report of the opening of the 2.2 mile long tramway in Kansas City, operating across the city centre from Union Station to the River Market area.   Nearly 382,000 people road the trams during the first two months of operation.    It is hoped that this short line will be the start of a city-wide network.

Denver’s commuter rail awakening, Passenger Train Journal, issue 3 of 2016,
page 20.
Denver Union Station, until recently used by a single Amtrak train daily, is now alive with passengers all day long following the opening on 22 April 2016 of the first suburban route – Line A – operating 23 miles through suburbia to the International Airport.   The first six mile long section of Line B, running into the north west suburbs opens during 2016, as will the third route – the “Gold Line” may also open during 2016. Hyundai-Rotem emus, built in Philadelphia, take power at 750V dc from an overhead wire.   Five illustrations.

Controlling  the  Corridor, Trains, September 2016, page 38.
The route along the east coast of USA between Boston, New York, and Washington is used by 870 trains every day.   How services are managed along the nation’s busiest railway route is described. Six illustrations and one diagrammatic map.

The New South Wales 46 Class electric locomotives, Traction, September/October 2016, page 48.
Forty Co+Co locomotives were ordered in 1949 to work on the newly electrified Western main line from Sydney, through the mountains to Lithgow.   They were to see service later on the main lines north towards Brisbane, south west towards Melbourne, and south to Nowra.    Used on passenger and some freight services, their use become more and more on heavy freights following the withdrawal of most of the passenger trains.    Some were withdrawn in the late 1980s and the last in 1996, but five have been preserved by enthusiast bodies and one operates special services over main lines several times a year.

Building the Vectron, Today’s Railways Europe, October 2016, page 23.
Long article describing the design, planning, and construction of the Vectron family of locomotives – Siemens new standard design of heavy haul freight locomotive to operate on European railways. Most are electric but a diesel version has also been designed.  To date 359 have been built for 24 different customers.    Eighteen illustrations and three diagrams.

BR Southern Region electric multiple units, Modern Locomotives Illustrated No 220, August – September 2016 (entire issue).
This issue describes thirty two classes of emu in a modest amount of text, in extensive tables that detail measurements etc, and in numerous illustrations accompanied by extended captions.

Let’s go Glasgow Electric Part 1, Back Track, October 2016, page 580.
Detailed description of the background to the various electrifications that now cover most of the complex suburban network.   The three Reports that all stressed the need for electrification – The Bruce Proposal of 1945, the Fitzpayne Report of 1948, and the Inglis Report of 1951 – updated in 1974 – are all examined and it is interesting to see how most of the recommendations have been acted upon with only a few sections (notably the Kilmacolm line) that did not get wired but instead were closed.   

London Underground  Special, Thirty two page appendix to Rail, 12 October 2016.
Topics include “Under Pressure” a look at some of the solutions to problems facing the deep tube lines; a look at how some overseas systems succeed; the success of the new Overnight services; the new technologies being used to upgrade the tube lines; a look at the history of how today’s complex network came about; finally how the network is meeting the needs of a rapidly growing population.

Still  Going  Round  in  Circles, Narrow Gauge World, November/December 2016, page 36.
Part one of a detailed history of the Glasgow Subway.     Six illustrations.

East  Coast Main Line Signalling, Rail, 9 November 2016, page 72
Part one of a three-part series describing signalling developments along the route south of York. Seven illustrations and one map.   Remarkable survivors from a Victorian age soon to be upgraded include Woodcroft level crossing north of Peterborough – the only manually operated gates across six tracks on Network Rail!

Auf Wiedersehen CityNightLine, Today’s Railways Europe, December 2016, page 32.
A farewell feature about DB’s overnight network that will mostly cease to operate from 11 December 2016.    Four illustrations.

Rail Centre:  Wiener Neustadt, Today’s Railways Europe, December 2016, page 34.
Description of the passenger traffic pouring through this major junction 50km south of Vienna.  Freight is also handled on these lines but the station acts as a major passenger hub.    Map and seven illustrations.

Fourth Rail to Rickmansworth, Railway Bylines, December 2016, page 32
Article about the ex-LNWR line to Rickmansworth and the effect of the Metropolitan Railway’s line on the branch. There are three b/w photos. Immediately after the article there are three photos of a 1954 “Steam World” special at the Met. station in Rickmansworth. The train is hauled by LT steam loco L48.

Amtrak chooses Alstom’s Avelia Liberty trains, Passenger Train Journal, Dec 2016, page 10.
Description of planned new trains to replace the Acela Express sets on the North East Corridor. Five illustrations.

GWML electrification in chaos as NAO issues damning report, Today’s Railways UK,  January 2017,  page 8.
Fairly detailed summary of how much money has already been spent and on which parts of the project, leading to a major shortfall in funds for the actual electrification work parts of which are now having to be postponed for several years.   Four illustrations.

Eastleigh Examined, Today’s Railways UK,  January 2017,  page 38.
History of the lines passing through this important busy junction and the adjacent Eastleigh Works. Although principally a busy hub for passenger services, the article includes a table detailing the twenty freight services passing through the station area during a ten hour period on 6 October 2016.    Thirteen illustrations plus one tiny track diagram that fails to indicate the destinations of the various routes shown.

Mail Rail trains start running through the tunnels, Rail, 4 January 2017, page 22.
Small article recording the progress with the development of a Postal Museum at the old Mount Pleasant Depot.   Two passenger carrying trains have been delivered to the site, lowered 70 feet to the Mail Rail station and have commenced staff training. Five illustrations.

Vivarail’s dream is close to reality, Rail, 4 January 2017, page 32.
Short feature describing how a London Underground D78 train has been virtually totally rebuilt to become a three car diesel powered unit that was to be introduced on the Coventry – Nuneaton line in the near future.    Eight illustrations.    The article was published at virtually the same time as fire damaged the unit as it passed through Kenilworth on 30 December 2016 causing a halt to further testing until the circumstances of the fire are explored.  The plans for the unit’s use on the Coventry – Nuneaton line have been abandoned for the time being.

London’s railways – a bird’s-eye view, Rail, 4 January 2017, page 40.
Seven large illustrations of railways in Central London including excellent shots of St Pancras, Kings Cross and London Bridge with the Shard prominent in several of the views.

Manchester’s major attraction, Rail, 4 January 2017, page 52.
Feature about Manchester Piccadilly station – the first of three features about Manchester’s railways that will appear in forthcoming issues. Seven illustrations.

First UK IEP rolled out, Today’s Railways UK, February 2017, page 28.
Feature about the assembly of IEP trains at the Hitachi Works in Newton Aycliffe.   Description of the first train including the internal fittings. Eleven illustrations.

458/5s finally come good as Wimbledon prepares for new trains, Today’s Railways UK, February 2017, page 56.
The rebuilding programme for the class 458 emus is described. The upgraded trains are now settling down into satisfactory operating mode following resolution of difficulties with the doors.   Wimbledon Depot is being reorganised to handle this fleet as more units arrive to enter service. Seven illustrations.

GA and Eversholt launch “Renatus” 321, Today’s Railways UK, February 2016, page 66.
The Greater Anglia TOC with Eversholt have launched into service the first refurbished Class 321 emu – renamed a “Renatus” unit. In all 30 such units will be created through a complete refurbishment programme which is described in this relatively short article. Five illustrations.

København:  20 Years  of  Change, Today’s Railways Europe, February 2017, page 22.
Long detailed presentation of changes to railway and S-Tog services around the Danish capital during the past two decades.   Two detailed maps,   Thirteen illustrations.

Cross-City S-Bahn Plan for Basel, Today’s Railways Europe,  February 2017, page 36.
Travel by train around the Swiss city of Basel has always been hindered by the need to change trains at Basel Bad station if the ultimate destination was Basel SBB.    Now the Basel Stadt Government has allocated finance to help the planning and eventual building of a new underground link between the two major stations.   One map and five illustrations.

Refurbished “321” Renatus Launched, Modern Railways, February 2017, page 10.
Eversholt and the Greater Anglia TOC launched the first upgraded class 321 emu on 16 December 2016.    Six illustrations show how the train now looks.

A Seat for Everyone, Modern Railways, February 2017, page 57.
Interesting exploration of double deck trains as a possible way to solve London’s growing capacity problem.   Three illustrations of possible designs, several diagrams and tables comparing different types of design.

Piccadilly 175, Modern Railways, February 2017, page 42.
Starting as Stone Street station in 1842, renamed London Road in 1842, and renamed again Piccadilly on 12 September 1960, Manchester’s most important station at present has 12 terminal platforms plus two through platforms.   It was assisted by the adjacent 4-platform Mayfield station from 1910 until 1960 in order to cope with growing suburban traffic.   Interesting description of the history and daily work of the station.   Nine illustrations.

Londoners Turn to Public Transport, Modern Railways, February 2017, page 68.
As road congestion reaches strangulation point, private car use in London has been overtaken by public transport.   A table shows the steady increase in the numbers using the suburban train, Overground trains, Docklands, and Underground trains since 1995.    Bus usage has risen even more steeply than that for all forms of rail use but has shown a drop for the first time in 2015.   Another table shows a breakdown of transport mode at present used and as predicted for 2041  One illustration of a very crowded platform at Liverpool Street Underground station.

The Jubilee Line Extension, Modern Railways, February 2016,  page 70.
A look back at the 1995 extension of the Jubilee Line to Stratford asking the question – Did we get it right?   Various situations faced during the work are re-examined.   At Westminster the extension station was under the existing one which had to be rebuilt.   There were problems concerning an entry in Parliament Square and a complex situation involving several Government Departments had to be resolved before the design was approved.   Other stations that were rebuilt when the Jubilee Line station was added included London Bridge.  Architectural gems used included vast cathedral-like spaces – Canary Wharf station is a magnificent example.   A safety feature is the provision of platform screens at all extension stations.     Six illustrations.
Real-time traffic management on Bern’s metre gauge, Railway Gazette International, February 2017, page 34.
A new traffic management system is now being tested.   This is a measure being taken to handle a boom in passenger numbers on the four-route S-Bahn, which is electrified at 1250v DC, and carried 18.6m passengers in 2016.   A 30% increase is anticipated by 2030.

Israel Railways presses ahead with network expansion, Railway Gazette International,  February 2017, page 38.
A remarkable expansion of new routes, double tracking of several routes, and electrification of all busier lines.    An extremely busy section between Tel Aviv Savidor Central and Shefayim (part on the south – north coastal main line) is being quadrupled.   Four illustrations and an extremely helpful map.

Lanarkshire – neglected market for WCML travel, Today’s Railways UK, March 2017, page 48.
The case is made either for additional main line calls at Motherwell serving a population of 650,000  (more than the 649,045 living in Glasgow) or for a new Parkway station at Newton. Nine illustrations, two tables, one map.

Fenchurch Street – Shoeburyness route explored, Today’s Railways UK,  March 2017, page 54.
Quite detailed description of the route through Basildon to Southend Central and Shoeburyness.   Eighteen illustrations, one table, and one map.

A fleet to meet Merseyside’s specific needs,  Rail, 15 February 2017, page 60.
Fairly long article identifying the rolling stock needs for suburban services around Liverpool using the “Loop” under the city centre for Wirral routes, and the “straight through” routes through Liverpool Central LL.    Six illustrations and one map.

Networker, Juniper and Javelin emu families,  Modern Locomotives  Illustrated,  February/March 2017 (full issue)
All aspects of the design, construction, and operation of these three families of emus – including the Postal Emus – with substantial number of illustrations.

Island  Line at the crossroads, Modern Railways, March 2017, page 18.
Examination of the prospects for the Ryde – Shanklin line on the Isle of Wight where ex-London Underground stock has been in use for fifty years and a new franchise for the South West Trains TOC is imminent.    Can this little railway survive now that holiday makers become fewer in number and arrive increasingly with their cars.   One idea is to convert the line into a tramway.  Four illustrations.

HS2 train procurement – manufacturers stake their claims, Modern Railways, March 2017, page 28.
One of a series of articles about HS2, the possible future operators, and the building of a new fleet of very high-speed trains.   Four illustrations.

ECML electrification – Managing for the long term, Modern Railways, March 2017, page 32.
This article focuses on the upgrading of the overhead line equipment which has had the reputation of failing whenever there was a strong wind.   Five illustrations.

Jurassic Park, Modern Railways, March 2017, page 38.
The rolling stock used on the lines of the Anglia TOC described detailing both good and bad points. The class 321 emus are described as the units that turned the Clacton route from inter-city to commuter.   The significance of this study is that all the trains at present used could be replaced by newer stock when the franchise is awarded to a new TOC.    The present stock could therefore end up on the virtual scrap heap.

New railway under the Alps – Gotthard Base Tunnel open, Modern Railways, March 2017, page 70.
Part one of a two part feature describing the planning and construction of the world’s longest (57km) and deepest (2.3km) tunnel.    This part includes information about the access tracks built so that materials could be brought in and out by rail; the ventilation system which includes the use of the access shafts at Sedrun and Faido;  the emergency stations at Sedrun and Porta Alpina at which passengers can be alighted safely in the event of an emergency;  and the tunnel rescue fire trains.  Seven illustrations, two tables, gradient profile, map, and one diagrammatic representation of the tunnels with the passages between the two running tunnels.

The Railways of Georgia, Today’s Railways Europe, March 2017, page 34.
A useful guide of the railway network spanning a country that few from Western Europe visit.  A main route links the capital Tbilisi with the Black Sea port of Batumi but this important line has just two passenger expresses between these cities each day.   There are several local trains on this line and numerous branch lines but nowhere is there an truly frequent passenger service.   Heavy freight trains are the life-blood of the system.   Nine illustrations and one useful map.

Transforming the Long Island RR,  Passenger Rail Journal, No 1 of 2017, page 16.
The population of Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island is soaring to 3 million and the LIRR must upgrade its infrastructure to accommodate the growing commuter traffic to Manhattan.  The main developments are a new 8 track terminal under Grand Central Station, major expansion of Penn Station by moving the concourse etc to the adjacent Farley Building, the addition of a third track between Floral Park and Hicksville, and double tracking between Farmingdale and Ronkonkoma.  Travel time for many commuters will be cut by 40 minutes.

Rail transit returning to Kitchener-Waterloo, Passenger Rail Journal  No 1 of 2017, page 24.
Canada: Construction of a new 19km long light rail line nearing completion with opening expected in 2018.  Four illustrations.

Barking to Pitsea via Tilbury and Upminster via Ockenden to Grays, Today’s Railways UK, April 2017, page 58.
Part two of an article describing the L.T.&S lines (Part one was in the March 2017 issue) describing the route through Tilbury and the freight and passenger traffic handled.  Fifteen illustrations, one map and five tables.

AEROLINER  3000, Modern Railways, April 2017, page 48
Because the loading gauge on Britain’s railway network is so restrictive, double deck trains similar to those now in use across the world cannot operate on most parts of UK’s railways without a massive expenditure to raise bridges or rebuild tunnels.    Designers Andreas Vogler and Joachim Winter have produced a design for a double deck train that will be compatible with UK’s loading gauge.  The coaches have a lower ceiling height but efforts have been made to create a high-quality interior.   There is 2+2  seating on the lower deck and 2+1 on the upper deck where space is narrowed because the roof curves in significantly.   If it were possible to round the corner between body side and roof slightly there could be an additional seat per row upstairs.   At the moment this is simply a design but could be a solution to the problem of serious overcrowding on the existing network.

Light Rail Special, 16 page supplement to  “Rail”  of 29 March 2017.
Contents include an examination of the systems in Dublin and Nottingham as excellent examples of light railways of this type; A look at the long-term goals of Midland Metro; Systra’s approach to a cost-effective tramway; Further development plans in Manchester include the introduction of tram:trains over existing suburban railway routes.

Midland Suburban in Transition, Part 1, British Railways Illustrated, April 2017, page 280.
Account of the development of suburban services between The City, St Pancras and Bedford. Sixteen illustrations depicting trains in the steam era.

The Dorset Line, Railways Illustrated,  May 2017, page 26.
Long article giving the history of the Bournemouth to Weymouth line -the western extremity of the third rail electrification, the only street railway in England to have regular timetabled passenger trains, but also once enjoyed the glamour of the Bournemouth Belle Pullman service.   Map and thirteen illustrations.

Automatic Promotion, Rail, 12 April 2017, page 68.
Feature article examining the subject of Automatic train operation on Network Rail tracks.   Driver Only services have been run since the 1970s but only on “Closed Networks” such as the London Underground.    To introduce such a system on the nation-wide railways where there are many trains of different types (Express and local passenger,  freight services of very different lengths and speeds).    The various points raised are examined – four illustrations.

Firmly on the fast track, Railway Gazette International, April 2017,  page 26.
Detailed article describing plans to create a country-wide network of high-speed railways in China..  Much of the work has been completed and the lines are usefully in service and a detailed map shows the network with as a background the existing normal speed railways.  There will be two north – south high-speed routes:-  Harbin in the far north east – Tianjin (for Beijing) – Nanjing – Shanghai – Shangrao – Fuzhou;   Beijing – Zhengzhou – Wuhan – Changsha – Hong Kong.   To complement these lines there will be two east – west routes.  Shanghai – Nanjing – Zhengzhou – Xi’an – Lanzhou with connections onwards to Urumqi and Lhasa;    Shanghai – Shangrao – Changsha – Kunming.   Six illustrations, three tables, one map.   

Remembering D Stock, Rail Express, May 2017, page 24.
This article has appeared as the final members of the “D” stock were withdrawn from service.  This is an account of the use made of these trains from their introduction in 1979.  Seven illustrations.

District Railway Electrics, Back Track, May 2017, page 293.
This is an account of the classes A to N stock used on the Metropolitan District Line over many years.    Twelve classes of train are discussed, a few of them at some length.   Fifteen illustrations.

French Regions take over “Intercités”, Today’s Railways Europe, May 2017,
page 23.
The operation of the loss-making non-TGV intercity services is being handed over to the Regional Governments served by these trains.   The article details the future operator of each service, and the type of rolling stock that will in future be used.    The new rolling stock will be less costly to run and appropriate for the traffic on offer.   In some cases where an element of commuting is involved as with some services to/from Paris double-deck stock is being obtained.   6 illustrations, two tables.

Tramway through the Forest: the Thüringerwaldbahn, Today’s Railways Europe, May 2017, page 34
Account of the cross-country metre gauge rural German tramway between Gotha and Tabarz (21.7km) which is threatened by a local bus operator that seeks to take over the operating franchise between the two towns and replace the trams by modern buses.   Ten illustrations, two maps, two tables.

Why can’t a train be more like a tram?, Modern Railways, May 2017, page 38.
Two part discussion (the second part starts on page 42) about the differences between modern emus and modern trams.  Ten illustrations and two tables or diagrams.

Metrolink at 25, Modern Railways, May 2017, page 51.
Manchester’s tram network has existed for a quarter of a century!   Description of the growth of the now extensive network.   Two illustrations,  route diagram, and diagramatic display to show the dramatic rise in patronage from an initial 7m to nearly 35m today.

Electrics reach Maidenhead, Modern Railways, May 2017, page 54.
The headline is a little deceiving since this six page article is a description of a mixed bag of changes in the new timetable starting in June 2017.   Yes the inner suburban services out of Paddington will switch to electric traction.   Virgin East Coast’s Kings Cross – Leeds service is boosted to half-hourly on Saturdays.

The Pennsylvania GG1, Railway Magazine, April 2017, page 40.
Major article about the streamlined workhorse that operated on the PRR’s New York – Washington and Philadelphia – Harrisburg lines.    139 were built at PRR’s Altoona Works between 1934 and 1943 and initially they hauled the long distance passenger services along these routes and were capable of 100 mph.   As passenger traffic faded some were re-geared to work freight trains at up to 90 mph.   Sixteen survive – fifteen in museums and unable to operate, while one survives and can  run on the railways today.

Wonderful Woodhead, Railway Magazine, May 2017, page 36.
Ten photographs of services operating over the Woodhead line in the 1970s and 1980s.  Included are long freight services double-headed by EM1 locomotives, one of a suburban class 506 emu and a few diesel loco hauled passenger specials.   The line closed almost 36 years ago.

D78s go out in style, Today’s Railways UK, May 2017, page 8.
Short article marking the last public runs of London Underground’s D78 stock on 21 April 2017.   Two illustrations.

Crossrail: more than  80% complete, Today’s Railways UK, May 2017, page 32.
Detailed article describing the background to this new railway, how the plans have evolved into the Elizabeth Line, and describing the progress made with its construction.    Class 345 emus are being built for services along the line with four additional units added to the plans t6o boost frequency along the central core to 20 trains per hour.    Four illustrations and one diagrammatic map.

Exploring Edinburgh – North Berwick, Today’s Railways UK, May 2017, page38.
Detailed description of the suburban service that operates along the ECML east of Edinburgh Waverley station and then along a short branch to the seaside resort of North Berwick.   15 illustrations and a table giving the station usage – boardings and season tickets issued – at each station along the route.  With over 570K boarding per year and 60K seasons issued the branch justifies its existence.

Mass EMU extinction looms on the horizon, Today’s Railways UK, May 2017,
page 74.
The Electric Railway Museum just outside Coventry is seriously threatened by a £40m road scheme which will take land at present used by the Museum.   Coventry Council owns the land and has given the Museum only a three year lease and may require the museum to vacate the land.   The last survivors of emu classes 307, 308, 309, 312, 501 and a class 405 4 SUB car form part of the collection.  Three electric locomotives – one each from Spondon, Kearsley, and Heysham Power Stations – are eye catching and other stock present includes coaches from Classes 370, 414 (2-HAP), 416, 457 and 503.    When the Council repossesses the land many of these unique items may have to be scrapped unless new homes for them can be found.   Four illustrations.

Modern Locomotives Illustrated, Issue 225, June-July 2017 (full issue)
This issue is devoted to the Scottish and Tyneside Electric Multiple Units. It covers all current and historic units with many photos, diagrams and data for each type.

Shenfield Stands Ready, Modern Railways, June 2017, page 95.
Update on the work that will integrate Crossrail into the national rail system – with particular attention to the work at Shenfield station (new 6th platform now ready) and Abbey Wood (platforms and track all completed). One illustration.

Sheffield’s Tram – Train Inches Ever Closer, Rail, 7 June 2017, page 74.
An up-to-date assessment of the plan to run tram-trains over the tram system in central Sheffield and then on BR tracks into Rotherham.

Automation Takes Centre Stage in Metro Upgrade Programme, Railway Gazette International, June 2017, page 66.
Description of changes planned for the Metro in the French city of Lyon to increase capacity due to steadily rising traffic levels. Peak hour capacity is to rise by 12% on Line A, 16% on Line D and 30% on Line C. Alstom is to supply its Urbalis 400 CBTC system for Lines B and D with Line B converted to driverless operation by 2019. Additional train sets are to be supplied by Alstom for Line D. (Line C is a short rack line in the northern suburbs feeding into Line A). There are in addition five tram routes with a sixth planned, skirting the south side of the city centre.

Focus on York, Today’s Railways UK, July 2017, page 56.
A summary of the history and operations around this key north of England junction on the ECML. Eighteen illustrations, and a track layout diagram for the entire York area.

Midnight train to Glasgow, Railway Magazine, June 2017, page 14.
One of the “Practice and Performance” series in which the operation of the sixteen coach sleeping car train between London Euston and Glasgow Central is studied. Details of a run split into three separate sections is provided and the performance of a class 92 loco at the front is examined. There are eight illustrations showing different classes of engine on this service.

Class E.444 in decline, Today’s Railways Europe, July 2017, page 36.
Account of the Class E 444 locomotives of the Italian Railways from their introduction in 1967. Over a number of years a total of 117 locomotives were built and they became the first long distance high-speed locomotives on the Italian Railways hauling services on the Firenze – Roma Direttissima. Fifty of the class remain capable of use but newer locomotives are taking over more and more of the high-speed services. Four illustrations.

“Modern Locomotives Illustrated”, June/July 2017.
The entire 82 page issue is devoted to the Scottish and Tyneside emus giving comprehensive coverage of classes old and recent. There are many good illustrations many of the newer photographs being in colour.

“HIGHspeed Rail”, Rail 5 July 2017, sixteen page supplement.
Topics examined include importance of HS3 following Brexit, How HS2 will have a user friendly policy towards passengers, and the effect of HS2 on the West Midlands. Seven illustrations.

Edinburgh Waverley: a hive of activity, Rail 5 July 2017, page 66.
Description of the varied traffic handled at this city centre station. Five illustrations, detailed track layout plan.

Phoenix (light rail) rising, Trains, July 2017, page 38.
Description of how the construction of a light rail line through the heart of the city has been a key to its revival. Nine illustrations. Diagrammatic route map of the light railway.

New look Eurostar, Railways Illustrated, August 2017, page 56.
Comparison of the new e320 trains with the original class 373 sets, and the refurbished e300 trains. Nine illustrations show the different type of seating etc.

30 years of the Docklands Light Railway, Today’s Railways UK, August 2017,
page 36.
The first section of the Docklands network opened on 31 August 1987. The eleven page article details the various option for a network that would serve the Docklands area and then follows the growth of railway including the newest extension – to Thamesmead. Passenger numbers have risen from 6.7m in the first full year, to 122m in 2016-7. Nineteen illustrations, route map, and table showing present route pattern.

The railways of Moskva Part 2:Metro, tramways and pioneer railways, Today’s Railways Europe, August 2017, page 28.
Detailed description of the Metro, its sometimes elaborate stations, its post WW2 expansion and planned further extensions. The tramway network with its 52 routes is in three different sections which are described briefly. There is a note on the several Pioneer Railways in the area and tourist advice and notes on photography. Nineteen illustrations and a superb map showing how the Metro network reaches out to serve all sections of the suburbs with route 5 encircling the city centre and route 11 which is still being built and will circle round the middle suburbs. Tram and heavy rail routes are also shown. Quite literally you are never far from some form of on-rails electrically powered transport in the city.

THAMESLINK on the finishing straight, Modern Railways, August 2017, page 93.
Description of the works around London Bridge Station as the transformation of the Thameslink route nears completion. Four illustrations plus a very helpful track plan of the route from the three city terminals, through London Bridge, and onwards to the complex junctions leading to Deptford, New Cross, and Bermondsey.

Two high-speed lines in one day, Modern Railways, August 2017, page 96.
Article marks the opening on 1 July 2017 of two high-speed lines in France – Tours to Bordeaux, and Le Mans to Rennes. Seven illustrations, Map of France showing the entire high-speed network, diagrammatic map showing the two new sections with connections to conventional railways and two tables detailing construction costs and fares charged.

Rough ride for Sheffield’s tram-train, Rail, 02 August 2017, page 60.
The tram -train service between Sheffield and Rotherham may eventually start in mid 2018, two and a half years late, and the article explains the work done and still to be completed. Costs appear to have risen by 400% as a result of the delays. Six illustrations.

Ambition and potential for Tyneside, Rail, 02 August 2017, page 72.
The article looks at the potential extensions to the network (north to Ashington and Woodhorn, west to Metrocentre with lines south from there to Chester-le-Street, south-east to Ferryhill and Washington, east beyond Sunderland to Duxford.). A new fleet of Metrocars is also on the wants list. One illustration and one route map showing all the suggested extensions (the above list is only an outline of the actual more complex suggestions).

Laos-China Railway on track, Railway Gazette International, August 2017, page 52.
Construction of the standard gauge line from Vientiane north to Boten on the Chinese border (414km) commenced in January 2017. Originally seen as a high-speed railway it is now to be used by frequent passenger trains travelling at up to 160 km/hour with freight services moving at 120 km/hour during the night hours. Three illustrations and one map.

Ouest side story, Railway Gazette International, August 2017, page 54.
Account of the opening of two new High-Speed railways in France on 1 July 2017- to Bordeaux and Rennes. Nine illustrations.

“Little margin for error” as Waterloo upgrade begins. Rail, 16 August 2017,
page 8.
Description of the start of work with up to 1000 staff taking half of the station out of use, ripping up tracks, in preparation for the upgrade.

Automated operation approaching. Rail, 16 August 2017, page 58.
Next year with the start of frequent services along the new Crossrail and Elizabeth Line routes automated train operation will begin. The planned frequencies along both routes make automation necessary.

Postcard from London’s past, Rail, 16 August 2017, page 62.
Well illustrated feature on the operating railway within the Post Office Museum at the former Mount Pleasant Office. There are 23 illustrations (many of them quite small) a route map of the former railway, and a plan of the museum with the railway – all about 70 feet below ground.

The Metropolitan’s diamond logo. Back Track, September 2017, page 518.
An account of the Metropolitan Railway’s diamond shaped design for station name boards, and advertising logo, that was swept away by London Transport’s roundel.

London Special , Rail, 30 August 2017, starting on page 41.
Thirty two page supplement including articles on the Docklands Light Railway, the range of maps produced by London Underground Ltd showing different aspects of the Underground network, and the excellent effects of automation on the Victoria Line.

The new face of South Western, Rail, 30 August 2017, page 86.
South West Trains has bowed out to new operator South Western. A look at the old and the incoming new.

All in this together, Rail Technology Magazine, August/September 2017, page 50
An update on the construction of the Ordsall Chord in Manchester involving a tight-knit team. One illustration.

Asian Insights. Passenger Train Journal, Issue 3 of 2017, page 36
Detailed look at transit in Nagasaki and Hong Kong. Route diagram of the network in Hong Kong and 24 illustrations give a clear idea of how vast crowds are moved efficiently in both of these cities.

Mail Rail, Railway Magazine, September 2017, page 50
Short history of the underground 2’0” gauge railway which used to carry mail between London’s Mount Pleasant Sorting Office and several major terminal stations and a short section of which is the centrepiece of the new Postal Museum that has been established at Mount Pleasant. Five illustrations and a diagrammatic map showing the parts of this railway that now carry a passenger service for museum visitors. Brief details of the two passenger carrying trains (one with red livery and the other green) built by Severn Lamb Ltd.

The class 304/AM4 units remembered, Traction, September/October 2017, page 44
These four-car emus formerly operated local services linked to the WCML – especially routes radiating from Manchester Piccadilly. Five illustrations.

Exploring the Christchurch to Bournemouth and Weymouth route, Today’s Railways UK, October 2017, page 50.
History of a route that serves important holiday destinations. Fourteen illustrations, route map, and table giving details of the passenger usage of each station along the route. The text makes the towns served really attractive for the holidaymaker.

The Class 318 emu story, Today’s Railways UK, October 2017, page 58.
The twenty one class 318 three-car emus have spent over 30 years operating routes around Glasgow. Initially they operated the Ayr and Largs services but later could be found all over Central Scotland appearing on Central Low Level routes and the parallel Queen Street Low Level Helensburgh/Milngavie – Bathgate – Edinburgh services and even as far as North Berwick. One unit hit the headlines on 11 July 1995 when it failed to stop at Largs, crashed through the buffers and station buildings ending up on the main road outside. A major refurbishment programme is under way that will guarantee a further decade of service. Thirteen illustrations showing the varied liveries that the 318s have carried, and a table giving some technical information.

London Underground: a top operator, Rail 27 September 2017, page 84
Account of how modernisation of the network has lead to the National Operator of the Year award. Four illustrations.

The Glasgow Blue Trains, Back Track, October 2017, page 626
Survey of the various liveries carried by the Class 303 emus that operated during the years 1960 – 2002 mostly in and around Glasgow but with some serving routes in Manchester. The liveries carried ranged from the original Caledonian Railway Blue to dull corporate blue, blue and grey, bright Strathclyde orange, and on a few units carmine and cream. Six illustrations.

Rail Revolution in Scotland, Modern Railways, October 2017, page 50
A review of the major system upgrades in Scotland including route reopenings. Seven illustrations, map showing the multiple routes open between Glasgow and Edinburgh, and a table showing fleet details.

Modernising the Metro, Modern Railways, October 2017, page 70
Review of the work undertaken to upgrade the Tyne and Wear Metro and a look ahead to the need for new rolling stock, and for possible extensions to the network. Six illustrations and one diagrammatic map showing possible extensions.

Ride the Experiment, Trains, October 2017, page 38
The New York City Transit’s Line 7 runs west – east across Manhattan serving Penn Station, then through the Steinway Tunnel and into Queens on Long Island passing close to La Guardia Airport before ending at Flushing Main Street. It is a very busy route carrying 600,000 passengers on a typical weekday but is also a test-bed for wheel:rail interface studies. Twelve illustrations plus one route map.

A look at Reading, Today’s Railways UK, November 2017, page 30.
Detailed look at operations at and through Reading. Some local services are electric but most main line longer distance trains are diesel powered though the many illustrations show the wires in position ready for the electric trains quite soon to Bristol and Cardiff. Thirteen illustrations, track plan of the station area, and tables showing how many passenger services are handled (36) during a typical hour, and freight trains during a day between the peaks (13). Definitely a place where there is constant action.

Parkways Examined, Today’s Railways UK, November 2017, page 58
A total of thirty three “Parkway” stations have been created across the UK railway network. Some are completely new such as Birmingham International, while others are long-standing stations given a bit of a makeover and a modest car park. The use of the word “Parkway” does attract some motorists and the most successful of these station – Birmingham International – attracts over 5 million users in a year. The quietest Parkway station – Stratford-upon-Avon Parkway – rejected as not necessary by local residents – is still used by about 300 people most days. Many new Parkway stations have been proposed with Worcester Parkway on the Birmingham – Bristol main line outside the town is sure to attract motorists who find it impossible to park at the city centre Foregate Street station. Six illustrations and a large table indication proximity to Motorways and Airports, size of car park, and usage.

Riding the underground mail, Narrow Gauge World, October 2017, page 33.
Lengthy description of the re-use of a section of the Post Office Railway under Central London as part of the Post Office Museum. Sixteen illustrations plus two maps/diagrams.

The West Coast Main Line Electrification, Back Track, November 2017, page 644
Article celebrates 50th anniversary of the electrification between London Euston to Manchester and Liverpool. 14 illustrations including several colour shots of the then new electric locomotives.

Out of date yet potentially valued, Back Track, November 2017, page 663
Account of the decline and from 1978 onwards revival of the Birmingham New Street to Longbridge suburban service. Route map including position of old inner suburban stations that have not been reopened. Nine illustrations. Two reproductions of advertising leaflets.

Project Electra, Modern Railways, November 2017, page 34
Discussion around the topic of the mass scrapping of still relatively young passenger coaches because the newly appointed Operating Companies show a preference to use brand new stock to operate the services in their new franchise. The writer mentions previous mass scrapping events such as the ending of broad gauge in 1892 or the more recent removal of slam-door stock or of stock laden with dangerous asbestos. Now we are facing the removal of stock whose only failing seems to be that they lack a large toilet. A few TOCs are retaining and upgrading old stock such as Scotrail’s re-use of HST sets, or the continued use of class 442 emus despite the fact that the coaches are 23m long when most others on that railway are 20m long. Nine illustrations.

Emus to Didcot, Modern Railways, November 2017, page 44
The Great Western Railway’s plans to introduce Class 387 emu worked services between Paddington and Didcot are headlined but this article is mostly a review of other significant changes to the national timetables to commence on 10 December 2017. Eight illustrations.

Hitachi looks to the future, Modern Railways, November 2017, page 58
The Japanese train builder having taken over AnsaldoBreda with its factories in Italy, has now established assembly plants at Newton Aycliffe in England and Miami is USA. It appears to be well placed whatever result is reached over this country’s Brexit negotiations. Nine illustrations.

The November 2017 Modern Railways includes a supplement on London’s railways.
The following are some of the articles in this supplement.

Sub-Surface Transformation, Supplement page 4
Review of the upgrade to the Metropolitan, District, Hammersmith, and Circle Lines which is now well underway and making good progress towards a planned completion in stages between May 2021 and December 2023. 5 illustrations and one diagrammatic map of the routes involved.

Deep Tube Upgrade, Supplement page 8
Review of the next four lines to be modernised – the Piccadilly, Bakerloo, Central, and Waterloo & City Lines. This comprehensive upgrade will include new trains and new signalling with the Piccadilly Line to be tackled first producing a 60% increase in capacity. The other three lines will handle 25% more passengers than at present. Three illustrations.

Victoria Line Upgrade, Supplement page 10
The Victoria Line was designed to carry 50m passengers per year but by 2000 it was handling 150m per year and the total has continued to rise. The upgrade has seen the train frequency rise from 28 to 33 trains per hour and the line has received a new fleet of 47 trains built by Bombardier. Track improvements near Walthamstow have made possible the increase in frequency and a further increase to 34 trains per hour is planned. Three illustrations.

DLR at 30, Supplement page 16
The initial eight mile long Docklands Light Railway was opened on 31 August 1987 and later extensions have resulted in the present 25 route mile network with 45 stations. This is a photographic review of the railway today. Six illustrations.

Crossrail on track, Supplement page 18
The now-named Elizabeth Line is poised to open in 2018 on schedule but a series of tasks have still to be completed. Nine illustrations and one diagrammatic route plan.

Elizabeth Line – Stations take shape, Supplement page 24
Review of the progress made on the construction of seven stations along the route. Five illustrations.

Dudding Hill Revival, Supplement page 26.
Detailed description of a proposed passenger service along the West London Line including the provision of the first scheduled passenger service over the four mile long Dudding Hill Line between Cricklewood and Acton since 1902. Three illustrations. One detailed map of the proposed route.

Thameslink Programme, Modern Railways, December 2017, Supplement.
Fifteen page section of the magazine dealing with many aspects of the Thameslink scheme as it nears completion.

East Coast open access, Modern Railways, December 2017, page 64
An examination of the success/results of the addition of Open Access operators to the East Coast Main Line. Five illustrations, four tables.

Chicago Transit Authority at 70, Passenger Train Journal, issue 2017-4, page 42
Twelve page article surveying the full range of CTA’s services. Twenty four illustrations and diagrammatic plan of Metro routes.

Major changes in Luxembourg, Today’s Railways Europe, December 2017, page 22.
Details of reorganisation of rail services linked to the opening of two new stations – one a little north of the city centre station, and the other south of that station. Both become major interchanges including connections to the new street tramway. Eight illustrations, tables of service alterations, and two maps.

60 Years on: What’s left of the TEE?,  Today’s Railways Europe, December 2017,
page 28.
In post-world war two Europe a new network of express trains emerged linking as many as 200 cities and crossing many national borders. New high quality stock was used so that the TEE network stood out as being special. However service frequencies were low and became challenged by new motorways and by air services timed for the “out and back in a day” business community. Today most of the TEE network has changed or disappeared. Instead a more frequent network of fast “EuroCity” services has been introduced giving the public a much more flexible timetable. Typically a route that once had one or two TEE expresses (plus some much slower semi-fasts) will now enjoy an hourly service given by comfortable but less glamorous emus. The dearth of TEE services marks progress and EuroCity inter-city links are often better than ever.

Class 92s finally come good, Today’s Railways UK, January 2018, page 32.
Long account of the forty six class 92 locomotives which have seen a wide variety of uses mainly on freight services. Problems encountered with power supply and signalling systems on DC third rail South Eastern lines held up their use on Channel Tunnel freight services but in 2014 sixteen of the 92s were sold to GBRf for use on Chunnel freight services. They have more recently found a new use hauling the London – Scotland sleeping car services, a use that has proved to be very successful. Fifteen illustrations. Lone large fact-filled table.

Focus on Rugby, Today’s Railways UK, January 2018, page 42.
Long description of the West Coast Main Line junction station, and its traffic. Thirteen illustrations, track plan of the station and surrounding area, plus table listing nearly three dozen freight services passing through the station during a typical daytime.

Croydon: There must be no repeat, Rail, 3 January 2018, page 34
An analysis of the Rail Accident Investigation Branch’s report into the devastating Sandilands derailment due to a tram approaching the Sandilands junction at far too high a speed on 9 November 2016. Seven passengers were killed. Three illustrations and map of Tramlink network.

Bombardier Electrostar – Era Comes to an End, Today’s Railways UK, February 2018, page 40
Detailed account of emu classes 357, 375-6-7, 387, 378 and 379 which all belong to the same family of trains built at Derby Works. The last unit ordered has come off the Derby production line. Sixteen illustrations show the very smart looking units on their various routes. Three tables detail the TOCs that ordered the trains and the number of units supplied to each operator.

Hitachi Class 800 – Feel the Speed, Railways Illustrated, February 2018, page 62
Description of the new five-car trains that have started service between Paddington and Didcot. Seven illustrations.

RAILWAY GAZETTE INTERNATIONAL The February 2018 edition is an electrification special issue with most articles about various aspects of electrification across the world. Four of the articles are listed below to give a flavour of this issue.

A Spark of Progress, page 34
Article about progress in Israel of the electrification of 420 route km – most of their expanding network. The Ministry of Transport adopted EU regulations and standards in December 2017 and days later a Bombardier Traxx 3000 locomotive attained a speed of 160 km/hour on a 12km test section establishing a speed record for Israeli Railways. Three illustrations and helpful route diagram.

A Proving Ground for Overhead Conductor Rail page 38
Description of the use of a rigid conductor bar in tunnels and along Rome Metro Line C. Eight illustrations and five figures/diagrams. The advantages of rigid aluminium bars over a flexible copper wire are examined.

Towards a 10 by 10 Grid, page 52
Description of China’s spectacular progress in the construction of a truly nation-wide high-speed network. Four illustrations and one excellent map showing the comprehensive high-speed network.

Connecting up the Gold Coast, page56.
Public services commenced on the second phase of the Gold Coast light rail line (Queensland, Australia) on 18 December 2017. It now serves many of the resort areas, and links them to Helensvale station for trains to Brisbane. The work has been completed well before the start of the Commonwealth Games (4-15 April 2018). Three illustrations including one depicting a seven segment LRV in an attractive gold and blue livery.

The Class 91s, Modern Locomotives Illustrated No 229 (entire February/March 2018 issue).
An 82 page issue with very numerous photographs showing the Class 91 locomotives on the ECML as operated by GNER, National Rail, and Virgin East Coast. A substantial table shows the date of introduction to service between 1988 and 1991, details of the renumbering in 2001-2 of each locomotive from 9100XX to 9110XX. Comprehensive details of the names carried by each of the class are given in the table. Some have had as many as four different names while just five have carried a single name. Articles within this issue cover the construction of the locos and their use on the East Coast route.

VTEC Highlights ECML Upgrades Confusion, Modern Railways, March 2018, page24
The planned East Coast timetable changes and the planned civil engineering work to be undertaken during the next time period are discussed.

Rails Around the Vierwaldstättersee, Today’s Railways Europe, March 2018, page 22
An easier to understand title might have been “Rails around Lake Lucerne”. This beautifully illustrated article shows where the railways operate both around the Lake, to more distant destinations, and up the mountains. The beautiful lake steamers are shown though little information is given about the lake services. However this is Switzerland so everything can be expected to connect precisely with everything else! Fifteen illustrations, one large very detailed map plus two diagrammatic maps.

International Passes: InterRail & Eurail in 2018, Today’s Railways Europe, March 2018, page 34
The ranges of travel passes is remarkably large. Here they are all listed, their validity in different nations explained, and their validity (or otherwise) on privately operated lines listed. Prices are tabulated. For anyone considering visiting European nations this summer this gives invaluable information.

The Croydon Steeple Cab, Railway Bylines, March 2018, page 196
Short photo-feature containing four illustration with long captions showing the small steeple cab four wheeled loco with trolley pole shunting coal wagons around the sidings at Croydon A Power Station. The loco was built by English Electric (works number 692 of 1925) and served at the power station until 1959.

Dynamic clearance analysis paves way for automated fleet, Railway Gazette International, March 2018, page 41
The introduction of a totally new fleet of 4-car trains by Ansaldo and Stadler on the Glasgow Subway has made necessary a detailed study of the available clearances along the 10.5 km route. The exact outline of the 3400 mm diameter tunnel has inevitably changed since constructed in 1896 and the process of checking for any projections/obstructions is described. Two illustrations, one diagram and one table.

Italian built 802s ready for GWR, Today’s Railways UK. April 2018, page 36
Substantial article describing the new bi-mode trains that will replace the now elderly HSTs. Nine illustrations and two tables.

The GWR IET – How good is it?, Today’s Railways UK, April 2018, page 40
Really a continuation of the above article giving personal impressions by the author of the new trains. Eight illustrations.

The Wharfedale route, Today’s Railways UK, April 2018, page 50
Detailed description of the route between Bradford and Ilkley. The table showing the usage of the individual stations shows how remarkably busy the route is – remarkable that it was nearly closed in the 1960s. Nine illustrations, detailed track plan of the route, and one table.

Focus on New Street, Today’s Railways UK, April 2018, page 58
Description of the Birmingham station and its traffic which is a key junction between the London – North West England and the Newcastle – Bristol main lines. Fifteen illustrations and a rather small track plan of the station area.

New life in old lines, Back Track, April 2018, page 234
Geoffrey Skelsey has put together a fascinating survey of the re-use of failed railways by tramways or modern light rail lines. Lines covered include the Mumbles tramway, the use of a waggonway right of way by Tyneside Tramways, today’s Tyne & Wear Metro upgrading extensive sections of former heavy rail suburban lines, the Mattapan – Ashmont line and the Riverside line both in Boston USA, The Glenelg tramway in Adelaide, the Docklnds Light Railway, the Manchester light rail network and the new tram systems in Sheffield, West Midlands, Croydon, Nottingham, Dublin and Edinburgh all use old railway routes or are laid alongside continuing railways. Of course there are other examples elsewhere in the world. Thirteen illustrations, and a map of the Nottingham area.

Endangered species: DB Class 120, Today’s Railways Europe, April 2018, page 22.
Account of the development of the class for use on important longer distance passenger services. The 60 locos in the class experienced many problems including cracked frames and by the time most entered revenue service in 1993 high-speed routes were already established using different types of train. Several 120s are still in service but are unlikely to remain in use for more than a few more years.

Zugspitzbahn : Top of Germany, Today’s Railways Europe, May 2018, page 34
Detailed account of Germany’s longest (19km), steepest and highest mountain rack railway which was completed in stages in 1929 and 1930. Six illustrations and one map.

Bridging London’s North – South Divide, Rail, 9 May 2018, page 42
Account of the gradual creation of the Thameslink Network over a thirty year period with people living on one side of the Thames now able to reach destinations on the other side of the city by a direct train service. Seven illustrations and one diagramatic route map.

A Home under the Railway Tracks, Back Track, June 2018, page 374.
Short article describing the station master’s house at Shawlands, on Glasgow’s Cathcart Circle. The house was fitted in below the running tracks at this suburban station. The railway was on an elevated structure so that it could pass over the adjacent main road which included tram tracks that were used by double deck tramcars. There was effective sound proofing so that the fairly frequent trains did not cause too much disturbance to the station master and his family. Not used for a number of decades, the doors and windows are now blocked up. Four illustrations.

Views from the bridge, Today’s Railways Europe, July 2018, page 22.
Many tracks pass under a long over-bridge at Villeneuve-Saint-Georges some ten minutes south of Paris Gare de Lyon. Numerous passenger services, local and long distance, pass under the bridge together with a variety of freight services. The author recommends this as an ideal photographic location and the fourteen illustrations show what variety exists. A map of the locality is included.

Swiss high power Bo-Bo electrics. Today’s Railways Europe, July 2018, page 32.
History of the Swiss Railways Class Re 4/4 Bo-Bo locomotives that have formed the backbone of Swiss motive power since the 1960s. Seen most often on fast longer distance trains, they turned up on local and even freight services. Now some of the class have been withdrawn and the dominance of the 4/4s is at an end. Fourteen illustrations.

The ERM’s Dunkirk Moment, Today’s Railways UK, August 2018, page 30.
Details of where the exhibits from the Electric Railway Museum in Coventry have found a home following a decision by the Council not to renew the lease on the land forcing the break up of the collection. Happily new homes have been found for everything and these are listed in a large table showing details of each item, the new home for each, and the owner of each item. Several items have been welcomed at the Battlefield Line in Leicestershire, and the Colne Valley Railway at Castle Hedingham, Essex. Individual items are now to be found at the Tanat Valley Rly, Shropshire; Shildon in Durham; Baginton in Warwickshire, Finmere in Bucks; Sellinge, Margate, and Shepherdswell, all in Kent. If detailed information is desired this article is recommended.
Three illustrations.

Crewe: the railway town, Today’s Railways UK, August 2018, page 34.
A tiny hamlet grew into the substantial town of Crewe purely as a result of the building of a station on what was to become the West Coast Main Line and a junction for lines coming in from the Welsh Borders, the North Wales Coast, and Manchester. The article describes the development of the station over the years, and the recent simplification of facilities but there are still twelve platforms, plus express tracks allowing Pendolinos to sweep through the station at high speed. The various depots in the area are described including Freightliner’s important Basford Hall Yard. The Heritage Centre is also described, a location that brings many visitors to the station. There is a
moving remembrance of Driver Jack Mills and fellow crew member David Whitby who were based at Crewe and had been attacked while operating the Glasgow Central – London Euston Royal Mail train on 8 August 1963. A memorial plaque has been erected in the station. Thirteen photos.

Alpine crossings: the Brenner Base Tunnel project, Today’s Railways Europe, August 2018, page 30
This magazine intends to publish a series of articles over the next year or so describing the various Base Tunnel railways, completed or proposed, that are speeding the vital freight traffic between north and south Europe. Comprehensive map, two diagrams, and three illustrations.

Scotrail launches 385s into service, Today’s Railways UK, September 2018, page 28.
Description of the behind schedule introduction of the new class 385 emus on to the Glasgow (Queen Street) to Edinburgh (Waverley) route on 24 July 2018. Problems with the windscreens on the units required them to be redesigned. Nine illustrations and tabular details of the three and four car units.

Can HS2 deliver economic growth to the East Midlands?, Today’s Railways UK, September 2018, page 32.
A fairly detailed examination of the economic factors affecting the East Midlands and how the location of the stations will affect their catchment areas. Five illustrations. Tables showing journey times after HS2 is open, including journey times from Nottingham, the hub of the East Midlands. a map of HS2 and its relationship to other high-speed/fast routes, and both diagrammatic and simplistic maps of the railways of the East Midlands.

The Siemens Class 700 emus, Today’s Railways UK, September 2018, page 48.
Details of the new trains for the Thameslink group of services. Tables give details of the unit formations and twelve illustrations include external and internal views.

Pendolino Stock, Modern Locomotives Illustrated, August-September 2018.
Edition number 232 of this magazine is devoted to a full range of topics about the Pendolino trains used on Virgin’s West Coast Services. The wide range of illustrations show many of the liveries that these trains have carried. There is also a short look at the trains operating in mainland Europe based on the Pendolino design.

Scottish Transport No 70, 2018 edition.
This 60 page A5 magazine includes a range of articles including a touching obituary for Ian Stewart who died on 15 June 2018. Ian’s artwork made a major contribution to a number of books about Scottish trams and his book “The Glasgow Tramcar” remains the leading work on this subject. There are articles about tram and bus rebuilds undertaken at Shrubhill Works, a look at many of the industrial railways that were built on Scottish islands, Ron Stevenson’s skills in model tram construction and layouts suitable for public exhibitions and photo based displays about night tram services in Glasgow and a day visit to Dundee in 1952.
Copies of the above book can be obtained by using the Book Sales page of this website.

Widening the horizons, Rail 29 August 2018, page 60
A comprehensive history of the Thameslink route through London; five illustrations plus a map showing the Widened Lines through The City.

Down at Heel: Railways around Bari, Today’s Railways Europe, September 2018, page 30
Interesting description of the complex of railways around this city in southern Italy including standard gauge and 950mm gauge lines. Nine illustrations and two maps.

Tracking the Pennsylvania RR in Philadelphia, Passenger Train Journal, No 3 of 2018, page 48
Record of a day trip made on 15 June 2015 over the complex network of commuter routes over the former Pennsylvania RR around Philadelphia. (There are similar lines over the metals of the former Reading Company). Nine illustrations, table indicating the trains used and a map.

How Southern operates its fleet, Today’s Railways UK, October 2018, page 42
The Southern TOC together with the linked Gatwick Express service has 312 train sets sprinkled through twelve classes or sub-classes. The article describes how these trains are employed in a planned manner so that the trains allocated to certain routes are best able to meet the special requirements of these routes. Nine illustrations, four tables, two diagrams and one large multi-coloured diagram showing the routes concerned.

Update on Second Generation emus, Modern Locomotives, September/October 2018. Entire issue
This issue contains details of changes, minor and major, to the following classes of emu:- 312, 313, 315, 317, 321, 322, 332, 333, 377, and 378. A large number of illustrations attempt to show these upgrades and modifications.

Greater Anglia’s new fleet put through its paces, Today’s Railways UK, November 2018, page 24
Description of the class 755/4 trains which comprise a central power-pack car with two passenger cars before and after it. The train is articulated being carried on six bogies. The twelve-car version is under construction and will feature in a future article. 13 illustrations, tow tables of information, and a diagram showing the layout of a 755 train.

All change: Modernising the Tyne and Wear Metro, Today’s Railways UK, November 2018, page 46.
Description of the various infrastructure upgrades and new rolling stock that is now on order. Possible expansion of the network is discussed. Six illustrations and one diagramatic system map.

The Great Orme Tramway, Today’s Ralways UK, November 2018, page 62.
Description of the only partly on-street tramway in Wales. 11 illustrations plus one map showing the line and its relationship to nearby visitor attractions.

Marmaray completion in sight at last, Railway Gazette International, October 2018, page 36.
The railway tunnel under the Bosporus between Sikeci (in Europe) and Üsküdar (in Asia) was opened five years ago but the reorganisation of suburban train services to create the Marmaray Line, a 77km long inter-continental route, will be completed on 31 December 2018. The main route will link Halkalı (Europe) with Gebze (Asia) and a network of Metro and light metro services will connect with the main suburban railway at Yenikapı, 3km west of Sirkeci. Five illustrations and one map.

Expanding the Saudi network, Railway Gazette International, October 2018, page 50.
Services on the Haramain high-speed line linking the holy cities of Mecca and Medina via Jeddah are settling down, after opening to the public on 11 October 2018, and large numbers of religious tourists are being carried at speeds of up to 300km/hour. Progress on several other new lines, often designed for heavy ore traffic, are described. Useful map.

Creating the UK’s first driverless railway, Tramways and Urban Transport, November 2018, page 415.
A fairly comprehensive history of Glasgow’s 6.5 mile long circular underground railway leading to a description of the modernisation programme with new trains that is now under way. Twelve illustrations and one map.

Is there a way to break DOO stalemate?, Rail, 24 October 2018, page 66.
Discussion about the plans to operate trains with only the driver on board as crew, and Union opposition to the removal of a guard citing safety issues. Seven illustrations.

Modernisation sparks traffic growth at GySEV, Railway Gazette International, October 2018, page 32.
This cross-border operator between Hungary and Austria has recorded significant increases in passenger and freight traffic since its route between Szombathely and Koszeg was electrified. The route is now a faster and more attractive alternative to rival routes and most of the increase in traffic represents a transfer of business from alternative routes. Four illustrations and one map.

Sheffield – Rotherham tram-train underway at last, Today’s Railways UK, December 2018, page 8
Report on the opening of tram:train services in Sheffield with description of new route. Seven illustrations but no map.

Much optimism as Transport for Wales franchise begins, Today’s Railways UK, December 2018, page 24
Detailed account of promised service improvements as the new franchise operator gets started. The electrification of the Valleys Lines heading northwards from Cardiff will be followed by a very substantial increase in service levels with Cardiff Queen Street to Pontypridd having a train every five minutes. Three illustrations, one table and three diagrams.

RhB looks to the future, Railway Gazette International, November 2018, page 58.
Account of the continuing major infrastructure programme that is transforming this Swiss metre gauge railway. The largest current project is the replacement of the Abula Tunnel. The original 1903 bore had deteriorated significantly and was too small in diameter to meet present standards. At over 5800 metres long a replacement bore was a little more costly than repairing the old bore but replacement was much easier to achieve and a better long-term prospect. The main line from Chur towards St Moritz is single track across the River Hinterrhein and to ease the growing flow of traffic a second bridge was necessary and will open by late 2019. Seven illustrations.

Innotrans 2018: The Best and Worst Passenger Trains, Today’s Railways Europe, December 2018, page 24
Long profusely illustrated article describing the newest offerings from a variety of builders. The best on show, in the opinion of the writer, is Stadler’s “Traverso” emu for the Swiss Südostbahn which looks attractive externally and internally. Sadly the worst new train is Siemens “Desiro City” class 717 built for Great Northern services out of London. The seats are described as being “rock hard” and there is only one plug per pair of seats. 21 illustrations.

Blackfriars – A station beside the Thames, Modern Railways, February 2019, page 72
Quite detailed description of the history of the various bridges across the Thames and the several stations that have operated in the immediate area. 6 illustrations.

Punctuality – Tokyo style, Modern Railways, February 2019, page 76
Good description of the intense operations around the Japanese capital with some comparisons with the system around London and other British centres. The typical Japanese line in the Tokyo area usually runs exactly on time – any delay would have a significant impact on other services since trains follow each other with little spare time between services. Some lines have their own dedicated track so a delay on one line does not affect other routes. 6 illustrations.

Westbahn continues expansion, Today’s Railways Europe, February 2019, page 28
Account of developments on Austria’s Westbahn (name derived from founding company WEhinger STtephan and is not an indication of the direction of any route.) Services operate half-hourly between Vienna and Salzburg provided be a new fleet of Stadler double-deck “Kiss” emus on which there is a larger than usual number of staff who ensure that refreshments are provided in good time to travellers. The number of passengers using the services has risen from 2.2m in 2012 to an estimated 7.5m in 2018. A new service between Vienna and Munich is being actively planned.

RhB: The next decade, Today’s Railways Europe, February 2019, page34.
Description of services operated by the Rhaetian Railway, Switzerland’s largest narrow gauge railway. During 2017 it carried 12m passengers, 785,000 tonnes of freight, and its Vereina tunnel car shuttle conveyed almost half a million vehicles. Substantial investment in double tracking some section, and the building of new tunnels to shorten journey times. One effect would be to make unnecessary the operation of trains over the Wolfgang Pass where services can be halted by heavy snowfalls. Twelve illustrations and a line diagram of the Rhaetian Railway’s routes.

How Southeastern operates its fleet, Today’s Railways UK, March 2019, page 48
Quite detailed analysis of the variety of rolling stock used by the Southeastern TOC for its high speed, longer distance, and suburban services. Four illustrations, diagrammatic map of services operated, four tables and one figure to show service frequencies along most of the routes involved.
This is a difficult topic to describe concisely but the author tackles this task well. A significant statistic is that 90% of the train sets are in service on a typical day.

Decline of the ‘Nez Cassés’ – Part 1, Today’s Railways Europe, April 2019, page 26
Long article about SNCF’s striking locomotives with swept back cab windows – Classes BB 15000, BB 7200, and later BB 22200. The 22200s will feature in a second part of the article. There are seventeen illustrations showing the wide variety of liveries and train types on which these locomotives are used. Many are now nearly 50 years old and they are now being withdrawn.

Tarnowskie Gory: a Polish freight hot-spot, Today’s Railways Europe, April 2019, page 36
Well illustrated account of the mostly freight traffic passing through this junction a little north of the major city of Katowice. Nine illustrations and two maps.

Tram-Train – Success so far, Today’s Railways UK, May 2019, page 38.
Description of the tram-train extension of the Sheffield Supertram network through Rotherhan to the Kirkgate Shoping Centre. Discussion about where the tram-train concept might go next.
Six illustrations.

The preservation of CIG 1497, Today’s Railways UK, May 2019, page 56.
Starting life in 1971 as a four car emu the train was reduced to three cars to operate on the short Lymington branch in 2005. The unit was withdrawn in 2010 when major maintenance and repair work was needed and it was considered that this was not worth doing. The Southern Preservation Group obtained the train and moved it to Dereham in Norfolk where it ran a tourist service coupled to locomotive 73140. Subsequent work on the train is detailed in this article. Three illustrations.

Into Ashford by the back door, Backtrack, May 2019, page 300
History of the London, Chatham and Dover Railway’s line to the South Eastern Railway’s hub at Ashford on a long line through Maidstone. 14 illustrations, one detailed map.

The Seaford Branch Railway, Railways Illustrated, May 2019, page 60
Long history of this short branch line, including the Newhaven Harbour line. Five illustrations and one simple map.

Decline of the ‘Nez Cassés’ Part 2: Class BB 22200, Today’s Railway Europe, May 2019, page 30
A review of the varied use made of this class since the 1970s, the various liveries applied, and names carried. The use made of these machines today is given in some detail and it is noted that plans to replace them are now in hand. Eleven illustrations.

Glacier Express: A ride in Excellence Class, Today’s Railways Europe, May 2019, page 36
The famous tourist service operating through some of the most scenic sections of the Swiss Railway system has had added to its make-up since 02 March 2019 a new top quality facility – Excellence Class. The single coach has been equipped with 1 + 1 seating, with windows occupying the side walls of the coach and extending up to part of the roof. A top quality menu served at your seat. Luncheon comprises seven courses together with wines and brandy. There is a simple afternoon tea menu as well. Five illustrations.

Pensions debacle sinks Stagecoach, Modern Railways, May 2019, page 6
Discussion of the controversial decision to disqualify franchise applications that do not meet new requirements to make good inadequacies in staff pensions funding.

Time for action on Heathrow Southern Link, Modern Railways, May 2019, page 18.
Comprehensive discussion of ways to improve access to Heathrow Airport from points to the south. One map and one diagram.

South Western and West Midlands set for recasts, Modern Railways, May 2019, page 72.
Basically this is a review of the new timetable to be introduced on 19 May 2019. Some services are unaltered, a few see major changes. Eight illustrations mostly of stock operating in new areas.

A miracle of modern engineering, Rail, 8 May 2019, page 42.
Long account of the civil engineering wonder – The Channel Tunnel – its inception, construction, and operation. Nine illustrations plus two sketch/diagrams – one to show a cross section of the three bores, and the other to illustrate a longitudinal section of the Tunnel showing gradients etc.

Re thinking rail in the community, Railway Gazette International, May 2019, page 36.
Description of how West Midlands Rail Executive and West Midlands Trains are reshaping urban and regional rail services with plans to restore local services on two lines with the opening of five new stations. Four illustrations plus diagrammatic map.

Scotrail getting back on track, Today’s Railways UK, June 2019, page 24.
The long-term and more recent problems facing Scotrail operations are detailed together with remedial measures such as the major upgrade to HST sets, and the extension to electrification across the Central Belt. Six illustrations.

How Greater Anglia uses its fleet, Today’s Railways UK, June 2019, page 28.
Long description of how the many emu sets employed mostly in the London area are used. Ten illustrations and five detailed tables give a great deal of information. Ten illustrations and five large tables.

Endangered Species: DB Class 111, Today’s Railways Europe, June 2019, page 34
Class 111 was developed in the early 1970s as a locomotive with a light-weight body, and the latest Siemens thyristor electrical equipment. Between 1975 and 1984 six series of locomotives were ordered from builders including Krauss-Maffei, Henschel, and Krupp with a grand total of 227 locomotives produced. The various uses of these machines is detailed in a long text. The nine illustrations show the variety of liveries that have been used. The one table list which machine have been built by which engineering firm..

Take a ride on the (former) Reading, Passenger Train Journal, 2019 No 2, page 48
Description of present services on the network of suburban routes once operated by the former Reading Company around Philadelphia, and now operated by the local SEPTA agency. The former Reading Terminal station is now an attractive market and foodie complex with the trains diverted through the recent tunnel under the heart of the city and linked to the former Pennsylvania RR suburban services to make a unified network. A pity the article does not describe the service frequency on each route. Nine attractive illustrations plus one diagrammatic map.

Southern Legacy, Rail Express, June 2019, page 16
Description of first generation 3rd Rail emus on a range of companies including LNWR, Lancashire and Yorkshire, London and South Western, Mersey, North Eastern, Southern, and BR. Two tables, and sixteen illustrations.

Lucky Survivor, Railways Illustrated, June 2019, page 64
Story of locomotive 87035 – the last main line electric locomotive built for BR – which has been retained in serviceable condition for use on special trains etc. Five illustrations.

Second generation emu sunset, Railways Illustrated, June 2019, page 76
A look at the use made of classes 313, 314 and 315 in their final months of service. Eight illustrations.

125 Farewell!, Rail 5 June 2019, page 40 (9 illustrations) and
Time runs short for the “Journey Shrinker, Rail, 5 June 2019, page 44 (1 large illustration)
Two presentations to mark the withdrawal from service of the HST trains which were the first units to provide 100+ mph regular services.

Crossrail reboots with renewed focus, Rail 5 June 2019, page 52
Update on progress being made on Europe’s largest infrastructure scheme – the building of an east-west railway in tunnel across central London. Despite significant delays in the completion of this new railway the Chief Executive has declared that he will deliver a truly successful new railway. Three illustrations, route map of the new railway, table indicating where the roughly £53bn finance that has been spent came from.

New dawn for RENFE Class 269? Today’s Railways Europe, August 2019, page 26.
Class 269 was the largest class (263 built) of electric locomotives ever built for service on RENFE. The first section of 3000 V DC electrification was built in 1925. Later electrification were at both 1500 V DC and 3000 V DC but it was not until 1974 when plans were announced to electrify 2322 km of route that it was decided to concentrate on just one electrification model – 3000V DC. Class 269 locos were introduced from 1973 onwards and were capable of any work – from express passenger, to long distance freight, and suburban services. The long article details the differences between various sub-types and nearly one and a half pages list the fate of each loco – withdrawn, scrapped, or at present in store or in use but for sale. Thirteen illustrations.

Brussels tram anniversary, Today’s Railways Europe, August 2019, page 34.
The tram parade including many historic vehicles, passed along the streets of Brussels on 1 May 2019 as part of the celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of tram services in the Belgian capital. Nine illustrations.

Curve of Unintended Outcomes, Railway Magazine, September 2019, page 20.
A severe curve on the East Coast Main Line just south of Morpeth station has resulted in two accidents. On 8 May 1969 the down “ Night Aberdonian” and on 24 June 1984 the 1950 Aberdeen to Kings Cross service both came off the track. The article gives details of both derailments, casualties, and subsequent steps taken to reduce the risk of further accidents.

A Missed Opportunity, British Railways Illustrated, October 2019, page 32.
The writer looks back at an occasion when he could have ridden the Woodhead route in the mid- 1950s but missed out on the opportunity. In his mind’s eye he remembers all the major firms whose factories lined parts of the route, most of which have long since ceased trading. Four illustrations.

Madrid Metro Centenary, Today’s Railways Europe, October 2019, page 26.
Very long detailed article giving the history of a network that has grown substantially in recent years. Eleven illustration, two large tables, and a detailed route map.

SZ Loco-hauled Passenger Services, Today’s Railways Europe, October 2019, page 34.
Stadler is supplying a variety of multiple unit trains that will soon replace locomotive haulage on the few services that are still loco-worked in Slovenia. The article lists the small number of trains still loco-hauled on three routes radiating from Ljubljana and a few international passenger services. Some freight – particularly container trains still use locomotive power. Seven illustrations.

Endangered Species: ÖBB Class 4020, Today’s Railways Europe, October 2019, page 38.
Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) are ordering additional class 4746 emus which will be delivered in mid 2020 replacing the three car 4020 emus that were built in the period 1978-1987 and totalled eventually 120 units. Their reliability is now becoming a problem and most will be retired when the 4746s take over their duties on suburban routes around the major cities. Four illustrations.

New Acela rising, Trains magazine, September 2019, page 42.
Description of the new Amtrak trains for the North East Corridor. Nine illustrations.

Newcastle Central, Railway Magazine, October 2019, page 32.
Quite detailed long article about the North East’s most important station covering its history, and plans for the future. Eleven illustrations.

Sicilian upgrades promise faster journeys, Railway Gazette International, October 2019, page 52.
Euro 13bn has been allocated to upgrade the railways linking the major towns on Italy’s largest island. An electrified line skirts the coast from Palermo east to the ferry port of Messina then south to Catania. Single track sections are being double tracked but priority is being given to upgrading a line running west from Catania across the middle of the island towards Palermo. Catania – Palermo journeys will take one hour 45 minutes compared with the present 3 hours. Map, four illustrations, table.

Train Test, Railway Magazine, October 2019, page 28.
Description of the class 710 emus now entering service on the London Overground. Some details of their performance in service. Ten illustrations.

Going Dutch, Rail Express, November 2019, page 14.
An account of locomotive Class 77 which was intended to be the new standard for the BR network with overhead electrification at 1500 V DC spreading across the country. However the advent of 25kV AC electrification was soon seen as superior. The closure of the Woodhead route left the 77s with no work but the Netherlands Railways used 1500 V DC and needed some new locomotives and purchased several 77s. They have had useful lives in the Netherlands and a small table details the museum sites where the few surviving examples can be seen. 18 illustrations.

Labour’s Railway Vision, Rail 23 October 2019, page 42.
The Shadow Transport Secretary gives his view on how a renationalised railway network would work. Seven illustrations.

New Aclaim for Oldham Loop, Rail 23 October 2019, page 58.
A fairly detailed account of how the rail service from Manchester to Rochdale via Oldham has been transformed from a dying heavy rail service into one of the busiest parts of the Manchester Metrolink tramway network. Nine illustrations with one table listing the reopening dates of each part of the route through Oldham.

£600 Million in the Bank, Rail 23 October 2019, page 68.
Progress report on the transformation by 2022 of Bank LUL station where there is overcrowding every morning peak. The Docklands Light Railway platforms are similarly overcrowded. 70,000 passengers pack the platforms and corridors as they exit every morning at Bank and adjacent Monument stations. A further 50,000 passengers change lines without using the exit gates, the total rising 40% over the past decade. The narrow Northern Line platforms are a source of danger and a new wider southbound platform is being built. New escalators and lifts will take travellers up to a new entrance/exit on Cannon Street. Moving walkways will speed passengers changing between the Central and Northern Line platforms. Seven illustrations and one large diagram of the work being undertaken.

Eastleigh – Portsmouth, Railways Illustrated, December 2019, page 48
Description of the route and its services. Eleven illustrations.

London From The Air, Today’s Railways UK, December 2019, page 42
A series of nine stunning photographs of well known locations in London including several of the London termini.

Loco-hauled Trains on the Great Eastern Main Line, Today’s Railways UK, December 2019, page 46
The 115 mile line between London Liverpool Street and Norwich has attracted fast services and top quality locomotives ranging from class B17 steam locos complete with A4 streamlining, Britannia Pacifics, EE Type 4 diesels, and eventually class 86 and 90 electric locomotives. There a great deal of information about the locomotives used over a long period with the electrics coming very much towards recent times. Ten illustrations and one map.

Virgin Trains Proudly Serving You for 22 Years, Modern Railways, December 2019, 22 page supplement
Celebration of Virgin’s services along the West Coast Main Line for 22 years, as their franchise comes to an end this month. Sixty one illustrations (some tiny) and one table, giving an account of the company’s services through the era of the “red stripy trains” and the Pendolinos.

Railways and the Turf – the formative years, Back Track, February 2020, page 77.
Interesting history of railways and stations that served race courses. Nine illustrations.

Freight on the Underground, Back Track, February 2020, page 100.
The article details places and sections of the Underground network which were once used by freight services. The sections concerned included parts of the Metropolitan, Circle, Hammersmith, and East London Lines; The District and Piccadilly Lines; Central Line; and Northern Line. The particular significance of this article is that it marks 50 years since the last freight service was operated. Nine illustrations.

All eyes on the track, Railway Gazette International, December 2019, page 45
A look at the preparations that are being made in and around Tokyo for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in July and September. In a city across which a vast total of people pass every day, an extra 650,000 daily will use the railway/metro network.

The 2020 Timetable, Today’s Railways UK, page 50
Changes noted, company by company, arranged alphabetically with no regard to the geographical relationship between these companies.

NRT improves – – . Rail, 29 January 2020, page 54.
Expert Barry Doe describes the changes in what will be the last comprehensive “Bradshaw” style complete timetable going through the tables in more or less numerical order. This final timetable book can be obtained only from Middleton Press, Easebourne Lane, MIDHURST, GU29 9AZ, at £26 plus £5.75 postage.

The Overshadowed Tunnel, Trains, February 2020, page 54
This is an account of the never-ending work to keep the Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel on the North East Corridor just south of Baltimore station open for business. The tunnel was opened in 1873 and plans to replace it have existed for several years but a source of funds ($4.5bn) to undertake the work has still to be found. Nine illustrations, map.

Rail Centres: Bergen, Today’s Railways Europe, April 2020, page 18.
Useful article detailing the history of rail-based transport in this Norwegian port-city. Six photos, fairly detailed map showing the old very indirect railway route into the city, the new route that tunnels straight to the city centre, the new tunnel doubling capacity into the city, the tramway to the Airport and various planned extensions, and the short heritage tramway.

Karlsruhe – Basel, Upgrading Europe’s busiest double-track railway, Today’s Railways Europe, April 2020, page 22.
This railway has an intensive freight and passenger service. Modernisation work and the arrival of new emus are changing the scene. Eight illustrations and one diagrammatic map.

Bremen: AQ German freight hotspot, Today’s Railways Europe, April 2020, page 28.
This very busy line is host to very many freight services every day. Some changes in the operator of some services are detailed in a table and a full listing of services is given in four other tables. A detailed map shows the layout of the routes through Bremen. It is almost like Clapham Junction with the emu worked passenger trains replaced by long freights! Seven illustrations. One detailed map.

Endangered Species: NS SGM “Sprinter”, Today’s Railways Europe, April 2020, page 42.
Dutch Railways designed this three-car emu themselves and members of the class operated successfully for four decades on suburban services. CAF-built emus are now coming on stream in large numbers and it is probable that the last of the “Sprinters” will have been withdrawn by the end of 2020. Eight illustrations and one small table.

Rail’s future revealing railway’s past, Rail 8 April 2020, page 38.
Every so often when the earth is dug for some new project, something quite fascinating turns up. When preparatory work was being undertaken for the new Curzon Street terminus in Birmingham that is what happened. Strange structures seem to have been buried and are slowly dug out under the watchful eye of an archaeologist (the availability of an archaeologist is a requirement at any major civil engineering job in the UK). This turned out to be the remains of the roundhouse engine shed of the London and Birmingham Railway which became operational on 12 November 1837. Designed by Robert Stephenson it quite soon became too small. Newer locomotives were longer than the turntable so a new larger shed at Duddeston replaced the roundhouse which was soon forgotten. There are 16 roads leading from the 15 foot long turntable and happily they are just outside the space that will be used for the new HS2 terminus. The remnants of the oldest engine shed in the country will live on! Eight illustrations.

Repurpose rail for the 2020s, Rail 20 May 2020, page 28.

Long article by Network Rail Chief Executive, Andrew Haines, who explains his views about the railway network and what he can do to rectify matters. Thirteen illustrations.

East London Line’s renaissance,  Rail 20 May 2020, page 44.

Description of how a route that had faded into a shadow of its former self had during a ten year period shown steady growth as part of the London Overground. Nine illustrations and one diagrammatic map.

20 years of Tramlink, Tramways and Urban Transport, June 2020, page 215

Description of the light rail network running across Croydon now celebrating its 20th anniversary, and used by around 30m passengers each year. The Sandilands disaster is remembered alongside better events. 39 illustrations (some quite small) one map and several diagrams.

HS2 hub at heart of £2.7bn Midlands transport scheme, Rail 3 June 2020, page 8

Short description of planned links from Birmingham and Derby to Toton station on HS2 Sheffield branch. One photo and one diagrammatic map.

Who can clean up Manchester’s mess?, Rail 3 June 2020, page 2

Travel across the centre of Manchester is extremely difficult with many delays along the Piccadilly – Oxford Road – Deansgate section (the Castlefield Corridor). Several hundred trains squeeze through this Corridor every day. Six illustrations, two diagrams, 1 table.

Kings Cross to King’s Lynn, part two-Cambridge to King’s Lynn, Today’s Railways UK, page 30

Detailed look at passenger and freight traffic with sixteen illustrations, two diagrams, two tables and one very detailed map. The table detailing station usage shows gratifyingly high levels. Cambridge is the busiest with 12m users plus season ticket use. The quietest, Watlington has 153 thousand users – impressive on most other lines.

Upgrading the East Coast, Today’s Railways UK, August 2020, page 24.

Detailed article describing the work being undertaken at Werrington Junction, just north of Peterborough to provide a useful route for freight and container trains keeping them clear of faster passenger expresses. 5 illustrations, 1 table and 1 track diagram.

Branch lines from Shenfield to Southend and Southminster, Today’s Railways UK, August 2020, page 32.

Detailed description of commuter lines in Essex with mention of the Southend Pier Railway. 17 illustrations, 1 table detailing the number of passengers using each station, 1 track plan.

Railways that reach out over the waves, Rail 29 July 2020, page 46.

Eight railways were built on long piers – sometimes to connect with coastal shipping services and sometimes to provide an attraction in their own right. Piers considered are those at Herne Bay, Southport, Blackpool North, Walton, Hythe, Ramsey, Felixstowe, and the longest of them all – Southend (1.38 miles). The pier at Hythe has the world’s oldest operating pier train. There is mention of that oddity the Brighton and Rottingdean Seashore Electric Railway which was part railway and a bit pier-like that technically a failure. Fifteen illustrations.

 

A new collaboration centred on New Street, Rail 29 July 2020, page 54.

Birmingham’s New Street Station is one of the UK’s top ten stations and was completely rebuilt in recent years with the Grand Central Shopping Centre on top. There has been a positive attempt to create customer friendly services including the multiple different eateries – something bound to satisfy any passenger’s needs! Of course some things have not gone well and the recent decision of the John Lewis Partnership to close their magnificent new store has taken the city by surprise. Many trains serving the city are running nearly empty but there are signs at last of a slow revival in traffic. Working at home allows a later getting up time but deprives many workers of the vital contacts with colleagues. Three illustrations.

AC/DC: The big switch in power supply, Rail 29 July 2020, page 62.

The writer explains why 65 years ago British Railways made the key decision to adopt 25kV AC 50 cycles as its standard for main line electrification. Seven illustrations

Rhein-Ruhr Express, a new interurban rail service for the Ruhr, Today’s Railways Europe, August 2020, page 18.

Excellent presentation of how the railway network has been developed in recent years. This is part one of two parts. Twelve illustration plus a diagramatic map of the area and a detailed track plan showing recent changes.

Wiener Lokalbahnen: From light rail to international freight, Today’s Railways Europe, August 2020, page 32.

Account of an Austrian railway that has transformed from a light railway opened in 1888 into a full-blown railway carrying substantial amounts of long-haul freight as well as local passenger traffic. Nine illustrations.

Tyne and Wear Metro at 40, Today’s Railways UK, September 2020, page 17

Summary of the origins of the railways that have become part of the Metro, and of future plans to expand along the Blythe and Ashington railway. Seventeen illustrastions, one diagramatic map.

Mountain climbers in the High Tatras,Today’s Railways Europe, September 2020, page 18.

The class 405 emus on the metre gauge rack line were withdrawn in July 2020 after 50 years of service. Brief look at the line at this all-change point.Three illustrations, one map.

S-Bahn Rhein – Ruhr, Today’s Railway Europe, September 2020, page 34.

Summary of new services introduced recently, and new operators who run the trains.Seven illustrations, one map.

Vivarail plans to send “Family” overseas, Rail 9 September 2020, page 30.

This company has produced five electric trains for service on the Isle of Wight, and five diesel/electric hybrids for the South Wales “Valleys” Metro. Led by Chairman Adrian Shooter, they are now producing a family of battery powered trains in their rather ramshackle factory in Long Marston. A hydrogen fuel cell version is planned. Vivarail hopes tosell their technologies to overseas customers. Five illustrations.

A bird’s eye view of Crossrail, Rail, 9 September 2020, page 36.

A short photo-feature containing five photographs taken from a helicopter depicting these stations nearing completion along the Crossrail route – Paddington, Whitechapel, Farringdon, Woolwich, and Abbey Wood. The photographs show how these areas of London have developed in recent years with St Paul’s Cathedral the only “old” structure visible in one of the photographs.

National Rail Awards 2020, Rail, 23 September 2020, page 37.

2020 has been an unusual year in that normal activities on or around the railways have been restricted by thye virus pandemic and the resultant restrictions to normal activities. However a panel of expert judges have reviewed how companies have tackled the unusual challenges facing them and announced their awards in a 24 page section of the magazine.

Travelling by train – the new normal?, Today’s Railwys UK, October 2020, page 36.

A review of timetable developments as traffic falls but a need for space between individuals becomes necessary. Twelve illustrations, four tables.

A positive outlook for new stations?, Today’s Railways UK, October 2020, page 46.

Details of traffic attracted to new, reopened or planned stations presented partly in the form of four tables. Interesting reading.

Ceneri Base Tunnel inaugurated, Today’s Railways Europe, October 2020, page 18.

Opening ceremonies described. Four illustrations.

Four decades of Koplopers, Todays Railways Europe, October 2020, page 32.

This is a major feature article in this issue of TRE detailing the history of a design of emu that has been the backbone of Dutch intercity services. Twelve illustrations, two tables.

Capital Commuting, Passenger Train Journal, issue 2 of 2020, page 32

Five heavy rail routes fan out into the countryside surrounding Washington D.C. – there is also a Metro but this receives scant mention in the article..Thirteen illustrations and a fairly detailed map.

Britain’s Hythe Pier Railway, Passenger Train Journal, issue 3 of 2020, page 40.

Short presentation about the railway that operates along the 700 yard long pier serving the ferry that operates across Southampton Water to the famous port. There are six illustrations including one significantly foreshortened view that gives a chaotic appearance to the track.

DLR stands out from the crowd, Rail 7 October 2020, page 60

Describes excellent features in the operation of the Docklands network that lead to the operator winning the “Passenger Operator of the Year” award at the National Awards Ceremony.

In Focus: SCOTLAND, Modern Railways, November 2020

A special report.starting on page 49. This is an unusual presentation of news about civil engineering or timetable upgrades across the entire Scottish nation. Topics include the solution to the problem of bikes on the West Highland Line. A whole class 153 single coach unit has been cleared of its seats and there is now a better amount of space for bikes. There are 25 illustrations including a few that show glorious mountain scenery in which two coach railcar looks so tiny and lonely.

Swansong for IoW 1938 Stock, Today’s Railways UK, January 2021, page 38.

Account of the use of former London Underground trains on the line from Ryde Pier to Shanklin that have to negotiate the low headroom tunnel under Ryde town centre. There are eleven attractive illustrations.

Exploring the Portsmouth Direct Line: from Havant to Guildford, Today’s Railways UK, January 2021, page 52

Fifteen illustrations, track plan, passenger usage levels at en-route stations. This article is packed with varied information. Even the quietest station along the line – Rowlands Castle clocks up 130,000 entries/exits and issues over 64,000 season tickets each year – levels that are simply not seen outside the London area.

Tyneside Monday, British Railways Illustrated, December 2020, page 97.

On 12 June 1967 Chris Mills took his camera when he visited the North Tyneside electrified lines and the result is eleven attractive shots of the LNER articulated emus stock at a wide variety of locations. By co-incidence on page 133 of the same issue there is a shot of two electric locomotives that hauled freight to and from the Quayside branch.

Overhead electric at Dong-Pong, Narrow Gauge News, January/February 2021, page 32.

A 600mm gauge industrial line was opened at Dong-Pong, near Beijing in 1984 to transport spoil from a pit to a tip.

Rail Centres: Potsdam, Today’s Railways Europe, January 2021, page 26.

Detailed look at the complex railway network around this city which lies quite close to Berlin. Eleven illustrations, route map.

The Glory of Carstairs, British Railways Illustrated, January 2021, page 142.

Comprises a short text then twelve b/w illustrations showing a variety of stock including some diesel locomotives. (Mostly taken in 1950s).

Paddle Steamers in the Firth, Back Track, January 2021, page 13.

There a short text then seven illustrations each with a detailed caption about these railway-owned Clyde steamers.

Carlisle’s LNER sheds: West, Steam Days, January 2021, page 12.

This is a substantial article (20 pages) with 36 illustrations and numerous tables giving locomotive data.

Building a Roman node, Railway Gazette International, February 2021, page 28.

Description of how transport around Rome is being expanded, new links built, and service frequencies greatly improved.

The Overlooked Underground, Rail 24 February 2021, page 56.

This comprises a four-page compilation containing ten photographs taken at a variety of stations and are included in a new book “The Tube Mapper Project: Capturing Moments on the London Underground” by Luke Agbaimoni. Most of the photographs are unusual – The station cat Sally is seen on the platform at Brockley station: Canning Town with the unique double-decker view of a Docklands train directly above a tube train.

North West Electrics, Rail 24 February 2021, page 62.

This article is a study of the trains that formerly served electrified routes in Lancashire. There are four illustrations. Excluding the South East (i.e. London) the north west of England had 60 years ago the most extensive and varied selection of electrified routes in England. Shortly the Class 507 and 508 emus are soon to be replaced by Class 777s. The Morecambe – Lancaster route was first electrified in the early 1900s but eventually converted to diesel units before re-electrification on 17 August 1953 using four AM1 3-car emus converted from ex-LNWR stock operating on the West London Line. Experience with these units converted to using 6.6kV resulted in BR’s decision to use 25kV AC power for its main line services. Not far away the Manchester – Bury line used side contact emus from 1916 on which the original stock had just been replaced in 1959 when Class 504 units replaced them. The line was closed in 1991 to become part of the new tram system. A similar change occurred on the Altrincham line that had been electrified at 1,500 V DC in 1931. The arrival of 25kV AC electrification as part of the West Coast scheme saw the Altrincham service cut back to Oxford Road station and in 1971 it was converted to 25kV AC with Class 304s taking over the service. In 1991 the BR service was discontinued and conversion to become part of the tram service saw the rout achieve a new future. Also in Manchester the route to Hadfield via Glossop was initially electrified at 1,500 V DC and services were worked by Class 506 emus until converted to 25kV AC operation in December 1984. In Liverpool was the largest concentration of lines. The route to Southport used Class 502s using a 630V DC third rail system. Services to the Wirral used Class 503s ut most were withdrawn by 1985 and were replaced by Class 507s using a slightly higher voltage of 750V DC Some 508s operated on the Southern Region but were moved to Merseyside in 1982. These units along with the few remaining Class 313s are now the oldest emus operating on the north west of England routes.

The changing face of electric locomotives on the Great Eastern Main Line, Railway Herald (digital magazine), No. 718, 10 March 2021

This quite long item comprises eighteen illustrations depicting Class 86 or 90 locomotive on passenger services at varied locations along the Great Eastern Main Line.

Alstom and Bombardier, Today’s Railways Europe, April 2021, page 40.

The amalgamation of these well known rolling stock construction companies raises the question of what will now happen to the ranges of rolling stock produced by both firms. Both have products suitable for long distance, shorter distance, and suburban operations and if the combination of the companies is to make sense then some rationalisation of the product ranges is indicated. Possibilities are examined regarding the range of production sites and rolling stock produced at all of them. A conclusion is drawn that no plants will be closed but that each site will be responsible for a particular product that will include the best features of the earlier designs from both parent firms. Four illustrations.

CRRC : Chinese traction in Europe, Today’s Railways Europe, May 2021, page 38

When those who think about locomotive and train builders remember firms like “NB Loco – for massive steam monsters and dud diesels”, CRRC is something quite new. It is in fact a re-merger of companies that emerged from the Chinese Ministries of Railways Workshops. CRRC was formed in 2015 by the bringing together of several smaller companies which produce not just locomotives and multiple units, but also pointwork and complex piece of track, signalling systems, lorries and buses, construction machinery, and wind turbines. The company is responsible for the construction of new roads as well. There are numerous factories within this complex company some of them successfully manufacturing diesel locos 70 or more years ago. The last steam loco was built as recently as 1999. The article continues with details of CRRC locomotives and trains operating in North Macedonia, Serbia, Estonia, Hungary Germany, Belarus, Georgia and Turkey. At the end of this long article there is information about European locomotives working in China including Hong Kong. Thirteen illustrations.

A Look at Southern Electrics, British Railways Illustrated, 30 April 2021, page 310

This comprises eleven illustrations taken in summer 1959 depicting very different emu classes. The photographs are by L W Rowe, and the long detailed, informative captions are by Mike King. A very good and informative article.

PKP Class EU07/EP07, Today’s Railways Europe, May 2021, page 22

Long text with seventeen illustrations and two small tables detailing the history of an important group of Polish electric locomotive classes used on longer distance services and through a long tunnel under the centre of the capital Warsaw. The similarity in appearance between the Polish locos and British Railways Class 83 locos is no coincidence since many were built in the same factories in Preston or Newton-le-Willows. Of over 500 locomotives built in the 1960s and 1970s, around 100 are stored out of use, over 100 have been scrapped, but over 400 have or soon will be rebuilt and remain in use hauling longer distance freight services.

The railways of Perth: The Fair City, Today’s Railways UK, June 2021, page 46

Description of the services radiating from this junction serving one of Scotland’s seven cities. A shadow of its glorious past the station still handles a million passengers in most years. Eleven illustrations, rather inadequate sketchy map omitting reference to the interesting narrow gauge fisherman’s railway serving a quay on the River Tay.

Swiss precision meets UK growth, Rail 19 May 2021, page 58

Stadler was a company little known in the UK. However, the company has won twelve contracts during the past decade to supply vehicles to operate in Croydon, Seffield, Greater Anglia, Glasgow (the Subway), Liverpool (Merseyrail), the Cardiff Valleys lines, and on the Tyne & Wear Metro. Seven illustrations and one table.

Express Electric Railways, Back Track, June 2021, page 297

A fairly detailed examination of lines planned early in the 20th century giving rapid links between cities that hitherto took a much longer time to achieve. These included a line between Liverpool and Manchester, and similarly Glasgow and Edinburgh that would have required just 25 minutes. The longest suggested route would have linked Harwich and Port Dinlleyn. Most of the new lines would have used monorail technology. In Germany a more conventional looking railway was built between Marienfeld and Zossen. Nine illustrations.

Kings Cross – unlocking the throat. Railway Magazine, June 2021, page 84

There are nineteen illustrations showing the work undertaken. Long captions are helpful but there is virtually no other text

The Moment of Birth, Trains Magazine, June 2021, page 28

This very readable article which includes nine illustrations, describes how Amtrak was created in order to preserve some sort of skeleton passenger service across the USA. The article marks the Golden Jubilee of the State defined network.

The latest face of Gasworks Tunnel, Rail, 16 June 2021, page 32

This is a substantial description of the extensive work recently completed to improve access to Kings Cross station. Six illustrations and one detailed track diagram showing the new tracks laid through the disused eastern bore of Gasworks Tunnel.

Bristol set for rail regeneration, Modern Railways, July 2021, page 59

One of a group of articles presenting the ways in which the railways in the west of England are being got ready for a major growth in traffic. Five illustrations, two detailed track plans showing today” and “future” layouts around Temple Meads station, one Bristol area route diagram, two small tables.

It all starts here: Building HS2, Sixteen page supplement to Modern Railways, August 2021

With substantial text, twenty four illustrations, four tables/ and detailed track plans.

Operators set out May 2022 ECML timetables, Today’s Railways UK, August 2021, page 26

Three illustrations and a complex chart showing the number of intercity services per hour operated now, in future plans, and in the future if traffic rushes back to the railways.

Lost (and found) locations: Birmingham’s closed stations, Today’s Railways UK, August 2021, page 30.

This article covers not just the City of Birmingham but the entire Black Country. Fourteen photos. A total of twenty five stations are mentioned, some with active plans for reopening as part of the tram network.

Riding the Sunshine Coast Line, Today’s Railways UK, August 2021, page 40

A description of the Colchester to Clacton branch with its offshoots to Colchester Town and to Walton-on-the-Naze. Fifteen illustrations and a detailed track plan of the surviving routes. (A branch to Brightlingsea was a casualty on 15 June 1964).

Lake Balaton traction transition, Today’s Railways Europe, August 2021, page 17

This article follows the extension of electrification on the railways around Lake Balaton, Hungary, and the routes from Budapest. Ten illustrations. One fairly detailed map.

Koleje Dolnośląskie: Reviving regional rail in south-west Poland, Today’s Railways Europe, August 2021, page 24

Description of how the railways in this area of Poland were stimulated and revived by the intervention of the Province. Six illustrations, two tables listing the dmu and emu trains that are used, plus a detailed route map.

600 km/hour high-speed Maglev Transportation system rolls off the production line, Railway Gazette International, August 2021, page 28

Actually a substational advertising feature, this item features a Maglev system developed by CRRC. Five illustrations.

Competition enlivens Europe’s high speed market, Railway Gazette International, August 2021, page 36

Because of the pandemic Governments have been urging people not to travel and train builders have taken time to consider how to proceed. This article reviews ideas that have evolved. Seven illustrations and one diagram.

Wandering Woodhead, Today’s Railways UK, September 2021, page 30

A description of what remains of the route between Sheffield and Manchester via the Woodhead Tunnel. It was Britain’s first electrified main line railway providing an alternative to the Hope Valley route. Eleven illustrations, one route map.

Exploring Polmont to Glasgow, Today’s Railways UK, September 2021, page 46

This article describes the western end of Scotland’s busiest railway – Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street through a substantial text, ten illustrations, one small table and a route map. The trains depicted are all very modern and the text reveals that many freight outlets along the route have closed. A small table gives information about the level of traffic handled. Polmont, Falkirk High, Lenzie and Bishopbriggs all have broadly similar levels of traffic in the 740,000 – 900,000 range but Croy gives a big surprise with nearly 1.4m entries/exits and 368,000 season tickets. Many years ago I was asked which closed railway in Scotland I would like most to see reopened and I gave the branch to Kilsyth as my answer. That never happened but rather lonely Croy is just down the road from Kilsyth and it would appear that the residents of Kilsyth, not have a restored service on their own branch, have simply found an alternative service on the nearby main line.

Railways to the top of Europe, Today’s Railways Europe, September 2021, page 32

An account of the five narrow gauge railways that provide a route through magnificent mountains to reach the Jungfrau Region. Twelve fine illustrations. Detailed map including ski runs and danglebahns”.

West Midlands getting back on track, Rail, 25 August 2021, page 32

An article formed from an interview with the West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street, indicating how the use of Public transport has grown in recent years, especially with the development of the light railway. Five illustrations.

The Rise and Fall of Railway’s Big Four, Rail, 23 August 2021, page 54

An examination of the effects of the “Grouping” of most of the significant railway companies into the four large geographically arranged four railway companies controlling most activities until nationalisation in 1948. Five illustrations.

The spark for a tramway craze, Rail, 23 August 2021, page 70

This is the first of a two part article describing electric tramways/light railways along seafronts in England from Brighton to Lytham St Annes. The two oldest tramways (Volk’s in Brighton, and Blackpool) still survive but nine other systems in coastal resorts have gone. Most were opened in the early 20th century and closed during the 1930s or 1940s. Five illustrations.

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