Railways Illustrated April 2024

In late January I was honoured to be invited to join the Southern Electric Traction Group at its special event at London Waterloo to showcase the work that had been completed on the truly stunning restoration of the Bluebell Railway’s preserved Class 423 4VEP electric multiple unit 3417 Gordon Pettitt, which has been in the care of SETG since 2012. It was certainly a moment of celebration for all of those who have worked so hard on the restoration of this slam-door EMU, with high hopes that before too long the 4VEP can be re-registered for operating over Network Rail infrastructure under its own power and carrying passengers once again. The event brought out some rail industry and preservation big-hitters to join in with the celebrations, with Network Rail chairman…

SIEMENS MOBILITY has announced that its new factory in Yorkshire will now be responsible for producing 80% of the train fleet currently being built for London Underground’s Piccadilly line, an increase from the original assembly plan of 30%. The company is in the final stages of fitting out the facility in Goole, which is due to open in the spring and is part of the wider rail village where up to £200 million is being invested. The factory has assembly and commissioning halls, a train components servicing facility, a materials and logistics warehouse, and houses the Rail Accelerator and Innovation Solutions Hub for Enterprise (RAISE), establishing it as a centre of excellence for rail technology in the UK. Future rolling stock for the UK train market will also be assembled there.…

TRANSPORT FOR London has announced the four companies shortlisted to operate the Elizabeth line from May 2025, when the existing contract with MTR Elizabeth line expires. They are Arriva UK Trains, First Keolis Elizabeth line (First Group PLC and Keolis SA), GTS Rail Operations Limited (Go Ahead Holdings Limited, Sumitomo Corporation and Tokyo Metro Co Ltd), and MTR Corporation (UK) Limited. The contract will run on similar terms to the existing one for a period of seven years, with an option for a two-year extension at TfL’s discretion. Tender documents will be issued to the four firms during April, with bids expected to be submitted in July. The Mayor of London will continue to be responsible for setting the fares, while TfL will market the services, specify service levels, and…

THE FASTCHARGE Class 230 battery train, developed from former London Underground D78 Stock, has begun testing, in advance of it entering service for Great Western Railway on the Greenford Branch between West Ealing and Greenford. The first half of February saw 230001 Viva Venturer undertake a series of test runs from Long Marston. The unit’s first venture onto Network Rail infrastructure came on February 5 when it worked 5Q11, the 10.24 Long Marston to Moreton-in-Marsh via Evesham, and 5Q12, the 11.49 Moreton-in-Marsh to Honeybourne North Junction, before the set returned to Long Marston. It then reappeared two days later and continued to work locally into the following week. On February 14, GWR said the unit travelled 86 miles on battery power without recharging, exceeding the 84 miles previously recorded by…

EAST MIDLANDS Railway has released a video revealing the interiors of its new Hitachi-built bi-mode Class 810 Auroras, which are due to start entering service on the Midland Main Line early next year. The Class 810s are replacing EMR’s existing Class 222 Meridian Intercity fleet, with Hitachi Rail currently constructing 33 five-carriage trains at its Newton Aycliffe facility in County Durham, financed by Rock Rail East Midlands. The seats have been designed in collaboration with Derby-based design firm DGDESIGN. EMR has refined the FISA Lean seat to offer enhanced comfort and support. The seat rework has included enlarging the size of cushions, headrests and armrests and using durable materials throughout, such as wool-rich moquette and leather. The Aurora interiors will also incorporate plug sockets and USB points, improved leg room,…

WEST MIDLANDS Railway launched the first of its 48-strong Alstom Class 730/0 Aventra three-coach electric multiple units into service between Wolverhampton and Walsall on February 13. The operator is preparing for the new trains to replace Class 350s and 323 EMU fleets currently in use on the WMR network, and West Midlands Mayor Andy Street described them as ‘beautiful’ at a preview event a few days ahead of their public launch. The first Class 730/0 to carry passengers in the region was the 22.41 departure from Birmingham New Street to Wolverhampton on February 12, with 730018 being utilised as a positioning move to get the Aventra into place for its use on the Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Walsall route the following morning. Initially, one train will be in use on a…