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

DB Cargo UK to withdraw Class 60 fleet

LNER orders ten CAF tri-modes

ORR grants West Coast Railways another exemption

Lack of orders puts Litchurch Lane at risk

Mixed month for Class 37s Colas and LS Class 37s back in action but DRS down to five • Colas Railfreight and Locomotive Services both reinstated Class 37s, however Direct Rail Services continues to reduce the size of its Type 3 fleet.

Preserved shunters move to new homes • A flurry of activity has seen several ex-British Rail machines gain new owners and, in some cases, homes.

Class 730s enter service with London Northwestern Railway • New Aventra fleet begins operating on Euston commuter workings

DB’s finally calling time on remaining 1950s era wagons • No one can say that the railways didn’t get their money’s worth from the Bogie Bolster D and ‘Salmon’ wagons, but these contemporaries with the BR standard steam locomotives are finally heading for retirement.

DB Cargo UK withdraws its ‘Tugs’ – but all is not lost for railtourers • There will still be two operators which can provide Class 60s for railtour duties when DBC withdraws its fleet.

Another ‘Chopper’ re-enters preservation • Kent & East Sussex Railway is new base for former HNRC Class 20

Floodwater inundates preserved railway • Ireland’s premier diesel preservation site damaged after heavy rainfall causes serious flooding.

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

More HST stock moves to Great Yarmouth • Further coaches sent to ERS site pending export

Making the western wonderful • Mark Hopwood has been managing director of Great Western Railway for almost 16 years, during which time there has been significant change. As the operator looks to the future, he talks to Richard Clinnick about those plans.

100 years of London’s G-Stock • A century after they were constructed, Christopher Westcott explores the history of the former G-Stock cars and discovers the contrasting condition of the two survivors, both in the care of the London Transport Museum.

Siemens Mobility unveils first pre-Production 24 Tube Stock • With Siemens Mobility revealing the first unit in Germany, Christopher Westcott explores the features and development of London Underground’s new Piccadilly Line trains.

Nova 3s near the end • Richard Clinnick presents a selection of images of TransPennine Express’s Nova 3s during their final few weeks of operation.

HS2: what now according to the rail minister • Weeks after HS2 north of Birmingham was cancelled, rail minister Huw Merriman provided parliament with an update on the remaining sections of the new railway. Richard Clinnick reports.

REVIEWS

Class 323s make the news • The last six weeks have been a remarkable time for new product arrivals, updates and announcements in the hobby. Numerous delayed projects are complete and are now arriving in model shops, while confidence in the hobby is demonstrated by a swathe of new announcements, particularly...