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

Chiltern plans new train order

TPE withdraws Mk.5A sets from traffic

Autumn start for Class 730/0s on London Euston diagrams

Almost 1000 ticket offices could close

TfW tram-train testing begins on Welsh Valleys

ORR grants WCR Mk.1 derogation extension

GWR to start ‘230’ trials next year

Scottish Government takes over Caledonian Sleeper

Only 14 Class 58s remain as pioneer is scrapped in France • The doyen of the BREL Doncaster Type 5s has met its fate in Alizay, with the other half-dozen still extant in Northern France living on borrowed time.

Dean Forest's ‘31/4’ moves to NYMR • Class 31/4 initially hired from DFDA before being bought outright

Adelantes move to Ely for storage • Former EMR sets are placed in store after football special finale.

Delivery on target for Piccadilly Line 24 Tube Stock • New Siemens stock set to move to Germany in next few weeks.

RSS expands its operations • The company has picked up two new shunter contracts with Imerys and Hitachi.

Surprise naming marks 50 years in the business for Peter Watts • Pathfinder Tours’ elder statesman honoured with Class 69 naming.

Switch inspection wagon visits Britain • A Dutch-based track assessment vehicle is now in the country for testing on the Great Western Main Line.

‘Pretendolino’ buffet changes hands • Mk.3a RFM is latest Locomotive Services acquisition.

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

Campaign for reinstatement of mothballed line receives a significant boost • Environmental benefits of rail over road behind Baxter’s backing of railway reopening bid.

Changing the future of Chiltern Railways • Chiltern Railways has long been the home to investment and innovation. Now, managing director Richard Allan is planning for the future. He talks to Richard Clinnick about what the operator could look like by 2030.

Final days for French Class 58s • Class 58s are being scrapped in France.

The future of UK traction arrives • Richard Clinnick witnesses the arrival of the first Class 93 and provides all there is to know about the new tri-mode locomotive.

Decline in passenger revenue and freight haulage as rail continues post-Covid recovery • Industry Witness looks at the latest figures from the Office of Rail and Road which continue to paint a bleak picture for the railway’s finances.

REVIEWS

Newton Chambers car carriers

Network Rail ‘Goyles’

New in the shops

GWR Class 800/0 Trainbow

Eastfield’s No. 37027 by Accurascale • The second of the four locomotive types making up the first batch of Accurascale Class 37s is the Series 1 Class 37/0 in 1980s condition with single car-style headlamps fitted to the bonnet fronts.

Skaledale South Eastern buildings • An attractive set of buildings based on South Eastern Railway prototypes have been added to the Hornby Skaledale range, including two main station buildings which are good...