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

New starts

Rail Express

2023 pREview • A smattering of new stations, a veritable bevy of sparkling new multiple units, together with some preservation developments are all scheduled to arrive during 2023. Rail Express flags up some of the treats in store for the year ahead.

New open access operator for GWML • Train operating company Grand Union has had its plans for London to South Wales passenger services approved.

Transport for Wales ‘197’ enters service • First diagram is introduced on Blaenau Ffestiniog branch

RAIL EXPRESS INSIGHT: OPEN ACCESS PASSENGER OPERATIONS • As UK rail passenger numbers begin to recover to pre-pandemic levels, what are the prospects for new passenger services?

Bessie’s Bulletin

Shock withdrawal of GWR’s ‘Castle’ class HSTs

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

Stored Class 37s make a comeback for DRS and HNRC • English Electric’s finest continue to make headlines as long out of use locomotives are reactivated, while others get a fresh look.

Last ‘Pacer’ is disposed of, though many ‘nodding donkeys’ survive • The dispersal (and surprise rehabilitation in preservation) of Classes 142-144 has taken more than three years.

RSS returns hired-in Class 08s • Railway Support Services has dispatched two of its on-loan shunters back to their respective preservation homes.

IN BRIEF

‘Badger’ set for main line return to charter work • Class 89 moves to former Brush works for key pre-service maintenance.

IN BRIEF

GBRf receives first tranches of FEA-G flat and JNA-X box wagons • Two new vehicle types have debuted in the UK with the arrival of the first batches of Eastern European-built container flats and boxes leased from Porterbrook.

Piccadilly Line upgrade proceeds apace with new stock under construction • But veteran 73TS to soldier on towards end of this decade.

Former Grand Central Mk.4 sets finally enter service with TfW • Transport for Wales prepares for increase in loco-operated services.

IN BRIEF

Limerick-Foynes line reinstatement begins • Traffic will be freight-only for the foreseeable future.

A Day in the Life of... Southampton Maritime Freightliner Terminal • To get an inside view of how a modern intermodal freight terminal operates, Rail Express was given exclusive all areas access at Freightliner’s Southampton Maritime Terminal for a full 12-hour day shift on November 17. All text/images by Mark Simmons.

You can win super rail prizes • Fancy winning a super Hornby OO model, or enjoying a riveting railway read this Christmas? Here at Rail Express we’ve got some superb prizes which must be won... and all you have to do is find the words hidden in our grid...

0 to 60! Just how nimble are today’s locos and units, and what’s the quickest off the mark? • Our performance expert John Heaton FCILT ventures to Switzerland in search of fresh loco haulage and returns to compare notes with a classic UK AC electric workhorse.

Farewell Class...