This day in history 20 December
Images
Upperby Bridge Junction: Britannia 70024 'Vulcan' comes off the main line at Upperby Bridge Junction, as it nears Carlisle with a northbound freight, on 20th December 1967.
Carlisle: Black 5 45259 ready to shunt some parcels vans at Carlisle, in December 1967. Looking at the photo some 55 years later, it initially seemed puzzling to see the 'Peak' across the platform taking water, with one of the crew clambering about on the roof. But no doubt the water supply for the steam heating boiler needed topping up before the journey south on the Settle & Carlisle.
Pennyvenie Colliery Nos 2, 3, 7: View from No.24 of a rake of empties being delivered to Pennyvenie Colliery. The view is from the east of Pennyvenie Nos 2, 3 and 7, No 7 still being active.
Cutler Sidings: NCB No.24 (Andrew Barclay 2335 of 1953) draws away from Cutler sidings in December 1977 hauling wooden bodied empties for Pennyvenie Colliery with the washer in the background.
Cutler Sidings: A BR Class 25 arrives at the Cutler Sidings, Waterside, with empty wagons on 20th December 1977.
Scorton [Lancashire] [2nd]: Hear that Whistler blow Class 40 No. 40141 powers north towards Six Arches bridge over the River Wyre at Scorton in 1980 with a train of ICI tanks from Northwich to Corkickle on the Cumbrian Coast.
Edinburgh Waverley: The east end of Waverley in December 2006 looking back towards the station along platform 4. Emu 322482 is waiting to leave with an early afternoon service to North Berwick, while stabled in the short bays to the left (destined to become platforms 5 & 6) are EWS 'sleeper' locomotives 90034 and 67018.
Edinburgh Waverley: Constructing the passenger stairway link to the new Balmoral platform, December 2006.
Haymarket: Looking towards the buffer stops along Haymarket's new platform 0 on 20 December 2006 with work on the canopy now underway. Haymarket tunnel can be seen at the end of platform 1 on the right and the doomed Caledonian Alehouse stands on the left. See image [[23206]]
Haymarket: Installing the canopy over platform 0 at Haymarket station on 20 December 2006.
Eastfield TMD: Works for Cowlairs extend even as far as the new Eastfield depot.
Cowlairs Carriage Sidings: Track replacement to the north of the old Carriage shed ... is the E&G down to one track?
Cowlairs Carriage Sidings: The shed still stands, some track replacement is taking place, more ground clearance has gone ahead, a fence is going up and there are more vehicles.
Preston: This is the day mail having crossed the border - a trio of Class 325 postal units with a southbound service.
Preston: The postal service departs south on the up fast line in the company of a Class 158 on the up slow.
Preston: 90042 arrives in platform 4 with a southbound Freightliner service.
Edinburgh Waverley: A Waverley - Newcraighall shuttle standing at the recently recommissioned platform 3 on 20 December 2006.
Balloch Pier: Standing on what would have been the edge of the platform looking north at Balloch Pier.
Balloch Pier: [[PS Maid of the Loch]] and Balloch Pier.
Balloch Pier: Balloch Pier showing short section of surviving platform and Maid of the Loch.
Drymen: Looking to Stirling at the former Drymen station (in Croftamie).
Drymen: Looking to Balloch at the former Drymen station (at Croftamie).
Edinburgh Waverley: An Alphaline liveried 158 leaving Waverley and entering the non-electrified Mound central tunnel on 20 December 2006 with a service for Dunblane.
Edinburgh Waverley: Daylight! Hole in the north wall through to Waverley Steps reopened 20 December 2006.
Drymen: Inside the former goods shed at Drymen station - the doorway was used for parcels deliveries.
Drymen: Drymen goods shed - still in use for goods on 20 December 2006.
Brunstane: EWS 66234 passes through Brunstane on its way from Powderhall back to Millerhill on 20 December 2006 having worked the morning 'Binliner' to Oxwellmains.
Edinburgh Waverley: A Voyager pulls up at the west end of the Klondyke platform on 20 December with work still in progress.
Edinburgh Waverley: Looking back towards the main station from the end of the extended platform 3 on 20 December. A North Berwick service occupies platform 4 with sleeper locomotives stabled in the centre bays and a Voyager for Plymouth standing beyond.
Edinburgh Waverley: A Newcraighall shuttle waits at the new look platform 3 on 20 December 2006.
Cowlairs Carriage Sidings: Fencing now installed around part of the works area at Cowlairs on 20 December.
Edinburgh Waverley: Looking east along the northside through platforms at Waverley on 20 December 2006. The train is standing at platform 19 with the new 'Balmoral' platform 20 on the left.
Edinburgh Waverley: An Alphaline-liveried ScotRail 158 awaiting its departure time at the west end of Waverley on 20 December 2006 with a Dunblane service.
Edinburgh Waverley: Alphaline liveried 158863 leaving Waverley for Dunblane on 20 December 2006.
Haymarket: The National Express East Coast 0950 Aberdeen-Kings Cross HST arrives at Haymarket platform 1 on a freezing 20 December 2007, headed by power car 43300 Craigentinny. This is the first set to appear in full NXEC livery with the majority of ex-GNER liveried stock currently carrying the white stripe.
Haymarket East Junction: The 1020 NXEC Glasgow Central - London Kings Cross service comes off the former Duff Street spur and joins the main E&G line at Haymarket East Junction on 20 December 2007. See image [[31874]]
Haymarket: The 1010 Edinburgh - London Euston pulls into platform 4 at Haymarket on 20 December. The Pendolino works into Waverley each morning as the 0840 local from Carstairs (to which it runs empty stock from Glasgow Central) See image [[15040]].
Haymarket: A northbound HST emerges from Haymarket tunnel and runs into platform 2 on a chilly 20 December 2007.
Haymarket: SWT liveried 158789 calls at Haymarket on 20 December with a Bathgate service.
Haymarket: Plenty of salt and grit underfoot at Haymarket on a cold and frosty 20 December 2007, with an Aberdeen – Penzance service standing at platform 1. Having taken over the franchise from Virgin Trains the previous month. the CrossCountry Voyager is still primarily in Virgin livery, albeit with various CCT transfers liberally applied.
Drem: Railway Touring Company charter from Huddersfield to Edinburgh, hauled by Maunsell King Arthur class locomotive 30777, Sir Lamiel, with 47760 coupled behind. The train is pictured west of Drem on 20 December.
Kinghorn: Customer information display on the northbound platform at Kinghorn on 20 December 2008. For the first couple of days of the new timetable Inner Circle services were described on information screens, accurately if pedantically, as Newcraighall even though you'd be daft to go that way round. A very quick change of heart and they're now described as terminating at Kirkcaldy - making them indistinguishable from the services in between which actually do. How long I wonder before they revert to Glenrothes with Th which customers understood through familiarity to mean Edinburgh via Dunfermline?
Newcraighall: 30777 Sir Lamiel, with 47760 coupled behind, passing Newcraighall having rounded the sub with the RTC charter from Huddersfield on 20 December. The train was subsequently dragged back to Waverley by 37706.
Kinghorn: View north showing the main station building at Kinghorn on 20 December 2008. Like all other E&N stations on the 1847 Burntisland to Cupar line (apart from the original Burntisland itself when it was a ferry terminal) Kinghorn had a flat canopy supported by closely-spaced plain columns. This colonnade has since been boxed in with wood and the ticket window moved to what was the outside wall. An ornate lamp-bracket attached to one column was cut round and survives, most of it indoors. Other surviving buildings from 1846/7 are Markinch, Ladybank, Springfield and Cupar. Springfield, though long a private house, is closest to how Kinghorn would originally have looked.
Drem: 322 481 leaving Drem with a North Berwick-Edinburgh service on 20 December. In the left backround stands the ancient conical basalt volcanic plug that is North Berwick Law.
Newcraighall: 37706 waits to leave Newcraighall on 20 December on its way back to Waverley from Millerhill yard with the empty stock for the return RTC excursion to Huddersfield.
Milton of Crathes: Scene at Milton of Crathes station on the Deeside Railway in glorious winter sunshine on 20 December 2008. The Derby battery electric mutiple unit is about to head off west towards Banchory, albeit under tow from a diesel locomotive!
Becconsall: 0-4-0ST Quarry Hunslet 'Irish Mail' arrives back in the station at Becconsall with the final Santa Special of the season in winter wonderland conditions on 20 December 2009.
Brundall: A train for Norwich calls at Brundall on a chilly December day in 2009.
Bonnyton Junction: Old Dalry line out beyond Kilmarnock Long Lyes looking East towards the station (Long Lyes were beyond the bridge on the far side of the tracks). Road/rail machine is at the new buffer stops.
Bonnyton Junction: A snowy view of the new run-round loop on the old Dalry line, looking west from Bridge 102, with the track gang applying the finishing touches to the buffer stop at the end of the line.
Dalgety Bay: 170 424 heads north at Dalgety Bay on 20 December 2010.
Alexandra Palace [1st]: Bridge over footpath in the grounds of Alexandra Palace ('Ally Pally' as it has been known to generations of Londonders ever since it opened in 1873), that carried the former railway line into and out of Alexandra Palace terminus and closed in 1954. Had World War Two been delayed by only three or four months, the pre-war electrification scheme would have been fully completed and LUL Northern Line tube trains would now be running over this bridge and through the Alpine-like settings of the north London suburbs of Crouch End and Muswell Hill and passengers would not give them a second's thought. Muswell Hill Viaduct south of the former station of that name also survives and is now part of the Parkland Walk footpath and can be walked across, giving great views from north London down to the city and beyond to south London. But they would have been a lot nicer from a train. This photograph is on a very snowy 20th December 2010 and the snow lasted long enough to make 2010 a White Christmas in London.
Stratford: A light fall of snow accentuates the lines of rails and wires as 66106 passes the London Stadium site at Stratford on 20th December 2010. Temperature wise it was about minus 10. Brrrr!
Alexandra Palace [1st]: A closer look at all that remains of the first Alexandra Palace station, now a community centre, on 20th December 2010. Much more conveniently-sited for the palace than the present station of that name (the former Wood Green) on the GNR main line which is right at the bottom of the steep hill on which 'Ally Pally' stands, it was opened by the Muswell Hill Railway (absorbed into the GNR in 1911) in 1873 and, by rights, should still be open as the terminus of one of LUL's Northern Line branches. It closed in 1954 despite work on the electrification project having been almost completed just prior to WWII with third rails laid and lineside cabling installed all the way and platforms at stations adjusted to tube train height. What a waste.
Grangemouth: A pair of DRS class 66s on the way south from the Ineos refinery sidings towards Fouldubs Junction on 20 December 2011. The locomotives are about to drift past the site of the former Grangemouth station which stood off to the right.
Grangemouth: Empty fuel tanks returning to the Grangemouth refinery from Dalston oil depot in Cumbria snake through the reverse curves north of Fouldubs Junction on 20 December 2011, with the train just over a mile short of its destination. In the background is the Whyte & Mackay blending and bottling plant on South Lumley Street and, on the right, the site of the former Grangemouth station (closed 1968).
Shettleston: Some of the last passengers to use the original footbridge at Shettleston inspect the newly erected replacement as they cross from platforms 2 to 1 on 20th December 2011. See image [[2691]]
Grangemouth: DBS 66107 skirts Dock Road, Grangemouth, on 20 December as it approaches the refinery sidings with returning empties from Cumbria.
Grangemouth: A pair of DRS Class 66 locomotives running from the Grangemouth refinery sidings towards Fouldubs Junction on the afternoon of 20 December 2011. The locomotives are passing the site of the former Grangemouth station which closed to passengers in 1968. Reinstatement of passenger services to the town is the subject of ongoing lobbying, not least in view of the number of passenger trains currently using the branch for 'turnback' purposes each day see image [[35008]].
Grangemouth: EWS liveried 66107 runs alongside Union Road, Grangemouth, on 20 December 2011 with empty tanks returning to the refinery. The train is about to pass below the bridge carrying the A904 Station Road and is a short distance from its ultimate destination.
Grangemouth: Looking south alongside the site of Grangemouth station (right) towards Fouldubs Junction in December 2011 with a train of empty oil tanks approaching. The line into Grangemouth docks ran directly below the camera and under the A904 Station Road. See image [[47486]]
Shettleston: Looking west over Shettleston station from the Hallhill Road overbridge on 20th December 2011. The final touches are currently being applied to the newly erected replacement footbridge as westbound 334 022 passes under the rusting original structure beyond see image [[18009]].
Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal: And then there were two see image [[42686]]. DRS 37069 and 37714 relax at DIRFT between duties just before Christmas 2013.
Millerhill: Looking south past the former Millerhill station along the trackbed of the old Waverley route on 20 December 2013. The new route to Tweedbank will leave the original alignment at the north end of Millerhill yard and run through Shawfair, to the west of here. The redundant section of the trackbed is now crossed by an access road used by construction traffic in connection with the new recycling facility to be built on the west side of the yard.
Newcraighall South Junction: Looking south west along the turnback siding at the north end of Millerhill Yard on 20 December 2013. The route to Tweedbank will continue beyond the buffer stops towards the new station at Shawfair.
Millerhill: The former Millerhill station, photographed looking east in December 2013, with surviving track of the Waverley route visible just beyond the metal fence. The muddy surface below is part of a temporary access road used to reach the under construction Biogen recycling plant in the north west corner of the yard. Work on the new facility had commenced prior to completion of the bridge enabling access from Whitehill Road (see image [[48264]]).
Newcastle Central: A strong contender for 'scarf of the year' can be seen to the right as a down East Coast service arrives at Newcastle a few days before Christmas 2014. The overall roof is especially impressive at dusk.
Newcastle Central: The Castle Keep seen from within Newcastle Central station at dusk on 20 December 2014.
Tamworth High Level: DBS 60091 rumbles through Tamworth High Level towards Birmingham with a train of bogie tanks on 20 December. 'Tugs' at work are now a rare sight, but a 66 might not be able to haul this tonnage.
Morpeth: The 16.15 double donkey arrives at Morpeth station from Newcastle see image [[49834]] with the station roof outlined against the evening sky.
Newcastle Central: Why the long face? The TransPennine 185 on the left - about to depart for Liverpool - makes the Northern 142 on the right look rather frumpy at Newcastle Central in December 2014. But 30 years' service by the latter puts most road vehicles to shame.
West End - Princes Street [Tram]: Looking south west along Shandwick Place towards Haymarket on 20 December as an Edinburgh tram approaches heading for York Place.
Preston: For five Saturdays DRS has provided a pair of Class 47s and 6 Mark 2 coaches to Northern to run a number of extra services between Preston and Manchester Victoria. On 20 December 2014 47853 has just arrived at Preston with the 2028 from Victoria. The driver is about to leave 47853 and head to 47818 in order to take the 2133 non-stop to Manchester.
Morpeth: Double donkey: the 16.49 to Newcastle Central has just reversed North of the station see image [[47436]], and awaits the off to Newcastle on 20 December. The intermediate stops at Cramlington and Manors are sensibly spaced, but Manors to Central is a very short run.
Newcastle Central: Lit up like a Christmas tree - TransPennine 185149 at Newcastle Central on 20 December, about to form the 16.06 to Liverpool Lime Street via Manchester Piccadilly.
Preston: Evening scene at Preston station on 20 December 2014. On the right 142045 awaits departure time at platform 3C with the 2205 service to Ormskirk. On the left is the terminating 1P06 from Euston which is preparing to run as 5H06 to Longsight
Delph [West Lancashire Light]: As the children visit Father Christmas at Delph (renamed Toyland for the visit of the big man) on 20 December 2015, Kerr Stuart 0-6-0 T&WT no.2405 'Joffre' waits patiently before coupling up to the train.
Morecambe South Junction: Another day - another Northern Belle Christmas Diner. 68016 Fearless heads an excursion from Crewe and Liverpool under the newly opened Bay Gateway bridge near Morecambe South Junction See image [[50297]]. The train had just visited the Hellifield to Carnforth line and earlier in the day it had also traversed the rarely used Halton Curve near Runcorn.
Whitecraigs: The recently refurbished waiting room and ticket office at Whitecraigs in December 2017. The plants are artificial but help to give a bit a colour!
Whitecraigs: Part of the photographic display in the recently refurbished Whitecraigs waiting room. Many of the photos on the walls are from the Mitchell Library from steam days. December 2017.
Easter Road Junction: The Crawford footbridge, where I'm standing, plays a supporting role in the 1951 Edinburgh short *The Singing Street* (See 3 minutes 50 seconds of the NLS Moving Image Archive). In those days there were eight tracks under it; now there is but one, and that is disused. I'm looking towards Easter Road station site and the curve to Abbeyhill and Waverley was to the left. Note the surviving buffer from a headshunt. This was for the St Andrew Steel Works of Redpath Brown Ltd.
Dublin Heuston: Iarnrod Eireann 4007 just arrived from Cork at Dublin Heuston on 17th June 2016.
Limerick Junction: Limerick Junction, with Iarnrod Eireann 01 28050 waiting to depart for Limerick on right, seen from Kent Station Cork to Dublin Heuston train, behind Iarnrod Eireann 4007, looking back south, on 17th June 2016.
Mallow: Iarnrod Eireann broad gauge 4007 from Kent Station Cork to Dublin Heuston arriving at Mallow station on 17th June 2016. Most of the passengers thronging the platform had alighted from the branch connection from Tralee, myself and my friend John (who lives in Tralee) included. John who did the booking had reserved seats for us which was just as well as the train was packed. We were off to spend the weekend in Dublin and very nice it was too, especially with the trams and the DART, not to mention some excellent pubs!
Brusselton Incline: View looking west of the short, with rail mounting blocks, west side restored section of the Brusselton Incline on the former Stockon & Darlington Railway on 20th December 2019. This runs in a WNW to ESE direction at either side of Brusselton Lane and alongside South Terrace on the east side. A stile allows access along the further grassed section of the incline running through the adjacent property towards Haggs Lane.
Brusselton Incline: A plaque referring to the restoration of a retaining wall on a section of embankment, alongside South Terrace, supporting the Brusselton Incline on the former Stockton & Darlington Railway. This runs in a WNW to ESE direction on either side of Brusselton Lane.
Brusselton Incline: View looking south easterly over Brusselton Lane to the east side embankment on the restored section of the Brusselton Incline, on the former Stockton & Darlington Railway. This runs in a WNW to ESE direction at either side of Brusselton Lane and alongside South Terrace seen to left of view. A plaque is mounted on the stone seen by the road sign, and is detailing restoration of the retaining wall to the embankment.
Brusselton Incline: View looking almost north of the now rebuilt farm accommodation bridge on the now restored Brusselton Incline, on the former Stockton & Darlington Railway, which lies between West Auckland and Shildon. The bridge is close to, and west of, the former Brusselton Lane rail overbridge. See Image [[47698]] for a view from mid 2014.
Brusselton Incline: View looking in an easterly direction, across a renovated farm accommodation bridge and now un-bridged Brusselton Lane, along the restored section of the Brusselton Incline, on the former Stockton & Darlington Railway, which runs in a WNW to ESE direction. Stone rail mounting blocks are seen in the foreground, and these are also in place along much of the section running alongside South Terrace, on the east side heading to the trees in the distance, although the later road encroached onto part of the trackbed near the engine house at the top of the incline.
Morecambe South Junction: And the Pacers have suddenly become scarce. Single cars 153328 and 153331 double up on a Morecambe to Leeds service near Morecambe South Junction on 20th December 2019. Pacers dominated these workings for many years but the majority are slated for withdrawal before the year end.
Morecambe South Junction: The Class 195s are now standard stock on the Airport services from Barrow and Windermere. 195110 passes under the Bay Gateway bridge at Morecambe South Junction heading towards Lancaster on 20th December 2019. The bogies on the new CAF trains are noticeably lightweight compared to Sprinter units.
Newton Longville Yard: We'll know they are serious about East West Rail when the burnt out car on the left is removed - it featured in a photograph in RAIL magazine about a year ago. View looks East, towards Bletchley. Entry to the yard was to the left with the sidings behind the camera.
Almond Valley Junction: Almond Valley Junction looking north in 1989. The stub of the line to Crieff had survived as a headshunt for Perth New Yard and siding for Dewar's.
Events
Events from the chronology which occured on this day. This generally lists events before 1995, the creation of the website.
| Year | Companies | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1880 | Waterford and Limerick Railway | Abbeydorney, Abbeyfeale opened. |
| 1888 | Cogan Branch (Barry Dock and Railways) | Line opened. |
| 1894 | Callander and Oban Railway | Spur from Crianlarich station (West Highland Railway) to CandO_>Crianlarich Junction CandO opened. New passing loop at CandO_>Crianlarich Junction CandO allows removal of up platform and loop at CandO_>Crianlarich CandO station. |
| 1897 | West Highland Railway | Connection to Callander and Oban Railway at Crianlarich, from Crianlarich Junction to CandO_>Crianlarich Junction CandO . |
| 1971 | Marquis of Lothians Waggonway | Newbattle Coal Stocking Site (known as Butlerfield) (excluded) to nearby Lady Victoria Pit closed to freight. |
| 1987 | Stirling and Dunfermline Railway | Alloa New Yard closed on opening of rounding loop at Cambus. A lifted track panel could be replaced to allow access which was done some time later for a light locomotive running to Alloa West Level Crossing. Cambus Junction and Alloa West Junction signal boxes closed. Panels lifted in Alloa New Yard to block access (some lifted and relaid to form the loop). |
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 | Class 334 test-running, Class 158 refurbishment | Class 334 driver training started 27 November, and in December Alstom received certification for test-running to commence in multiple. On 20 December Adtranz agreed to undertake a modifications programme to improve the reliability of ScotRail Turbostars. The ScotRail Class 158 refurbishment programme is now nearing completion at Shields, and Class 150/2s are emerging in the new ScotRail livery. The new station building at Largs came into use in mid-December. |
| 2001 | New ^322^ trains for North Berwick service | 322481 made the Class^s Scottish debut on Thursday 20 December working ScotRail^s 0840 Edinburgh Waverley-North Berwick, 0920 return and then the 1040 out and 1120 back. The conductor made announcements on the 0920, explaining to the full trainload the significance of the run. The benefits of a fourth coach were apparent for speed loading. The remaining three 305/2s will go in the New Year, once the Edinburgh drivers have been trained on the 322s. |
| 2006 | £20m package set to boost rail comfort [Scotsman] | PASSENGERS are to benefit from refurbished interiors in two train fleets and improvements to two thirds of Scotland^s stations as part of a £20 million spending package. |
| 2008 | West Fife Rail Link proposed - but nobody knows where [Dunfermline Press] | The Scottish Government has announced plans to build a railway line to the east of Dunfermline – just don’t ask them where |
| 2009 | Fears over east coast rail stops [BBC News Article] | Council leader condemns plans which could see Motherwell and Glasgow axed from east coast rail link. |
| 2010 | Northern rail staff to strike over bank holiday pay [BBC] | Workers at Northern Rail are to strike on 27 and 28 December in a row over bank holiday pay, it has been announced. |
| 2010 | Eurostar delays add to Xmas travel misery [Sky News] | Hundreds of passengers remain stranded at Heathrow airport and long queues have formed at London^s Eurostar terminal as the big freeze continues to cause travel chaos. |
| 2010 | High Speed Rail Link update given by Transport Secretary | People living in towns as far north as Coventry will be able to become daily commuters to London when the planned high-speed rail link is built, ministers have promised |
| 2011 | ScotRail increases fares by 6% from January [BBC News] | Rail passengers in Scotland will face fare increases of 6% from January. Train operator ScotRail made the announcement as rail companies across the UK revealed average price rises of 5.9%. |
| 2011 | Fresh bonus row after regulator slates Network Rail for poor punctuality [Telegraph] | Network Rail’s poor performance triggered a fresh row over the executive bonus scheme with Justine Greening, the Transport Secretary, saying that payouts next year would be unjustified. She intervened after the regulator found that the infrastructure company was in breach of its licence conditions. Long distance train services are classed as running on time if they are less than 10 minutes late when they arrive at their destination. But according to the ORR the latest statistics showed that only 87.1 per cent of trains were meeting the target, well short of the 90.9 per cent target. At the same time freight delays are also 32 per cent higher than they should have been. “Network Rail has achieved a lot in recent years, but while it signed up to improve performance year-on-year, its performance is now worsening,” said Richard Price, the ORR’S chief executive. [From Mark Bartlett] |
| 2012 | Christmas rail strikes called off after agreement between ScotRail and union leaders [Scotsman] | RAIL strikes which threatened to cause chaos for thousands of travellers in the run-up to Christmas have been called off following an agreement between ScotRail and union leaders. |
| 2013 | Borders Railway a year down the line - Video [Midlothian Advertiser] | Network Rail recently gave the Advertiser a tour of the Borders Railway line though Midlothian, to see the progress being made after a year of construction work. In this video Network Rail communications manager Sarah Duignan takes us to some of the key spots along the route through the county, which runs from Shawfair to Fala before crossing into the Borders and heading to Tweedbank. |
| 2013 | £25m revamp of Haymarket Station is declared open [Herald] | A new main building and concourse has been officially opened at one of Scotland^s busiest railway stations as its £25 million revamp nears completion. Transport Minister Keith Brown unveiled the new facilities at Edinburgh^s Haymarket station today. Network Rail said the project, delivered on time and on budget, offers more shops and a public space 10 times larger than before. The steel and glass building also links to all platforms via a new footbridge with lifts and escalators. |
| 2014 | Crossrail: A tour through the tunnels beneath London [BBC News] | It is exactly four years until the first section of London^s new Crossrail line is due to open. The £14.8bn project is set to boost the capital^s rail capacity by 10%, once it becomes fully operational the following year. Up to 24 trains will run every hour, each carrying up to 1,500 passengers during peak hours in the central section between Paddington and Whitechapel. |
| 2015 | Is the British Rail logo a design icon? [BBC News] | A fundraising campaign is under way to publish the original design manual of one of the UK^s most recognisable logos. The symbol for British Rail was created 50 years ago, outlasting the company. The manual dictated how everything from uniforms to toilets should be branded. Dan Johnson reports. |
| 2015 | Two-thirds of train companies shut down for Christmas and Boxing Day [Times] | BRITAIN’S rail network will be almost completely closed on Boxing Day, with 22 of the 31 train companies running no services. None of the UK’s main arterial rail routes will be operating, including those between England and Scotland on the east and west coast lines and between England and Wales on Great Western. |
| 2017 | TransPennine Express trainsets under construction in Japan [Railway Gazette] | UK: Hitachi has begun production of the 19 five-car AT300 electro-diesel multiple-units ordered by leasing company Angel Trains in March 2016 for use by FirstGroups TransPennine Express franchise. The fleet is scheduled to begin entering service in December 2019, operating on routes connecting cities in northern England and Scotland. Hitachi is building the first two sets, 802 201 and 802 202, at its plant at Kasado in Japan so that it can undertake factory testing as quickly as possible, ahead of trials in the UK which are scheduled for summer 2018. The remaining units would be built across Hitachis global manufacturing sites, the company said. |
| 2017 | Rail workers to stage series of 24-hour strikes over guards in January [Sky News] | Rail workers are set to stage a series of 24-hour strikes in January over long-running disputes over the role of guards. The RMT union announced workers on Southern, South Western Railway, Greater Anglia, Merseyrail, Arriva Rail North and the Isle of Wight^s Island Line will be involved in the action. Workers from all companies, except Southern, are due to walk out on 8, 10 and 12 January. Southern employees are expected to strike only on 8 January. |
| 2018 | Britain^s most endangered bird the Willow tit will be driven to the brink of extinction by HS2 [Daily Mail] | The Wildlife Trusts charity claims the £56million rail line is ‘highly likely’ to lead to the Willow tit^s extinction in its South Yorkshire stronghold. Its numbers have fallen by 94 per cent since the Seventies. |
| 2018 | Freightliner to take over Mendip aggregates traffic [Railways Illustrated] | Freightliner has secured a long-term bulk rail-haulage contract with Mendip Rail Ltd (Hanson Aggregates and Aggregate Industries). The deal will start inNovember 2019 and will see Freightliner moving up to eight million tonsper year to terminals in London and the .. |
| 2018 | More trains cancelled as disruption to Aberdeen rail services continue [Evening Express] | Aberdeen travellers are facing another day of delays with more trains to and from the city cancelled today. |
| 2018 | Power outage halts ScotRail commuter services [Scotsman] | Commuters faced further misery this morning as a fault with an overhead power line halted ScotRail services in the west of Scotland. |
| 2018 | Ferguson Marine says it will lose £40m on new CalMac ferries [BBC News] | The Inverclyde yard posts a £60m loss following major cost overruns on deal to build new ferries. |
| 2018 | Gatwick Airport closure: Free rail travel for London to Edinburgh passengers [Scotsman] | Ten thousand passengers have suffered flight chaos after the runway at Gatwick Airport was closed due to drones being flown nearby. |
| 2018 | January works for investment in Scotland’s railway [Network Rail] | Network Rail is advising passengers travelling between Ayrshire and Inverclyde into Glasgow to expect changes to their services on each weekend in January as engineers undertake a range of works on the railway. |
| 2018 | ScotRail: Sturgeon says delays ‘unacceptable’ as 40 trains axed [Scotsman] | Nicola Sturgeon has described ScotRail delays as “unacceptable” as it was indicated around 5,000 trains are axed or partially cancelled each year. |
| 2019 | Jim McColl: CalMac ferries ^should be scrapped^ [BBC News] | Ex-Ferguson shipyard boss Jim McColl speaks out against plans to spend £110m on part-finished ferries. |
| 2019 | Highland Council gives notice that a procurement for Corran Ferry service may be coming [Highland Council] | Highland Council will be testing the market by contacting prospective contractors (scheduled to be sent on 6 January 2020) to give notice that a procurement for the Corran ferry service may be coming. |
| 2019 | MSPs embark on inquiry into ferry procurement [Scottish Parliament] | The Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee has today approved the general principles of a bill which seeks to strengthen the rights of consumers in Scotland through the creation of a new public body. |
| 2019 | Record autumn performance on Scotland^s Railway [ScotRail] | Unprecedented investment across Scotlands Railway, including £475 million on new and upgraded trains, has helped to deliver the best autumn for customers in five years. New figures for the most recent period of performance (17 November “ 7 December) show that 84.4 per cent of trains met the rail industry standard public performance measure (PPM) “ a five year high for the traditionally difficult period. |
| 2019 | Shock loss of ScotRail franchise may not be a good move - Alastair Dalton [Scotsman] | Few saw Abellio being stripped of the contract coming but it could just plunge Scotlands (very) slowly improving railways into uncertainty. |
| 2019 | Cut cables ^vandalism^ hits rail services [BBC News] | Services on the Fife Circle were seriously affected by suspected vandalism to signalling cables. |
| 2019 | Government rejects £50m Leith Walk project [BBC News] | Drum Property Group has its appeal to demolish Stead^s Place on Leith Walk rejected. [RailScot note: this row of shops and flats was erected by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway alongside Leith Walk West Goods and the never opened Leith Walk (Caledonian) station.] |
| 2019 | What^s gone wrong with CalMac^s new ferries? [BBC News] | Four years late and £100m over budget - but who is to blame for the problems at Ferguson shipyard? |
