Innehållsförteckning för September 2024 från Railways Illustrated

Just days after Labour won the July 4 general election, the railways were back in the head-lines – and it wasn’t for a good news story! The decision by Royal Mail to cease using its Class 325 electric multiple units for the movement of rail freight traffic from October – choosing instead to transfer the majority of its movements onto road transport – feels like a retrograde step at a time when the environmental benefits of moving freight by rail is a key part of efforts to reduce carbon emissions and the move towards net-zero targets. One of the reasons stated by Royal Mail is that the elderly Class 325s have been in traffic for the past three decades and are in need of replacement. DB Cargo UK (DBC) –…

EAST MIDLANDS Railway has unveiled a series of images showing how the interiors of their Class 158, 170 and 360 fleets will look following a forthcoming £56 million refurbishment. The project is being delivered in partnership with leasing companies Angel Trains, Siemens, Porterbrook and Eversholt, and will transform the three fleets, many of which have not been refurbished for a number of years, having been cascaded to EMR from other operators. The Class 158s, which are mainly used on the Norwich to Liverpool route, are set to receive new foam seat padding and replacement covers, an interior refresh and CCTV. It was originally intended that the 158s would move to other operators, but a number are now being retained by EMR. The Class 170s, which mainly operate regional services in…

THE LATEST incarnation of Locomotive Services Group’s luxury First Class charter HST was released from Arlington Fleet Services at Eastleigh Works on July 2, with the West Highland Pullman short-formed HST set to join LSG’s hugely successful Midland Pullman operation from August. LSG power cars 43049 and 43059 were employed to return the short Mk.3 formation to Crewe, which included the three Trailer First coaches that were previously included in the short-lived Rail Charter Services green Staycation Express HST employed on Settle & Carlisle services in the summer of 2021. Coaches 41160, 41166 and 41187 now carry the Midland Pullman Nanking blue and white livery but with new ‘West Highland Pullman’ logos and ‘Luxury Trains to the Scottish Highlands’ lettering on the bodysides. Also included in the formation is Trailer…

JUNE 28 saw GB Railfreight operate what is likely to be final delivery of coal to Radcliffe-on-Soar power station – ahead of the closure of the last coal-fired power station at the end of September. The 1650-tonne delivery made by GBRf, which was transported to the East Midlands from the Port of Immingham, provides enough coal to generate electricity for about 500,000 homes during an eight-hour period. To mark the historic occasion, the locomotive used to haul the final train, 66781, was named Ratcliffe Power Station. Ratcliffe-on-Soar was first commissioned in 1967 and operating at full capacity is capable of producing enough electricity to power more than two million homes. However, as the UK moves towards phasing out coal generation in 2024, by last year just 1% of the electricity…

GREAT WESTERN Railway has named one of its Hitachi Intercity Express Trains after popular country music performer Shania Twain, following an idea suggested on a recent podcast featuring the singer. The distinctive Shania Train branding has been applied by the operator to 802109 after she was interviewed on the BBC Sounds podcast Sidetracked, which is presented by former Radio One breakfast show host Nick Grimshaw and broadcaster Annie Macmanus. During the interview – which was held in advance of the singer appearing in the ‘Legends’ slot at the annual Glastonbury Festival – she mentioned that a train had been named Shania Train in her honour in Switzerland, prompting Nick to suggest that it should be applied to a train travelling to Castle Cary, the nearest railway station to the festival…

TRANSPORT FOR Greater Manchester’s Bee Network has teamed up with ITV Studios through the application of a vinyl wrap to Alstom M5000 tram 3095 to promote a visitor attraction created for fans of TV soap Coronation Street. The Coronation Street Experience allows visitors to view the programme’s sets and walk on its famous cobbled street. The production studios for the show are located close to the Imperial War Museum tram stop, situated on the Metrolink Trafford Park Line between Deansgate-Castlefield and The Trafford Centre. Created with visuals from Manchester-based agency Meanwhile, 3095 carries a wide range of Coronation Street-themed illustrations familiar to viewers. TfGM’s interim Metrolink network director, Pete Sommers, said: “Since opening in 1992, Metrolink has seen several expansions and new stops built, so we were delighted to welcome…

THE ONGOING restoration of privately-owned 58023 took a significant step forward in early July when the Mainline Freight blue-liveried Class 58 was lifted off its bogies at UK Rail Leasing’s Leicester depot to allow the locomotive’s six axles to be replaced. 58023 was initially rebuilt and returned to an operational condition by Heritage Traction and Restoration Services at Shackerstone on the Battlefield Line, before it was moved to Leicester for further work ahead of it re-entering service. The Class 58 had been expected to make its passenger preservation debut during the Severn Valley Railway Spring Diesel Festival in May 2023, but the appearance was postponed when the locomotive failed its ultrasonic axlebox testing. On July 3, 58023 was admitted into the workshops at UKRL and lifted to allow the two…

THE WENSLEYDALE Railway has launched a £30,000 fundraising appeal as part of its aims of restoring passenger trains to Redmire, which has been closed since 2020 due to the deteriorating condition of the track and infrastructure on the section of line from Leyburn. The scenic heritage railway currently runs between Scruton, Leeming Bar and Leyburn, but is hoping to raise sufficient funds that will allow it to carry out essential repairs and upgrading works to make the railway suitable for passenger services to be reinstated. The focus of the new appeal is a three-quarters-of-a-mile section of the line close to Wensley station – roughly halfway between Leyburn and Redmire – where the track needs to be slewed away from the edge of an embankment. This is due to erosion which…

A SPECIAL midweek charter train to be hauled by 37263 on the Severn Valley Railway has been organised by Shrewsbury-based Class 37 enthusiast Simon Pilkington, with proceeds set to be donated to charity. The departmental grey Class 37 will work three return trips of the SVR’s route between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth on August 20. Departures from Kidderminster are expected to be at 09.20, 13.05 and 16.55, and from Bridgnorth at 11.20, 15.32 and 18.30, subject to final confirmation. The charter will cost £30 per person and payment can be made on the day by cash or card. This is not the first time that Mr Pilkington has organised a charter on the SVR using 37263. He previously organised an evening special working on the railway in August 2023 to raise…

IT’S BEEN a busy few weeks for diesel enthusiasts, with a series of high-profile events taking place at various heritage railways. All of the railways reported healthy passenger numbers, with visiting traction always providing a boost for those lines that invest in bringing in additional locomotives to supplement their own. Since the last issue of Railways Illustrated was prepared, diesel events have taken place at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, East Lancashire Railway, Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, and the Mid-Hants Railway, each offering a wide range of visitors in action alongside the home-based fleets. June 20-23 at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway welcomed Class 14 D9520, 37250, 50008 Thunderer, 50021 Rodney, D1015 Western Champion and 69009 Western Consort in action along the five-mile West Yorkshire heritage line. On the…

THE OPENING of Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service’s new training centre at Aintree, to which recently-withdrawn Class 507 electric multiple unit vehicles 64432 and 71369 were delivered in May, has seen some changes made at the existing Seacombe training facility on the south bank of the River Mersey. The two former Connex Class 508 coaches have been located at Seacombe for training purposes since 2013 and on June 22, vehicle 64712 from 508209 was relocated internally within the site using a low-loader. The other coach located at the site – 64649 from 508201 – was then removed completely, arriving at Wishaw for temporary storage on June 25. Indications are that this vehicle is now destined for use by the 400 Series Preservation Group as a barrier coach with the recently…

Class 37s are a firm favourite among diesel locomotive enthusiasts, with a large number of the popular English Electric Type 3s having been bought for heritage railway use, and also a reasonable number of these having subsequently been sold back into the freight sector for a further period of main line use. It is perhaps surprising, then, that it wasn’t until the early 1990s when the first Class 37s were bought for preservation, and that they were soon joined by many more of their classmates during the intervening years. A class that once numbered 309 examples, the Class 37 remains an important design both on the main line and in preservation, with the versatile Type 3s still proving their worth well over six decades since fleet pioneer D6700 first entered…

Railway photography for me is about two things: a record for capturing a point in time to preserve a memory and an art form to create a great-looking image. Sometimes for me that is to recreate an essence of how things used to be. I’m always looking out for a composition that takes me back to when I was young, particularly the early 1980s. I like the challenge of capturing an image that looks almost like it could have been taken in the past. This is hard because modern details creep into the scene. It requires a suitable subject, an appropriate backdrop, often some tight composition to exclude modernity, and some compromises. It’s rarely going to be a perfect recreation of the past, but it is great fun trying to…

ROYAL MAIL is to cease the movement of mail using its Class 325 electric multiple unit fleet with effect from October 10. The 15 four-coach Class 325s (325001-009/011-016) are owned by Royal Mail and operated and maintained by DB Cargo UK, with maintenance carried out at Crewe Electric Depot. DBC has been responsible for the Royal Mail contract for the past 11 years. A new timetable was introduced from June 16, with a total of 13 Royal Mail trains operated each week. One service runs four days a week between Royal Mail’s Shieldmuir Distribution Centre in Scotland to the Princess Royal Distribution Centre (PRDC) at Willesden, London, before heading to Warrington and returning to Shieldmuir. Another service operates a return journey between Shieldmuir and Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal four…

FREIGHT OPERATOR DCRail has entered into a new three-year servicing contract with Leicester-based UK Rail Leasing for its fleet of four operational Class 60 locomotives. The latest contract is a development of a previous agreement between the two organisations that has been in place since April 2022. Under the new contract, UKRL will undertake all servicing and maintenance examinations on the Class 60s (60028/029/046/055) at its Leicester depot. DCRail is part of the Cappagh Group of Companies and director for rail, David Fletcher, said: ‘’I am pleased that our relationship with UKRL continues to flourish. Over the last two years we have worked together to maximise the availability of our locomotive fleet with the regular B-exams now being undertaken in under seven days, and overall fleet availability increased to more…

DIRECT RAIL Services threw open the doors to its depot at Kingmoor Traction Maintenance Depot in Carlisle on July 6 for an open day event which attracted more than 1500 visitors and raised £65,000 for charities supported by the Cumbrian freight operator. While open days at railway depots are now relatively rare, DRS has a long tradition of welcoming members of the public to their depots at Kingmoor and Crewe Gresty Bridge. Previously, the open days used to alternate between the two depots each year, but after the 2022 Crewe open day, DRS announced the events would now take place every two years. DRS locomotives on display at Carlisle this year were 57309, 66421/424/429/431, 68001/006/007/016/017/019/021/024/025/033/034 and 88005/008. Also present was snowplough ABD 965210 and Mk.2 BSO coaches 9506/9508. The event…

WEST MIDLANDS Trains is proposing to extend some of its London Northwestern Railway services through to Manchester from summer 2026 to increase capacity on the West Coast Main Line following last year’s cancellation of the northern leg of HS2 from Birmingham to Manchester. WMT is responsible for the LNR and West Midlands Railway operations, and the company is owned by Transport UK Group, which also operates East Midlands Trains and Greater Anglia, as well as having a partnership with Serco for operating Merseyrail in the rail sector. Transport UK Group is also a significant operator of local bus services around the country. Under the proposal, LNR’s existing services between London Euston and Crewe would be extended through to Manchester Victoria, while the operator’s current services between Stafford and Crewe would be…

THE RAILWAY Benefit Fund’s (RBF) coffers were boosted by more than £90,000 in June, helping the charity provide vital support to railway families throughout the UK. The RBF assists current, former and retired railway staff and their dependents in the form of financial grants, confidential advice to families in need, online tools, and a legal helpline. The first of three successful fundraisers in June was the specially-organised ‘Bucket & Spade’ charter, which operated from Crewe to Scarborough courtesy of Locomotive Services Group and was hauled by main line-registered Class 40 locomotive D213 Andania. A hotly-contested auction was also held in aid of RBF, offering more than 40 lots of unique railway-themed experiences, including exclusive depot tours and a visit to the home of RBF president Pete Waterman OBE to see…

TRAIN OPERATOR Govia Thameslink Railway – which is responsible for the Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern, and Thameslink networks – has announced plans to invest £2.5 million in an antisocial behaviour improvement plan (ABIP) following increases in the number of physical and verbal assaults on staff over the past year. Under the ABIP, GTR is committing to: ■ The rollout of more than 1500 new body-worn video (BWV) cameras to frontline staff. ■ Doubling the number of travel safe officers across the network. ■ Developing an education programme for schools. ■ Improving training and aftercare so staff feel supported. ■ Hiring more staff in its safety division. Working alongside policing and prosecutions teams to remove offenders from the railway, GTR has already doubled the number of travel safe officers working…

HEATHROW EXPRESS has confirmed that its open access Track Access Agreement has been renewed for a further four years until June 2028. The open access operator runs a 15-minute service frequency every day of the week between London Paddington station and Heathrow Airport, carrying 16,000 passengers each day. The journey from Paddington takes 15 minutes to reach Terminals 2 and 3 at the airport, with a further five minutes for it to reach Terminal 5. Heathrow Express business lead and director Daniel Edwards said: “We are thrilled to have reached this landmark agreement. Our passengers, both loyal and new, can rest assured that they will always receive the high-quality service they have come to expect from Heathrow Express. “By securing our Track Access Agreement until June 2028, we continue to…

THE ONGOING overhaul of the Diesel & Electric Preservation Group’s Class 52 Western diesel-hydraulic locomotive D1010 Western Campaigner took a significant step forward in early July as the Class 52 had its two Maybach MD655 engines removed, before the locomotive was lifted clear of its bogies at its Williton base on the West Somerset Railway. The work on July 8 saw two 130-ton cranes brought onto the DEPG site at Williton to carry out a series of tasks to progress the overhaul of the locomotive, following several months of preparatory works by volunteers. The four roof panels from above the engine compartments were lifted clear and the cranes employed to remove the two Maybach engines from the locomotive, before placing them on engine stands. The roof panels were then reinstated.…

THE WEST Somerset Railway Association is seeking to raise £180,000 towards the overhaul and refurbishment of the Class 115 diesel multiple unit vehicles based on the Minehead to Bishops Lydeard heritage line. The WSR is home to three-coach Class 115 DMUs, formed of DMBS (driving motor brake standard) vehicles 51859 and 51880, along with TCL (trailer composite lavatory) 59678, which is currently the only operational Class 115 in the preservation sector. The railway also owns Class 117 DMBS 51354. First to be treated will be DMBS 51859, which is scheduled to undergo a C3 classified repair overhaul to return it to good mechanical and electrical condition. However, estimates for the work required have come in at £220,000, which the association said is more than was expected. In order to kick-start…

Some 27 years after the first Class 37s joined its fleet, Direct Rail Services has dispensed with its final Type 3 locomotives. The decision earlier this year to sell the remaining examples it owned brought the curtain down on an eventful period, not only for DRS, but also for the Class 37s. The final two locomotives sold were 37424 and 37425, which were both acquired by Harry Needle Railroad Company and were part of the final batch of six made available for sale earlier this year. Both have already hauled trains for their new owner, with the latter also starring at the recent East Lancashire Railway diesel gala. When DRS acquired its first Class 37s back in 1997, it was with the explicit intention of growing the business. The operator…

➔ Situated in the Scottish Highlands, just on the edge of Rannoch Moor, lies the vast privately-owned Corrour Estate. Boasting unrivalled scenic beauty, the estate is served by a remote station located on the West Highland Line, some 1338 feet above sea level. Despite its isolation, Corrour is far from an ordinary railway station, as Andy Coward finds out when he spent the night at this rather special location. ➔ The Wensleydale Railway has been in the news quite often in recent months, with a number of exciting developments taking place on the North Yorkshire heritage line. Andy Coward headed to Leeming Bar to meet marketing and fundraising manager Nick Keegan to find out more about the railway and its plans for returning trains to Redmire. ➔ June and July…

SCOTRAIL INTRODUCED a temporary timetable from July 10 due to an ongoing dispute with four rail unions over pay discussions. The operators said the decision was taken to provide greater certainty and reliability for passengers. ScotRail has been in pay discussions with ASLEF, RMT, TSSA and Unite for several weeks and a formal pay offer – which the operators said is in line with the Scottish Government’s public sector pay policy – was made on July 5, but this was rejected by all four unions, which are now balloting members for strike action. As a result, ScotRail currently has fewer train drivers than usual available for overtime or rest day working. While overtime and rest day working is not compulsory in the rail industry, many train operators rely on a number…

A CLASS 802/2 bi-mode fitted with batteries will begin main line testing in the near future but will not carry passengers. TransPennine Express 802207 is currently at Newton Aycliffe, where Hitachi has removed the engines from one vehicle and replaced them with batteries. Once static testing is complete, the 802/2 will begin main line testing, with GB Railfreight contracted to undertake this work. It will operate on the East Coast Main Line and northern Trans-Pennine route as part of the trials; however, these are expected to be completed by the end of August, with TPE wanting the five-car train back in its fleet for the start of the December timetable. The operator has also confirmed that tests using the train in passenger service were considered but abandoned due to the…

LINER SHIPPING company Ocean Network Express UK (ONE) has announced that all of its intermodal rail cargo transportation operated in partnership with Freightliner will now be powered by HVO100 fuel. The announcement comes following a six-month pilot using the fuel, which is made from raw materials such as vegetable oils and waste fat and oil from the food industry. The fuel reduces carbon dioxide emissions from diesel locomotives by up to 90% in comparison with standard diesel fuel and is certified so that the materials used in creating the fuel can be fully verified. ONE UK’s head of operations, Nick Reay, said: “During our successful six-month pilot period, we calculated that an incredible 488 tonnes of CO2 emissions were saved by switching to this renewable fuel. “We thank Freightliner for…

SOUTH WESTERN Railway’s first refurbished four-coach Juniper Class 458/4s third-rail electric multiple units entered service on June 24, with the trains and their interiors designed to resemble the Class 444 and Class 450 Desiro fleets also in use with the operator. A total of 28 of the trains are being refurbished by Alstom at Widnes, on behalf of SWR and fleet owner Porterbrook in a contract worth £25 million, with 17 trains refurbished by the end of June and the remaining 11 still to be treated. The project has involved the removal of one coach from each of the previously five-coach trains, and the remaining four vehicles given comprehensive internal attention. The exteriors of the trains have also lost their former Stagecoach-inspired blue, red and orange colours in favour of…

NETWORK RAIL and South Western Railway have announced a monthlong closure of the Island Line on the Isle of Wight, starting in September – less than three years after the route was reopened following an 11-month closure for a major £26 million refurbishment. The line between Ryde Pier Head and Shanklin will be closed in its entirety from September 6 to October 6, while the section between Ryde Pier Head and Ryde Esplanade will remain closed until May 2025 to allow further repair and preservation work to be carried out on the historic pier structure that carries the railway between the two stations. During the full eight-and-a-half mile line closure, Network Rail engineers will carry out a series of track and bridge renewals between Ryde Pier Head and Ryde St…

ALSTOM UNVEILED a special Pride livery on Nottingham Express Transit’s Incentro tram 213 on July 8, ahead of Nottingham’s Pride celebrations on July 27. The tram promotes the messaging ‘Ride with Pride’ and has been prepared by Alstom in partnership with NET and local train operator East Midlands Railway. The three organisations said they “offer journeys and careers where everyone is welcome, can be their true selves, and excel.” Alstom services managing director for the UK and Ireland, Peter Broadley, said: “Alstom is proud to collaborate with EMR and NET to bring our vibrant ‘trambow’ to Nottingham’s streets in celebration of Pride. “Tram 213’s new look is a statement of our collective commitment to diversity, inclusion, and the right of every individual to be their authentic self – either as…

Up to 26 locomotives belonging to Harry Needle Railroad Company (HNRC) could be used by Swietelsky Construction Company Ltd after an agreement was signed between the two businesses at the end of June. HNRC will provide main line locomotives and access to heavy maintenance facilities at its Worksop depot; HNRC, however, will remain the main operator of the site and other businesses will also still retain access to the facility. The locomotives are required to support the current business needs both for Swietelsky and its sister company SB Rail. There is also a requirement for access to a maintenance and overhaul facility for its current fleet of on track machines and Kirow cranes. The exact reason for the locomotives’ use was not confirmed as Railways Illustrated went to press,…

THE BRANCH Line Society is organising a special afternoon trip along the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway on September 28, with the train scheduled to be hauled by BR green 20214 Austin Maher. The ‘Choppy Waters’ charter is expected to depart from Haverthwaite station at 16.45, returning at 17.30, though final timings are still to be confirmed. The Class 20 is expected to be in charge of the train throughout the trip along the threemile heritage railway, which rarely uses its resident main line diesel locomotive on passenger services. Withdrawn by British Rail from Toton depot in March 1993, 20214 has been based on the LHR since November 1993 and has remained on the Cumbrian heritage railway ever since, where it is mainly used for engineering trains but also as a…

THE RESTORATION of unique Class 89 AC electric locomotive 89001 Avocet is nearing completion, it having recently taken power on all six of its traction motors for the first time in more than two decades. After much preparation work on the locomotive at UK Rail Leasing’s site at the former Brush Falcon Works in Loughborough, a Facebook post by Locomotive Services Group on July 9 confirmed that with commissioning tests now carried out, the first major part of the restoration project has been completed. The Class 89 is owned by the AC Locomotive Group, and its main line return is being spearheaded by subsidiary company Electric Traction Ltd, in conjunction with LSG. LSG’s current fleet of four operational main line-registered AC electric locomotives comprises 86101 Sir William A Stanier FRS,…

WITH MANY of our heritage railways in the midst of their main summer operating seasons, the number of diesel events during August is quieter than in recent months, with three scheduled to take place. The Spa Valley Railway’s popular summer diesel gala is set for August 2-4 and will feature ex-BR locomotives 08922, Class 25 D7535, 31430 Sister Dora and 73140 from the home-base fleet, joined by visiting 03063 Paul A Mobbs and 33202 Dennis G Robinson from the Mid-Norfolk Railway and 50021 Rodney on an extended visit from its usual base at Eastleigh Works. The line-up will also include Drewry 2591 Southerham and Thomas Hill Vanguard 189c shunting locomotives and Class 207 Thumper DEMU 1317. An evening Real Ale & Cider train will operate on the Friday and Saturday…

A CROWDFUNDING page has been set up to help with the costs of carrying out bodywork repairs and an overhaul of the interior of the Class 205 Thumper diesel-electric multiple unit based on the Mid-Hants Railway. Two-coach ‘Hampshire’ slamdoor set 1125 (205025) – formed of driving motor brake standard open 60124 and driving trailer composite standard open lavatory 60824 – has been based on the MHR for the past 20 years, having been bought from Porterbrook in 2004 following its withdrawal from service by Southern. While the Class 205 is operational and in reasonable mechanical condition, it is now in need of a significant bodywork overhaul to return it to good order, with water ingress having caused corrosion issues to the vehicles. The unit has not been used in passenger…

D2246 – Buckfastleigh: Many people have worked on D2246, not only over the past three years, but ever since the locomotive was first purchased for preservation. In about 2010 a large amount of engine work was carried out, the radiator was removed and repaired, and the exhauster was also repaired. Over the past three years, work on D2246 has ranged from a complete repaint and bodywork repairs to a brand-new radiator being constructed, full servicing of the engine, gearbox and final drive, a host of valves and other items which have been overhauled or replaced, and a complete rewire. As the shunter is more than 65 years old, many of the cables were damaged or perishing, so the decision was taken to replace them and the various terminal rails in…

Railways Illustrated is written by enthusiasts for enthusiasts, providing the latest news and developments on the national rail network and from our standard gauge heritage railways. This is the title for anyone who likes heritage diesel and electric traction and showcases some of the best railway photography around. As well as an established team of writers, we also welcome contributions from you, our readers. Take out a subscription, save cash in the process, and take your place in our fantastic railway community. WHICH RAILWAYS ILLUSTRATED SUBSCRIPTION SUITS YOU BEST? 1: 12-MONTH SUBSCRIPTION BEST VALUE 12 print issues for £47 Direct Debit 12 print issues for £52 credit/debit card SAVE £17 2: SIX-MONTH SUBSCRIPTION 6 print issues for £25 Direct Debit 6 print issues for £27 credit/debit card SAVE £7.50 WHAT…

The surprise closure of Wirral-based retailer Hattons earlier this year left the future of its range of own-brand models in doubt. While the fate of some of the tooling has yet to be publicly confirmed, others have passed to established manufacturers, particularly Accurascale. Chief among these is the highly-regarded Class 66, which was first released back in 2019 with a range of liveries and number options. Since then, demand has only grown for further batches of the award-winning ‘Sheds,’ particularly as new liveries continue to appear on the UK’s dominant diesel type at regular intervals. The deal to transfer the Class 66 tooling to Accurascale was actually done well in advance of the demise of Hattons, being agreed in late 2022 and then publicly announced in February 2023. By the…