TURKISH open access freight operator Körfez Ulaştırma (KU) took delivery of five DE36500 Wabtec (formerly GE Transportation) ‘Powerhaul’ locos this summer. KU is the rail freight subsidiary of Tüpraş, Turkey’s largest oil refinery. The locos were ordered in 2018 and assembled by Wabtec’s Turkish partner Tülomsaş,

BELGIAN national rail enthusiasts’ group Patrimoine Ferroviaire et Tourisme (PFT) held its annual gala weekend on the Chemin de Fer du Bocq heritage line from Ciney to Bauche in mid-August.  Steam loco No. 29 013 leaves one of the line’s several tunnels, near Purnode, with a photo freight on August 16.

AMTRAK has announced plans to introduce a non-stop ‘Acela’ high-speed train pair between New York and Washington DC from September 23.  The current ‘Acela’ high-speed trains were built by Bombardier and Alstom from 1998-2001. They will be replaced from 2021 by 28 new ‘Avelia Liberty’ trains, being built by Alstom

SOUTH AFRICAN rail cruise operator Rovos Rail ran the first through passenger train between Tanzania, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Angola in July. The journey took 15 days, with an eastbound train following the same route in reverse in August.  Rovos Rail used its

NEW passenger coaches entered service in Cuba in July, operating on the Havana to Santiago de Cuba route.  The vehicles are the first of 240 carriages to be supplied by Chinese firm CRRC from its Tangshan plant. Historically, Cuban Railways have used a wide variety of older rolling

CLASS 03 No. D2078 has been repainted in BR blue and now carries its TOPS number, 03078.  It is based on the North Tyneside Steam Railway (NTSR) and Stephenson Museum. The repaint inspired the September 29 diesel day to be become a Gateshead TMD-themed diesel shunter gala over

THREE Sentinel-type diesels are seen outside the Sentinel Diesel Locomotive Preservation Group’s shed at Cranmore, East Somerset Railway, on August 20. This follows the completion of repainting of Rolls-Royce 10199 of 1964 in 1970s British Steel Corporation Teesside green livery with large cabside number.  Although never

SEVERN Valley Railway-based Class 42 No. D821Greyhound, along with South Devon Class 25 No. D7535, have been the most frequent and reliable gala visitors this season, both attending the Great Central Railway’s September 6-8 diesel event.  Here, the ‘Warship’ (a last-minute replacement for ‘Clayton No. D8568), heads a rake of mineral wagons at

CLASS 20 No. D8059 arrived at the Mid-Hants Railway (MHR) on July 26 from the Midland Railway-Butterley.  It is owned by Somerset & Dorset Locomotives and is visiting the MHR on an extended stay, initially standing in for Class 50 No. 50027 Lion, which is receiving attention. The English

ALMOST a mile of track has been replaced in Bishopsgate Tunnel, on the approach to London Liverpool Street, Britain’s third busiest station.  This view highlights the difficulty of renewing infrastructure on the approaches to London Liverpool Street. Network Rail engineers are seen replacing track in Bishopsgate Tunnel during one of