We Love Hornby

By Phill Cooper

Hello again. You’ll be pleased to know that Trackside Signs HQ is recovering from the Covid outbreak and will soon be back to normal, Deliveries will soon catch up and we apologise if we’ve kept you waiting.

Did you guess which articles in the  April Fool Special were childish pranks? Yes it was me claiming to be a modeller by displaying modelling photos. Here’s what some REAL modellers said about my gallery

John Batley: OMG

David Styles: Very brave Phil, very brave.

Neil Stanley: They’re very good Phil. Honestly they are. Great, great stuff. I’m going to show them to some newbies at my club to show them what is possible. Great stuff, mate.

Marcus Pick: How long have you been “modelling” Phil?

Sean Selley-West (replying to Marcus); Not long enough or, more likely, too long.

PS Simon Kohler did not win the lottery, nor did he get engaged to Montana and her hair. Trackside Signs did not receive a royal warrant. But King Chuck does continue to send in his modelling photos still using various noms de plume, most recently as John Batley! And he DOES like my sense of humour. The Goodies ARE funny and so, too, is John Cleese. Right, let’s move away from controversary and get cracking.

 MODELLER PHOTOS

A few blogs ago I brought you some photos from a new (to me) modeller but somehow didn’t mention his name (Ed Comment: Did you claim they were yours??).He was Paul Webster and this is Buccleuch Central which I think is magnificent and very similar in style to David Styles’ masterpiece. I couldn’t give it a finer compliment. Let’s see it Paul:

Thank you, Paul for your patience and congratulations on a grand layout

HORNBY CLEARPAY

Caring about their customers Hornby are now offering buyers to spread the cost of modelling. You can now opt to use Clearpay to pay for Hornby equipment. This allows you to spread the cost over 4 payments every 2 weeks. To use the scheme you have to register a free Clearpay account and then at Hornby’s checkout you select “Clearpay”. It’s interest-free. Make sure you can make your repayments on time by each due date to avoid late fees – I keep track of my payments  using an Excel database which records when payments are due  As long as you have the funds in your bank/credit card account, the money will be taken automatically. So, it’s easy!

HORNBY HM7000

Hornby has launched its revolutionary new HM7000 Bluetooth® digital app control system. Available for use with iPhone Operating System (iOS) devices initially, an Android version will be available soon.

The free to download app has been designed to bring Bluetooth® operation of layout control and sound functionality to the palm of the hand and has been designed to ensure locomotives fitted with the company’s new Bluetooth® and DCC motor control or Triplex Sound (TXS) decoders run without connectivity issues.

Hornby’s new HM DCC app also allows you to transfer free sound profiles directly onto the company’s new TXS digital sound decoders, with a selection of custom steam and diesel motive power profiles available. The TXS decoders are supplied with a generic sound profile which can be overwritten by using the new free-to-download app. While the decoders also work on DCC systems, the sound profiles can only be updated through the app.

The new HM DCC app will also operate across scales and is compatible with other manufacturer’s locomotives.

See the May 2023 issue of Hornby Magazine (HM191) - on sale from April 6 2023 - for a first look at Hornby’s new HM7000 Bluetooth® digital control system app and TXS decoders.

How it works

Hornby new  

Hornby has launched a new digital app control system for model railways that operates through Bluetooth.

The new HM7000 allows the power, control, and sound options of model railway layouts to be controlled with Bluetooth via users' smartphones. An iOS version of the app is already available, and an Android version will follow soon.

Hornby HM7000 component parts. // Credit: Hornby

Patented Mesh technology is used in the new app so that multiple locomotives can operate seamlessly on the same layout without interfering with each other's operation.

Hornby's developers spent many hours developing the app to ensure it is both user-friendly and technologically advanced. The use of Mesh technology allows users to control their locomotives with ease, without worrying about connectivity issues and enables a network of devices to be created that work together so that all locomotives stay connected and operate seamlessly.

The app will allow users to install a wide range of sound profiles onto decoders so that the sounds of their locomotives can add an extra layer of realism to their model railway layouts, whether it be a classic steam engine sound or the hum of a modern diesel locomotive.

In use, the HM|DCC app is incredibly user-friendly as it has an intuitive interface that allows for easy operation, even for anyone who is non-technical. The design allows users to quickly navigate and find the features they need to operate their locomotives without removing the model from the layout.

Hornby believes that their new HM7000 model railway control app will revolutionise the model railway industry, as its patented Mesh technology and the ability to install custom sound profiles sets it apart from any others on the market. As an added incentive Hornby is also offering a range of free unique locomotive sounds, with approximately 20 per profile download. The HM7000 is also backwards compatible and works in all main scales worldwide, including 1:87, 1:76, N gauge, and the newly-launched Hornby TT:120 scale.

A major feature is that the new system will also control locomotives made by other manufacturers, as it is not restricted to just working with Hornby models. Further information about the HM7000 DCC and all the incredible benefits can be found at 

https://uk.hornby.com/hm7000.

The new range can be viewed online at 

https://uk.hornby.com/catalogue/track-and-power/hm7000?

HORNBY CELEBRATE FLYING SCOTSMAN CENTENARY

BR, A3 Class, 'Flying Scotsman' With Steam Generator, Diecast Footplate & Flickering Firebox - Era 4 // Credit: Hornby

Most To celebrate the centenary of Flying Scotsman, the world's most famous steam locomotive, on 24th February 2023, leading model maker Hornby will be releasing a special, limited-edition model of the locomotives.

The special model will be presented in a bespoke box that includes a medallion featuring Flying Scotsman's centenary logo, operator, running number, year, and a numbered commemorative certificate.

 Flying Scotsman was synonymous with the golden age of rail travel, and the locomotive stood out as a feat of design and engineering. The locomotive received the name Flying Scotsman in 1924 after the daily 10am service from London King's Cross to Edinburgh Waverley.

To celebrate Flying Scotsman's centenary, the National Railway Museum at York is running a centenary programme Flying Scotsman centenary programme | National Railway Museum that will include a tour by Flying Scotsman around the UK, exhibitions and many other activities. It is also a star attraction in the museum's collection where it is a working exhibit.

Hornby Flying Scotsman locomotive and carriages. // Credit: Hornby

Hornby is a lead sponsor of Flying Scotsman's centenary programme and continues Hornby's longstanding strong relationship with the locomotive that began in 1927 when the company first introduced an ‘0' gauge tinplate model carrying the name Flying Scotsman. In 1969 launched an ‘00' gauge model of Flying Scotsman, since when almost 50 variants have been produced, and it remains one of Hornby's most popular model locomotives.

Hornby's full centenary collection is available online at

https://uk.hornby.com/catalogue/flying-scotsman-centenary.

As well as the Limited Edition range, Hornby also has other Flying Scotsman models in its range including:

• R1255M Flying Scotsman Train Set (hornby.com)
• R3991SS BR, A3 Class, ‘Flying Scotsman' With Steam Generator, Diecast Footplate & Flickering Firebox – Era 4 (hornby.com)
• R40369 Flying Scotsman 100th Anniversary 4 Wheel Coach (hornby.com)
• R30165 LNER, Class 91, Bo-Bo, 91101 ‘Flying Scotsman' – Era 10 (hornby.com)
• R3086 LNER, A1 Class, 4-6-2, 4472 ‘Flying Scotsman' – Era 3 (hornby.com)

R40370 LNER, Flying Scotsman, Mk4 DVT, 82205 – Era 11 (hornby.com)

DCC CONCEPTS

Zen Buddha really packs an almighty punch!  

Hornby has revealed an exclusive Collector Club model of LNER ‘P2’ 2-8-2 2005 Thane of Fife for ‘OO’ gauge.

Gresley’s streamlined ‘P2’ 2-8-2 2005 Thane of Fife has been selected as the next exclusive Hornby Collector Club model. The new ‘OO’ gauge release was revealed during Hornby's Virtual Collector Club day on March 25.

The new model of Thane of Fife models the Gresley 2-8-2 in original form with streamlined smokebox and it will carry LNER lined apple green livery depicting the locomotive as it was in service in Era 3 between delivery in 1936 and rebuilding as an ‘A2/2’ in 1943.

2005 was completed at Doncaster Works in 1936 and differed from the other ‘P2s’ as it was not fitted with a Kylchap double blastpipe. Like the rest of the ‘P2s’, the locomotive was based in Scotland to work heavy Edinburgh-Aberdeen expresses over the challenging route. In 1943, 2005 was selected for rebuilding by Edward Thompson as the first of the ‘A2/2’ 4-6-2s which saw the locomotive in service for another 16 years before final withdrawal in November 1959.

Release of the new model of 2005 Thane of Fife is expected in summer 2023 with the price set at £199.99. The specification incorporates NEM coupling pockets with small tension lock couplings, a 21-pin decoder socket, space for a speaker, a five-pole motor in the locomotive, turned metal buffers, locomotive-specific details and a new locomotive to tender power coupling.

Look at the detail!! It’s beautiful

Ordering opened at 10am on March 25 for Collector Club Members only.

MODEL SHOT OF THE YEAR (I know some people who could do better)

The votes are in!

I’m including this item to challenge our photographers/modellers. The winner’s stuff is quite good but I can think of at least 15 of our blog contributors who could do better! So come on, accept the challenge lads and ladies. I know you can do it! Or maybe I should have a go(Ed COMMENT: LOLs)

We're pleased to announce Hornby’s Model Shot of the Year 2022 winner is...

Chris France

with his incredible layout 'Teasel Bay'

Congratulations Chris! What a layout and what an image, with so much detail included, it certainly represents a completely realistic scene!

Thank you to everyone who entered and voted in this year’s ‘Hornby Model Shot of the Year’ 2022 competition. We were blown away by all the amazing images and we will be sure to share as many of them with you as possible!

HORNBY CORONATION

(Simon Kohler to be knighted )

(Ed’s Comment, Cooper, you idiot, you’ve done April Fool. Get on with this blog!)

The Coronation coaches were stock designed and implemented on the LNER service of the same name, beginning on the 5^th July 1937. The train was short lived with the service ceasing and the stock placed into storage at the outbreak of the Second World War. The coaches would be pulled by specially prepared Class A4 locomotives.

The Coronation coaches were fitted with lights throughout, and this is no different with the model version with accurate temperate LED lights powered from pickups on the bogie bearings on all coaches providing subtle lighting for the detailed coach interiors, useful for illuminating the fully detailed interiors. A concealed capacitor will ensure the lights do not flicker.

The coach sets will be connected via magnetic couplings on the central articulated bogies, allowing the streamlining affect to remain in place during running.

The new Hornby LNER Coronation prototypes have an array of intricate detailing on both the inside and outside of the coaches, replicating as closely as possible the intricate detail of the full size prototypes. To do this we will be employing some cutting edge techniques not used on Hornby models before and we wait with eager anticipation to see the results.

It is worth mentioning at this point that we are in a more advanced stage of development than the CAD models shown at GETS a few weeks ago as seen in the cabinet below. Also visible in the same cabinet are the forthcoming updated 4-VEP and new liveries for the Class 91 and Mk4 DVT.

With one of the surviving Observation Cars based at the One:One Collection Museum in Margate it goes without saying that it has been extensively surveyed over the course of the project, with every inch of the coach measured and replicated in CAD design.

With such access, we have been able to produce the CAD design to take into account all variances and rebuilds and therefore we will be able to produce variants of the Observation Car in the future.

HORNBY VISITOR MUSEUM

Single Day Ticket

• Adult: £5
• Child (ages 5-15): £2.50
• Senior Citizen (60+): £2.50
• Family Ticket (2 Adults and up to 4 Children): £12.50.
• Sprogs (under 5) Free
•  

Hot and cold food & drinks, all freshly prepared to order are available in the Just the Ticket Café. Full menu here.

https://uk.hornby.com/hornby-hobbies-visitor-centre/just-ticket-cafe

The Visitor Centre will also host special events such as

EX-DISPLAY WEEKEND

Special prices on many items across all brands.

Date: Coming Soon

Some bargains here I suspect

TOY FAIR

Date: Coming Soon

Worth £11.99 RRP, come along and build a Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vc.

Cost:£2.00 per person.

MUSEUM + FAIR

• Adult: £6.50 / Concessions: £4.00 / Under 5s: FREE / Family: £14.00

Date: Coming Soon

MAKE “n” PAINT

Worth £11.99 RRP, come along and build a Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vc.

Cost: £5 per person

Date: Coming Soon

Telephone: 01843 233524

Email: visitorcentre@hornby.com

ONE: ONE COLLECTION

The One One Collection is next door to Hornby HQ. Combine a visit to Hornby with a visit to the collection

It’s well worth a visit. Here’s some details::

The One:One Collection is not currently open to the public, but we hope to begin limited opening in 2023..The One One Collection is a unique collection of historic locomotives, rolling stock and maintenance vehicles, some of which are the only remaining example of their kind. These rare and exciting pieces of rail and engineering history are being brought together for the first time in Margate by Locomotive Storage Ltd.  When looking for a space big enough to house these historic icons the company was thrilled to have the chance to put them on a site that has been home to Hornby since the 1950. So since 2018 the One:One Collection has been taking shape in some of Hornby’s original warehouses.e

http://www.theonetoonecollection.co.uk/s t

eBay

I’ve made a few eBay purchases in the last week building up a Virgin fleet of Pendolinos and their Class 43 HSTs. I like having fleets such as my Highland Rail fleet and my Class 43 HST Fleet. As ever with Ebay it’s been a bit of hit and miss. The 2 HSTs were brilliant , as good as new and ran brilliantly as described by the sellers. The problem was with the Pendolino. I bought a power car and a dummy, the seller described them as “in perfect condition” so I was optimistic about them BUT when I opened the packaging, straightaway I could see the coupling on the dummy was missing (sems to be a common problem). Disappointed, I contacted the seller to explain the problem to him. I expected a battle so I searched the packaging to see if the coupling had fallen off in the packaging but there was no coupling present. I informed the seller and, to my surprise he replied “that’s a shame, send it back please.” Great, but I feel now that the seller realised there was a missing coupling when he sent it. And I was rather angry that he had tried to fool me. Did he hope I wouldn’t notice it and would put it away somewhere safe!

Fortunately I always immediately check eBay purchases visually off and on the track and I advise you guys to do the same. If you find a problem, send the seller a message explaining the problem. I also advise you not to buy from a seller who will not accept returns!

Some eBay sellers aren’t the nice person you hope they are!

By the way to buy these items I used my scheme which will always win an auction and save money. Amazingly, it still works. I thought eBay would kill the scheme but it still works. Learn how to win. Have a look at a previous blog:

tracksidesigns.co.uk/blog/ebay-is-it-worth-it-by-phil-cooper

HS2 EUSTON VALUE FOR MONEY?

The National Audit Office (NAO) has released a report evaluating whether the Department for Transport (DfT) and HS2 Ltd are in a position to effectively manage the value-for-money risks associated with connecting HS2 to Euston station.

The High Speed Two: Euston report responds to the government’s recent announcement that work on HS2 Euston has been deferred due to “inflationary pressures”. Indeed, the latest cost estimate for the 10-platform design at Euston now totals 4.8 billion GBP, which is 2.2 billion GBP over the originally allocated budget and also 0.4 billion GBP more than the initial 11-platform design cost estimate.

Since 2020, the DfT and HS2 Ltd have attempted to reset the HS2 Euston programme due to its delivery being more complex and expensive than anticipated.

In April 2020, HS2 Ltd set a budget of 2.6 billion GBP to construct an 11-platform HS2 Euston station, but by June 2020, this plan was estimated to cost 4.4 billion GBP.

Consequently, in November 2020, DfT directed HS2 Ltd to pause construction on the 11-platform design and to instead begin work on a 10-platform plan. However, these new plans are now 0.4 billion GBP more expensive than the previous 11-platform design.

Furthermore, in Autumn 2021, the DfT instructed HS2 Ltd to integrate more closely with Network Rail’s redevelopment of the existing rail station, which led to much of the previous design work being scrapped, at a cost of 106 million GBP.

The report consequently concludes that these attempts to reset the programme have not been successful and further action is now required to develop a viable plan.

The NAO advises that the recently announced pause in construction should therefore be used to re-evaluate the project and ensure an affordable design.

However, it also warns that the deferral of spending will now likely lead to additional costs and higher overall spending due to the costs associated with stopping and re-starting work, contractual changes and managing the project for longer.

Gareth Davies, the Head of the NAO, said:

“Government is once again having to revise plans for Euston HS2. Clearly, the 2020 reset of the station design has not succeeded. DfT and HS2 Ltd have not been able to develop an affordable scope that is integrated with other activity at Euston, despite their focus on costs and governance since 2020. Recent high inflation has added to the challenge.

“The March 2023 announcement by the Transport Secretary pausing new construction work should now give DfT and HS2 Ltd the necessary time to put the HS2 Euston project on a more realistic and stable footing. However, the deferral of spending to manage inflationary pressures will lead to additional costs and potentially a more expensive project overall, and that will need to be managed closely.”

The NAO’s report advises that the DfT should work with the Euston Partnership, HS2 Ltd, Network Rail, Lendlease and local partners to reassess the HS2 Euston project and its budget.

The National Audit Office said that when the budget for Euston was originally fixed in 2020, it was fixed too early and too low, and it was imperative to avoid repeating these mistakes.

The report thus also suggests applying these lessons learned to HS2 Manchester stations and other aspects of the programme.

Tfl BUDGET

TfL has released its annual budget for 2023/24, revealing that it can now fully cover operational costs following its financial difficulties during the pandemic.

This will enable it to invest in new and improved services, including more bus routes, Tube improvements and walking and cycling schemes across the city and outer London.

Across the next financial year, TfL anticipates an overall operating surplus of 79 million GBP, which will be reinvested in its network alongside any allocated government funding.

Its upcoming plans will see the full peak timetable introduced on the Elizabeth line in May 2023. This will increase service frequency to 24 trains per hour between Paddington and Whitechapel  in each direction.

Direct services from Shenfield to Heathrow Airport will also start operations at this time.

The Elizabeth line commenced passenger services on 24 May 2022

Furthermore, due to the government’s recent announcement that HS2’s construction to Euston station will be delayed, TfL aims to begin procurement for additional Elizabeth line trains.

These will meet the increased capacity demands once HS2’s new Old Oak Common station opens in the early 2030s, as passengers will need to use the Elizabeth line to travel to and from Central London until HS2 is extended to Euston station in the 2040s.

Without additional rolling stock, TfL says there won’t be sufficient capacity on the Elizabeth line for HS2 travellers. The line is already plagued by overcrowding, in part because of the large number of passengers using it to travel to and from Heathrow. The upcoming direct connection between Heathrow and Shenfield and the delay of HS2’s Euston terminus will only exacerbate the problems. The current number of trains at peak times on the Elizabeth line is 22. This will increase to 24 in May.

It is consequently seeking government funding to cover this purchase and emphasises that confirmation is needed as soon as possible to allow procurement to begin before manufacturing production lines at Alstom’s factory in Derbyshire are demobilised.

TfL states that delaying this decision could otherwise result in delays and higher costs associated with remobilising the workforce and sourcing materials.

London's Transport Commissioner Andy Lord said:

“I'm immensely proud of the hard work that everyone at TfL has contributed to get us to this significant point in our financial recovery. Operational self-sufficiency means we can run a safe, affordable and reliable network for all, while delivering real and vital improvements for the city as part of our vision to be the strong, green heartbeat of London.

“But it is absolutely vital that we do not let up and continue to invest in key capital improvements. With continued Government capital investment from April 2024 we can continue to support the whole city, and make it an even better, greener, safer and more successful place.”

TfL’s annual budget also outlines its plans to deliver 54 new trains for the Docklands Light Railway, progress work to replace the Piccadilly line trains, expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone, deliver a range of sustainability and accessibility improvements, complete tunnelling works for the Silvertown Tunnel and build at least 39 additional kilometres of new or upgraded cycle routes.

In the longer term, it hopes to develop the DLR extension to Thamesmead and to re-start work on the Bakerloo line extension and Crossrail 2.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said:

“We have worked incredibly hard and shown real determination to bounce back financially after an incredibly tough few years for TfL due to the impact of the pandemic. Key improvements to the transport network, like the delivery of the transformational Elizabeth line, have helped ridership climb back up towards pre-pandemic levels, further boosting London's economy. Future improvements, including brand new DLR trains, bus services and updates to the Piccadilly line will make our transport network even be

STATION IMPROVEMENTS

Southeastern and Network Rail have announced a 4.4 million GBP project to deliver a range of station improvements across the network in Kent and south east London.

This project aims to enhance the passenger experience by improving customer information, restoring the condition of station buildings and making rail services more accessible.

An aerial view of Hither Green station

The improvement packages will be rolled out to 21 stations, including Bexley, Canterbury East, Chatham, Faversham and Herne Bay.

Fiona Taylor, Network Rail Kent Route Director, said:

“We are delighted to be making a significant investment into improving a

number of stations across Kent and south east London in partnership with our colleagues at Southeastern.

“We are committed to improving the facilities at our stations and want our passengers to have the best possible experience when travelling by rail. Many of these improvements will contribute towards passengers enjoying smoother, more pleasant journeys and improve many of the station facilities passengers should be able to expect on a modern fit for purpose railway.”

As part of this investment, the accessible toilet at Bexley will be refurbished ahead of the completion of the Access for All (AfA) scheme, which will make the station step-free.

Meanwhile, the passenger information point on platform 2 at Canterbury East will be relocated to serve with the new footbridge, lifts and night entrance.

An additional passenger information point and customer information displays will also be added at Canterbury East, and new ramps will improve access to the waiting room.

At Chatham, the doors into the booking hall will be replaced and new power-assisted doors will improve access to the lifts. The booking hall and stairwells will also be redecorated, and additional lighting will be added on the stairs and around the arches on the platforms.

David Wornham, Passenger Services Director for Southeastern, said:

“We want the best possible facilities for our customers across our network which is why we’ve targeted our investment at stations where work to improve accessibility is about to begin or has recently been completed as a result of government investment under the Access for All scheme.

“Making stations step-free isn’t just about new lifts and footbridges but often also about the smaller but just as important items such as removing barriers to the use of waiting rooms, and ensuring that customer help points and information screens are in the right places.

“Where possible, we’re also taking the opportunity to spruce up paintwork and improve the ambience of these stations, as well as taking the opportunity to plan for the future as people return to the railway.”

DERBY TO BE GBR HQ

The East Midlands city will host the GBR headquarters, where several hundred people will work.

More than 40 towns and cities had competed to host GBR, and six were shortlisted. The other five were Birmingham, Crewe, Doncaster, Newcastle and York.

Transport secretary Mark Harper said: ‘It’s full steam ahead for the reform of our railways and today’s announcement is not only a huge win for the brilliant city of Derby, but a key milestone for the entire rail industry across the country.

‘Great British Railways will put the passenger first, promoting collaboration and innovation across a joined-up, efficient and modern network.’

Derby-based industry networking organisation Rail Forum has welcomed the news.

Chief executive Elaine Clark said: ‘All of the finalists were strong contenders to be the home of GBR and Rail Forum would like to commend each of the locations on the quality of their bids. GBR will be the guiding mind and set the strategic direction for the future of Britain’s railways. Derby is an excellent location for the HQ and we look forward to continuing to develop our relationship with GBRTT, for the benefit of all our members across the whole of the UK.’

Maria Machancoses, who is the chief executive of regional transport body Midlands Connect, said: ‘I am thrilled to hear Derby has been selected as the home for the new Great British Railways HQ.

‘It is an excellent choice; Derby is right in the heart of the country and is home to the greatest cluster of rail sector businesses in the UK and indeed Europe making it a perfect location for the home of GBR.

‘Investing in Derby is a therefore a clear vote of confidence for the rail industry bringing a host of job opportunities to the region and we look forward to working together with GBR on our plans, including the Midlands Rail Hub.’

Rail Partners lobbies on behalf of the private sector. Its chief executive Andy Bagnall said: ‘It's great to see Great British Railways has found its future home in Derby, a city with a rich history of railway heritage and a track record of innovation. The strength of competition for the HQ from other great railway cities up and down the country speaks to the transformative power of rail as an engine for green growth.

‘Legislation in the next Parliamentary session is now the critical next step to establishing Great British Railways and maintaining momentum for reform of our railways in the interests of both customers and taxpayers.’

EDINBURGH TO PARIS OVERNIGHT

Midnight Trains says its night trains will deliver a “combination of modern sustainability and glorious

Roaring 20’s charm” when its first service from Paris to Milan and Venice launches next year.

However, the company has long-term plans to create a network of more than 10 destinations between 800 and 1000 kilometres from Paris – including Copenhagen, Berlin and Edinburgh.

Co-founder Romain Payet told The National that the idea for the company was born out of a desire to create a sustainable alternative to air travel. He said: “We think that travellers are more and more conscious about the ecological impact of air travel and they need an alternative. But when travelling to and from most major European cities, they do not have this alternative.

The bar on a Midnight Trains service

“Furthermore, transport operators (air or rail) have been focused on reducing prices for the last two decades, totally forgetting the customer experience and associated services. “We want to create a new standard or sleeper trains. We believe that basic sleeper trains face three major issues: lack of privacy when you share a compartment with strangers, poor catering services while most travellers plan to have dinner onboard, and few digital services to enhance the experience.

A single sleeping compartment on a Midnight Trains service

With our ‘hotel on rails’ we want to solve those problems on our fully electric trains.” Sadly, the first trains the company will rollout are incompatible with the rail infrastructure between London and Edinburgh, meaning the route between the capital and Paris has been postponed. However, Payet said the route was still within the company’s plans and that they would be ordering a different specification of train to solve the problem – although no precise date was available.

The sleeper trains are set to include private single, double or family-sized rooms complete with on-demand films as well as a dining car restaurant with table service and a cocktail bar.

HS2 SCOTLAND

Hmmm this looks like some of John Batley’s brilliant trackwork,

The UK Government has come under fire for scrapping a rail link that could reduce journey times between Scotland and England. THE Government is facing calls to clarify whether a vital piece of high-speed rail infrastructure will actually be built and bring benefits to the rail network in Scotland.

A report by Westminster’s Transport Select Committee on the Integrated Rail Plan expressed concerns over the scrapping of the £3 billion Golborne Link with a lack of alternative proposals – a decision that could impact rail capacity and journey times to Scotland.

The Committee report urged the Department for Transport to set out “alternative plans which add similar capacity as a minimum by March 2023”.

The publication of the Integrated Rail Plan last year included plans for the link, which would integrate the new HS2 line with the existing West Coast Mainline running south from Scotland.

However, the UK Government announced last month that the link would be scrapped, with no replacement in place and works on Phase 2b of the HS2 project due to begin soon.

The news was met with fury from rail industry bodies, who said the decision to axe the 13-mile Golborne Link in Greater Manchester will lead to a “bottleneck”.

A joint statement from the Railway Industry Association, Rail Freight Group and High-Speed Rail Group said the Tory decision would "negatively impact outcomes for passengers, decarbonisation and levelling up".

Gavin Newlands, the SNP’s shadow transport secretary, criticised the move as the "latest in a long line of broken promises” from the Tories.

He called for a transport and decarbonisation approach that meets the needs of the whole country.

The Paisley and Renfrewshire MP said: “The scrapping of the Golborne Link is just the latest in a long line of broken Tory pledges made by the UK Government to Scotland.

“Scotland and the north of England were promised reduced journey times and faster speed by the UK Government as part of the HS2 project, but now these promises are in tatters.”

Newlands said HS2 could be a “good thing” for the economy and transport network across the UK but added that “every cut that’s been made to the project has been at the expense of the north of England and Scotland”.

He continued: “Transport decarbonisation and modernisation needs to look at what will work best for every part of the country, not just the south east of England.

“Scotland’s potential has been limited by Westminster for too long.

“It’s increasingly clear that only independence can give Scotland the full powers over infrastructure which, in turn, will improve our transport system and help make the transition to net zero.”

HS2 minister Andrew Stephenson has said the UK Government will explore alternatives for how HS2 trains will reach Scotland.

LOCAL HERITAGE WORK ON DISPLAY

While you’re readinmg this article, have a look at some of the items for sale from Tracksidesigns.co.uk

A Birmingham railway station has come to life thanks to funding from West Midlands Railway (WMR) and Network Rail (NR).

The platforms at Tyseley station, in the south east of the city, now boast a mixture of art boards showcasing the heritage and history of the local area and destinations that passengers can travel to by rail. The boards have created by independent businesses Creative Touch Design and Art Attack and installed by the West Midlands Railway and Network Rail property teams. Friends of the Shakespeare Line (FoSL) – a Community Station Partnership with more than seventy volunteers – helped develop the look of Tyseley station as part of the its aim to maintain twenty stations between Birmingham and Stratford-Upon-Avon.

The initiative was made possible thanks to a Railway Heritage Association grant from NR and WMR's “Your Community, Your Fund” scheme. WMR's funding is provided by the Department for Transport and allocated to projects across the network.

Vicky Cropper-Clarke, community strategy manager at WMR, said “The artistic boards at Tyseley have transformed the station and will inform passengers travelling through of the wonderful places which they can visit nearby.

KIDS FREE ON NORTH YORKSHIRE HERITAGE RAILWAY THIS EASTER

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) is inviting visitors to “spend family time together taking in some of the best views the UK” over Easter, as it reopens to passengers on 27 March for its 2023 season.

Visitors can now purchase a Unlimited Annual Pass for £40 and visit as many times as they like within twelve months, on standard timetables services only. For those not wishing to travel the full length of the line a single-use, shorter journeys ticket is available to purchase from an NYMR booking office on the day of travel for £15.

Children (aged 15 and below) travel free at all times.

Describing a visit as “more than just an Easter treat for the young and the young at heart”, NYMR assures its visitors that every penny they spend on tickets, tea, cake and memorabilia goes back into supporting the charity. The funds help to provide memorable experiences for visitors and fulfilment for volunteers and staff of the heritage railway, ensuring that the NYMR's charitable aims are being delivered.

BRIGHTLINE BASECAMP

The interior of Brightline’s Basecamp facility. This could be a visitor attraction to rival Disney World!

“Today we welcome you to the most advanced train maintenance facility in the US Southeast and I would venture to say the country - Brightline’s Basecamp.

“This impressive facility was developed by Brightline and is an essential component to our service from Miami to Orlando launching this year.”

Brightline’s Basecamp features a truck shop where coach and locomotive bogies can be disassembled, cleaned and rebuilt.

It is also equipped with a 25-foot-deep drop table that operates between the heavy maintenance track and the truck shop to swap out bogies quickly and get trains back into service.

Furthermore, the site includes an 11,000-square-foot parts warehouse, a wheel true facility, two fuelling islands, an 80,000-gallon biodiesel fuel farm, and a train wash facility that can wash 4 coaches and two locomotives in 15 minutes using 75% recycled water.

The facility will be able to service up to 16 trains at once in its undercarriage pits.

It will be equipped with multiple overhead cranes, including a 30-tonne crane capable of removing 30,000-pound engines, and storage tracks that extend the length of more than two American football fields.

“This world-class facility has everything under one roof to maintain our trains, will provide highly paid highly skilled jobs to the region and will be a bustling hub for train maintenance, maintaining eight of our 10 trains here nightly.

“Currently we are more than 90 percent complete with our construction to Orlando and once completed, we will follow a rigorous certification and verification process. We are closer than ever to connect Florida with high-speed rail.”

Once it opens later this year, the Orlando Station will enable Brightine to connect two of the most congested city pairs in the nation: Orlando and Miami.

MIXED REACTION TO CALEDONIAN SLEEPER NATIONALISATION

The Scottish Government’s decision to end Serco’s Caledonian Sleeper franchise on 25 June has been praised by some, but criticised by others.

Scottish transport minister Jenny Gilruth told the Scottish Parliament yesterday afternoon that Serco’s contract, which began in 2015, was being terminated, because the company had tried to renegotiate the deal on new terms which the government said ‘did not represent the best value for money’.

She also said the decision not to continue the Serco franchise was ‘in no way a reflection on the quality of the product that has been developed, nor on the commitment of the staff who deliver this service every day’, and promised that the rights of the Sleeper employees would be protected when they moved to a new government-owned ‘arms-length’ company.

Serco said it was ‘disappointed’. The managing director of its transport business John Whitehurst said a renewed award would have ‘allowed Scotland to benefit from the expertise of our Serco Transport senior management team who understand this complex and unique hospitality-focused train operation like no-one else, while also enabling Scottish ministers to be in complete control of the contract’.

He continued: ‘Most importantly, this would have allowed the Scottish government to compare the price of such an award with that of their arm’s length operator of last resort company.’

He went to claim that Serco’s management had brought ‘massive improvements to every aspect of the service for our employees, our passengers and for Scotland, despite having made significant losses on the contract’.

Scottish Conservatives were also critical, pointing to the deft recovery Caledonian Sleeper had made since the pandemic. Their spokesman Graham Simpson concluded: ‘There can be no conclusion other than that this is an ideological decision. Jenny Gilruth said nothing about how this world class service can be improved under the Scottish Government.’

Rail unions are in favour of the change. The RMT said it would provide an opportunity to ‘ensure this sustainable, low carbon route between Scotland and London can be run for passengers' interests, not private profit’.

The drivers’ union ASLEF also supported the move but regretted that the Sleeper had not been recombined with ScotRail, which has already been nationalised since April last year.

The Caledonian Sleeper was also the last privatised rail operating contract in Britain to be described as a ‘franchise’. When Grant Shapps was transport secretary he formally abolished all the English franchises in September 2020, replacing them with alternative contracts.

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