Avanti West Coast - the operator of intercity services on the West Coast Main Line - has unveiled the first of the long-anticipated refurbishment of its Pendolino (Class 390) fleet. First class seats  The refurbishment of the Pendolino fleet is part of a £117 million upgrade programme that should add further capacity to the trains, as well as an updated … [Read more...]

As we barrel head-first into the long Easter Weekend, here is a reminder that if you're planning to access airports in the London area by rail there are major changes due to engineering work. It goes without saying if you're planning to head to Heathrow, Gatwick or Stansted, you will need to allow extra time for your journey. Good luck this weekend - you're … [Read more...]

As we come up to the Easter Weekend and Bank Holidays in the United Kingdom, no doubt a lot of people are planning their journeys to where they need to be, whilst trying to avoid the high price of petrol and diesel. Well, it seems the Rail Industry is proceeding with its usual "It's Easter - no one travels during this period" attitude, with multiple closures on trunk routes, … [Read more...]

When I was travelling back from Chicago, I was in a position where I needed to get home (as 1) BA couldn't find a stand for the aircraft I was on and 2) I had missed the coach I wanted to take home). Now, there are many ways to travel, but one of the ways of cutting costs are Advance Purchase Rail Tickets - the idea is very much like airplane tickets (you choose a train that … [Read more...]

It seems that traffic is picking up enough that Gatwick Express - the operator of the direct train between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport is set to return from the 3rd of April.   Gatwick Express service passing Clapham Junction - Image, Economy Class and Beyond Services were first suspended on 30 March 2020 as the pandemic took hold and passenger numbers at the … [Read more...]

SNCF's Ouigo operation is expanding, with its Vitesse Classique operation getting ready to start operations on the 11th of April. What can you expect? Corail coaches and broken nose trains. Starting 11th April - Image Ouigo/SNCF. Some of you know might know Ouigo, which currently operates high-speed trains in France, is akin to a low-cost operation. The Vitesse … [Read more...]

On the rails, it seems that Great Western Railway is taking another step forward on its battery-only powered rail adventure, as it teams up with Vivarail. With Great Western Railway (GWR) and Vivarail working together, they aim to bring rapid battery charging and battery-only trains to run in regular passenger service in the future. The trial will take place on the … [Read more...]

Once again, I had the "joy" of CrossCountry Trains again a few weekends ago and unsurprisingly, on a shoot to Manchester to work with a model for some photos for the holidays and beyond. I've skipped driving long distances since my accident, but there are times where I thought "I should have driven". This was one of these times. Booking As is common for me at the … [Read more...]

Avanti West Coast (the rail operator which plies services from London Euston) is making massive cuts temporarily to its timetable. The train company is putting the revised timetable in between 7 January and 25 February,  due to staff shortages that they are experiencing.  In summary, the train company plans to operate the following: Hourly Service … [Read more...]