Rail Express

RAIL EXPRESS is Britain's favourite modern rail enthusiast title. Undoubtedly the best for modern traction photography, the magazine keeps readers informed and entertained with undiluted coverage of Britain's railways in the diesel and electric era. First produced in 1996, RE has set a new standard for the hobby, with a clean design, high quality paper and the best reproduction. January 2008 saw the magazine relaunched in an innovative 'supersize' format, showing off the ground-breaking contents to the best advantage. Every issue includes news and analysis covering the present day railway scene, plus the latest preservation developments. Also inside: RAIL EXPRESS Modeler - Diesel & Electric era modeling magazine

RAIL EXPRESS

Severn Valley Railway faces disruption after major landslip

Winners and losers emerge in East Coast winter timetable revamp

Track void led to DMU derailment at 56mph

DTG wins Rail Express Modern Traction award

Colas Rail stores its first three Class 56s • The 10-strong fleet of Colas ‘Grids’ has been reduced to seven working examples with the official removal of three locomotives from the operational roster, with two more likely to follow soon.

Former Class 314 moves to Glasgow Works • ‘614’ to become training unit for Gibson’s Engineering

Final ‘Inter7City’ HST set enters service • ScotRail now has 25 HSTs available for traffic

Powerscene • Our authoritative class-by-class review of newsworthy locomotive workings.

West Coast Railways to assist with Class 40 main generator repairs • CFPS ‘Whistler’ to return to service with help from Carnforth-based TOC

Railways at night • After dark, the railways take on a completely different perspective, often with many freight workings through the night. Rail Express presents a selection of creative images which capture that special atmosphere.

EFE Rail’s new electro-diesel

TT:120 ‘Tractors’

Hornby’s 2025 ‘OO’ range

Taking a peek at the new Heljan ‘O’ gauge ‘Peak’ • Heljan launches its brand-new ‘O’ gauge Class 45, starting with the sealed beam marker light version. Does the model achieve peak perfection?

Crimson Mk.1 suburbans • The latest BR Mk.1 suburban coaches to arrive from Accurascale are taken apart to look at the interiors in more detail.

SONIC MODELS VEAS

Inverness No. D5335 – an interesting ‘McRat’

Accurascale Deltic v2.0 • Batch 2 of the Accurascale ‘OO’ gauge Class 55 is given a run on the test track, to evaluate its sound files and upgrading following feedback from the first batch.

ACCURASCALE DELTIC SOUND CHECK

TransPennine Express ‘Nova 1’ from Hornby • Colour and detail makes Hornby’s new TPE Class 802/2 an eye-catching train. How does it measure up and perform when placed on the test track?

New Mk.1 Restaurant Buffet in ‘OO’

Merseyrail transformed • It has taken longer than expected, but the modernisation of the Merseyrail Electrics is now complete. David Russell traces the history of the Class 507 and 508 fleets, and looks at the improvements brought by their Class 777 replacements.

Heidelberg orders ‘08e’ for Whatley Quarry • The aggregates company has become the first customer for Positive Traction’s battery-powered shunter.

TfL: There are no plans for our own Rail 200 events

DBC completes first ‘new’ BAA steel carriers • A collaborative effort between DB Cargo’s British and Polish subsidiaries in Stokeon-Trent and Rybnik has resulted in a new design of slab wagon for Tata Steel in South Wales.

Government plans to boost investment in rail

First railtour outing using Eastern Rail Services stock will visit Kent • The Norfolk-based stock provider is set to see more use of its carriages...