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

Ticket office closure plan rejected

DB Cargo UK planning redundancies

TPE will still lease Nova 3 fleet in 2024

New operators for redundant High Speed Train power cars • Former XC High Speed Train power cars destined for test train duties.

Former CrossCountry Mk.3 stock leaves Laira for storage and export • Surplus HST coaches depart Devon depot

Overhaul for West Midlands ‘08’ • Soho-based shunter is dispatched to Burton for attention via a rare main line movement.

Brodie Class 156 put up for auction • A £50,000 starting price has been set for Super Sprinter

W H Davis starts MLA rebuilds and new Plasmor fleet • The Nottinghamshire-based wagon specialist has taken delivery of the first ‘Falcons’ that will become donors for a project with Yellow Rail, and also looks towards PNA block carrier replacements.

Sarah Siddons: A lost centenary year? • Plans to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Metropolitan Railway electric locomotive failed to materialise.

Class 14 changes hands • Second ‘Teddy Bear’ for Wensleydale Railway

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

More enthusiast-type charters for UK Railtours • The popular charter train operator plans to increase its tours for the railfans next year.

Plan for £565 million Enterprise fleet replacement programme • Progress is made with the Enterprise fleet replacement as tender for multi-million pound contract is published.

100 not out for the Class 50 Alliance • On September 16, Class 50 Alliance locomotives powered their 100th tour on the main line. C50A chairman Tony Middleton tells Richard Clinnick how this milestone was achieved.

A positive change for the humble ‘08’? • Trials are underway using a battery-powered Class 08.Richard Clinnick attended the launch of the locomotive at Barrow Hill.

PICTORIAL • Richard Clinnick provides a selection of images from the start of the railhead treatment season.

New homes for HSTs • October saw several HST vehicles moved across the country, with some exported to Nigeria. Richard Clinnick reports.

Just how old is your train? • The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has released its annual look at the age of the UK’s train fleets.Richard Clinnick reports.

Creating the perfect Pendolino • Claimed to be the UK’s biggest ever fleet upgrade, the Pendolino refurbishment at Widnes has seen all the 11-car sets completed, with work now focused on the nine-car trains.Richard Clinnick reports.

REVIEWS

Bachmann’s winter range boost

Irish intercity railcars and Bulleid wagons emerge

New 1960s style containers in ‘OO’

New ‘OO’ steel carriers announced by Cavalex Models

Heljan ‘Rat’ returns in ‘OO’ – No. 25904 is reviewed • Heljan’s model of the late body style Sulzer Type 2 (Class 25/2 and Class 25/3) in ‘OO’ gauge was very popular when first released in Mid-2021, prompting a second, improved batch which includes BR blue No. 25904.

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