The November 2023 issue of Today's Railways UK is full of interesting articles and features covering all aspects of Britain’s railways, plus all the very latest news from across Britain’s railway network. This month we look in depth at new trains on Britain’s railways, but we also include all our regular monthly sections covering light rail, heritage railways, preservation and railtours, with readers’ letters and our grumpy old man also in attendance.
Feature articles this month include:
That Was The Age of the Train: On 18 September, almost 42 years after the InterCity 125 High Speed Trains were officially launched by BR on the cross-country route connecting the North-East with the South-West of England, Arriva's CrossCountry Trains retired its fleet of HSTs from ordinary passenger service. In doing so, it brought down the curtain on almost half a century of HSTs being used on inter-city services to connect towns and cities across Great Britain at speeds of up to 125 mph, leaving Great Western Railway's Castle Class sets and ScotRail's Inter7City HSTs as the only examples still in ordinary, timetabled passenger service on the main line. Ian Beardsley and Robert Pritchard review their final few weeks of operation and the celebrations that book place to mark their withdrawal.
Farewell to the CDAs: The End of a Cornish Icon: August saw the withdrawal of the last of the distinctive CDA hoppers, bringing to an end the operator of four-wheel wagons on china clay traffic in Cornwall. Keith Barrow looks back on the 35-year career of this HAA-derived design.
An Afternoon at Southall: Mike Reynolds continues his "afternoon at" series with a trip to Southall station in west London.
Exploring the Elgar Line to Hereford: Mark Lee Inman explores the line from Birmingham to Hereford via Worcester and Malvern, following in the footsteps of the famous composer Sir Edward Elgar.
London Underground's Battery Locos: These days barely an issue of Today's Railways magazine (both the UK and Europe editions) goes by without mention of battery traction. Hidden away under London is a bettery locomotive fleet larger than anything running on main lines - and much older. Nick Lawford looks at London Underground's battery locomotive fleet.
News stories this month include:
- HS2 northern section hangs in the balance?
- Work starts on HS2's longest "green tunnel"
- New long-term deals of CrossCountry and Avanti
- 680 000 respond to ticket office closure consultation
- Rail industry announces plans to celebrate Stockton & Darlington bi-centenary
- Fares set to rise by 8% in 2024?
- GBRf opens new £5.75m Peterborough depot
- Peterborough Power Signal Box signals last train
- Northern City Line proved ready for digitally signalled passenger services
- Network Rail fined £6.7m over Carmont derailment
- Chris Jackson appointed Managing Director of TransPennine Express
- Marston Vale Line service set to resume in November
- ScotRail consults on 2025 timetable
- Fire hits Ayr station
- Newport-Ebbw Vale set of December start
- Concern about potential job cuts at Derby
- Worcestershire Parkway usage beats expectations
- Light Rail usage up 23.3% across England
- Wolverhampton station extension opens
- Retro repaint for Europhoenix Class 91
- Former Freightliner Class 86s arrive in Bugaria
- GWR HSTs reduced to three diagrams
- First Class 805 in Avanti West Coast livery
- Major milestone reached in Pendolino refurbishment project
- "Falcon" takes flight - world's newest steam loco is launched
- Land purchase secures the future of the Doon Valley Railway
- Three-week closure for Worth Valley
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