Railways Illustrated

The best coverage of today's railway scene. Each issue of Railways Illustrated offers a comprehensive round-up of the latest news and topical events from the UK across the present-day railway, including heritage traction in operation on the main lines. Railways Illustrated reflects the energy and vitality of the present-day railway scene.

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Railways Illustrated

Northern begins procurement process for large scale train fleet replacement

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch to retire from union

Historic royal visit plaque donated by Network Rail to Crewe Heritage Centre

Railway staff recognised in New Year Honours list

GB Railfreight Class 99 locomotive moves to Velim for commissioning

Alstom £25m SWR Class 458 refurbishment is completed

£2 coin released for Railway 200 celebrations

Southeastern announces Electrostar refurbishment

GBRf awarded four-year contract extension by Aggregate Industries

LNER names Azuma Darlington in recognition of S&DR200 and Railway 200 commemorations

Northumberland Line reopened, but there's still work to be done

Tyne & Wear Metro Stadler Class 555s enter service

ScotRail begins procurement process for a replacement Intercity train fleet

LNER opens dedicated family lounge at York

Euston station improvement plan continues to make good progress

Network Rail consults on Manchester Oxford Road station remodelling plans

Traction News HNRC sold to Swietelsky AG

Another GBRF Class 69 completed by Progress Rail

Surviving Class 37/4s still proving their worth

Class 50s continue on GWR Night Riviera sleeper stock movements

Unit News

Unit Focus

Coaching Stock News

Shunter News

Livery Changes

Wagon News

Naming Update

Heavy Tractor Group Class 37/7 moves to Loram UK for winter maintenance

Severn Valley Railway plans a ‘One Railway’ restructure

Relief for DPS: specialist inspections of D9015 engine reveal it hasn't dephased

DEPG prepares preserved Hymek D7017 for its golden anniversary

ELR small engines showcased at its successful Open House event

Plym Valley Railway highlights HST vehicles

Hastings Diesels introduces BR blue and grey second main line ‘Thumper’

Network SouthEast colours for EARM Class 309

Third time lucky for movement of newly-preserved Class 507

Great Central Railway ‘steams’ into 2025

What's happening to… • Our monthly round-up of restoration projects around the country, compiled by Pip Dunn.

Can you have too much of a good thing?

PICTORIAL

Pioneer projects • Pioneer Diesels has gained an enviable reputation for its high-quality restoration work carried out on a wide range of heritage diesel locomotives, with the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway's 25059 the current main focus of the company's attention. Andy Coward headed to Barrow Hill Roundhouse to meet managing director Mike Jacob and view the work being carried out on the Class 25.

John Whiteley remembers… Class 40s on empty newspaper vans • Renowned railway photographer John Whiteley returns with some photographic memories of classic British Rail locomotives at work on iconic railway routes. For this instalment, John takes a nostalgic look back at the daytime-operated Class 40-hauled empty newspaper van trains that operated to the long-closed Red Bank carriage sidings in Manchester.

Clear route ahead! • Each year Network Rail operates its Railhead Treatment Trains to deal with the problem of leaf mulch build-up creating adhesion issues for trains operating on the railway. The autumn RHTT programme is a mammoth undertaking, and here we present a pictorial look back at the 2024...