Economy Class & Beyond

The train to nowhere – UK National Rail Strike Day 3

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With zero movements from either side of the dispute, we've arrived at Day 3 of the National Rail Strike. What might be open if we're lucky - Image, Network Rail - https://www.networkrail.co.uk/industrial-action/. If we're lucky, 20% of trains will operate on limited parts of the UK National Rail Network, with most main lines having some sort of service, whilst branch … [Read more...]

UK National Rail Strike – Let the chaos roll

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For those of you who are thinking of heading to the railways in the United Kingdom to travel this week... I'd consider delaying your travels until next week, as a national rail strike, impacting the rail network and rail operating companies is set to start today (Tuesday), impacting travel for the rest of the week  What might be open if we're lucky - Image, Network Rail - … [Read more...]

LNER brings in a rather… retro livery for its Class 91 trains

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London North East Railway - which operates the London Kings Cross to Edinburgh route via the East Coast Main Line has unveiled a repaint for their Class 91 locomotives. And if you're not paying attention, you'd think you've gone back in time with the livery they've chosen. LNER's new livery for the Class 91 Locomotives - Image, LNER  The design … [Read more...]

Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday Rail Travel – A mostly open rail network?

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It's coming up to the extra-long Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday. If you're planning to head to London or travel for celebrations - what major engineering works are there to look forward to? Don't expect to see many empty platforms at mainline stations this weekend. There is a lot less work going on this bank holiday weekend, with major works suspended with "normal" … [Read more...]

The Elizabeth Line in London is opening on TODAY! What to expect….

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After years of discussion, various proposals and more than a few delays, the Elizabeth Line in London is set to open to the public on 24th May. What is going on and what to expect? Well, here are more than a few thoughts, assumptions and darn good guesses. Show me a two-minute guide. Geoff Marshall is here explaining it for you. Why are there three lines? When will … [Read more...]

Adieu Izy (Low-Cost Rail operator Izy to be absorbed back into Thalys )

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Izy - the "slower" and "lower cost" service operated by Thalys is to cease services on the 10th of July 2022, ending six years of operations. Izzy currently operates services between Paris Gare du Nord and Brussels Midi. Instead of using high-speed lines that connect Paris and Brussels together, they chose to operate on the conventional railway lines - … [Read more...]

Crossrail gets the green light to start operations on 24th May

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One of the last major regulatory hurdles for the opening of the Elizabeth Line/Crossrail has been cleared, with the Office of Rail and Road delivering final authorisation for the line to be opened. The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has issued approvals for all the Elizabeth line stations – with the exception of Bond Street – confirming the stations and … [Read more...]

SWISS and SBB to launch a Munich-Zurich Airport “SWISS Air Rail” route

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Swiss International Air Lines is deepening its collaboration with SBB Swiss Federal Railways to expand its intermodal rail/air travel product under the new name of ‘SWISS Air Rail’. SWISS is adding Munich Hauptbahnhof in Germany to its intermodal SWISS Air Rail network. The new Munich-Zurich Airport route joins the existing rail/air services between Zurich … [Read more...]

Elizabeth Line/Crossrail to open its first branch on 24th May

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In 20 days' time, The Elizabeth Line - or CrossRail will do something it hasn't ever done before - it will carry fare-paying passengers fo the first time as the new line is set to open. Time to put the Purple Trains into the use they were built for - Class 345 Elizabeth Line train at London Paddington - Image, Economy Class and Beyond  Transport for London (TfL) … [Read more...]