Railways Illustrated

The best coverage of today's railway scene. Each issue of Railways Illustrated offers a comprehensive round-up of the latest news and topical events from the UK across the present-day railway, including heritage traction in operation on the main lines. Railways Illustrated reflects the energy and vitality of the present-day railway scene.

Welcome

Railways Illustrated

Two stripped DC Rail Class 60s scrapped at Colwick

Refurbishment of EMR’s Class 360 EMUs starts

Final original Tyne and Wear Metro sets withdrawn

Nemesis Rail Mk. 3s enter charter traffic

IN BRIEF

Two ex-Colas Class 56s ship to Ghana after Romic deal

Three Nemesis locos set for main line return

Could DB Cargo Class 90s be in line for Bulgaria?

‘Sleeper’ 73/9 back on the Southern

No sale agreed for GB Railfreight’s only Class 59

Positive Traction agrees 08e lease with Loram

‘Jacobite’ resumes, with Mk. 2 coaches…. Including ‘air-cons’

GoExpress Class 93 intermodal trials finally start

Tenth 99 arrives

RTC takes 37s back to Aberystwyth

Class 69s all back in traffic

Freightliner Class 90s rescue ‘sleeper’

LSL’s luxury Chairman’s train for hire

Edinburgh charity 50 tour planned

Arriva deploys Class 09 to Eastleigh

EPR calls time on train operation

Class 37s rescue stranded 387 EMUs in Norfolk

‘Britannic Explorer’ suffers Cambrian issue

Great British Railways launches with new livery

Swietelsky offers ex-DRS Class 37/0 for sale

Groundbreaking West Highland Peak: SRPS delivers Oban debut for Class 45

Another Scottish first: Hastings units reach Inverness

The sun shines as Western returns ‘home’ to Plymouth

Class 20s back at Worksop

Rare and classic track for West Midlands Class 50 tour

The rumour mill

And the news you probably haven’t heard yet…

Unit News

Liveries

Coaching Stock News

Unit Focus

Names

Wagon News

Hymek power returns to the Moors after 27 years

Strong line up makes WSR gala a success

CFPS Class 40s to miss gala, but repairs progressing well

Deltic Tulyar completes first GCR tests with flying colours

IN BRIEF

Major progress being made on Bury Class 20 overhaul

Main line operators help out at May heritage galas

Western debuts at North Norfolk diesel gala

Class 31 returns to use after 35 years

Four DMU vehicles bought for Llangollen Railway

Strathspey plans to hold an August diesel gala

Network SouthEast: 40 years on • In June 1986, a brash, bold new look appeared on Britian’s Railways – Network SouthEast. Its patriotic red, white, blue and grey livery was striking and created a strong brand which formed the core of NSE’s success. Pip Dunn looks back at the NSE years…

What’s happening to… • Our monthly round up of restoration projects around the country, compiled by Pip Dunn

Peak set to break to new ground…. To Inverness

PICTORIAL

Going back in time… • Where can you go to enjoy English Electric locos hauling service trains with ‘fresh air’ stock, on a scenic route and for cheap fares…. That answer lies in Portugal’s Douro Valley. Pip Dunn headed over and came back more than impressed

Best of the bunch… • The winners of the 2026 Phoenix Railway Photographic Circle’s annual photography competition show a wide spectrum of creativity and pictures which are certainly not run of the mill.

GET ONE YEAR OF RAILWAYS ILLUSTRATED FOR JUST £53.99

The toothpaste factory • Sticking with the 40 years since the birth of Chris Green’s visionary Network SouthEast passenger sector, Martin Loader presents a selection...