Ministers ‘told HS2 was over-budget three years ago’, according to documents seen by the BBC. Photo: Victoria Jones/PA Wire Ministers knew HS2 was over-budget at least three years ago, it has been reported. The warning was given in May 2016, two months after legislation for the first stretch of the

MINISTERS knew three years ago that the costs of HS2 were going to be higher than the official figure of £55.7 billion, according to reports.It is said that documents seen by the BBC admit that the budget was not enough, although the DfT has continued to maintain that the project

TURKEY: The Körfez Ulaştırma rail transport subsidiary of oil refiner Tüpraş has awarded Stadler a contract to supply seven Eurodual electro-diesel locomotives from 2021, along with an eight-year full service maintenance agreement. Stadler said the order announced on August 27 was its first contract in Turkey, and they would be the

OVERHAUL of the Dartmouth Steam Railway’s GWR 2-8-0T No. 5239 Goliath by the East Somerset Railway reached a key stage on July 23 when the loco’s No. 4 boiler was reunited with the frames. Re-tubing of the boiler was completed at the end of May and, following a successful

THE loss of on-hire No. 7802 Bradley Manor with a damaged cylinder casting (see separate story on p71) has been tempered somewhat for the West Somerset Railway with the return to service of 2-6-0 No. 9351. Back in revenue-earning service:  2-6-0 No. 9351 enters Crowcombe Heathfield station with the 12.40 Bishops Lydeard-Minehead service

Photo: Robert Falconer The US Government is suing one of the country’s top steam-operated railways for $25million, claiming a spark from a coal-fired locomotive started one of the worst wildfires seen in 2018. Last month, the US Attorney’s Office in Denver began legal action against the Durango & Silverton

UK: The government has announced the allocation of grants from its Housing Infrastructure Fund to transport projects which are intended to facilitate the development of new homes. This includes £80·8m for the Greater London Authority’s East London Line – Growth Capacity programme to support the development of 14 000 new homes in

GERMANY: On August 26 Vossloh AG announced its intention to sell its Locomotives business unit to Chinese state-owned rolling stock group CRRC.Vossloh Locomotives is based in Kiel, where a new production facility was completed in March 2018. The business specialises in producing small and medium sized diesel and dual-mode locos

GERMANY: Leasing company Alpha Trains has completed one of its largest refurbishment projects, handing over to operator Keolis the last of 44 Stadler Flirt electric multiple-units which have been modernised for use on Teutoburger Wald-Netz and Hellweg-Netz services.  The comprehensive modernisation programme was undertaken by Stadler in Berlin, and included fitting

AFRICA: Following the implementation of a Zambian regulation requiring 30% of selected bulk commodities to be transported by rail rather than by road, Delta Energy Zambia has awarded Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority and Zambia Railways Ltd a contract to transport petroleum from the Port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania to