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

HEADLINE NEWS

99005 and 99006 arrive for GBRf as 99001 breaks new ground • There are now six Class 99s in the country with the arrival of two new members of the dual-mode fleet, while their classmates have been out and about on test runs, including to Felixstowe for the first time.

Class 466 fleet in decline • Just over a third of the two-car ‘Networkers’ remain in traffic

ERS acquires two more Mk.3 vehicles • Former Third Life Rail coaches are purchased from Network Rail

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

A1 Trust hires Class 08 • Railway Support Services is now providing a depot pilot at Darlington under a five-year agreement.

First Mk.4 coaches enter preservation • New group acquires a pair of former LNER vehicles

BOOK REVIEWS

RHTT FEAs return

Pressure on credit cards intensifies

The Tinsley Trio in ‘OO’ • Tinsley hump yard shunters arrive from Bachmann with dual power and bespoke detailing.

Hornby’s Northern Class 153 • The latest issue of the Hornby Class 153 is dressed in Northern Rail livery for the second time since it was released, making it the ideal time to revisit this older model in the Hornby range.

TT:120 ‘Tractor’ variety • How well does the new Hornby ‘TT:120’ gauge Class 37 measure up? We take a look at the detail variations found in the first three models.

Hobby with a rich variety which can suit all budgets

Successful platform building • How do you build station platforms? In this two-part article, we offer some hints, tips and techniques to achieve a great result.

TransPennine Express – building for the future • With performance on TransPennine vastly improved, Tony Miles talks to TransPennine MD Chris Jackson about the challenges of a coast-to-coast and Anglo-Scottish operation spanning several busy routes.

GBRf and Wabtec sign 10-year deal for FEA wagon maintenance • In what GB Railfreight is describing as its ‘biggest’ contract of this nature, Wabtec Services UK will be responsible for the upkeep of the operator’s fleet of container flats at its Peterborough hub.

TIME TRAVELLER • Steven Knight takes the time machine into the archives

It’s non-stop new tours from UK Railtours • The choice has never been so good for aficionados of the railtour scene

IARNROD EIREANN (IE)/IRISH RAIL Adverse weather brings disruption to services

Introduction of new Piccadilly Line rolling stock is delayed again…