News

Talyllyn Railway passed much of its operation over to its Young Members Group (YMG) last weekend.

The popular Mid Wales railway was staffed by many young members who drove and fired the locomotives, worked the blockposts and guarded the trains on Friday and Saturday.

When the railways began carving through the countryside in the 19th century it was a major culture shock for people who had previously only known horse power.

The locomotives, with their fire and steam, must have appeared dragon-like to what was still a largely rural country.

Today, one of the steam engines on the South Tynedale Railway is called Green Dragon – but is part of a drive by the heritage line operation to be as environmentally-friendly as possible, surrounded as it is by a designated area of outstanding natural beauty.

HAWORTH Station on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway was the ‘birthplace’ of a scheme that is now striving to address a future skills shortage.

Hands-on trades probably haven’t been as enthusiastically pursued in recent years as computers and technology.

Identifying the potential problem for traditional industries such as engineering, increasing emphasis has been placed on apprenticeships.

And it was from Haworth that the idea for the Boiler & Engineering Skills Training Trust (Bestt) emanated.

This week the World Rail Festival has confirmed Torkel Patterson, Board Member from Central Japan Railway Company to speak in December. He joins other world-leading speakers including the CEOs of NS, NTV, GVB, TGV Lyria, Postbus, Vy (NSB) and more.

Joining us as a speaker in the BBC moderated morning keynote session, Roger Van Boxtel will share NS’ perspective on the opportunities and challenges for the future of rail. Discussing everything from sustainability to international rail and the impact of autonomous vehicles, Roger will share his perspective on the future of rail.

A collective of industrious Gippsland knitters has banded together to 'yarn bomb' an historic train, in the hope of raising $230,000 to bring the vintage engine back to service.

It is estimated that it took two kilometres of knitting to cover the vintage locomotive in Walhalla in Victoria's east.

The fully-adorned locomotive, along with other yarn-bombing installations around the town and railway station, was unveiled on Saturday and will add a splash of colour to the historic goldmining town during the month of July.

Scotland’s leading heritage railway is planning to develop its stations into destinations in their own right to attract more passengers and increase the frequency of trains.

François Davenne has been announced as Director General of UIC at the UIC General Assembly held on 25 June in Budapest. The appointment will take effect on 1 July 2019 with a four-year mandate. Mr Davenne succeeds Jean-Pierre Loubinoux, who served as Director General of UIC for over ten years.

Attica Group  wins Gold award in category “Innovative Concept” – Eurail – Interrail Greek Islands Pass for 5 Domestic Destinations

Attica Group, the parent company of SUPERFAST FERRIES, BLUE STAR FERRIES and HELLENIC SEAWAYS, is proud to announce that it has been awarded with 5 prizes in Tourism Awards 2019, organised by Boussias Communications.

In the awarding ceremony that took place on 9 April, in the presence of more than 700 executives and celebrities from the industry, Attica Group received the following awards:

• Gold award in category “Innovative Concept” – Eurail – Interrail Greek Islands Pass for 5 Domestic Destinations

The Gold award in category “Innovative Concept” refers to the railway “Eurail and Interrail Greek Islands Pass for 5 Domestic Destinations” by ATTICA GROUP, which are valid for ship travel in 5 Greek islands of choice. This is an innovative product, which has already reached the Top 10 of preferences for railway passengers in Europe.

Former Deputy PM of Australia, Tim Fischer, (and Patron of WATTRAIN) has advocated not waiting until 2031 for the Tullamarine rail link from the CBD of Melbourne to Australia’s only 4 runway capable ‘non curfew’ airport. In a statement to Wattrain:

 

Another decade without any breakthrough with public transport to this key hub airport of Tullamarine would be a disaster. The one freeway would go into total gridlock for four hours a day, jamming the bus / coach service in the process.