Editorial - RAIL EXPRESS has a new owner and a new editor. Consistency is the watchword as the team lay out their plans for the future.

News - The Government publishes its Value For Money report and defers the IEP project. Direct Rail Servicesa€ stages another successful open day.

News is pictures - 37423 visits the Kyle line with a ballast train, DRS moves oil tankers for DB Schenker and more Russian nuclear material moves by rail.

Time traveller - Five decades ago, the stylish Midland a€~Blue Pullmana€ launched on luxury services between Manchester Central and London.

Retrospectrum: Infrastructure - Our popular livery history series returns with a look at the small number of locos that carried dedicated Infrastructure paint schemes.

Reviews - A good month for books with a diesel era theme sees our main review take a look at a cracking new publication on Irelanda€ s railways.

Pictorial: Ireland before the axe fell - Irelanda€ s railway system has changed beyond recognition in the last couple of decades. We look back and see what has been lost.

Railtours - Our main story looks at the revitalised heritage traction sector of the railtour market, which is proving popular again. Plus full tour listings.

Preservation - The big news this issue is the saving for posterity of a BREL Type 5, as the Class 58 Locomotive Group purchases ex-Fertis 58016.

Traction & Rolling Stock - Europortea€ s Class 92s join GBRfa€ s roster as the operator begins to remove First brandings from its Class 66/7 and Class 73 fleet.

RAIL EXPRESS Modeller:
REM goes heavy metal as our Modellera€ s Guide series tackles steel coil trains. Plus 37501 & 37502 and a KIA are modelled.

Comment: Coaching call - With multiple units and freight cars getting much more interest from manufacturers, will the new Modelzone TPO kick-start a renaissance in the range of modern coaching stock?

Newsdesk: Trade developments - Dapol reveals more CAD images of its forthcoming a€~Na€ releases, Shawplan releases ultimate a€~Deltica€ parts in its Extreme Etchings range and useful new buildings from Scenecraft.

Review: Modelzone TPO - Modelzonea€ s highly anticipated Mk. 1 travelling post office vehicle has arrived. We take a look at the exciting release that will hopefully be the first of a new range of NPCCS vehicles.

Modellera€ s Guide to Steel Coil - REM goes heavy metal for the first part of a feature that documents steel coil operations over the last three decades. Includes train formations from the BR blue era to the present day.

Modelling: 37501 & 37502 - Thornabya€ s fleet of Class 37/5s were inextricably linked with steel coil traffic out of Lackenby. The editor models the famous pairing of Teesside Steelmaster and British Steel Teesside.

Modelling: Dapol steel coil carrier - Dapola€ s IHA/KIA steel hood was something of a disappointment when it was released, prompting Simon Bendall to upgrade the VTG wagon using parts from the Hurst Models kit.

Serial: Wagon update - The last six months have seen some great new wagons debut on Mostyn. The Barrowmore boys illustrate some of the latest additions to their ever-growing freight stock roster.

Review: Bachmann JPA cement - Bachmann continues its programme of modern freight stock releases with the JPA 100-tonne bogie cement tankers. We take a closer look at this striking new product.

Exhibitions and extras - Summer is here and the exhibition season traditionally winds down. However there are still some shows going on which are previewed here. Plus a Class 60 in British Steel blue.