The Railway Magazine November 2017

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BRITAIN’S BEST-SELLING RAIL TITLE 1897 November 2017 • £4.40

2017

Problems for Class 800 on passenger debut

◆ RM Class 50 railtour triumph ◆ New trains ordered for West Midlands

NAMES OF THE PAST Patrick Whitehouse

REFLECTIONS OF BR in the 1970s and 80s

FATAL FRACTURE

Hither Green 50 years ago

◆ SCARBOROUGH CHARTERS UNDER THREAT ◆ WEST SOMERSET GALA SUCCESS

Contents

November 2017. No. 1,400. Vol 163. A journal of record since 1897.

Headline News

Bombardier and CAF to build new West Midlands trains, GWR Class 800 debut, HS2 could force closure of Toton depot, £48bn funding for Network Rail CP6, Siemens and Alstom to merge, RM Class 50 special hits 100mph, Community Rail founder wins lifetime achievement award.

Bombardier’s‘Aventra’EMU has scored another major success with a deal to supply new metro and outer suburban sets for the new West Midlands franchise. BOMBARDIER

On the cover COVER: BR‘Standard 4’ No. 75014 approaches Blue Anchor on the West Somerset Railway during a rare venture away from its Dartmouth Steam Railway home.

DON BISHOP INSET: Railway Lives: P B Whitehouse.

INSET: Evocative views of 1970s BR. INSET: Recalling the Hither Green disaster of 1967.

Track Record The Railway Magazine’s monthly news digest 66 Steam & Heritage Blue ‘King’ for Paignton? Llangollen GWR 2-8-0 sold, ‘CanPac’ re-wheeled, gala success for West Somerset and Great Central, A1 Trust eyes ex-SDR depot building.

72 Industrial Steam 74 Steam Portfolio

83 Classic Traction 86 Irish News 88 Metro 90 Railtours 94 Freight 96 World 98 Traction & Stock

102 Stock Update 103 Traction Portfolio 105 Operations

Regulars 12 Multiple Aspects

222 Practice & Performance: West Coast Class 50s W John Heaton shares his timing logs from October’s‘Caledonian’railtour to Glasgow, and compares them with a selection of historical runs.

28 Railway Lives: P B Whitehouse In the latest of his short biographies of well-known railway authors, Robert Humm tells the story of a famous photographer and preservation pioneer.

36 Completing the Set An update on the Great Western Society’s project to build a replica Hawksworth‘County’, and how you can help to complete the family of GWR 4-6-0s.

44 Reflections of BR A selection of wonderfully atmospheric and evocative scenes from northern England in the 1970s, captured by the camera of Andy Sparks.

The Railway Magazine’s audited circulation of 37,250 copies per month makes it by far the

With Lord Berkeley.

12 Railways in Parliament 40 Readers’ Platform 42 Subscription Offer Subscribe today to receive your monthly copies of The Railway Magazine from only £20.

48 Meetings 52 Christmas Gift Guide 60 Panorama

New-build Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Baldwin 2-4-2T No. 762 Lyn heads a train of rebuilt L&BR coaches on September 29. JOHN STRETTON

Our monthly gallery of the best railway photography.

110 Heritage Diary

Find out what The RM was reporting 20, 50 and 100 years ago.

Fraaser Pithie looks back at the Hither Grreen derailment of November 5, 1967 an nd the maintenance failures that led to the death of 49 passengers.

ECML power supply upgraded for new trains, Forres station relocated, further blockades on Gospel Oak-Barking to complete electrification work.

Class 221 formed from spare VT/XC vehicles.

64 From The RM Archives

144 Fatal Fracture

76 Narrow Gauge 78 Miniature 80 Network

Hitachi rolls out first British-built Class 385s for ScotRail, Class 20s on RHTT, more Class 707s delivered, extra

Southern Pacific 3ft-gauge 4-6-0 No. 18 worked its first passenger train for 63 years in September. COLIN J MARSDEN

FFeatures

Details of when Britain’s unique collection of heritage railways and railway museums are open.

122 Prize Crossword and Where Is It?

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EDITORIAL

Editor: Chris Milner Deputy editor: Gary Boyd-Hope Senior correspondent: Ben Jones Designer: Tim Pipes Picture desk: Paul Fincham and Jonathan Schofield Publisher: Tim Hartley Editorial assistant: Jane Skayman Production editor: Sarah Wilkinson Sub-editor: Nigel Devereux Consultant editor: Nick Pigott Classic Traction News: Peter Nicholson Operations News: Ashley Butlin Narrow Gauge News: Cliff Thomas Metro News: Paul Bickerdyke World News: Keith Fender By post: The Railway Magazine, Mortons Media Group, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR Tel: 01507 529589 Fax: 01507 371066 Email: railway@mortons.co.uk © 2017 Mortons Media ISSN 0033-8923

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Accepted photographs and articles will be paid for upon publication. Items we cannot use will be returned if accompanied by a stamped addressed envelope, and recorded delivery must clearly state so and enclose sufficient postage. In common with practice on other rail periodicals, all material is sent or returned at the contributor’s own risk and neither The Railway Magazine, the editor, the staff nor Mortons Media Ltd can be held responsible for loss or damage, howsoever caused. The opinions expressed in The RM are not necessarily those of the editor or staff. This periodical must not, without the written consent of the publishers first being given, be lent, sold, hired out or otherwise disposed of in a mutilated condition or, in any unauthorised cover by way of trade or annexed to or as part of any publication or advertising, literary or pictorial matter whatsoever.

This issue was published on November 1, 2017.

The next will be on sale on December 6, 2017.

The Siemens Class 360/1 used by Greater Anglia may be only 15 years old, but new rolling stock orders for the franchise could render the 21-strong fleet redundant. Here, No. 360109 calls at Stratford, London on May 6, 2015. BEN JONES

‘Throwaway’ rolling stock policies are totally crazy TRAIN OF THOUGHT T Editor’s HE past few months have seen a number of notable orders for new rolling stock, and while very welcome it raises a number of questions, not least what happens to that not-so-old rolling stock that will be replaced?

There are great efforts being made to resolve some of the overcrowding on commuter services into London, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester, but the urgency for extra capacity on other routes – particularly all of CrossCountry’s routes – is being overlooked. As new housing developments are built along these routes, more people will want to travel by rail – but only if there is passenger capacity.

Some months ago we reported around 35 miles of siding space would be needed to store surplus stock because a disposal programme of scrapping and recycling could not keep pace with withdrawals.

It’s a figure that could now be even higher as trains less than ten years old are being handed back by franchisees in favour of new trains. Even railways have become part of the throwaway society.

It’s a bizarre situation, and one apparently encouraged by the Department for Transport, which appears to give more credence to a franchise bid that includes new trains rather than facelift or refurbish existing carriages – because it’s cheaper.

Furthermore, the DfT has ordered several fleets of new trains it has determined specifications for, and in the case of the Class 700, don’t fully meet the needs and perceptions of passengers or the franchisee. As a result these trains will be retro-fitted with tables, wi-fi and power sockets at a far greater cost than had those features been added if they had been specified at the time of the order.

It is less than two years away from renewal of the Midland Main Line franchise, and there is a growing

Comment

possibility the DfT could order new bi-mode trains to replace the ageing HSTs, which will not comply with passenger mobility legislation.

However, experts are now telling us bi-mode trains running on diesel power cannot match HST times, raising questions over where the claimed journey-time savings will come from.

Vast sums have also been spent re-engineering the former Gatwick Express units into longer and improved Class 458s – a project completed just 18 months ago, and now with a questionable future because a new franchisee has ordered new trains.

Money is also being spent on new traction packages for other units, and they too would appear to have a limited life span based on what franchisees want. Britain’s railways have evolved into an impressive network with great prospects for future growth, but there still seems to be a complete lack of long-term strategic planning when it comes to managing rolling stock and cascades.

Many fleets of electric trains with years of life left in them face a future deteriorating after being stored in sidings.

It makes the cancellation of many electrification projects even more baffling.

CHRIS MILNER, Editor

November 2017 • The Railway Magazine • 5

HeadlineNews

ASLEF backs new proposal to end Southern strikes

A POSSIBLE resolution in the long-running dispute between Southern and rail union ASLEF over driver-only operation has been reached and will be voted on by union members.

Mick Whelan, general secretary of ASLEF, said: “We have negotiated with the company on the three outstanding issues we

have with GTR Southern. In separate, but parallel, talks our negotiating team discussed three distinct issues – DOO, terms and conditions, and pay.

“The proposed agreement on DOO means we will have a second safety-trained person on every train except in exceptional circumstances. That person will have all the relevant safety

competence, including the skills to evacuate passengers in an emergency.”

The agreement will give ASLEF drivers a 28.5% pay increase over five years, covering the 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 pay settlements, taking a driver’s pay to around £63,000.

The deal will continue to the end of the franchise in 2021.

The proposed deal is company specific, so will not have any impact on the current disputes at Merseytravel and Northern.

Results of the ballot will be announced on November 8, but the union has agreed two settlements previously that were later rejected by a members ballot.

The RMT union, which is not

involved in this settlement, has held strikes on more than 30 days, and recently voted to strike on South Western Railway as they want two staff on trains at all times.

The Welsh Government announced on September 29 it is committed to keeping a safety-critical conductor on all of the Wales & Borders trains.

Talgo steps up search for UK manufacturing site SPANISH train manufacturer Talgo is keen to place a foot in the UK rolling stock market and has stepped up its search for possible manufacturing locations.

Jon Veitch, key account manager in UK and Ireland for Talgo, said the company was looking at markets for both HS2 and domestic routes, and was working with lease companies and financiers of trains.

In the search for a possible UK base, sites in Liverpool, Leeds and South Wales have been visited, with Mr Veitch also visiting Scotland.

Talgo is also eyeing the refurbishment and re-traction markets, as well as being able to offer maintenance packages to franchises or other third parties It is also looking at entering the Irish market.

Mr Veitch told The RM the intention is to manufacture trains from bare metal in the UK rather than import bodyshells produced

elsewhere and fit them out.

Talgo is a family-run firm that this year celebrates 75 years of producing rolling stock and locomotives.

The company can produce lightweight, low-floor articulated trains with full interoperatbility for the UK, powered from overhead supplies, third/fourth rail and also bi-mode. Its lowcentre of gravity trains would also fit the UK infrastructure.

Talgo currently has 281 trains operating in 44 countries, and enjoys a 55% share of the Spanish rolling stock market.

Its products also include gauge-changing trains that are used between Moscow and Berlin.

A UK version of the Talgo 350 (nicknamed ‘pato’ because of its duck-style front) could be offered for HS2, carrying 600 passengers on high-speed routes at 330 km/h.

These trains have a power car at each end and produce

11,000hp.

Talgo can also handle small and large orders, each to its own requirements, and the company would work to understand a customer’s needs and react accordingly.

Talgo is currently producing more than 60 high-speed T350 trains for Saudi Arabia at its Las Matas works, north west of Madrid.

The order includes 27 sets for pilgrims travelling between Medina, King Abdulaziz International Airport and the holy city of Mecca.

There is a further hybrid train being built for the Saudi king that will carry up to 30 passengers, the specifications of which are secret.

These trains feature military grade filtration, blowers to clear sand from the tracks, and a paint finish that can endure sandstorms and temperatures from sub zero to 50C.

Power cars for Talgo T350 trains under construction at its Las Matas plant, near Madrid, on October 11. The trains will be heading for Saudi Arabia.

The in-carriage display showing the route of the Haramain high- speed rail project, which the T350 Talgo trains will work.

BOTH: CHRIS MILNER

HS2 to force Toton depot closure?

DB CARGO’S main depot and workshops at Toton, between Derby and Nottingham, could be closed because of plans for HS2.

An artist’s impression, issued with a report by the East Midlands HS2 Strategic Board, shows plans for a series of garden villages and an innovation campus at the HS2 hub station in the East Midlands.

Also included are a range of new housing options and community facilities, in what will be a fully regenerated area, with the depot, sidings and other industrial site disappearing.

DB Cargo’s Andrew Byrne admitted the company could be forced to relocate Toton depot, adding it is working with HS2 on the options available.

Staff at Toton are being kept informed of developments.

Present and post-HS2 views of how the Toton area and surrounding land could be transformed.

Network Rail gets £48billion to spend in next control period FUNDING for Network Rail’s control period 6 (CP6) has been set at £47.9billion by the Transport Secretary Chris Grayling.

This statement of funds available covers the period from 2019 to 2024, during which time there will be more maintenance and a large increase in the renewals programme.

Funding from Government is

£34.7billion, which is topped up to £47.9billion by Network Rail’s own income stream.

The money will allow the biggest rail modernisation programme for over a century to continue. The budget for CP5 was £38.4billion.

In a change from previous approaches, the Government will allocate funds separately

6 • The Railway Magazine • November 2017

for major upgrades following a new process to ensure they are deliverable and represent best value for the taxpayer. This new process will be announced later in the year.

The change follows delays and cost overruns to projects during CP5, which ends next year.

Mr Grayling said: “Given the need to spend public money

wisely and to incentivise the industry to do so, I believe the funding envelope is stretching, yet achievable.

“Network Rail will be pushed to improve its effectiveness and efficiency. In particular, I support an ambitious approach to route devolution, so that Network Rail is more focused on its customers.”

Paul Plummer, chief executive

of the Rail Delivery Group, added: “This decision recognises the importance of our railway to the economy and to the communities and customers it serves, and it represents an important vote of confidence in the industry’s ability to deliver, while providing greater certainty for jobs and investment in the supply chain.”

Have you got a story for us? Email: railway@mortons.co.uk

Train problems mar Great Western’s Class 800 launch THE launch of Great Western were taken out of traffic for Railway’s Intercity Express Train software upgrades and other (IET) into passenger service modifications. on October 16 made a rather Hitachi Rail Europe managing inauspicious start. director Karen Boswell has Four Class 800 Hitachi bi-mode publicly apologised. She said: trains were being used on two “Nine years of hard work has diagrams between London and gone into making today happen, Bristol, Cardiff and Swansea, from creating a new factory representing the biggest and workforce, to establishing shake-up in motive power in the modern maintenance facilities region since the introduction of from Swansea to London. the InterCity 125 in 1976.

Set Nos. 800005 and 800006 Disappointed formed the 10-carriage 06.00 “We’ve delivered pioneering from Bristol Temple Meads to 21st century trains for passengers London Paddington service. to enjoy and sparked a However, the empty stock manufacturing renaissance in the was an hour late off depot at North East.

Stoke Gifford because of train “I am, however, very sorry and management software issues, disappointed that today’s first arriving at Temple Meads some passenger train from Bristol 19min after it should have encountered technical issues, departed. causing a delay to the service There was also an air and an air-conditioning issue, conditioning fault, which let which resulted in water entering water into the First Class area, so the carriage rather than being several wet seats were cordoned discharged externally. off. The train left 25min late, with “This was not to a standard that Transport Secretary Chris Grayling Hitachi expects and is known for. on board, and lost more time We can and will do better. Our because of the changeover failure depot teams are investigating the of power from diesel to electric, root causes of the technical issues, while on the move, after the set’s and we will ensure that these are pantographs didn’t raise. corrected as quickly as possible.”

GWR managing director Mark Modifications Hopwood said: “Today, GWR is The train came to a stand at once again making history, as Taplow to re-engage diesel power, we launch the first new Intercity and the journey was completed Express Train in a generation – without further incident, but and continue to transform rail arrival was 41min late. services across the region.

At Paddington the set was “During the next year we taken out of traffic. will continue to expand the Two other sets, Nos. 800008 operation of these new trains and 800009, were used more across the South West and Wales successfully on the 07.00 from as far as Swansea, including the London Paddington to Bristol introduction of another IET fleet Temple Meads and 09.30 return, specific to Devon and Cornwall before forming the 11.45 from next year.”

Paddington to Swansea - the first GWR says a new timetable IET with passengers to South will be introduced once the Wales. electrification programme has Later in the week the IET sets been completed in early 2019.

‘Saint’ boiler passes test THE boiler belonging to the Great Western Society’s re-created ‘Saint’ No. 2999 Lady of Legend has passed its hydraulic boiler exam at Didcot.

The boiler from former 'Hall' No. 4942 Maindy Hall now awaits its out-of-frames steam test, after which it will be returned to the Churchward 4-6-0’s frames.

No. 2999 should enter traffic in early 2018.

Three generations of inter-city traction at London Paddington in the early morning of October 16 as Class 800 IET No. 800009 waits to form the 07.00 to Bristol Temple Meads. ALISDAIR ANDERSON

ELECTRIC GOOD: DIESEL BAD

By John Heaton FCILT

HAVING had the good fortune not to have been on the first Hitachi bi-mode from Bristol, which met more difficulties than can be ascribed to bad luck, my Practice & Performance (P&P) colleague Keith Farr and I were on the 09.30 from Bristol Temple Meads and the 11.45 from Paddington to Swansea as far as Cardiff.

Diesel performance from the pair of Class 800 five-car units was below that of an average IC125, as one would expect from a train with a tare weight of 501 tonnes and six 560kW (750hp) diesel engines.

Hitachi personnel affirmed all engines were working and set to full power. Computer modelling

by Railway Performance Society technical officer Dr David

Stannard, using resistance figures available to him, predicts a balancing speed of 118mph on the level under these conditions.

Drivers seemed keener to apply full power earlier than with the noisier, smokier HST power cars, so initial acceleration was good.

However, this did not continue through the middle speed ranges, and spot speeds such as 90mph into Box Tunnel and 83mph coming out were around 10mph shy of an HST. This was worse at the top of the 1-in-100 climb from Dauntsey, where an HST minimum speed would be around 110mph, and the Class 800 units could manage only 91mph.

The maximum speed unchecked from Swindon to Didcot was no more than an

eventual 118mph. It was a different story on electric power though.

The switch from diesel took place at around Maidenhead.

Speed dropped from 111mph to 103mph during the changeover (perhaps this will be less drastic with greater familiarity), but reached 125mph before Slough.

Coming out of Paddington the acceleration after Ladbroke Grove resulted in 125mph before Airport Jct, saving a full minute on HST timings.

Passengers on the mainlydiesel Berks & Hants line to Devon and Cornwall will be pleased to learn their bi-modes will be more powerful.

When the units have settled down Keith Farr will be producing a P&P article covering the new units in detail.

Borders Rail vote campaigners Wheels out for Flying to push south towards Carlisle Scotsman after hot ‘box SUPPORTERS of the Borders was crucial the campaign be Railway have voted unanimously methodical in its response. at the AGM of the Campaign for ScotRail managing director Borders Rail (CBR) to press the Alex Hynes addressed the AGM, case for a new cross-border rail saying in the two years since link by extending the Borders opening, 2.6 million journeys Railway through Hawick and on had been made, proving there to Carlisle. was demand for services in the Simon Walton, who was Borders. He added longer trains elected for a second term as were in the planning stages chairman of the CBR, said this and said he would be involved would be a pivotal year, and in service planning for an with a Scottish Governmentextended railway. backed transport study The CBR has recently gained its expected in the New Year, it 1,000th member.

CELEBRITY ‘A3’ No. 60103 Flying Scotsman had to be removed from Steam Dreams’‘Cathedrals Express’ at Peterborough on October 18 after running a hot ‘box on the East Coast Main Line.

The Gresley Pacific had worked the train down from York that morning, and had been intended to continue on to Ely and Norwich later in the day.

However, following inspection, No. 60103 was failed and taken to the nearby Nene Valley Railway (NVR) for attention; the Ely to

Norwich leg running diesel-hauled.

The ‘A3’ was subsequently lifted at Wansford and the middle driving wheelset taken to Riley & Son’s Heywood works for machining. It was expected to go back in on October 24.

However as this issue of The RM closed for press that day the wheelset had not yet returned to Wansford.

As a result ‘Scotsman’ was pulled from the Railway Touring Company’s ‘Cotswold Venturer’ on October 28.

Department for Transport wants increased community involvement for future franchises A GREATER involvement by the community in future rail franchises is envisaged by Peter Wilkinson, managing director for Rail Executive Passenger Services at the Department for Transport.

Mr Wilkinson made the statement during a keynote address at the Association of

Community Rail Partnership (ACoRP) gala dinner, at which he called the partnerships and their volunteers ‘modern heroes’.

“These are real people with real spirit,” he said, adding, “community rail was at the heart of these rural and remote lines”.

Mr Wilkinson said recent

public consultation has unlocked community rail partnerships (CRPs) as the way to greater value, and it was essential to get more people interested in community rail, particularly reaching out to young people.

“Partnerships have helped to increase line patronage, pressed

for station enhancements, and devised innovative promotional schemes that has increased the awareness and value of rail.”

He added: “Often these lines are a neglected part of the network, and CRPs have shown the way forward and played a larger role in economic and social regeneration.”

The DfT would look closely at future franchise bids where there were plans for greater community involvement, and possibly more line reopenings.

Mr Wilkinson envisaged greater links between CRPs and the many heritage and tourist railways around the country.

November 2017 • The Railway Magazine • 7

HeadlineNews

Siemens and Alstom merger to create ‘European champion’

By Keith Fender

SIEMENS and Alstom announced on September 26 they had agreed a merger of the two company’s rail engineering businesses.

This followed months of speculation concerning a merger or joint venture between Siemens and a rival company, Bombardier Siemens and Alstom say they are joining forces to create a ‘European champion in mobility’, in particular to take on Chinese competitor CRRC, which is twice as big as the merged company, and will be called Siemens Alstom.

It will be based in Paris, as will its rolling stock business, although its signalling and digital services division will have its headquarters in Berlin.

Siemens will include its mobility division (rolling stock and signalling), plus its rail traction drives business, based in Germany, which until now has been part of its industrial large drives division.

All of Alstom will be included: the French group sold all its non-rail, power-generation business to US company GE in 2014.

The new Siemens/Alstom company is expected to have revenue of €15.3billion and profits before tax of €1.2bn in 2018, when the deal will be finalised. Cost savings of €470m are planned by 2022, most of which will come from reductions in management and support staff rather than factory closures or changes.

Joe Kaeser, Siemens CEO, described the deal as “transformational”, and later indicated the shareholding of Siemens in the new company will be 50.67% when it is finalised around December 2018, giving the company managerial control.

Siemens will not pay any cash as part of the deal, but will contribute the businesses detailed to Alstom in return for shares from the new Siemens/ Alstom company.

Six of the 11 directors will be appointed by Siemens, including a new chairman. Four independent directors will be appointed, with the Alstom CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge running the newly merged company.

The proposed merger is subject

Siemens’ Eurostar e320 ‘Velaro’ set No. 374009 sits next to Alstom Thalys TGV No. 4551 at Paris Nord on April 11, 2016. KEITH FENDER

to a wide range of regulatory approvals, with formal consultation among Alstom’s employees in France being the first major step. Anti-trust approval will also be needed in several countries.

In the UK neither company currently has a train

manufacturing plant, although both have previously hinted they might establish one for HS2 or other big orders.

Should Alstom back out of the proposed deal it would have to pay a €140m break-fee to Siemens.

A week after the announcement the French

Government suggested a wider pan-European rail engineering company may be formed over the next few years.

French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told the French Parliament he expected a single European conglomerate, including Spanish firm CAF.

Depot plan threatens Scarborough charters

‘Q’ class 4-4-0 No. 131 stands outside at the RPSI’s Whitehead base following the completion of its lining on October 8. ADAM LOHOFF

Irish Society’s ‘Black Beauty’ No. 131 ready for main line THE Railway Preservation Society of Ireland’s GNR(I) ‘Q’ class No. 131 has had its 1920s black paintwork completed at Whitehead, pending main line trials.

The Neilson Reid 4-4-0 passed its annual boiler exam on September 12 and has since been finished in gloss black, lined in red.

As the accompanying photograph shows, No. 131 looks particularly smart now that it is matched with its new ‘E’-type tender No. 37. This has been

completely rebuilt from the frames upwards, and includes the locomotive’s AWS and TPWS equipment.

Testing for Northern Ireland Railways’ acceptance was expected to begin around the time this issue of The RM went to press, taking the 1901-built loco out on several runs between Whitehead and Belfast.

Once approval is given, No. 131 is expected to become a feature of Whitehead operations from 2018.

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8 • The Railway Magazine • November 2017

DETAILS

STEAM and diesel charters to Scarborough may have to be reduced if TransPennine Express (TPE) proposals to build a new maintenance depot at the Yorkshire resort come to fruition.

TPE has submitted plans for a light maintenance depot on the former Appletons Oil sidings to service its new Class 68+Mk 5a push-pull trains, which are due to be introduced in 2018.

However, the disused oil sidings can only be accessed via the Down excursion sidings and platform 1 of Scarborough station, which are frequently used by charter trains.

The sidings also provide access to Scarborough’s turntable, which is essential for turning steam locomotives, and was funded by the local borough council to encourage visitors arriving by rail.

The West Coast Railway Company (WCRC) has formally

objected to TPE’s proposal on the basis that it will restrict its ability to operate charter trains to and from the town.

WCRC operates many trains to the town throughout the year, including the ‘Scarborough Spa Express’.

Dedicated platform

Recent resignalling at Scarborough was planned and executed with charter operation in mind, using platform 1 as the dedicated platform for such trains. Currently, the Down sidings can hold up to two full-length charter trains, allowing them to be stabled, serviced, shunted, and locomotives turned, without interfering with TPE’s timetabled services.

However, part of the TPE plan involves shortening one of the two run-round loops,

which would create severe restrictions when handling two steam-hauled charter trains simultaneously.

Charter trains starting at Scarborough can also be stabled securely in platform 1 overnight, something that cannot be guaranteed if they have to be moved to the Down sidings.

Platform 1 would have to be left empty overnight to allow TPE’s last evening and first morning trains to run to and from the proposed depot.

WCRC has suggested engineering sidings at Seamer, or the disused (but not rail connected) former Up carriage sidings at Scarborough as potential alternative locations for the TPE maintenance depot.

Interested parties have until November 13 to register objections with Network Rail over the plans.

King’s Cross collision caused by driver fatigue RAIL Accident Investigation Branch’s report into the August 15 bufferstop collision at King’s Cross concludes the incident was caused by driver fatigue.

The driver of Great Northern’s 05.13 Royston-King’s Cross apparently experienced a ‘microsleep’ in the last few seconds of the approach to the buffers, and despite making an

emergency brake application was unable to prevent the low-speed collision.

On-Train Data Recording equipment showed the train was well within the required 12.5mph limit when it passed the TPWS overspeed sensor, located 53 metres from the bufferstops.

However, RAIB reports the driver was towards the end of a ‘relatively demanding night shift’

of eight hours and 35 minutes that had started at 21.55 the previous evening.

Rail Safety & Standards Board (RSSB) guidelines advocate a maximum shift of eight hours for the first night shift after a period of rest days, as was the case in this incident. The driver also reported being unable to counter tiredness by taking sufficient naps during the shift in question.

Have you got a story for us? Email: railway@mortons.co.uk

Bombardier and CAF to supply 107 new trains for West Midlands

By Ben Jones

MORE than 400 new vehicles for the new West Midlands franchise will be built by Bombardier and CAF in a deal worth £680million.

Bombardier’s Derby plant will build 36 three-car ‘metro’ 90mph EMUs to replace the Class 323s on Birmingham Cross-City routes and 45 five-car 110mph outer-suburban EMUs for longer routes, including BirminghamNorthampton-Euston.

Both types are part of the ‘Aventra’ family, which has recently won large orders from Transport for London, Greater Anglia and South Western Railway.

The electric trains will be joined by 12 two-car and 14 four-car DMUs to a new CAF design for diesel suburban routes around the West Midlands. The DMUs could be built at CAF’s new factory in South Wales, although that has not yet been confirmed. The order is worth around €200m.

The 413 vehicles are due for delivery in 2020/21 and will increase the WM fleet by 25%.

They will provide space for an extra 85,000 passengers on peak-hour services between London and Birmingham. All trains will have gangways throughout, allowing passengers and staff

to move between units; airconditioning; and feature free wi-fi and at-seat power sockets.

Dominic Booth, managing director of Abellio UK, said: “It is great news that so many of these trains will be produced in the UK. “We are committed to working with the Government to strengthen the British economy and deliver thousands of highquality jobs over the coming years.”

The West Midlands franchise was awarded to a joint venture of Abellio, JR East and Mitsui in August, replacing Govia, which holds the current London Midland contract.

The franchise will invest around £1bn in the operation, including £60m on station improvements and 1,000 new car parking spaces, £70m for new and existing depots, and better Sunday services by 2021, including connections from Birmingham to Shrewsbury and Bedford to Bletchley.

CAF is currently building a new factory near Newport, which will employ 200 people when it opens in Autumn 2018, rising to 300 in 2019. It is being designed so CAF can build a range of different trains there, including trams, suburban and metro trains and high-speed trains.

An impression of the new CAF diesel train for the West Midlands franchise with its centre corridor connection.

Bombardier's ‘Aventra’ EMU for the West Midlands franchise has similar front-end styling to the CAF DMU.

Government provides £300million for improved HS2 northern links CHANCELLOR of the Exchequer Philip Hammond chose the Conservative party conference in Manchester to announce £300million funding for additional connections to High Speed 2 (HS2) in northern England.

The money is designed to improve journey times between

the major cities of the north, including Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds and York, as part of the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ project.

No specific details of the links were given, but it is thought the money will be used to provide high-speed chords between HS2 and existing routes to allow

quicker journeys on lines such as Sheffield to Leeds, where Transport for the North (TfN) has an aspiration for a 30-minute journey.

TfN welcomed the announcement, saying: “This is a significant step forward in TfN’s plans for the development of Northern Powerhouse Rail.

“It will enable much-needed transformational rail connections for the north to be delivered cheaper, faster and with less disruption.”

The Government has recently announced £5m funding for Network Rail to develop digital signalling technology for the Trans-pennine route, allowing

an increase in capacity and accelerated schedules.

However, doubt still surrounds the future of the Trans-pennine electrification scheme after Transport Secretary Chris Grayling hinted it could be downgraded to a partial electrification using bi-mode trains.

Electric Railway Museum closes – but the collection is saved from mass scrapping THE Electric Railway Museum (ERM) at Baginton, Coventry, staged its final open day on October 8 (RM August, p11), writes Peter Nicholson.

The museum was established in its final form 10 years ago and has only opened to the public on a few days each year. The number of visitors for the 2016 season was in the region of 2,000.

However, this last chance to view the unique collection of historic electric multiple units, both restored and awaiting attention, attracted no fewer than 1,000 visitors on the final day.

Many enthusiasts were making their first and only visit to the site and were impressed with what they saw. Local families, who had become the mainstay of those attending the various themed open days, were also out in force for a final look-round, expressing sadness at the loss of this educational facility.

The big question for everyone

though was of course: ‘What happens now’?

ERM officials were on hand to announce that homes had been found for nearly all the stock, albeit some locations more satisfactory than others. However, it would appear a ‘mass scrapping’ has been averted.

Transport costs

The museum is seeking compensation from Coventry City Council (CCC) and the developers as the lease has been terminated, but signs of any financial pay-out towards the estimated £120,000 transport costs are not looking encouraging.

Section 106 grants – as is the tradition in industry – are made to heritage projects displaced by new developments, but the involvement of CCC means this is not compulsory in this case.

The deadline for site clearance is March 22, calling for what will probably be the largest single

move of standard gauge rolling stock in UK preservation history.

Details of the proposed new homes for the stock are detailed in Classic Traction news (p84).

ERM chairman Ian Brown praised the support and interest shown by enthusiasts and the general public as well as that of the National Railway Museum (NRM) and Heritage Railway Association (HRA).

’Remarkable’

“The practical support shown by a number of heritage railways in agreeing to accommodate the endangered stock is quite remarkable,” he said.

He added that although the collection was now being dispersed, the museum itself was remaining in existence, with the continued aim of establishing a centre for heritage electric traction.

It is not only the stock at Coventry requiring a permanent

Former Spondon Power Station English Electric 4wBE has been a popular loco at the Electric Railway Museum. Its new home has yet to be confirmed. PETER NICHOLSON

home, but EMUs which are not there. The next-generation EMUs are now coming up for withdrawal and unless something is done soon a whole generation of rail transport history will be lost for ever.

Talks are in hand with various organisations, including the NRM, HRA and various bodies within the rail industry, to

establish a long-term future for electric traction preservation.

Ideally, two such sites would be created, one in the south and the other in the north.

ERM trustee Graeme Gleaves, who has been involved with the museum from the beginning, said: “This is not the end of the ERM story, but the start of a new chapter in its development.”

November 2017 • The Railway Magazine • 9

HeadlineNews SIDELINES GWSR announce Broadway terminus opening date THE GloucestershireWarwickshire Railway has announced that passenger trains will operate into its new Broadway terminus from Good Friday - March 30, 2018.

As this issue of The RM closed for press, track was being laid at the northern end of the station to provide run-round facilities.

Drone flown too close to Tornado fans A 28-YEAR old man has received a community order for breaching air navigation laws after he flew an unlicensed drone within 50 metres of onlookers watching ‘A1’ Tornado on its way to Walton-on-Naze on August 12.

The penalty was imposed following a joint inquiry involving Network Rail, Essex Police and the British Transport Police.

The man’s images were being sold in a local shop.

A separate incident on September 28 led to the arrest of a second drone operator.

Ride India for the Railway Children A TEAM of 12 rail professionals has just completed a seven-day expedition to climb to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, raising money for the Railway Children charity.

The charity is looking for participants for its Ride India 2018 challenge, cycling 450km from Delhi to Jaipur via Agra from March 2-13.

Details at: www.railway children.org.uk/events/events/ ride-india

Tender invite for Wales franchise THE Welsh Government has issued invitations to tender to the shortlisted bidders for the next Wales & Borders franchise, which begins in October 2018.

The shortlisted firms are: Abellio Rail Cymru, Arriva Rail Wales, KeolisAmey and MTR Corporation.

Bids for the 15-year tender must be completed by December 21.

of ‘Deltics’ Tyseley announces first Pair up for sale tour dates for Clun Castle

THE much-anticipated main line return of Tyseley’s flagship 4-6-0 No. 7029 Clun Castle will take place on March 31, when the newly overhauled ‘Castle’ heads to Chester.

Vintage Trains’‘Shropshire Express’ is expected to leave Tyseley Warwick Road at 09.05 and head out through Birmingham New Street and Tame Bridge Parkway to Wolverhampton. Here, it will join the West Coast Main Line for a northward dash to Crewe, before veering west to Chester.

The WCML section should provide the double-chimney locomotive with an opportunity to show its mettle, but on the return leg No. 7029 will head south from Chester to Wrexham, Gobowen and Chirk over the route of the Shrewsbury, Oswestry & Chester Junction Railway.

Three weeks later, on April 21, ‘Clun’ will be out again, this time taking the ‘Cotswold Express’ on a nostalgic tour of Great Western territory.

Leaving Tyseley shortly before 08.00, No. 7029 will proceed through central Birmingham to Stourbridge Junction, then turn south towards Kidderminster and Worcester.

From Cheltenham the ‘Castle’ will venture east past Stonehouse and Stroud, then take the Golden Valley line to Sapperton Bank and

BUSINESSMAN Martin Walker has decided to sell his two Class 55 ‘Deltics’ – D9016 Gordon Highlander and pioneer 55022 Royal Scots Grey (D9000).

Gordon Highlander is currently at Boden Rail Washwood Heath undergoing body repairs, while Royal Scots Grey had been running at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway as No. 55018 Ballymoss, but has been sidelined for some months because of a quill shaft failure. The repair needs the removal of the power unit.

Mr Walker said he’d had a great time with the locomotives, but it was time to let someone else take them on.

Last-ditch bid to save Wolverton

The finishing touches are applied to No. 7029 Clun Castle at Tyseley Locomotive Works ahead of its public debut – in steam – on October 29. ROBIN COOMBES

Kemble. Swindon follows, then Didcot, where the train leaves the Great Western Main Line for an afternoon layover in Oxford.

Classic Cotswold countryside provides the view on the return journey, taking the tour through

ACORP founding father given lifetime achievement award PROFESSOR Paul Salveson MBE, one of the founders of the community rail movement, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Association of Community Rail Partnership (ACoRP) gala dinner on October 5 .

Paul began his career at the Horwich Works and ended his rail career 35 years later as a senior manager at Northern Rail.

He set up the Penistone Line Partnership as the first community rail partnership back in 1994. Following its success, he went onto to sell the idea of

community rail to other areas of the country, which has helped to promote remote and rural lines.

Several schemes led to him setting up Community Railways, later to become the Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP), in 2000. This led to recognition by the then Strategic

Rail Authority, and the launch of the first national Community Rail Strategy in 2004.

The annual awards ceremony, for which The RM was a joint sponsor, recognises the best achievements by community rail schemes and partnerships across a variety of areas.

Winners of each award category are as follows:

New MD for Supertram STAGECOACH Group has appointed Tim Bilby as managing director of its Supertram operation in South Yorkshire. Mr Bilby has been interim managing director since March 2017.

He joined Stagecoach Supertram in January 2012 as head of finance and commercial.

22 killed in Indian bridge stampede A STAMPEDE in India at a pedestrian bridge during heavy monsoon rain on September 29 killed 22 people and injured 32 others.

The bridge connects two local Mumbai railway stations, Elphinstone and Parel.

Panic ensued after fears the bridge would collapse when masonry worked itself loose.

Charlbury, Moreton-in-Marsh and Evesham, before re-joining the old GWR line back towards Worcester Shrub Hill and home.

Further details can be found on the Vintage Trains website at: www.vintagetrains.co.uk/tours/

A REQUEST from Historic England to withdraw planning consent to build new 375 houses on the site of Wolverton Works looks to have failed.

Historic England said their views had been ‘omitted in error’ when the project was being considered

by Milton Keynes Council, adding that demolition of the buildings would cause substantial harm to the Wolverton Conservation Area, destroying the unique heritage of the railway town.

Approval of the plan went against the advice of the council’s own officers, but Historic England could yet force a Judicial Review of the plans.

Paul Salveson was the recipient of a lifetime achivement award from the Association of Community Rail Partnerships on October 5.

He is seen on the footplate of a 'Jinty' 0-6-0T.

10 • The Railway Magazine • November 2017

■ Involving Children and Young People – Devon & Cornwall Railway Partnership, for carbon reduction challenge.

■ Involving Diverse Groups – London Midland, Sandwell College and Smethwick Rolfe St station, adopters for station regeneration.

■ Community Art Schemes (Permanent) – ScotRail Alliance, Kilmarnock Connections ■ Community Art Schemes (Renewable & Smaller) – Farah Ishaq and Arriva Rail London, mural in Walthamstow.

■ Most Enhanced Station Buildings and Surroundings – Three Rivers CRP, Romsey station war memorial and station path.

■ Small Projects (under £500 cost) – Mytholmroyd station partnership.

■ Best Community Engagement Event – Swale Rail CRP and Kent CRP, Ambulance Train.

■ Best Marketing or Communications Campaign – Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership, Seize the Sunday.

■ Innovation in Community Rail – Purbeck CRP, restoration of Wareham to Swanage services.

■ Photo Competition (Essence of Community Rail) – Phil Dominey.

■ It’s Your Station – Friends of Hindley station.

■ Outstanding Volunteer Contribution – Sheila Davidson, Friends of Hindley station.

■ Award for Outstanding Contribution in Community Rail – Community Rail Cumbria

Have you got a story for us? Email: railway@mortons.co.uk

RM Class 50 charity special hits 100mph

TAKE two Class 50s, a fortywith enthusiasts, and arrival something-year-old Class 87, of the special into Glasgow 12 blue and grey carriages, 530 Central’s platform 11 just a few passengers, a worthy cause, and minutes adrift of schedule saw you have all the ingredients for some incredible scenes, with a memorable charity railtour. part of the station brought to a The Railway Magazine's fourth standstill. successive charity railtour – There was an equally spirited the ‘Caledonian’ – saw the return south, making up time publication working with new even with an emergency brake partners GB Railfreight, Rivera application and an extended Trains, Pathfinder Tours and the wait for two late-running Class 50 Alliance, to take a pair ‘Pendolinos’. of Class 50s back to Glasgow On board there was a Central to mark the 50th very convivial atmosphere, anniversary of the introduction passengers generously of the class by BR. It was also donating £2,612 to the raffle th the 60 anniversary of the first for the Railway Children run of the ‘Caledonian’ and The charity, swollen on the day by th RM’s 120 anniversary. a sealed bid for the ‘Caledonian’ A tour that sold out in a matter headboard of £2,000, which is The pair of ‘50s’ arrive at Preston for a pathing stop on the northbound journey. MIKE TAYLOR of days had both No. 87002 now displayed at Kidderminster Royal Sovereign and the ‘Hoover’ diesel depot, home of the two – both WCML diversion routes pairing of Nos. 50007 Hercules Class 50s. for the class in their heyday. and 50049 Defiance produce The final reckoning of It is expected this tour will be classic performances on the proceeds for the Railway spearheaded by sister magazine Euston to Crewe and Crewe to Children is still ongoing, but Rail Express, but The RM will Glasgow sections of the West initial estimates are £15-20,000 have details in a future edition.

Coast Main Line, respectively. will have been raised to help the ■ This month’s Practice & The ‘50s’ were always going to charity continue its work with Performance covers the charity be the star turn, and they didn’t vulnerable and at-risk children train’s working in comparison to disappoint, easily touching in the UK. other WCML runs – see p22.

100mph in both to and from Plans for a repeat Class 50 Glasgow on several occasions, double-header next April are showing age was no barrier to at an early stage, this time from Right: Enthusiasts and these meticulously maintained the West Midlands. It could members of the public flock machines. possibly include the Settle around the Class 50s after In spite of some awful & Carlisle line and also the arrival at Glasgow Central. weather, the lineside was busy Glasgow & South Western route CHRIS MILNER

Belmond disposes of ‘Northern Belle’

PETER W GRAY TORBAYBASED railway photographer and historian Peter W Gray died on October 2. He was 89.

Peter was a talented cameraman and former newspaper columnist, and was a meticulous note keeper when it came to railways.

He was also the author of several books on steam in Devon and the South West.

He took his first railway photographs while serving in the army at Basra, Iraq, during the Second World War, spotting two British locomotives and borrowing a camera to photograph them.

Mr Gray was also an occasional contributor to The Railway Magazine.

His funeral was held on October 25 at Torquay crematorium.

INDUSTRY sources have (DRS), using Class 57 and 68 confirmed Belmond has diesels. concluded a deal to sell its interest This situation is not expected to in the ‘Northern Belle’ luxury train change immediately, but there is operation to parties associated speculation a base closer to the with West Coast Railway Company. train’s usual operating area could The train is currently based at be sought.

Kidderminster, where it is serviced ‘Northern Belle’ operations are by the Severn Valley Railway, and focused on the north of England, operated by Direct Rail Services providing day trips between

northern cities, London and Scotland, and circular tours over scenic routes.

The set is largely formed of ex-BR Mk2F first opens, rebuilt with Pullman style interiors and loose armchairs. It also includes Mk3 sleeping cars, used as crew accommodation, kitchen vehicles and a generator van.

LM 350 off the rails on Merseyside

LONDON MIDLAND Class 350 No. 350246 was derailed during a shunting move at Liverpool South Parkway on October 6.

The incident came during a three-week closure of Liverpool Lime Street when all trains terminated at the parkway station.

Passengers were told to travel via Chester and the Wirral to Liverpool. Services were restored on October 8. MICHAEL PARROTT

THE Fort William portion of the Caledonian Sleeper from Edinburgh (dep 04.50) was hauled by Colas Rail Class 47 No. 47749 City of Truro on October 23 because of non-availability of traction from GB Railfreight. It is thought to be the first ever scheduled passenger working of a ‘47’ on the WHL. The train is seen arriving at Spean Bridge in heavy rain around 15 minutes late. JOHN CAMERON

November 2017 • The Railway Magazine • 11

Multiple Aspects

with Lord Berkeley

HS2: Concerns begin to mount over construction RUMOURS relating to HS2 design changes and infighting continue, as well as concerns by contractors about the high costs of designing and tendering for Phase 1 of the project.

At Euston, the scheme approved

by Parliament is proving to be a problem in that designing a grade separation just north of the station will not cause the collapse of a massive retaining wall holding up the Grade 1 houses on Park Village East when they start working on the as-yet unknown 100-year-old foundation.

For example, there is an old

canal on the far side of these houses; will water try to flow under them and destabilise the wall?

So HS2 is reported to be looking at an alternative scheme – to build the grade separation in a cavern right under the six-track approach to Euston.

Caverns can be built safely – two were built under the sea for the Channel Tunnel crossovers – but there is always a risk, and why take a risk when one can build such caverns further away under the sidings?

Tunnels collapsing under tracks are now in the news, after what happened at Rastatt, Germany in

August (RM Oct 2017). The answer at Euston is – apparently – it would be outside the limits of deviation agreed by Parliament, and ministers’ pride would be at stake if they admitted they had to seek further permissions.

Equally puzzling is what is reported to be happening regarding Old Oak Common, where HS2 is looking for a nine-platform solution for it to be a terminus.

The original design had six platforms; four for the line to Euston and two for the connection to HS1, since abandoned.

Six platforms would be sufficient

Are you sitting comfortably?

A READER has taken me to task for suggesting (Multiple Aspects, October) that ‘new trains bring greater comfort’.

He quotes the new Thameslink 700 series ‘seats’ as being very hard, and considering the long journeys that some people will travel on these trains the journey will become a ‘chore instead of a pleasure’.

Having travelled on these trains quite a lot recently, I must disagree. I found them comfortable and with a decent shape to fit me, but I suppose it all depends on one’s size and profile.

He recalls wooden seats in buses – and Swiss Railways had wooden seats in Second Class until quite recently; no doubt there are still some on the mountain railways. We shall have to see how the new IEP train seats compare – people will be in them for very much longer than even on Thameslink services.

Of equal interest to me is the pitch of

for terminating all HS2 trains for Phase 1.

HS2 has always insisted they need 11 platforms for Phase 2 at Euston so, if they are planning to terminate all trains, including Phase 2 at Old Oak Common (OOC), why are they looking at nine rather than 11 platforms? In fact, nine is probably sufficient – even generous for such a new, high-speed line as we are promised.

Or is HS2 being devious and setting out to prove that OOC cannot be used as a terminus because they can only fit in nine platforms?

Simplify Brighton line ticketing

the seats; people with long legs have real difficulty in sitting in such seats without their legs overflowing into the centre walkway, but I do not believe any of our trains have such small pitch as provided by Ryanair or EasyJet! However, many people also complained about the high backs of some seats which prevent people from getting a view. First GW were heavily criticised for introducing such seats on a part refurbishment of the 125s, but then we were told it was for safety reasons since the high backs give more support in the event of an accident.

Someone proposed a few years ago all train seats should have seat belts which must be worn at all times when the train is moving – as is a requirement in coaches today. However, before going down that alley, we should look at the relative statistics of accidents to passengers in coaches and trains. More on this anon!

TRAVELLING several times on the Brighton line in September, I was once again struck by the variety of tickets available between Brighton, Gatwick and London stations, be they Victoria or the Thameslink type.

Now that Gatwick Express sometimes starts at Brighton, the logic of charging extra to sit in a red train escapes me; the timings are virtually identical to Southern services.

Many people might also want to go one way on the Southern service and return from a different part of London using a Thameslink train, but it seems this is not possible with off-peak or super off-peak day return tickets. Instead the price increases for an off-peak day trip between Brighton and London from £17.60 to £35 or £40, just for the

convenience of using a different London terminal.

And as for the confused overseas visitor trying to get from Gatwick to London, they also have three different services on offer (Gatwick Express, Southern and Thameslink).

The only improvement that has happened at Gatwick is the extension of the Oyster card, but how can one tell which fare it has deducted when you arrive at Victoria?

I suspect this line is the most complicated in the country for different fares, and it is about time it was simplified. berkeleyafg@parliament.uk

■ (The independent views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of The RM or the Rail Freight Group, of which Tony Berkeley is chairman).

Railways in Parliament

by Jon Longman

Ryde Pier worries

BOB Seely (Isle of Wight) asked whether the cost of necessary infrastructure works on the Ryde Pier rail route will be funded

by Network Rail, and whether such funding will be borne by the public purse and the franchise.

Transport Minister Paul Maynard said: “The infrastructure on the Isle of Wight is owned by Network Rail and the responsibilities for maintenance and renewal of these assets is apportioned between Network Rail and the Train Operating Company (South Western Railway, SWR) under the terms of the lease between these organisations.

This lease is due for renewal in 2019.

“We would expect Network Rail to make provision for any routine maintenance and renewal works required within their overall cost base for activities

for Control Period 6 and to reflect these in the renewed lease. Ultimately, costs falling to Network Rail are borne by the public purse.

“In addition to this, South Western Railway is due to submit a costed option to the Secretary of State by the end of March 2018 in relation to the future operation of the Island Line. To the extent that this is acceptable, it may result in an adjustment to franchise payments made to Government by the franchisee.

SWR are in the process of consulting with local stakeholders regarding options.”

Diesel emissions

ANDY McDonald (Middlesbrough) asked, with reference to the announcement in July on the end of sales of all new conventional petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2040, what the policy is on the

12 • The Railway Magazine • November 2017

use of diesel trains after that date.

Mr Maynard replied: “We are encouraging the railway industry to improve air quality by proposing solutions that reduce emissions from trains and also to develop innovative solutions around future fuel technologies such as hydrogen and battery power.

“In the nearer term, there are currently a number of new bi-mode trains being delivered or on order. The rail industry expects rolling stock to typically have an expected life in the range of 30 to 35 years. There is no policy at present on the use of diesel trains post 2040.”

Heathrow rail links

JIM Fitzpatrick (Poplar and Limehouse) asked what progress has been made on bringing forward a new southern rail access link to Heathrow Airport.

Mr Maynard replied: “On October 25, 2016, this Government announced that a Northwest Runaway at Heathrow Airport, combined with a package of supporting measures, was its preferred scheme to deliver additional airport capacity in the South East of England.

“The supporting measures would include improved rail access to the airport and we are actively looking at what we could do to accelerate these.

“The next step for the proposed Southern Rail Access is a GRIP 1-2 study to permit informed option appraisal. This is being considered alongside the detailed development of Western Rail Access plans for the airport, in order to ensure that we provide maximum benefit for airport and non-airport passengers and exploit the new journey opportunities this may provide.”