Rail Express

RAIL EXPRESS is Britain's favourite modern rail enthusiast title. Undoubtedly the best for modern traction photography, the magazine keeps readers informed and entertained with undiluted coverage of Britain's railways in the diesel and electric era. First produced in 1996, RE has set a new standard for the hobby, with a clean design, high quality paper and the best reproduction. January 2008 saw the magazine relaunched in an innovative 'supersize' format, showing off the ground-breaking contents to the best advantage. Every issue includes news and analysis covering the present day railway scene, plus the latest preservation developments. Also inside: RAIL EXPRESS Modeler - Diesel & Electric era modeling magazine

Rail Express

TPE confirms Nova 3 withdrawal plan

Talks continue over ScotRail HST future

DRS to re-tender Class 37s

Retro HSTs return to traffic

Nearly 700,000 responses received for ticket office closure proposal

Final Class 86/6 electrics exported to Bulgaria • Three English Electric AL6s remaining in the UK following the departure of the final Freightliner locomotives.

Maintenance switch for GBRf • Responsibility for GB Railfreight’s shunters passes to RSS.

Merseyrail Class 777s expand operations • First Wirral Line diagrams are introduced

Eastern Rail Services buys more Mk.3s • ERS acquires five former Greater Anglia vehicles from DATS.

DEPG Hymeks quarantined • Hymeks stopped following incident at Williton.

DBC retires CDA hoppers after 36 years’ service • The HAA-based vehicles are the latest two-axle wagon fleet to be withdrawn, but the surviving Imerys china clay traffic will remain on rail utilising bogie vehicles.

We’ve only just begun… • Significant progress on Q-Stock project.

UK Railtours and DPS pull out all the stops for centenarian • Famed former York Deltic driver, now 100 years old, enjoys birthday treat in his favourite Class 55.

Powerscene • Our authoritative class-by-class review of newsworthy locomotive workings.

Draft ‘All Island Strategic Rail Review’ is published • Multi-billion investment is required to counter climate change, improve connectivity and boost rail freight.

Change is coming for Cornwall • There is currently much change on Cornwall’s railways, including traction and rolling stock, however, infrastructure is not immune from change either. Craig Munday explains the plans for the resignalling scheme in the county.

HSTs bid farewell to Britain • High Speed Train vehicles have been exported to Mexico. Ian Sharman visited Great Yarmouth to witness the loading of the ‘43s’ and Mk.3s prior to their departure.

Why new trains need to be ordered • A report by the Railway Industry Association has called for more than 2600 new vehicles to be built by 2030. Richard Clinnick looks at the recommendations.

REVIEWS

Scottish Choppers revealed at Monk Bar Model Shop

GWR Mk.3s arrive in Castle HST twilight

Prostate Cancer UK Class 66

‘N’ gauge Mk.2f coaches flood in

‘Loriot Y’ wagon No. DW41990

‘Lobster’ wagon in ‘N

‘Bone’ in ‘O’ gauge • Revealed in November 2022, the Heljan ‘O’ gauge Class 58 has arrived in the shops in six different ‘general release’ liveries, along with a Mainline Freight version to be sold under the Gaugemaster Collection label. The unnumbered Trainload Coal model is the one subject to our usual unhurried, carefully considered and comprehensive review process.

‘Gronks’ in TT:120 • The first diesel locomotive to be released in the new Hornby TT:120 scale range is the humble Class 08 shunter which is initially available in three liveries.

Rainford Junction: inspiration for a layout

Modelling small station scenes...