This day in history 10 January
Images
Colchester: A panorama of Colchester station on a dismal 10th January 1976. The former Essex Hall Hospital (demolished 1989) occupies the background to the left while in the right foreground is the rough and ready overspill car park. Platform 2 in the station is hosting an unusual visitor in the form of a Class 33 at the head of a football special. It has just arrived with Crystal Palace fans who are about to transfer to the buses on the right and head for Colchester United's ground at Layer Road. The visitors went away happy despite the weather, having won three nil.
White Colne: Derelict and ruined stations evoke a variety of sentiments, but in January 1976, the remains of White Colne station had the chilling feel of a forgotten grave. In life, the station had served passenger trains on the highly individual Colne Valley and Halstead line between Chappel & Wakes Colne and Haverhill. The waiting room was an old carriage body and the booking office was at the opposite end on the other side of a level crossing. The passenger service ended in December 1961 and the last freight train ran through from Halstead in 1965.
Euxton Junction: In weak winter sunshine 47448, with a Blackpool North to Manchester Victoria Club Train, slows for the crossovers at Euxton Junction in 1980. The train is passing under the M6 and will cross from the WCML Up Slow to take the Chorley and Bolton line. 47448, the former D1565, lasted in service until January 1991 when it was withdrawn from Crewe. It was cut up at Booths, Rotherham in 1996.
Euxton Junction: BR Sulzer Type 2 No. 25304 takes a train of fitted vans south on the Up Fast line at Euxton Junction in January 1980. The train is just passing under the M6 Motorway near Junction 28. Built by Beyer Peacock at Gorton in 1966 as D7654, the loco only lasted in service until November 1982 and was eventually cut up at Swindon Works in 1985.
Kilmacolm: Almost the end. A DMU for Glasgow Central standing at the platform at Kilmacolm during the last day of operations on 10 January 1983.
Kilmacolm: Last day at Kilmacolm. Station frontage on 10 January 1983 see image [[37159]].
Corkerhill: Kilmacolm bound DMU 107439 at Corkerhill a few days before closure of the line. Closure was as and from 10th January 1983, a Monday, so the last train ran on Saturday 8th January.
Markinch: Sign outside Markinch station on 10 January 2006 announcing the construction of a new Integrated Public Transport Interchange. See image [[13048]]
Dalmeny: Fife circle train leaves Dalmeny on 10 January and heads out onto the Forth Scaffolding ...errr Bridge.
Dalmeny: Passengers for Waverley change at Haymarket... thus spake the station announcer at Dalmeny on 10 January 2007 see image [[12958]].
Dalmeny: Train for Haymarket heading past the loops and sidings south of Dalmeny station in January 2007.
Culross [2nd]: A coal train from Hunterston Import Terminal approaching Longannet power station westbound in January 2007 behind EWS 66072. The train would have run via the Forth Bridge route with a reversal at Halbeath sidings see image [[9821]].
Markinch: 'Ready in May eh...that'll be right...' Two consultants review progress at Markinch on 10 January 2007. (The official opening took place on 6 November 2007). See image [[13049]].
Dalmeny: Northbound service from Edinburgh on the long climb to the Forth Bridge approaching Dalmeny station in January 2007.
Dalmeny: Coal empties from Longannet rumble off the Forth Bridge and into Dalmeny station on 10 January in bright Winter sunshine.
Markinch: View west over Markinch station on 10 January showing construction work on main building and new west side entrance.
Johnstone: 66198 at the head of a Longannet bound coal train heads towards the loop at Elderslie.
Paisley Gilmour Street: 66403 on the daily W. H. Malcolm Elderslie to Grangemouth service at Paisley Gilmour Street.
Paisley Gilmour Street: 334009 crossing Wallneuk Junction as it enters Paisley Gilmour Street with a Gourock service.
Paisley Gilmour Street: 66403 on the daily W. H. Malcolm Elderslie to Grangemouth service passes 334011 outside Paisley Gilmour Street.
Brock: With the loss of the sun for the day, the camera was switched to Black & White mode to capture a Virgin Voyager southbound approaching Brock with a service to Birmingham New Street on a cold 10 January 2010 made even colder with a strong north easterly wind.
Aberdour: Aberdour didn't get a station until 1890 when the Forth Bridge and its connecting line to Burntisland opened. The full set of original buildings remains, including the low-rise signal box seen here on 10 January. That laurel, though a fine constituent of Aberdour station's famous garden, would not have been allowed to grow quite as high when the box was in use.
Brock: An Edinburgh bound Voyager from Birmingham New Street is seen at speed approaching the foot crossing at the former Brock station on 10 January 2010. Looking through the viewfinder it was possible to see the snow and ice being whipped up by the train, something that has been blamed for several broken windows on passing Pendolinos.
Brock: Although there was very little snow on the ground the temperature was cool as a southbound Voyager approached Brock in January 2010.
Brock: A northbound Voyager heading to Scotland passes through the Brock area between Preston and Lancaster on 10 January 2010 in seasonal conditions.
Brock: A southbound FTPE Class 185 bound for Manchester Airport passes a northbound Pendolino for Glasgow Central at the site of the former Brock station on 10 January 2010.
Aberdour: Conflicting evidence at Aberdour station on Sunday 10 January. It can't be 0602: in fact it's 1026. In what seems to me a bizarre fault the CIS display on the northbound plaform got stuck early one morning in the last days of 2009 as if frozen in the prolonged cold spell. Well there's a thaw today but it hasn't started moving again...
New Longton and Hutton: New Longton and Hutton station closed with the Preston to Southport line in 1964 and has been completely built over. It had originally been called Howick, later Hutton & Howick but the final name reflected the village it lies in the centre of. Immediately to the north of the platforms was a level crossing on a sharp bend in the road and the crossing keeper's cottage, now incorporated into a much larger property, is the only surviving railway feature. This view, with the site of the station behind the camera, looks along the route of the line towards Preston in January 2011.
Dunfermline Town: 158 789 calls at Dunfermline Town with an Edinburgh - Glenrothes with Thornton service on 10 January 2011.
Plates, signs, notices etc: Glasgow Central Railway, Stobcross and Kelvinside profiles and tunnel sections.
Plates, signs, notices etc: Glasgow Central Railway, Stobcross and Kelvinside tunnel excavation details.
Plates, signs, notices etc: Plans of the Glasgow Central Railway bridges at Finnieston and Strathclyde Street.
Kelvin Bridge: Glasgow Central Railway plans showing the details of bridge over River Kelvin at Kelvinbridge - carrying track and station platforms.
Kilmarnock: The first visit of a class 20 to Kilmarnock on a service train for some time. DRS 20303 operating in tandem with 7Z57 on snow ploughs to Carlisle, shortly after leaving Brodie Engineering, Bonnyton, on 10 January 2012.
Royal Oak: 165132 approaching Paddington, passing the LUL Royal Oak station, on 10th January 2013. On the right, behind the fence, is the incline leading to and from the western portal of the Crossrail tunnel, which should have opened in December 2018.
St Andrew Square [Tram]: View south towards Princes Street on 10 January 2013 showing works on both track and tram stop at St Andrew Square well advanced, with the final surface being installed along most of its length.
Princes Street [Tram]: Given the deep excavations required in the area See Image [[37738]] it is good to see that the installation of tram tracks running round from Princes Street onto South St Andrew Street is now complete, with re-instatement of the road surface along South St Andrew Street almost finished.
Larkhall: On the left a recent arrival stands at the buffer stops at Larkhall on 10 January 2013 ready to form the next service to Dalmuir. On the right is one of the 8 planters now located around the station as a result of the efforts of Machanhill Primary School, with advice from Goulding's Garden Centre.
Latimer Road: Latimer Road station, looking east, on 10th January 2013. This line was primarily a GWR branch from the main line near where Westbourne Park station now stands to Hammersmith and opened in 1864 (Latimer Road was added in 1868) with services by both the GWR and Metropolitan. The GWR trains were broad gauge but they ceased to run to Hammersmith in 1869 and the broad gauge rails were removed, leaving a lasting legacy of the wide space between the tracks today. Nearby, sadly, are the remains of the tragic Grenfell Tower, similar to that in the background. After the tragedy, suggestions were made that Latimer Road station should be renamed Grenfell as a memorial but that has not been pursued.
Edgware Road: Three grubby LUL C stock trains (now withdrawn) at Edgware Road on 10th January 2013, the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Metropolitan Railway although the present station here is a rebuild dating from 1925. On the outsides are two Circle Line trains and in the middle a District Line train to Wimbledon.
Royal Oak: 360201, on a Heathrow Connect service, just departed from Paddington and passing the LUL station at Royal Oak on 10th January 2013. Although only introduced in 2004 these four non-standard EMUs were withdrawn in 2020. It initially looked like they were gong for scrapping but in February 2021 they are reported heading for the Rail Operations Group as freight/parcels EMUs. See image [[54232]] for a 1980 view from this location.
Ardrossan South Beach: DRS 57010 and WH Malcolm liveried 66434 with the 6M22 Hunterston to Sellafield nuclear flasks passing through Ardrossan South Beach on 10 January - unusually on the platform line.
Layton: Northern 150138 slows for the stop at Layton station, the first of many on its journey from Blackpool North to Huddersfield via Manchester Victoria on a sunny 10th January 2015. [Ref query 6876]
Layton: A brand new footbridge has been erected at Layton ahead of the electrification of the line. See image [[37224]]. 158757 passes through on a Sunday service to Blackpool North that had started at Church Fenton. The more substantial Crossley's Bridge in the background will also be rebuilt during 2016/17.
Ribblehead Viaduct: Ribblehead viaduct bathed in wonderful light on the 10th of January 2016.
Thirdpart Junction: Looking west from the Troon Road (A759) overbridge just east of the former Thirdpart Junction at Moorfield, Kilmarnock, 10 January, 2016. Trees on the left cover the solum of the former Riccarton/Hurlford Branch, which trailed into the Troon line a few hundred yards to the west. Buildings on the skyline were formerly the Massey-Ferguson tractor plant, complete with its own siding and loading bank (siding curved north at the line of fence posts visible at the far end of the field on the right), and are now in Moorfield Industrial Estate, rail access long since removed of course.
Fairlie Junction: Looking west to the former Fairlie Junction on the Kilmarnock & Troon Railway, 10 January, 2016. The Troon line follows the hedge line on the right, with Gatehead level crossing just visible as the tree-filled gap between the houses in the village straight ahead on the skyline. Fairlie Junction itself was where the tall mast now stands, the branch ploughed into the first field but is still clearly visible (take my word for it!) on the near side of the further fence (embankment over a culvert). The old viaduct over the River Irvine is just off picture to the left.
Fairlie Junction: A short distance after curving away southward from the Kilmarnock & Troon Railway, the Fairlie Branch crossed the River Irvine by a 2-span plate girder bridge, the remains of which were photographed from the north bank of the river looking southeast, 10 January, 2016. Steelwork was removed many years ago although, where it inserted into the abutments, short sections were left in situ (the rectangle projecting upwards in foreground of photo is part of a bridge girder). The Fairlie branch curved away to the southwest on the south side of the river and served coal pits at Fortacres (beyond the Gatehead to Symington road), with a branch to coal pits at Earlston and Caprington. Caprington No 41 Pit, scene of a mining disaster on 10 December 1909 when the River Irvine flooded the workings and drowned 10 men, was located in the field to the left of the railway embankment on the south side of the river.
Kilmarnock: The diverted Caledonian Sleeper heads south through Kilmarnock on 10 January 2016 hauled by GBRf class 47s 47843+47848. The 47s will be replaced by a single class 90 electric locomotive at Carlisle.
Ordsall Chord: A photograph of a Network Rail billboard outside one of the Ordsall Chord worksites which shows what the bridge over the River Irwell will look like when completed. Compare with the earlier aerial view see image [[15343]]
Aberdeen: Aberdeen station on 10 January 2017. The Caledonian Sleeper to London Euston awaits its departure time behind 66736 Wolverhampton Wanderers doing the hard work and 73936 taking it easy. On the adjoining platform is 170416 with the 21:05 to Edinburgh Waverley.
Ordsall Chord: The new viaduct for the Ordsall Chord edges ever further south as it is about to cross Trinity Way. Behind the camera is the deck of the bridge over the River Irwell which the viaduct will eventually link up to.
Carmont: This is the 11:42 Aberdeen to Glasgow Queen Street passing the signal box at Tannachie. The station here was latterly called Carmont having gone through various names; New Mill Offset, Newmill Siding, Newmill and finally Carmont. Carmont was somewhat further east but at least Carmont Hill is not far away.
Ordsall Chord: Looking south down Water Street, with the L&M Liverpool Road station above to the immediate left, the deck of the new Ordsall Chord bridge and beyond it the replacement bridge on the line from Castlefield Jct to Ordsall Jct.These two bridges were installed during a closure over Christmas and New Year.
Manchester Piccadilly: An evening view from the western end of platforms 13/14 at Manchester Piccadilly looking towards Oxford Road. In the distance are the tail lights of an ATW DMU waiting to proceed as both signals above it are at danger. Over the extended Christmas and New Year possession signalling improvements were introduced to allow bi-directional running on these lines through to Ordsall Jct.
Heysham Port: Built by the Midland Railway to provide power for the electrified railway to Morecambe and Lancaster, this is the first Heysham Power Station. Following closure, removal of the generating equipment and some rebuilding it became a workshop for the port, a role it continues to perform today. Seen from the ferry terminal road in January 2017, the railway in the foreground is the short branch to the nuclear power stations.
Ordsall Chord: Looking south along the River Irwell on 10 January 2017, with the new bridge over the river for the Ordsall Chord in the middle distance.
Aberdeen: The 21:05 to Edinburgh Waverley, Class 170 416, at Aberdeen.
Ordsall Chord: With the deck of the bridge over the River Irwell on the left skyline, on the right is one of the steel arches that will eventually be lifted to support the deck.
Aberdeen: Aberdeen station, sleeper to London Euston; Class 66736 Wolverhampton Wanderers doing the hard work and 73936 taking it easy, effectively operating as an 'ETHEL'.
Rose Hill Marple: A Northern Pacer at Rose Hill Marple in the late afternoon of 10 January 2017 waiting to return to Manchester Piccadilly. I suspect that the train crew were a little bemused at who this strange Scotsman was who travelled out from Piccadilly only to photograph and return!
Deansgate: A pair of EMT Class 158s heading west from Deansgate station towards Castlefields Jct with the 1057 service from Norwich to Liverpool on a damp and dull 10 January 2017.
Thorntonhall: Thorntonhall seen here is of course on the Busby-East Kilbride line which will attain its 150th anniversary on 1 September next year.
Aberdeen: The nameplate of class 66736 Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Thorntonhall: The diminutive station building at Thorntonhall, viewed from the road bridge. Thorntonhall is served by only alternate trains.
Stokesley: Between Stokesley and Battersby Junction Stations the now lifted line from Picton ran under the B1257 Stokesley to Helmsley road, under the still extant curved, humped, stone bridge as seen in a view looking in a southerly direction. The bridge is north of Great Broughton.
Stokesley: Between Stokesley and Battersby Junction Stations the now lifted line from Picton ran under the B1257 Stokesley to Helmsley road. This crossed the still extant curved, humped, stone bridge seen in a view looking along the trackbed in a westerly direction from Back Lane, Great Broughton in January 2018.
Hawkhead Oil Siding: The sidings at Hawkhead Oil Terminal, looking east towards Glasgow on 10 January 2019. The Paisley Canal line is on the left and Hawkhead station behind the camera.
Cathcart: 314202 calls at Cathcart on 10 January 2019 with a Central to Central Inner Circle service.
Hawkhead: A Paisley Canal to Glasgow Central service with 314211 arrives at Hawkhead on 10 January 2019.
Bridgeton Cross [CR]: A view of the former island platform at Bridgeton Cross on the line to Parkhead and Carmyle from the footbridge of the present day Bridgeton station. The westbound line ran under the container and two skips towards the camera while the eastbound line was to the left under London Road which is behind the brick wall above.
Glasgow Central Low Level: Looking west into the tunnel towards Anderston from the platform at Glasgow Central Low Level on 10 January 2019. The picture looks quite bright compared to what is seen with the naked eye but with the camera sat on the top of the fence at the end of the platform and a 30 second exposure it is possible to see some of the tunnel features.
Cathcart: 314203 passes Cathcart station on the west curve with a service from Newton to Glasgow Central on 10 January 2019.
Shields Road Depot: A trio of EMUs stand outside Shields Road Depot on 10 January 2019 with representatives of Classes 314, 365 and 380. Although I didn't notice it at the time, what has caught my eye now is the structure behind the 25 MPH sign in the foreground. The construction looks like a length of lattice signal post.
Dalmarnock: 320414 comes out of the gloom as it departs from Dalmarnock with a service to Motherwell on 10 January 2019.
Didcot: HST 125 43002 'Sir Kenneth Grange,' in original colours, at Didcot in January 2019.
Rutherglen: 320318 is the rear unit on a 6-car Dalmuir via Singer service, at Rutherglen on 10 January 2019.
Argyle Street: A service to Whifflet calls at Argyle Street on 10 January 2019. 320317 is the rear unit on this 6 car service which only just fits on the platform. This resulted in a bigger challenge to photograph in this location.
Pollokshields East: A view from the top of the steps leading to Pollokshields East station from the roadbridge on Albert Drive as 314203 heads to Glasgow Central having been around the Cathcart Outer Circle on 10 January 2019.
Didcot: Front ends, old and new. HST 43185 & 800008 meet at Didcot on 10th January 2019.
Pollokshields East: 380115 gets away from Pollokshields East on a service to Neilston on 10 January 2019.
Rutherglen: 320301 calls at Rutherglen with a westbound service via Central Low Level on 10 January 2019. Above, acting like a giant platform canopy, is the M74 motorway.
Oxford: A southbound intermodal passes through Oxford on 10th January 2019 behind Freightliner 70003.
Aldgate: LU C stock (now withdrawn) on a clockwise Circle Line service departing from the atmospheric Aldgate station, opened in 1876, on 10th January 2013. This was the 150th Anniversary of the opening of the World's First Underground line, the Metropolitan Railway from Bishops Road, Paddington to Farringdon Street (renamed Farringdon & High Holborn in 1922 and further renamed to simply Farringdon in 1936).
Newton: Passing trains at Newton on 10 January 2019. On the left is 320310 heading west via Rutherglen. On the right are 318269 and 318255 heading towards Motherwell via Hamilton.
Oxford: DB 66114 northbound with containers at Oxford on 10th January 2019.
Pollokshields East: Photographed from Pollokshields East station, 156512 passes between Muirhouse North and Central Junctions with a service to East Kilbride on 10 January 2019.
Didcot: 800008, eastbound at Didcot on 10th January 2019, displays a new colour scheme.
Newton: A pair of Class 318s leave Newton heading to Motherwell via Hamilton on the afternoon of 10 January 2019.
Cardiff Canton Depots: An elevated view of Canton Depot and Carriage sidings, as well as the new Network Rail offices, on 10th January 2019. Only one electrfication mast was in place at this time so the view has changed a bit since then.
Cathcart: 380103 arrives at Cathcart on 10 January 2019 with a service from Neilston to Glasgow Central. The EMU is crossing Cathcart West Junction as it enters the station.
Glasgow Central Low Level: 320413 has just arrived at Glasgow Central Low Level with a service to Larkhall as the passengers on platform 16 wait for the doors to open.
Oxford: A pair of southbound Freightliner 70s run through Oxford on 10th January 2019. 70006 is the lead engine, 70002 the second one.
Newton: As 320310 departs towards Glasgow via Rutherglen, 318269 and 318255 depart for a trip around the Hamilton Circle on 10 January 2019.
Glasgow Central: 314202 awaits its next duty at platform 7, Glasgow Central on 10th January 2019. It had recently arrived and the next trip was around the inner Cathcart Circle so why the destination blind states Gourock is not known.
Didcot: DB 60010 westbound at Didcot, with oil tanks for Robeston, on 10th January 2019.
Coplawhill Tram Depot: The onetime Glasgow Corporation Transport Albert Drive Tram Depot, still standing on 10 January 2019, well mostly as there seems to have been a little demolition at the west end. After closure as a tram depot the building went on to house the city's transport museum before it moved to the Kelvin Hall. Today the building seems to house the Tramway theatre. [[Pollokshields East]] station is behind the camera.
Oxford: Chiltern Railway's 172-101 arriving in the newly rebuilt platforms at Oxford, 'The City of Learning and Culture'.
Bridgeton: 318265 calls at Bridgeton with an eastbound service on 10 January 2019.
Aberdeen: As I alighted from the Class 158 from Stonehaven at Aberdeen on 10th January 2019 I was immediately hit by the strong smell of gloss paint. The whole of the station is covered in scaffolding with workmen beavering away. The north half of the main concourse is rather gloomy in its current state.
Cathcart West Junction: 380103 on a Neilston to Glasgow Central service snakes its way across Cathcart West Jct as it enters Cathcart station on 10 January 2019.
Oxford: A northbound Colas PW train, hauled by 70807, passes through Oxford.
Dalmarnock: 320414 departs from Dalmarnock with a service to Motherwell on 10 January 2019.
Pilton Junction East: Pilton East junction was severed early - before adjacent East Pilton Halt opened, in fact. It served a chord to Pilton West on the Granton goods branch which curved off to the right. This connection, like the NBR's equivalent at Bonnington North, must surely have seen limited use as it was effectively just linking Granton Harbour with Leith Docks. I've heard of import/export but . . . View looks west on 10th January 2020.
Woodacre Crossing: After several cancellations, the Sundays Only Chirk to Carlisle log empties ran again on 10th January 2021. After a long (scheduled) wait in the loop at Barton 70802 takes the train north between Garstang and Woodacre on a very gloomy afternoon. Photo ancillary to a daily exercise walk permitted under Corona Virus legislation.
Inverkeithing: This nostalgic sign, in one of the carparks at Inverkeithing station, caught my eye in January 2022.
Events
Events from the chronology which occured on this day. This generally lists events before 1995, the creation of the website.
News
These are old news items which which occured on this day. This generally lists events after 1995, the creation of the website.
| Year | Companies | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | TurboStars introduced on Aberdeen service | TurboStars commence on Edinburgh to Aberdeen Service. |
| 2001 | ScotRail^s 15min interval Edinburgh to Glasgow service restored | ScotRail^s 15-minute interval service between Glasgow and Edinburgh will be reinstated from start of service on 10 January following renewal of switches and crossings at Greenhill Upper Jn and Haymarket West Jn. The timetable last ran on 6 November, and with imposition of emergency speed restrictions from then until 11 December the journey-time became 75 minutes - thereafter it was 65 minutes, but now it can revert to the previous 48 minutes. |
| 2002 | Class 322 driver training | Class 322 driver training is due to begin shortly. |
| 2005 | Hatfield executives go on trial [BBC News] | Engineering firm Balfour Beatty and five railway managers are to go on trial for manslaughter over the Hatfield rail crash. |
| 2006 | £160m Glasgow airport link plan ^significant step closer^ [Scotsman] | A PLANNED £160 million rail link between Glasgow airport and the city centre could be up and running within three years under proposals submitted to the Scottish Parliament yesterday. |
| 2006 | Warning over transport body [Scotsman] | A TRANSPORT lobby group has warned Scotland^s new transport agency must deliver on small-scale transport issues as well as major road and rail projects. |
| 2007 | Experts call for over-60s to have free travel on Subway [Scotsman] | PEOPLE aged 60 and over should travel free on the Glasgow Subway, regional transport experts have said. |
| 2007 | More rail misery for thousands as signals fault causes mayhem [Scotsman] | THOUSANDS of rail commuters suffered major disruption for the second time in four days when equipment installed after last week^s derailment at Waverley station in Edinburgh failed yesterday. |
| 2007 | MSPs to grill Transport Minister over rural buses [Scotsman] | TRANSPORT Minister Tavish Scott was today due to face questions over recent cutbacks to the city^s bus network and higher fares for residents in rural west Edinburgh. |
| 2008 | Anger at continuing railway work [BBC News] | Train operator First ScotRail says the handling of engineering work at a rail junction is "unacceptable". |
| 2010 | Car crashes onto railway tracks [BBC News Article] | The bad weather is believed to be the cause of a car crashing onto the railway line near Blair Atholl in Perthshire. |
| 2010 | Man charged after crossing crash [BBC News Article] | A man is charged with a road traffic offence following a collision between a van and a train at a railway level crossing. |
| 2011 | ORR consults on regulation of Borders Railway | The Office of Rail Regulation has launched a consultation on its approach to regulation of Borders Railway - the proposed rail line between Edinburgh and Tweedbank. [From Ian Dinmore] |
| 2011 | Work on Britannia Bridge over Menai Strait starts [BBC News] | A £4m scheme to strengthen one of the bridges spanning the Menai Strait in north Wales is underway. |
| 2011 | ScotRail told to ^come clean^ about claims of dangerous incident on commuter train [Courier] | A west Fife councillor says he is asking ScotRail to ^come clean^ regarding an incident on one of its trains. |
| 2012 | HS2: Phase one of high-speed rail line gets go-ahead [BBC News] | A controversial new high-speed rail line between London and Birmingham has been given the go-ahead by government. This first phase of High Speed Two (HS2) could be running by 2026, later extending to northern England. Transport Secretary Justine Greening has announced extra tunnelling along the 90-mile (140km) first phase in response to environmental concerns. Opponents also dispute government claims HS2 will deliver benefits worth up to £47bn, at costs of about £33bn. The first phase of the project would cut London-Birmingham journey times, on 225mph trains, to 49 minutes, Ms Greening said. Continue reading the main story Department for Transport detailed maps Q&A: High-speed rail Link to unleash ^held back^ city Village^s mixed views on HS2 line This would be followed by a second phase of Y-shaped track reaching Manchester and Leeds by about 2033. Connections to existing lines should then cut journey times between London, and Edinburgh and Glasgow, to three-and-a-half hours. |
| 2013 | London Underground celebrates 150th anniversary [BBC News] | Events are taking place to mark the 150th anniversary of London Underground. On Wednesday night, a steam train recreated the journey of the first underground train, carrying people three and a half miles from Paddington in west London to Farringdon, just outside the City. |
| 2014 | Apples and orchids on Burma^s slow train [BBC Asia] | In Burma, the country also known as Myanmar, much has changed over the past three years. Political reforms have been introduced and the South East Asian nation has started attracting new investment from around the world. Some things, though, are taking a bit longer. And perhaps for once that lack of speed is not necessarily a bad thing. [From Richard Buckby] |
| 2014 | Shanghai metro: 52km in under two minutes [BBC News Asia] | Smart and modern, trains on Shanghai^s new metro line 16 reach up to 120km/h (75 mph). The line is opening this week, and along with a partial stretch of line 12, it makes the city^s metro system the first in the world to cover a total length of more than 500 km (310 miles). The network now extends far into the suburbs despite the first bit of track having been laid little more than 20 years ago. [From Richard Buckby[ |
| 2015 | Could the dining car ever make a comeback? [BBC] | Britain^s traditional railway restaurant car is threatening to make a surprising comeback, writes Adrian Quine. The years after privatisation were not kind to the UK^s restaurant cars. A 150-year tradition of fine dining on the move appeared to be about to be confined to the history books. But now the romance of dining on freshly cooked cordon bleu cuisine and fine wine while travelling at 125mph appears to be creeping back. |
| 2016 | Virgin unveils first train of refurbished fleet [Rail News] | Virgin Trains East Coast has unveiled the first train to be overhauled as part of its £40 million refurbishment programme. The operator has released images of new modern standard and first class interiors, which are being delivered from Bounds Green depot in London and Craigentinny depot in Edinburgh. The refurbishment will see seating replaced, new carpets and soft furnishings, and improvements to toilets. An additional £16 million is being spent on new diesel engines and re-branding the external livery. [From Richard Buckby] |
| 2017 | Lancashire MP Mark Menzies to fight ^barmy^ rail fares to London [BBC News] | An MP has vowed to fight a rail firm^s ^barmy^ price structure which has seen people charged more than three times as much to travel a shorter route. Mark Menzies claims Virgin Trains is ^stinging^ passengers between Preston and London by charging more than those leaving Lancaster on the same trains. Preston tickets cost up to £145 for a standard single in peak hours, while the longer journey can cost £42.50. Virgin said the costs reflect the high number of Preston business travellers. [From Mark Bartlett] |
| 2017 | Southern rail strike: peace deal is a ^universe away^ [Evening Standard] | Thousands of Southern passengers suffered more strike misery today as a union warned of more stoppages to come and said a peace deal was a “universe awayâ€. The bleak assessment on the 31st day of strike action to hit the beleaguered railway came as almost all services were halted for 300,000 people. Battered commuters tried to beat the strike by trekking to nearby lines run by other rail companies - only to be met with huge queues. It followed a separate strike on the London Underground yesterday. |
| 2018 | Govia Thameslink franchise ^not providing value for money^ [BBC News] | Passengers on Southern, Thameslink and Great Northern services have suffered the worst rail disruption in the UK, according to a highly critical report. The National Audit Office (NAO) said the UK^s largest rail franchise had not provided value for money. It found the services had been the ^worst on the network^ since Govia Thameslink (GTR) took over the routes. |
| 2018 | Humza Yousaf accused of losing grip over substandard ScotRail [Scotsman] | Transport minister Humza Yousaf signalled today he will order performance improvements from the ScotRail Alliance with Network Rail after declaring it ^hasn^t been to the standard I^d expect^. Transport minister Humza Yousaf has been accused of losing his grip after he signalled more improvements may be ordered because of falling punctuality. The minister said performance hasnt been to the standard Id expect. However, opposition parties said he should have acted sooner because timekeeping has been on the slide for several months. The deteriorating performance has come despite the ScotRail Alliance with Network Rail operating a performance improvement plan since it was ordered by Mr Yousaf when punctuality fell in autumn 2016. |
| 2019 | Loch Lomond^s Maid of the Loch to be winched ashore [BBC News] | A 65-year-old paddle steamer which once transported tourists across Loch Lomond is to be taken out of the water ahead of a planned restoration. The Maid of the Loch will be lifted by the original winchhouse and onto the Category A-listed Balloch Steam Slipway - the second time the ship has been slipped in nearly 40 years. The steamer has been moored at Balloch Pier since 1996. Once out of the water, an ultrasound survey will investigate its condition. |
| 2019 | ScotRail forecasts it will be 2021 before it meets punctuality target [BBC News] | ScotRail has admitted it does not expect to hit its punctuality targets for another two years. The train operator^s forecast suggests it will be 2021 before it reaches the target of 92.5% of services running on time. A review commissioned by regulators states ScotRail faces ^significant challenges^ in meeting the target. |
| 2019 | France to tender operation of two inter-city routes [Railway Gazette] | FRANCE: The government on January 9 formally launched the process of opening the French domestic main line passenger railway to competition when it announced the publication of a Prior Information Notice covering two routes. |
| 2019 | Whoops! Maid of Loch falls back in water in winching fail [STV News] | A Loch Lomond paddle steamer due to undergo a historic slipping has ended up back in the water after breaking free from its restraints. The Maid of the Loch was due to be hauled out of the water by its original winch house at the Balloch Steam Slipway on Thursday to allow refurbishment work to be carried out. The four-hour process began at 10am, but just after 1.30pm a problem arose and the cradle supporting the 191ft vessel snapped and it slipped back into the loch. |
| 2020 | Car ban and tram extension proposed in 10-year vision for Edinburgh [BBC News] | City of Edinburgh Council publishes its draft city mobility plan and aims to be carbon neutral by 2030. |
| 2020 | David Spaven: Loads of advantages to rail timber transport - so lets get it on track [Scotsman] | Given the importance of timber to the rural Scottish economy with 10 million tonnes forecast to be harvested every year for the foreseeable future readers will perhaps be surprised to learn that not a single wagon of timber has moved by rail in Scotland for 10 years. |
| 2020 | Hitachi makes changes at Newton Aycliffe factory as IEP production ends [Railway Gazette] | Hitachi Rail has announced changes at its Newton Aycliffe factory which it said were intended to provide greater flexibility, agility and global competitiveness as the production of 122 trainsets under the governments Intercity Express Programme comes to an end. |
| 2020 | Record investment delivers improved service on trains and at stations across Scotland [ScotRail] | Record investment across Scotland^s Railway, including £475 million on new and upgraded trains, is delivering a better service for customers, according to new figures published today. The Service Quality Incentive Regime (SQUIRE) report released by Transport Scotland has shown that the service on ScotRail trains and at stations improved significantly between 15 September to 7 December 2019 compared with the same period the previous year. |
| 2020 | Scotrail hits best December punctuality figures for 3 years [Scotsman] | ScotRail trains operated their most punctual December for three years, the beleaguered operator announced today. |
| 2020 | Stewart Paterson: Glasgow Airport Rail Link rows must not derail Metro plans [Evening Times] | Glasgow has had many false dawns with big ticket transport projects, promised but not delivered. |
| 2020 | ScotRail fines for poor quality cut to £623,000 [Scotsman] | ScotRail fines for failing Britain^s toughest rail quality standards have fallen by one quarter to £623,075. |
| 2020 | Cloburn Quarry Company take over Ravenstruther Rail Terminal - Hargreaves Land [Hargreaves Land] | Hargreaves Land has secured Cloburn Quarry Company as a new tenant at Ravenstruther Rail Terminal, near Lanark, South Lanarkshire. Cloburn is one of the leading decorative aggregate suppliers in Europe and extracts a range of premium red granite aggregate products as well as industry leading rail and concrete aggregate products from its quarry close to the site. Cloburn intends to commence exports via rail from this well-established freight location to service its existing customers throughout the UK and Europe. |
