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

Busy and exciting times for Rail Express

Rail Express

Testing begins on ROG Class 93 ahead of April arrival

Push-pull ‘47/7’ returns to Scotland

‘47s’ haul relief trains from London to Peterborough

Nexus takes delivery of Stadler Class 555 EMU

CrossCountry to withdraw its HST fleet by October

DB Cargo reduces active Class 90 fleet • Despite having a fleet of 24 Class 90s on its books, DB Cargo currently has 75% of that fleet out of service.

Former HNRC ‘20’ moves to Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway • Another HNRC ‘Chopper’ re-enters preservation

East Midlands Railway ‘156’ fleet in decline • Last Class 156s due to be handed back by EMR in May

Unusual and interesting workings welcome in the New Year in Ireland • Freight, passenger and infrastructure trains, as well as stock movements, provide array of interesting workings.

HNRC shuffles its shunter fleet • Another orange-liveried Class 08 is resurrected to service as the Central Rivers pilot is exchanged.

Siemens plans summer start for 2024 TS testing • First new Piccadilly Line trains will be tested at Wildenrath in Germany.

Final 30 wagons delivered for Network Rail/Wascosa contract • Greenbrier Europe’s factories in Poland and Romania have pumped out an average of 40 vehicles a month since the first of Network Rail’s new infrastructure wagons arrived in November 2021.

Southern Bulleids return to the main line • Bluebell coaches gain TOPS identities for filming move

‘Odd Socks’ to cab Alycidon on its return to the main line this May • No. 55009’s first railtour after extensive repair will have a special visitor on board.

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

Great British Railways set for go-ahead – DfT • Industry Witness assesses the latest plans for the future of the railway and looks at the impact of the Class 66 locomotives on rail freight.

The beginning of a new dawn for Rail Operations Group • These are exciting times for Rail Operations (UK) Ltd. Richard Clinnick meets the operator’s CEO Dave Burley to discover the future of the business.

New trains galore as fleets begin entering service • As new trains enter traffic, Richard Clinnick rounds up what you can expect to see in the coming months.

How the Class 777 will help transform Merseyrail • Stadler ‘777s’ have begun entering traffic with Merseyrail. Richard Clinnick asks Merseytravel rolling stock programme director David Powell about the roll-out and the possibility of even more new trains.

Modernising Moorgate branch the • Digital signalling is already in use through the Thameslink ‘Core’ – now that technology is being brought to the Northern City Line from Moorgate. Richard Clinnick jumps in two train cabs to find out more

0 to 60! Just how nimble are today’s locos and units, and what’s the quickest off the mark? • John Heaton discovers a CAF Civity Class 196 diesel multiple unit hiding away in the depths of Birmingham New...