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

Will the grass be greener?

RAIL EXPRESS

RAIL EXPRESS

WHY DO WE HAVE FRANCHISES?

Grand Central scraps planned Blackpool open access services

RIP franchises as Government moves to a concessions-based model • Control of passenger operations is poised for a new approach.

IN BRIEF

Cuts at Irish rail operator

IN BRIEF

Llangennech wagons scrapped

LSL takes ‘37s’ to Kyle • Heritage traction was in charge of a marathon private charter to Scotland at the end of September.

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

SHED TALK

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Autumn starts early • This year’s railhead treatment train (RHTT) season - which will see a total of 29 loco-hauled and 32 MPV sets in use - started slightly earlier than normal at the end of September, when the first sets commenced running in Scotland and on the Midland Main Line as others were still being delivered or out on test.

‘Reggie Rail’ returns as Concrete Bob is released from overhaul in Derby • One of the most anticipated comebacks of recent years has taken place as DRS’ No. 37425 has finally re-entered traffic after almost 17 months out of service.

More freightliner ‘90s’ in traffic

Seasonal reinstatements at DB Cargo

Latest GB Railfreight Euro-Class 66 acquisitions arrive

NEWS ROUND-UP

Class 322s return to Liverpool Street • Ex-BR EMUs back on their old stamping ground, reports David Russell.

DMU

SRPS to hire Mk.1 from ERS • Eastern Rail Service First Class open coach moves to Bo’ness on loan.

IN BRIEF

SHED TALK

More HST stock sold and scrapped

Greenbrier/ARI completes delivery of JNA box wagons • A total of 860 of the rugged Ealnos ‘gondolas’ are now in the country following the arrival of the final 35 examples for VTG Rail in September.

DEVELOPMENTS

Second Vanguard for Stoke Works • RSS has bought a backup 4wDH for shunting duties at the Axiom wagon plant.

NEWS ROUND-UP

Original look for Tube trailer • Northern Line 1959 Stock No. 2044 is being restored at the Mangapps Railway Museum.

Heritage award for London Transport Museum

LSL launches ambitious programme for reincarnated ‘Midland Pullman’ • All parts of the country are to be visited by Locomotive Services’ Nanking Blue HST set.

125 Group takes ownership of its first HST power car • HST power car is handed over by Porterbrook.

More diesel running days after Severn Valley ‘Pioneer’ success

More ‘Pacers’ enter preservation

CAMERA PHONE PHOTOGRAPHY

DPS ‘Deltic’ work continues

LNER narrow gauge Ruston moves to Apedale

Cornish ‘Crompton’ moves to new home in Essex

IN BRIEF

Services restart on two secondary lines • Passenger trains return after more than five months.

NORTHERN IRELAND RAILWAYS (NIR)

Irish Rail Sperry train out and about

IARNROD EIREANN / IRISH RAIL

Cross-Border timetable...