The Railway Magazine

The Railway Magazine has been published since 1897 and is now the UK's best-selling general interest rail title. Every month, The RM provides enthusiasts and professionals with authoritative and informed news coverage of the following: - Network Rail and the train operating companies - Locomotives, multiple units, carriages and wagons - Steam, heritage and the preservation world, inc narrow gauge- Metro and underground systems - In addition, the magazine carries frequent items of overseas interest.

The Railway Magazine is also renowned for its wide-ranging and innovative feature coverage, encompassing up-to-the-minute developments as well as historical, nostalgic and foreign subjects. The magazine is also renowned for its award-winning photographic content.

The Railway Magazine

Food for thought

Class 222s to replace ScotRail’s HST fleet by the end of 2028 • Twenty-two of the intercity DMUs will be overhauled and refurbished by Alstom, with the first due to enter service in Scotland next year.

Government reaffirms commitment to Northern Powerhouse Rail plan • Goals are clear, but funding less so.

Unit issues hamper introduction of GWR’s fleet of Class 175 DMUs • Replacement programme for ‘Castle Class’ HSTs running behind schedule.

Winners announced at ‘biggest ever’ HRA heritage rail awards • The ‘Oscars’ of railway preservation were announced in early March.

Engineering teams make concrete progress in the West Midlands • The last of more than 2700 viaduct deck segments have been cast for HS2’s Delta Junction and the final piles are in place for the foundations of Curzon Street station.

Railways in Parliament

Heritage half-century • The end of March saw the West Somerset Railway celebrate 50 years of heritage operations. John Simms looks back to the line’s reopening and development since then.

PEP talk • 2026 marks 50 years since the introduction of the first PEP-derived EMUs. More than 200 sets across five classes were built from 1976 to 1981 for use on third-rail and overhead electrified lines in England and Scotland. David Russell traces the history of the fleets.

Out-takes and off-cuts • John Heaton FCILT rounds up some interesting runs that had to be left out of previous P&Ps.

A Baker’s Dozen S&C 150 • John Baker celebrates the 150th anniversary of the Settle & Carlisle Line with a pictorial journey over the spectacular 73-mile-long railway.

Readers’ Platform • Send your letters to: The Railway Magazine, Media Centre, Morton Way, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6JR. Email: railway@mortons.co.uk

MEETINGS

From the archive • Subscribe and read previous issues at www.railwaymagazine.co.uk/archive

The RCTS: then and now • Britain’s leading Railway Society

PANORAMA • A showcase for the best in railway photography

£750,000 needed for ‘T9’ overhaul • New project for restoration partners of ‘T3’ project.

Scotsman to head to Swanage in October • Famous LNER ‘A3’ will help line celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Pacific power for GCR(N) in May • Tornado set to join Flying Scotsman at Ruddington.

Crane Tank Southwick donated to Bahamas Locomotive Society • Around £90,000 will be needed to complete the overhaul of the Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns-built 0-4-0 loco to return it to steam.

Pair of Pullman Open coaches have become first Mk.4s to be preserved • Nos. 11412 and 11426 were bought from Beacon Rail and are the first step in 225 Preservation CIC’s plans to acquire enough vehicles to form a complete ‘Intercity 225’ set.

Talyllyn Railway receives further grants towards development project • More than £5 million has now been secured for ‘Preserving Our Past, Building Our Future’.

Tributes...