Everything we read, routed to your cluster

Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society and Vintage Trains Charitable Trust have formed a partnership to mark the society’s 75th anniversary. The collaboration was highlighted by twinning two Birmingham-built carriages during a heritage steam special. The Talyllyn Railway also received a £3.7m National Lottery Heritage Fund grant in January for engineering facility upgrades.

The Hampton Kempton Waterworks Railway in Middlesex will run Santa Specials on 12-13 and 19-20 December, with tickets booked in advance. The article also notes the railway won a 2023 HRA Infrastructure Award for a new coach shed and maintenance facility.

The Vale of Rheidol Railway has completed its acquisition of the Brecon Mountain Railway in Wales. The two heritage narrow-gauge railways will keep their separate identities and locomotive fleets, while sharing engineering knowledge, maintenance, restoration work and facilities at Aberystwyth.

Leighton Buzzard Railway in Bedfordshire has announced a lineup of 2027 heritage railway events, including a Chaloner 150th birthday celebration, Easter activities, themed family days, a beer festival, and Christmas events. Full details will be posted on its website.

Kent’s Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway says it will mark its 100th anniversary in 2027 with galas, a golden ticket competition, and the return of locomotives Typhoon, Hurricane and the Armoured Wagon.

Severn Valley Railway will host Class 55 Deltic D9015 Tulyar from 13 to 16 May 2027 during its Spring Diesel Festival, marking 40 years since the line’s first diesel gala. The locomotive returned to passenger service in 2026 after a 30-year restoration.

Severn Valley Railway says its Halloween services sold out and Christmas steam specials are booking quickly. The heritage railway is offering Elf Express and Santa Steam experiences with live entertainment, storytelling and children’s gifts.

The Watercress Line in Hampshire will run Steam Illuminations from 27 November 2026 to 2 January 2027, featuring a steam train with synchronised LED lights, music, interactive activities, and festive station attractions.

UK Railtours will run December trips in East Anglia, London and Kent using paired Class 37 locomotives. Swietelsky and Europhoenix will provide traction, RailAdventure will operate the locomotives, and Eastern Rail Services will provide Mark 2 coaches. Tickets are available through the UK Railtours website.

Northern is supporting the Poppy Express on trains in Yorkshire, with volunteers selling poppies to raise funds for the Royal British Legion ahead of Remembrance Day. Free travel is also being offered to veterans and military personnel for remembrance services on 8 November.

The Polar Express train ride will return to South Devon Railway from 27 November to 23 December, with themed journeys, characters, entertainment, and visits to Father Christmas. Tickets are expected to sell quickly.

Hitachi Rail Spain and Hitachi Rail Turkey signed a contract to supply, install and commission signalling systems on Turkey’s Ankara-Istanbul line at T26 and Bilecik depot. The scope includes interlockings, the Traffic Control Centre, telecommunications expansion, and ETCS Level 1 and 2.

Kenya Railways has begun vehicle transport on the Standard Gauge Railway between Mombasa and Nairobi, moving 21 cars on its first service. The operation uses adapted vehicle wagons alongside container trains and is being developed with Autobarn East Africa for about 700 vehicles a month.

Azerbaijan Railways signed a contract with CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive to buy four new passenger trains.

Indian Railways reported higher coal and overall freight loading in October, CONCOR ordered 12 rakes of container wagons from Golden Rock Workshop, DP World expanded double-stack services from JNPA, and the Rowghat iron ore line was commissioned. A new East-West dedicated freight corridor is under study.

Bala Lake Railway in North Wales will run two Santa steam trains on 12–13 December 2026. Pre-booked passengers will travel from Llanwchllyn to Bala Pen-y-Bont and visit Santa’s Grotto; children receive gifts and adults get a hot drink or cherry.

Paul Middleton returns with a new five-episode Steam Train Diaries series on More4 from 12 November. The programme visits several heritage railways, including North Yorkshire Moors Railway, where bridge repairs are under way and locomotive Omaha is being converted from coal to oil.

Garw Valley Railway in Wales will host a Santa’s Grotto on 5 December, with tickets at £5 per child. Families can meet Santa, receive gifts and refreshments, and see Christmas displays, a miniature train and shed tours.

The Merchant Navy Locomotive Preservation Society has formally taken ownership of steam locomotive 35025 Brocklebank Line. The group is assessing required restoration work, available parts and storage plans, with major components still needed for a future mainline return.

The Northampton and Lamport Railway will run its Winter Warmer event on 3 January 2027, with two steam locomotives in service and Bagnall No. 2 making its last operating day before leaving the railway.

Lappa Valley Railway in Cornwall held sold-out Fireworks Spectaculars on 30 and 31 October, attracting thousands. The railway said the 2026 event was its most successful yet and that tickets for the next event, expected in 2027, will go on sale later in the summer.

Chiltern Railways will offer free travel to serving military personnel and veterans travelling to Remembrance events on 7-8 November, with free return travel from London on 8 November. Veterans can use a Veterans Railcard, Veterans Oyster card, or other ID.

Chiltern Railways said it will run over 90% of services on 12 November despite RMT industrial action, with some Birmingham, Stratford-upon-Avon and Leamington Spa services reduced or suspended. The operator also said all East West Rail services will have two staff on board.

Wensleydale Railway in Yorkshire received free track design support from TECS Ltd, which surveyed Leeming Bar yard and Bedale station curve and offered to complete design work for a yard reconfiguration and track relay.

Weardale Railway in County Durham will host steam locomotive Flying Scotsman from 13 to 15 November, with scheduled arrivals at Stanhope station, paid viewing areas at five stations, and safety restrictions around platforms and footbridges.