This day in history 14 December
Images
New Holland Town: A DMU for Cleethorpes heads south east away from New Holland Town in December 1974.
Humber Estuary: Crossing from New Holland to Hull on PS Lincoln Castle on 14 December 1974. Launched at the Pointhouse yard of A&J Inglis on the Clyde in 1940 and operated by the LNER (and latterly BR) the Lincoln Castle was eventually withdrawn from service in 1978. The ferry service between New Holland and Hull ceased in 1981 on the opening of the Humber bridge.
Corrour: In December 1974 the northbound sleeper reached Corrour at daybreak. It had been dark for a while by the time the train home arrived in the evening but the signalwoman had a coal fire going to keep walkers warm before flagging down the train with her Tilley lamp.
New Holland Town: An afternoon train from New Holland Pier to Cleethorpes stands at New Holland Town on 14 December 1974.
Corrour: The morning train from Fort William to Glasgow Queen Street approaches a cold and snowy Corrour Summit in the winter of 1974/5.
Port Carlisle: North British Railway GM Circular no 100 regarding the Port Carlisle branch, issued on 29 April 1899. See [[50150]].
Earn Viaduct [Forgandenny]: Top it up, Sir. Storm has raged for 14 hours now. Flood waters near rail level. 1400 14-12-06.
Earn Viaduct [Bridge of Earn]: 2006 floods in Perthshire. Earn Bridge is safe over the expanded River Earn. 1355 14-12-06. Looking west from Horsemill Farm.
Earn Viaduct [Forgandenny]: Secret of viaduct covering revealed during storm. New masonary walls? Wind gusting at 70mph. Torrential rain! The large building is Strathallan School.
Brunstane: A Bathgate - Newcraighall service pulls into Brunstane on 14 December 2007.
Kinghorn: 67006 Royal Sovereign heads up to Kirkcaldy on the rear of The Northern Belle passing Kinghorn on 14 December.
Kingsknowe: The 11.52 FTPE 185 service to Manchester Airport passes through Kingsknowe on 14 December.
Kinghorn: The Northern Belle passing Kinghorn with Royal Train class 67 no.67006 at the rear on 14 December.
Edinburgh Waverley: FTPE 185 arrival at Waverley from Manchester Airport on 14 December with Christmas market stalls now present in much of the gardens and the area above the Mound tunnels.
Aberdour: A northbound service stops at Aberdour on 14 December.
Kingsknowe: 11.50 NXEC Glasgow Central - Kings Cross passing Kingsknowe on 14 December.
Markinch: NXEC liveried HST working 1S12 to Aberdeen passing Markinch on 14 December at speed and in failing Light.
Portobello Junction: A CrossCountry Voyager heading for Waverley meets a National Express East Coast service for Kings Cross at Portobello on 14 December 2007. The line from South Leith and the docks comes in centre right alongside the former BR Freightliner terminal.
Burntisland East Junction: Pacing the train. The Northern Belle between Burntisland and Kinghorn, east of the former East Junction, on 14 December. I took up position at Aberdour on the scheduled time. An inner Fife Circle service arrived, I took a shot of that, then raced to Kinghorn thinking that I would make it because of the time lag due to possible signal hold ups. Luckily my camera was ready and I took this as I passed it.
Inverkeithing: A class 170 heading for Edinburgh Waverley at Inverkeithing on 14 December. The up platform repeater banner signals are for Inverkeithing South Junction. As the Rosyth Dockyard Branch is not in regular use the left signal is defunct.
Edinburgh Waverley: Recent reopening of the sub platforms for through running, following a period of truncation at the west end, must have been like an early Christmas present to those responsible for maintaining traffic flow through the station. View east from Waverley Bridge on 14 December 2007 shows the 0722 FTPE arrival from Manchester Airport standing at platform 8 alongside the NXEC 0755 Inverness - Kings Cross Highland Chieftain which has just pulled into platform 9.
Brunstane: Following recent completion of the work at Waverley, what had become the Waverley - Newcraighall shuttle has now reverted to its former role in providing Edinburgh 'crossrail' services. Here the 11.25 Bathgate - Newcraighall 158 rounds the curve south after leaving the ECML at Portobello Junction on 14 December and runs under Milton Road on the approach to Brunstane station.
Edinburgh Waverley: The 07.55 NXEC Inverness - Kings Cross Highland Chieftain HST service running into platform 9 at Waverley on 14 December 2007.
Kinghorn: The Northern Belle accelerates through Kinghorn station with leading loco 67029 blasting exhaust.
Markinch: Class 170 waits at the crossover north of Markinch. Arriving at 1509 from Edinburgh as 2K61 it will leave the up platform at 1523 back to Edinburgh as 2K62, neat.
Portobello East Junction: EWS 67001 approaching Portobello East Junction running light engine on 14 December 2007. The locomotive is on its way back to Millerhill Yard, having worked the morning 'Binliner' return trip between Powderhall and Oxwellmains.
Portobello: A 158 off the Newcraighall branch heading for Dunblane passing Portobello on 14 December 2007. The building in the background houses the Craigentinny wheel lathe and beyond that stands Arthurs Seat.
Portobello Junction: A Dunblane service coming off the branch from Newcraighall about to join the ECML at Portobello Junction on 14 December 2007.
Markinch: The 1523 Markinch to Edinburgh Waverley departure from Markinch on 14 December. This shot shows the removal of the old yard at the south end.
Markinch: The new Markinch footbridge frames this arrival from Edinburgh.
Inverkeithing: Work underway on 14 December aimed at improving the layout on the west side of Inverkeithing station. The cycle route totem stands on the left.
Aberdour: Decidedly dismal weatherwise scene at Aberdour on 14th December 2007 as 170461 calls with a local for Edinburgh.
Portobello Junction: A 'National Express East Coast' HST on its way from Aberdeen to Kings Cross passing the abandoned Portobello Freightliner Terminal in December 2007. The new franchise was in its first month of operation after taking over ECML services from 'GNER' (thus the temporary 'white stripe' livery). The franchise proved problematic and lasted less than 2 years, with publicly owned 'East Coast' eventually taking charge of affairs in November 2009.
Portobello Junction: The 1225 Bathgate - Newcraighall crossrail service turns south off the east coast main line at Portobello Junction on 14 December 2007 heading for its penultimate stop at Brunstane.
Portobello Junction: 67001 turns south at Portobello Junction on 14 December and heads for Millerhill yard. The road bridge/embankment in the background follows the route that once carried the Lothian Lines spanning the sub and the ECML, on their way to Leith docks.
Kilmarnock: First Scotrail unit 156431 about to leave Kilmarnock for Glasgow on the morning of 14 December 2009 marking the introduction of the new half-hourly service.
Kilmarnock: Part of the group of special guests and well-wishers at Kilmarnock station on 14 December 2009 to mark the introduction of a half-hourly service to Glasgow Central.
Glasgow Queen Street High Level: 170434 waiting to depart Glasgow Queen Street with the 1241 service to Aberdeen on 14th December 2009
Glasgow Central: Alphaline liveried 158871 at Platform 3 of Glasgow Central on 14th December 2009. Class 158's are now a regular sight at Glasgow Central as ScotRail has now started using them on the Glasgow Central to Edinburgh services since the start of the December 2009 timetable.
Glasgow Central: DVT 82201 at Platform 1 of Glasgow Central on 14th December 2009 waits at the head of the train forming the 1350 service to London Kings Cross in it's new East Coast Railway branding.
Forrestfield: The 12.21 Edinburgh Waverley - Helensburgh Central running through the snow covered countryside of North Lanarkshire on 14 December, some 3 miles west of its previous scheduled stop at Blackridge. With the delayed opening of the new stations at Caldercruix and Drumgelloch trains are currently running non-stop between Blackridge and Airdrie.
Bathgate: Effective snow clearance at Bathgate on 14 December 2010, enabling unimpeded platform access to the 1341 service to Waverley. The appearance of a 158 came as something of a surprise, given the introduction of through electric services on the Edinburgh - Helensburgh route two days earlier, although recent conditions had resulted in emergency timetable alterations across the network. The prolonged period of bad weather had also delayed completion of new stations on the reopened line at at Armadale, Caldercruix and Drumgelloch. For a wide view of the snow-covered Bathgate station on this particular day see image [[31926]].
Bathgate: The terminating 12.48 ex-Edinburgh Waverley runs into platform 1 at Bathgate on 14 December 2010.
Bathgate: A Bathgate - Waverley 158 service stands at platform 1 at a snowy Bathgate station on 14 December 2010. An action plan aimed at minimising the impact of adverse weather conditions during the coming winter has recently been launched by First ScotRail.
Kelvindale: 156457 approaching Kelvindale station from the Maryhill direction on 14 December 2010.
Forrestfield: The 12.40 Helensburgh Central - Edinburgh Waverley runs east at Forrestfield on 14 December 2010. Hillend reservoir can be seen in the right background with the town of Caldercruix beyond.
Bathgate: An SPT liveried class 334 EMU calls at Bathgate on a winter's day in December 2010 with an Edinburgh Waverley - Helensburgh Central train. The modern building in the background is part of ScotRail's recently opened Bathgate light maintenance depot.
Bathgate: The 13.21 Edinburgh Waverley - Helensburgh Central arrives at Bathgate platform 2 on 14 December 2010.
Bathgate: View west from the footbridge at Bathgate station on 14 December 2010 as the 13.47 to Helensburgh Central pulls away from platform 2.
Preston (Ribble Branch): Recently restored 0-4-0ST No.6 (AB 2261/1949) has joined the RSR fleet allowing two steam locos to work their Santa Specials. The big Barclay, once employed in the Fife coalfields, is seen here leaving the museum station top and tailed with Austerity Walkden. It was rescued from the Thomas Muir scrapyard in Thornton See image [[26554]] and after working at Preston for a couple of seasons left for the Cambrian Heritage Railway in 2016.
Ribble Steam Railway Workshops: Dutch Class 11 0-6-0DE NS 663 undergoes light maintenance outside the Ribble Steam running shed and workshops on 14th December. LMS/BR Class 11 shunters were not fitted with train brakes but the Dutch versions were air brake fitted as seen here. NS 663 is one of two on the RSR as NS 601 is on static display in the museum here. Both locos were built in Preston by English Electric.
Mount Vernon: 318257 coupled to 320313 arriving at Mount Vernon from Motherwell on Sunday 14th December 2014, the first day of the new electric services on the Whifflet line.
Mount Vernon: Class 318 EMUs 255 and 256 form the 1514 service to Motherwell at Mount Vernon on the 14th December 2014, the first day of the new timetable using electric rather than diesel multiple units.
Stranraer: A memento of the former station name at Stranraer Harbour.
Ayr: Christmas decorations at Ayr station in December 2016.
Miskin Loops: Arriva Trains Wales Cardiff to Llanelli Class 153 single unit, passing 66562 on a Barrow Hill to Port Talbot Grange Sidings loaded coal train at Miskin. 14th December 2017
Bristol Temple Meads: GWR 3-car Sprinter 150-002 arriving in Bristol Temple Meads on 14th December 2017.
Bristol Temple Meads: New GWR set 800-004, seen on driver training duties at Bristol Temple Meads on 14th December 2017.
Miskin Loops: An Arriva Trains Class 175/1, on a Milford Haven to Manchester Picadilly service, approaching the loops at Miskin on 14th December 2017.
Stranraer:
Preston (Ribble Branch): The bitumen tankers might be empty but it is still impressive to see a Class 60 lift fourteen of them up the 1:29 of the Preston Docks Branch, especially on a damp morning. Colas 60021 negotiates the sharp curves that make this gradient even more difficult as it sets out on the first stage of the journey back to the east coast on 14th December 2017.
Bristol Temple Meads: Framed by the canopy columns, 158-798 arrives in Bristol Temple Meads from Great Malvern on 14th December 2017.
Pontyclun: The 0945 London Paddington to Swansea service passing through Pontyclun station on 14th December 2017.
Swindon: 43004 running into Swindon at the head of a London Paddington train on 14th December 2017.
Bristol Temple Meads: HSTs at Bristol Temple Meads on 14th December 2017. The set on the left is waiting to head back to Paddington while on the right the Torbay Express is heading in the opposite direction.
Swindon: A South West Trains Class 158 waiting to leave Swindon for Melksham and Westbury on 14th December 2017.
Pontyclun: FreightlinerHeavy Haul 66562, on a Barrow Hill to Port Talbot Grange Sidings loaded coal train, passes through Pontyclun station on 14th December 2017.
Bristol Temple Meads: Cascaded from Paddington services, 166-208 is seen at Bristol Temple Meads arriving from the Severn Beach branch on 14th December 2017.
Bristol Temple Meads: GWR 800-012, just arrived from Paddington in Bristol Temple Meads on 14th December 2017.
Glenfinnan Viaduct: A service from Glasgow to Mallaig crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct with light from a low sun. The view is from the slopes of Tom na h-Aire. Ben Nevis is in the background beyond the transmitter tower.
Glasgow Queen Street High Level: Mid afternoon view of the West Truss of the new Queen Street extension under construction in mid December 2018. For a similar view early the previous evening see image [[66790]].
Shettleston PW Depot: Early morning view through the trees over the Network Rail Depot at Shettleston on 14th December 2018. The exit from Shettleston loop is in the left foreground.
Maxwell Park: 314213, with an anti-clockwise Cathcart Circle service, arriving at Maxwell Park station on 26th July 2017
Glasgow Central: Almost a driver's eye view with the road set for the 14:17 to East Kilbride to depart from Platform 10 at Glasgow Central as the light fades on 14th December 2018. Clearance is only given to Gantry A as the yellow aspect visible on the gantry for Line B allows the departure of an anti-clockwise Cathcart Circle service from Platform 5 at 14:15. Both trains will follow the same route until Muirhouse Central Junction where their paths diverge providing a good example of the fine margins within which suburban trains operate, even outside London.
Glasgow Central: At Glasgow Central on 14 December 2018, two Class 314 EMUs await their next turn of duty to Gourock and Paisley Canal. Due to be withdrawn in the coming months, 40 years after the type's introduction, the presence of the SPT carmine and cream livery provides a contrast to the corporate Scotrail Saltire livery prevalent on the majority of rolling stock using the western platforms.
Glenfinnan: It is growing dark as I come back down from Tom na h-Aire to the welcoming lights of Glenfinnan station. Beyond is Loch Shiel.
Robroyston: All dressed up but nobody is here yet. The new Robroyston station ready for action 12 hours before the first passenger service was due to call. Everything’s ready, including the Wi-fi used to upload this picture.
Bolton: Although Northern have had a few problems with their Class 769 EDMUs, 769456 is seen arriving at Bolton with the pan down and diesel engines running. Very quickly the pantograph was raised and the engines shut down before this Southport to Stalybridge service departed towards Salford Crescent.
Blackburn: 150137 and 150136 depart eastwards from Blackburn at the start of their circuitous route to Kirkby via Todmorden, Manchester Victoria and Wigan Wallgate on 14 December 2021.
Orrell: A view westwards from the road bridge on Church Street, Orrell over the station on the Wigan Wallgate to Kirkby line.
Pemberton: The pairing of 150136 and 150137, seen earlier in the day departing Blackburn heading to Kirkby, are now seen on the reverse journey departing Pemberton on 14 December 2021.
Dalgety Bay: 170427 nears Dalgety Bay with the 13.29 from Edinburgh to Aberdeen on 14 December 2021. The low embankment on the right was raised to protect the gentlefolk of Fordell House from the horrifying sight of trains passing by. The trees surmounting it are being reduced by Network Rail contractors to protect the trains.
Kirkland Loop: As activity continues to prepare for the start of work on the Levenmouth Rail Link, Members of the Scottish Parliament Jenny Gilruth and David Torrance visited site to see first-hand the progress that has been made. Location - the Iron Brig. The plans for the Levenmouth Rail link will see the reinstatement and electrification of a double tracked railway from Thornton junction to Leven on the Fife coast and the construction of two new stations.
Dalgety Bay: Dalgety Deforestation. 170402 calls at Dalgety Bay with the 13.24 from Glenrothes with Thornton to Edinburgh, as contractors cut back the lineside vegetation.
Events
Events from the chronology which occured on this day. This generally lists events before 1995, the creation of the website.
| Year | Companies | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1857 | Dundee and Arbroath Railway Trades Lane and Carolina Port Railway | Dundee East opened and Dundee Trades Lane closed. |
| 1858 | Junction Line (Dundee and Arbroath Railway) | Permanent Arbroath Junction station opened. |
| 1871 | George Hudson | Death of George Hudson. |
| 1894 | Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway | Extended from Briton Ferry Dock over the Neath Swing Bridge to Swansea. |
| 1894 | Rhondda and Swansea Bay Railway | Opened to freight in Swansea. |
| 1896 | Glasgow District Subway | Cable hauled double track circular line opened. (An accident on opening day leads to immediate closure, with re-opening the following month.) |
| 1916 | Edinburgh and Hawick Railway (North British Railway) | A major landslip at Ladhope Tunnel, just west of 1st_>Galashiels 1st station, blocks line. |
| 1964 | Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway | Lugton L and A Junction (on the Glasgow and Kilmarnock Joint Railway) to 1st_>Uplawmoor 1st closed to all traffic (Lugton East Sidings were used to round 1st_>Uplawmoor 1st trains). |
| 1999 | Govan Shipyard | Fairfield Shipyard bought by BAE Systems and Clydeport from Kvaerner. |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Festive police patrols to be increased on rail services [Scotsman] | POLICE patrols are to be stepped up on rail services over the festive season to protect staff from assaults and abuse. |
| 2005 | Revival comes off the rails as five projects are vetoed over cost fears [Scotsman] | THE year 2005 could go down as the bleakest for trams since the last one disappeared from Britain^s streets, in Glasgow, in 1962. |
| 2008 | West Coast rail works completed [BBC News Article] | Work to rebuild the West Coast rail line between London and Glasgow is completed after 10 years. |
| 2008 | New timetable means more and faster trains for Glasgow [Network Rail] | The completion of one of Europe’s biggest civil engineering projects means new opportunities for millions of rail passengers, including those travelling to and from Glasgow. The last piece of work on Network Rail’s £9bn upgrade of the London-Scotland West Coast main line has been completed, heralding a step-change in the frequency and speed of train services. |
| 2009 | Service improvements at Kilmarnock [Railscot Article] | Around 60 people attended a ceremony at Kilmarnock station on the morning of 14 December 2009 to celebrate the introduction of a new half-hourly First ScotRail service between Kilmarnock and Glasgow. Participants included representatives of the Scottish Government, local councillors, Transport Scotland, Railtrack, First Scotrail and general well-wishers... with musical entertainment provided courtesy of Cumnock Academy. The 0927 First ScotRail service to Glasgow Central, formed by 156431, left carrying many of the participants - see accompanying photographs. [With thanks to Colin Martin] |
| 2009 | Railway modernisation - additional announcements [DfT PR] | The Secretary of State for Transport (Andrew Adonis): In July, I announced a £1.1bn investment in the electrification of the Great Western Main Line between London and South Wales, and the line between Liverpool and Manchester. In the Pre-Budget Report the Chancellor indicated that the Government is now going ahead with plans for electrification of further lines in the North West. I can today set out the lines and expected timescales involved. [From Mark Bartlett] |
| 2010 | Landmark plan to link train station and shopping complex [Herald] | Glasgow’s Queen Street railway station is to undergo a major redevelopment, potentially linking it to the neighbouring Buchanan Galleries shopping centre. |
| 2010 | Renton receives ^best adopted station^ award | Renton Station in West Dunbartonshire has been named as the Best Adopted Station in Scotland of 2010 by Passenger Focus, the independent passenger watchdog. |
| 2011 | Train hits tree near Clachnaharry [Inverness Courier] | ONE person has been taken to Raigmore Hospital after a train travelling north hit a fallen tree. The incident happened near Clachnaharry around 2.10pm today. The 13.59 train, travelling from Inverness to Wick, returned to Inverness Railway Station, where one male from the Caithness area was taken by ambulance to Raigmore Hospital |
| 2011 | Coventry to Nuneaton rail upgrade given go ahead [BBC News] | Plans to build two new railway stations and increase train services between Coventry and Nuneaton have been given the go-ahead by the government. The blueprint for the upgraded rail link includes stations at the Ricoh Arena and Bermuda Park in Nuneaton. |
| 2011 | Croxley Rail Link plan approved by Government [Watford Observer] | Work on a £120m rail project that will change the face of Watford and Croxley Green has been approved by the Government. An official announcement that the long-running Croxley Rail Link project has been approved is due to take place tomorrow, the Watford Observer understands. |
| 2011 | London Underground drivers to strike on Boxing Day [BBC News] | Tube drivers will hold 24-hour strikes on four days, including Boxing Day, in a row over pay, a union has said. Aslef balloted its 2,200 members over demands for triple pay and a day off in lieu for working on the bank holiday. Staff will walk out on Boxing Day, 16 January, 3 and 13 February. Aslef said 92% voted for industrial action, but Tube bosses said 42% voted to strike. London Underground (LU) said it had asked the union to abandon its strike threat over ^an outrageous pay claim^. Services were severely disrupted last year when drivers walked out on Boxing Day after talks collapsed. |
| 2012 | World’s longest high-speed rail opens Dec 26 [Morning Whistle] | The Beijing-Guangzhou high-speed railway, which is the world’s longest, is opening on Dec. 26, according to the China Central Television. With this, a trip between Beijing and Guangzhou, a distance of 2,294 kilometers, will be cut from 20 hours to eight hours. |
| 2012 | Edinburgh Haymarket station crane lift delayed [BBC News] | Work to lift part of a new 110-tonne superstructure onto Haymarket station in Edinburgh has been delayed. The move, due for overnight on Saturday, has been postponed because of a mechanical problem with the 1,000 tonne crane needed for the lift. Network Rail said it was disappointing but it expected the work could go ahead later in the week. |
| 2013 | Vossloh puts DRS class 68s through their paces [IRJ] | PERFORMANCE testing and certification of the first Vossloh class 68 UKLight diesel locomotives for British open-access operator Direct Rail Services is underway at the Velim test circuit in the Czech Republic, while a second unit has been unveiled in the company^s new livery at the Vossloh Rail Vehicles plant in Albuixech, Spain. |
| 2014 | First train pulls into Pye Corner £3.5m railway station [BBC News] | It is all aboard this weekend as the first train pulls into a new £3.5m rail station at Pye Corner in Newport. Joint funded by the UK and Welsh governments, the station is located on the Ebbw Vale to Cardiff line in the Bassaleg area of Newport. |
| 2014 | New Shrewsbury to London rail service begins [BBC News] | A direct rail service between Shrewsbury and London has started. A similar service, run by Wrexham & Shropshire Trains, ended in 2011. Since then, business and political leaders in Shropshire have campaigned to get the route reinstated, saying it would boost tourism and the local economy. A Virgin Trains service was approved by the Office of Rail Regulation in September and the first train set out from Shrewsbury at 15:24 GMT on Sunday. On weekdays, it will see two services in each direction. |
| 2015 | Flying Scotsman: £4.2m project brings ^cultural icon^ back to life [BBC News] | The £4.2m refurbishment of one of the world^s iconic locomotives, Flying Scotsman, has been revealed. The engine, which was retired from service in 1963, has been restored for York^s National Railway Museum (NRM) in a shed in Bury, Greater Manchester. |
| 2015 | A new direct rail service linking Stirling and London has been launched by Virgin Trains. The inaugural service left Stirling at 05:26, and will arrive at London King^s Cross at 10:52. The direct route means passengers do not have to change trains in Edinburgh and will cut journey times by about 46 minutes, Virgin said. | |
| 2015 | National Express launches first German rail services [Rail News] | THE first rail services to be operated in another European country by National Express have been launched in Germany. Yesterday^s Europe-wide timetable change saw the transfer of operations on two German routes from DB Regio to National Express, which had won the contracts to run the lines in the Köln (Cologne) area in February 2013. The services are RE7 (regional express, Krefeld-Köln-Wuppertal-Hagen-Hamm-Münster-Rheine) and RB48 (stopping service, Bonn-Köln-Wuppertal). NX has procured 34 160 km/h Bombardier Talent 2 trains on behalf of the regional transport authorities for the services, and said it expects to carry 18 million passengers annually. The contracts will run for 15 years and are forecast to earn a total of €1.6 billion (£1.1 billion). [From Richard Buckby] |
| 2015 | First Sunderland Virgin train arrives in London King^s Cross [Sunderlad Echo] | The red carpet was rolled out as Virgin Trains launched its new service to Sunderland. Not only has the Spirit of Sunderland been named in honour of the city, the engines have also been personalised with Wearside landmarks, including Wearmouth Bridge and Penshaw Monument. [From Richard Buckby] |
| 2015 | Backing for Ellon to Dyce rail link to re-open from SAPT [BBC News] | The re-opening of a railway link between Ellon and Dyce is being recommended by the Scottish Association for Public Transport. SAPT believes the 14-mile line would ^revolutionise^ transport in the area. SAPT chairman Dr John McCormick said the train service would appeal to commuters and help reduce journey times, congestion and pollution. It comes as a consultation about transport in the north east of Scotland draws to a close on Tuesday. Transport partnership Nestrans has been asking for feedback on several options aimed at improving links to the north of Aberdeen. |
| 2016 | Southern rail strike enters second day as Acas talks start [BBC News] | Southern rail passengers are facing a second day of strike travel chaos amid hopes of a resolution to the dispute over who should operate train doors. Talks will be held between the rail firm and the RMT and Aslef unions later at the conciliation service, Acas. The rail company said no Southern trains would operate on Wednesday and advised passengers not to travel. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the government should stop ^playing party politics^ and ^get a grip^. On Tuesday, the government said it may consider banning strikes on the railways. |
| 2017 | France Millas crash: Children killed as school bus and train collide [BBC News] | A train and a school bus have collided near Perpignan in southern France, killing at least four children, the interior ministry says. Another 24 people were reported to be seriously injured, in the accident on a railway crossing between Millas and Saint-Fliu-d^Amont. The students on the bus are reported to be between the ages of 13 and 17. Pictures from the scene showed the school bus sheared in two by the force of the crash. Around 70 emergency workers and four helicopters were deployed as part of the rescue effort. |
| 2018 | Network Rail to remove temporary footbridge at Kerse Road, Stirling [Network Rail] | Network Rail will remove the temporary pedestrian footbridge at Kerse Road in Stirling over two consecutive weekends in January 2019 |
| 2018 | Pendolino is first electric train through Bolton [Rail Engineer] | One of Virgin’s Class 390 Pendolinos has become the first electric train to run between Manchester and Preston via Bolton. On the night of 13 December 2018, the train was used to test the new infrastructure along the 25-mile route via Salford, Bolton and Chorley, closely monitored by Network Rail engineers checking the new overhead […] |
| 2018 | Relief at last for ScotRail passengers as punctuality improves [Scotsman] | ScotRail punctuality has improved for the first time in three months despite disruption from staff training and industrial action. |
| 2018 | HIE takes control of CairnGorm Mountain [BBC News] | Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has taken over the running of CairnGorm Mountain snowsports centre and funicular railway. CairnGorm Mountain Ltd (CML) was placed into administration last month due to ^unsustainable cash-flow problems^. |
| 2019 | New railway timetable brings extra services [Scotsman] | Extra trains to Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow will be run by ScotRail, LNER and TransPennine Express as part of timetable improvements from tomorrow. They will be introduced along with eight carriages on peak-hour ScotRail services on the Edinburgh-Glasgow main line, as previously reported. ScotRail will step up daily Aberdeen-Dyce-Inverurie services by up to two-thirds following track upgrading. Direct trains between Montrose and Inverurie will be increased from five to 28 a day. There will be more seats on two Edinburgh-bound trains on the Borders Railway. Extra seats will also be added to two daily services between Edinburgh and Fife, Edinburgh and Dunblane, and Glasgow and Lanark, and on three services on the Edinburgh-Glasgow line via Falkirk Grahamston, with a new station at Robroyston. |
| 2019 | Long-running ScotRail driver dispute ends [BBC News] | The union says work-to-rule action ongoing since August has led to train cancellations. |
