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
Great Western waves goodbye to the HST • Just under ten months shy of commemorating 50 years in scheduled passenger service on the Western Region, GWR has withdrawn its final ‘Castle’ HST sets from traffic.
First Class 175 enters service with Great Western Railway • ‘Coradia’ DMUs begin operating between Plymouth and Penzance
‘Castle’ HST coaches in the spotlight • Great Western HST fleet is stopped
Powerscene • Our authoritative class-by-class review of newsworthy locomotive workings.
Production ‘08e’ conversion delivered • Positive Traction has completed the rebuilding of a second Class 08 into a battery shunter.
February 2027 return for Western Ranger? • WLA sets target for completion of ‘Western’ overhaul
Heritage diesel pictorial
Modern EDs from Accurascale
New Class 60 and old favourites revealed by Hornby for 2026
Genetically modified ‘Grids’ from Bachmann • GB Railfreight’s Class 69 locomotives were closely followed by Bachmann as each locomotive was converted and introduced to traffic. How well does its model of this varied new class measure up?
Delightful ED from EFE Rail • There were only ten Class 74 locomotives with one livery, making the issue of a mainstream model unlikley. Consequently, it is with pleasure that we can present a review of a highly detailed ‘OO’ gauge model of the class.
China clay hoods return in ‘N’ gauge
Dual power for the Hornby Class 47 • A budget modelling project gets an upgrade to improve its haulage power
Skegness and the Poacher Line • Andy Flowers fondly recalls the days of the Summer loco-hauled trains to Skegness which were used by many holidaymakers – and also enthusiasts.
Everos over the Settle & Carlisle line • Winter diversions for Avanti’s bi-mode trains
Freightliner chooses WH Davis to build wagons for new container fleet • Now undergoing a transition to new owner CMACGM, Freightliner has ordered 150 intermodal wagons with 40ft platforms from the Nottinghamshire wagon builder.
TIME TRAVELLER
What’s in store for railtourers after a difficult 2025? • Railtour programmes are emerging for 2026, but with the escalating cost of living, will they fill and be viable?
Stadler awarded contract to build new Enterprise trains • FLIRT units ordered for Belfast-Dublin cross-border services.
Piccadilly Line 24TS stock update