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

Purple faces, crossed legs

Rail Express

RAIL EXPRESS

HST power car trio goes for scrap • Former GWR Class 43s move from Laira to Newport for breaking up.

DRS open day ticketing changes

New CFPS railtour arrangements

2-EPB heads to Mid Hants gala

ETCS retrofit for Classes 43 and 180

TfW unit crunch at Craven Arms • Three DMUs operated by the publicly-run operator collided with equipment abandoned on the railway.

Latest ORR passenger stats

‘Heritage’ naming for Class 92

IN BRIEF

RAIL EXPRESS ANALYSIS SPECIAL: UK RAIL CHARTER MARKET • New entrants revitalise sector with upmarket operations, but future for ‘enthusiast’ railtours is far less certain

Bessie’s Bulletin • Freightliner newbie Shunt Driver Bessie Matthews passes out!

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:

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

DEPOT TALK

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Condemned Class 37 transferred from DRS to Loram and HTG • Another Class 37/6 has been removed from Direct Rail Services’ roster, this example bypassing the usual tender list.

NEWS UPDATE

WCR scraps long stored ‘Growler’ at Carnforth

NEWS UPDATE

Southern bids fond farewell to its veteran Class 455s • There was little time for sentiment though, with disposal of the fleet starting before the last units were withdrawn.

DEPOT TALK • Correct to May 21, 2022

Timber trials return to Wales • A new series of test runs to prove the feasibility of returning freight to the Mid-Wales line to Aberystwyth comes 17 years after the last attempts to switch timber flows from road to rail.

DEVELOPMENTS

TfW grows ex-LNER Mk.4 fleet (again) • The public sector-run Welsh operator acquires a further seven coaches.

IN BRIEF

TRANSPORT FOR WALES MK.4 FLEET – AS AT MAY 2022

DEPOT TALK • Correct to May 21, 2022

DTG buys two more power units for Class 52 • The Maybach engines have been acquired from Germany for the group’s preserved Western Champion.

IN BRIEF

Class 47 to visit Churnet Valley for five years

Weardale ‘108’ damaged in latest preservation mishap

IN BRIEF

DIESEL DIARY

COACH NEWS

RSS hires in another Class 08 • Rail Express Systems-liveried No. 08757 is back with the company after departing from Telford.

PRESERVATION

NEWS ROUND-UP

INDUSTRIALS

New airy Northern Line platform opens at Bank

Elephant & Castle underground station capacity upgrade

LU’s last complete unrefurbished 72 TS unit to be scrapped

LS and DPS on track to return Deltics to main line action • This year could see both Royal Scots Grey and Alycidon back in action on Network Rail metals.

VINTAGE TRACTION

Dublin’s Inchicore Works open day proves popular • Visitors thronged to the first major Irish Rail event to take place since the pandemic began, over two years ago.

NORTHERN IRELAND RAILWAYS...