The October 2021 issue of Today's Railways UK contains a range of interesting articles covering all aspects of Britain’s railways, plus all the very latest news from across the railway network. Our regular monthly sections take an in-depth look at light rail, heritage railways, preservation and railtours, with readers’ letters and our grumpy old man also in attendance.
Feature articles this month include:
Swinderby Sojourn: Following his popular 'Saxilby Sojourn' feature in TRUK227, Robert Pritchard now visits another Lincolnshire station on which it is well worth spending an hour or two, especially before resignalling work takes place next year. Swinderby lies roughly half way between Lincoln and Newark and along with the whole 'Castle Line' has just celebrated its 175th anniversary.
South-West Scotland: Freight in Focus: When one considers freight traffic in the South-West of Scotland, one automatically assumed coal. While there is no denying that coal traffic was the major player in the area, with countless workings emanating from the various disposal points, opencast sites and the rapid loading facilities, there has been and still are other freight workings to be seen. In this feature, Stuart Fowler recalls some of the trains which no longer run and looks at those still in the timetable today.
Takes Your Seats on the Night Riviera: Anders Beavis Berry takes a ride on GWR's 'Night Riviera' sleeper train from London Paddington to Penzance.
Basingstoke-Southampton Explored: Stephen Roberts explores the main line south from Basingstoke to Southampton.
The Pacers: Popular for Preservation: Two years on from the first Class 142 being stood down by Northern, Ian Beardsley investigates the fate of the Class 142, 143 and 144 Pacer fleets. Includes a full list showing the current status of all Class 142, 143 and 144 Pacer DMUs.
The Pride of Leicester: Ian Beardsley visits UK Rail Leasing Ltd's Leicester Beal Street depot to learn about how it has been developed over the past eight years and the recent contract to maintain and service the CrossCountry Class 170s that are used on the Birmingham to Stansted route.
News stories this month include:
- East Coast Main Line May 2022 timetable delayed.
- New marketing campaign aims to get passenger back on trains.
- ScotRail ends physical distancing rules.
- SWR plans cuts in December 2022 timetable.
- Further delay for Island Line reopening.
- ScotRail plans lasting service cuts.
- Troon station fully reopens.
- Class 66 hits trailer on level crossing.
- MML prepares for Brent Cross West station.
- MP condemns Durham Coast overcrowding 'chaos'.
- Go-ahead for Wigan-Bolton electrification.
- Paddington and Whitechapel Crossrail stations handed over.
- Cairngorm funicular reopening postponed.
- DB Cargo UK to invest £2.6m in automotive facilities at Toton.
- First Revolution VLR Demonstrator completed.
- Aberdare line closes for electrification work.
- Trams to Newhaven project remains on track despite concrete shortage.
- DB Cargo UK looks to offload more of its Class 60s.
- Rebranding raises cancer awareness.
- CrossCountry diversions via Westbury.
- CrossCountry Voyager named in memory of the lives lost in the Hixon incident.
- Driver training starts on Class 197s.
- Northern 153s in East Yorkshire.
- Aventras introduced onto West Anglia routes.
- DB ESG to modify ex-Grand Central Mark 4s.
- Three more IETs named for GWR.
- Talyllyn Railway awarded World Heritage status.
- Government pauses bridge infilling schemes.
- 'Gresley' emerges from NRM workshop wearing wartime black.
- Clacton Express Preservation Group formed to secure future for Class 309 unit.
- 'Staycation Express' season scaled back.
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