Open Access Train operator Lumo commenced operations, with the first train departing Kings Cross to Edinburhg on a press trip. Lumo Class 803 Hitachi AT300 - Image, Hitachi Rail. Lumo will operate between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh, operating between the principal stations of Stevenage, Newcastle, and Morpeth, with an end-to-end journey taking 4 and … [Read more...]

It seems all is not well, with Her Majestys government stripping Govia of the operating rights of Southeastern Railway. Southeastern Class 707 "CityBeam" train - Image, SouthEastern. For an action like this to be taken - either a train operator is close or near bankrupt, or there is serious fiscal mismanagement has been caught. And it seems money is the route of … [Read more...]

FirstGroup has been teasing its new Open Access rail operator between London and Scotland for some time now. Well - a brand has been unveiled - enter Lumo.  Lumo Class 803 train - Image, Lumo. Lumo will commence operations between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh on the 25th October 2021, operating between the principal stations of Stevenage, Newcastle, and Morpeth, with … [Read more...]

The Liverpool City Region has taken delivery of its first new train - the Class 777 by Stadler. The new Class 777 with Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram - Image, Merseytravel.  It marks the first of 53 trains that are to be delivered and handed over to Liverpool City Region, who in turn will lease them to the operator of Merseyrail services. At the … [Read more...]

Eurostar is planning a major service boost as vaccinated travellers continue to return and people, with the train company planning to increase services. Eurostar trains at London St Pancras - Image, Economy Class and Beyond The following is planned From 6 September until 1 November: Five Return services between London St Pancras and Paris Gare Du Nord Three … [Read more...]

The Voyager diesel train fleet turns 20 this year, with service. As these trains march on, could they have been so much more? The Voyager (Class 220) and Super Voyager (Class 221) fleets were introduced in 2001 by Virgin CrossCountry and Virgin West Coast, as diesel multiple units to connect the networks that are unable to be served by electric trains. They replaced … [Read more...]

The Class 390 Pendolinos trains have been solid workhorses of the West Coast Mainline, connecting London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, and Edinburgh, and points in between, from small towns to big cities. Well, it seems the trains are getting a major upgrade. Avanti West Coast Pendolino at the Widnes facility - Image, Avanti West Coast The Pendolino … [Read more...]

The Class 707 trains by Siemens will get a new lease of life, with the type to be re-launched by Southeastern Railway. Southeastern will take over the 30 Class 707 trainsets - made up of five carriages per train. Currently, these are operated by South Western Railway, which is in the process of replacing them with their Class 701 Arterio trains. The trains will offer … [Read more...]

As some of you know, I have interests outside travel writing and my day job. Sometimes I need to get off my backside and travel to another city to do those tasks. As such, I needed to head to Nottingham for the day, to go behind the camera and shoot. My first move is normally to check the trains - mainly as I prefer to have a laptop open and look out of the window, rather … [Read more...]

Alstom and SNCF have unveiled the first complete TGV M power car at Alstom's Belfort workshops - marking the next step forward for their fleet renewal. The TGV-M Power Car - Image, Alstom The new trains are due to enter service in 2024. It has been designed in collaboration with SNCF and Alstom. The power car features more compact, simplified, and streamlined … [Read more...]