UK Train operator CrossCountry has unveiled the first train to go through its fleet refurbishment programme. CrossCountry 170101 in its new colours at Derby Station - Image, CrossCountry  The work is being carried out at Arriva TrainCare’s Crewe depot and funded by Porterbrook, who owns the fleet. The reintroduction of Class 170 ‘Turbostar’ unit 170101 to … [Read more...]

Southeastern has unveiled a special Networker (Class 465) train, with it painted back in its original Network SouthEast livery to mark Railway200 – a year-long celebration marking the 200th anniversary of passenger rail services in the UK.   Unit number 465908 was unveiled at a special event at London Charing Cross station and named Chris Green in honour of the former … [Read more...]

For those of you who prefer to take the train between Amsterdam and London, there's good news: Eurostar is resuming its Amsterdam to London (direct) service. Eurostar at Amsterdam Centraal - Image, Economy Class and Beyond. The station over the past 8 months has been going through some remodelling, as well as the construction of a UK Terminal to allow border clearance … [Read more...]

We're fast coming up to Christmas - and as usual, this is an important time for the rail network, as there are major closures throughout the period. You won't find many people at London Liverpool Street Station, as it's closed over the festive period – Image, ORR/Network Rail. Apart from services being busy in the run-up (remember, that trains normally end early on … [Read more...]

It seems that the advertising board that replaced the departures board at Euston Station has been updated to be... a departures board. The departure board under test - Image, Network Rail With the adverts switched off after a backlash from passengers, the board has sat dark, with passenger information given by a number of smaller departure boards. Network Rail will … [Read more...]

FirstGroup Rail was busy last week, by purchasing a nascent open-access, operator, announcing new routes and putting in orders for trains. A Lumo Train, operated by FirstGroup - Image, FirstGroup.  Purchase of Grand Union Train (GWML) With the Great Western franchise to be moved back into public ownership in the next few years, FirstGroup wants to be relevant in that … [Read more...]

For those of you travelling during the festive period, Avanti West Coast has launched a new low-alcohol beer ‘Safety Thirst’. The beer is being launched as part of a safety campaign to help reduce customer accidents at stations and onboard trains during the festive period. Named “Safety Thirst”, the 0.5 percent pale ale, will be stocked onboard the intercity operator’s … [Read more...]

It's taken some time - but after a five-year wait, South Western Railway has formally launched and rolled out its Class 701 Arterio fleet. To celebrate, Unit 701031 was named Nighthawk by Stuart Broad CBE. Five Arterios are already in service, serving the routes to Windsor & Eton Riverside and Shepperton, calling at some of SWR’s busiest stations including … [Read more...]

It's that time of the year again when we look at the Most and Least used rail stations in the UK. Once again, the busiest station in the United Kingdom (for a second year running) is London Liverpool Street. London Liverpool Street Station - Image, ORR.  Located in the City of London, it's the terminus of Greater Anglia services, as well as a major connection node … [Read more...]