In The News | 23rd April 2021 | Latest Rail News

Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Friday, 23rd April 2021

The latest rail news on Friday, 23rd April 2021

An engineering train has caught fire near Dunton Green in Kent, blocking both lines between Sevenoaks and Orpington.

Network Rail Tweeted this morning that it was working with the emergency services.

Fortunately, no one was injured and work is underway to move the train to get train services moving again.

The Severn Valley Railway has teamed up with the University of Birmingham and local start-up company, Vanguard Sustainable Transport Solutions, to work on a ground-breaking scheme.

The Harrier HydroShunter project will see the UK’s first-ever conversion of a diesel locomotive to run on hydrogen power.

Work is already underway at the heritage railway’s diesel depot at Kidderminster, where a team of young volunteers are stripping down the donor vehicle. 

Click here for more details.

Ian Bridges, professional head of signalling and engineering director at Balfour Beatty, became the 97th President of the Institution of Railway Signal Engineers (IRSE).

Mr Bridges said: “Throughout my long career in railway signalling, telecoms and systems engineering, the Institution has held a significant place in my life.”

He continued: “During my year as President I will look at how advancement can be made in the age of the intelligent railway.”

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Finally, East Midlands Railway (EMR) has marked the milestone of welding beginning on its new Aurora fleet by releasing a new video about the exciting project.

EMR’s new Intercity fleet of 33 five-carriage trains, which will be able to run on electricity and diesel, is being built by Hitachi Rail in County Durham and financed by Rock Rail East Midlands.

Around 40 newly qualified welders and painters at the plant will be completing the high-tech aluminium carriage shells.

Click here to view the video.

Photo credit: East Midlands Railway

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