Extra August news from Train Trax UK - August's KATO 🚄Announcements ready to pre-order
As promised, this extra email is focussed on the new announcements from this month.
📢 HO Scale from KatoUSA – Pre-Order Only KatoUSA have announced a fantastic new batch of HO scale models — but please note these are available for pre-order only. We won’t be keeping these in regular stock, so if you’d like one, you’ll need to order in advance.
⏰ Train Trax Pre-Order Deadline: Noon, Thursday 26th September Secure yours now to avoid disappointment — once the deadline passes, we can’t guarantee availability.
We know a lot of our regular customers and email subscribers will be more N gauge focussed. If you're not interested at least let your HO mates know about us!
Scroll further down for the links to the big American things...
📢 N gauge from KATO Japan
There's quite a list, which is why it's taken us a while to process everything this month!
new Showa era buildings,
a re-run of the Yamanote line trains,
2-car Kiha trains ideal for small layouts,
more 6-car freight sets
Tokyu Meguro Line 5080 Series (8-car)
287 Series “Kuroshio” 60th Anniversary Wrapping (6-car)
EF15 Standard Type – re-run with slotless motor.
205 Series-5000 Musashino Line (Final Formation M20) (8-car) – special edition.
EF81 JR East colour (with dual-head coupler) (N) – slotless motor re-run.
ED76-0 Late Type “JR Freight Test Livery” (N).
ED75-700 Early Type “Orient Salon” livery (N).
ED75-700 Early Type JR spec (N).
Basic Oval Track Set Master 1-PC (N) – concrete sleeper (PC) version of M1.
MyTram YELLOW / WHITE (N) – new colourways for the universal tram.
Those trams at the end certainly caught our eye, as well as the start of a wider range of concrete sleepered track. See below for all the pre-order links and details as we have them.
PS: It’s still holiday season and we’re a small team. Over the next few weeks there may be occasional delays with dispatches and replies to emails while we take a few well-earned breaks. One of us will still be around, doing our best to keep on top of things, but your patience is appreciated.
More August news from Train Trax UK - Unique Opportunity inside!
I’ve been away for a few days, including a trip to The Greatest Gathering event with my junior modeller. Among other things, we spotted 66004 — soon to be available from Kato Europe in 1:160 scale.
Over the summer my internal calendar tends to go a bit haywire, so this email is going out a little earlier than usual. I’ll be following up early next week with extra news, so it’s not all bundled into one giant update.
One month to go until The International N Gauge Show! We’ve been approached by Kato-san for a bit of help:
“Could you kindly select a few customers from your store who might be interested in building a Mini Diorama for the TINGS show? I would like your store to offer each participant one straight or curved Mini Diorama Base free of charge. They can be beginners or experienced modellers, children or adults — anyone who would enjoy taking part. Would you then please bring their works to TINGS on the setup day and return them to your customers after the show?”
So, who fancies a free Mini Diorama? Drop us an email at help@traintrax.co.uk as soon as possible if you’d like to take part. [Offer now closed 19/8/25]
It’s really not long now until TINGS. We’ll be there with our Train Trax stand and The Model Tree Shop, and we’re looking forward to seeing both familiar faces and new ones. If there’s something you’d like us to bring for you to see or purchase, just let us know.
New arrivals We’ve unpacked plenty of new stock in the last few days, including:
P42s from VIA Rail, plus more Amtrak liveried versions (DC and DCC fitted)
Sound-fitted SD70Ms (CSX/UP)
C44-9Ws in KCS and two different BNSF schemes (DCC and DCC Sound fitted)
From Japan, we have:
Seibu Railway items
Retro packaged LOCAL-SEN trains
Cassiopeia sets and the Rainbow loco
Series 1000 Sendai Colour sets
Series 0 Shinkansen basic sets
Shikoku 8000 series trains
Take a look at our Just Arrived pages — but be quick, many popular items are in short supply.
Dropping in to see us
We do love to meet the customers, but we’re not set up as a walk-in shop (yet...), so we can’t accommodate unplanned visits. Most of the time we’re busy packing orders or up to our elbows in stock! If you’d like to see something in person or collect an order, just get in touch to arrange a time — we’ll be happy to welcome you by appointment.
New stuff
Earlier this month there were more announcements from Kato USA and KATO Japan. We’re still processing those, and I’ll share details in next week’s email.
PS: It’s still holiday season and we’re a small team. Over the next few weeks there may be occasional delays with dispatches and replies to emails while we take a few well-earned breaks. One of us will still be around, doing our best to keep on top of things, but your patience is appreciated.
August 2025 news from Train Trax UK - Happy Yorkshire Day!
We’ve got a few bits of news to share this week – from exciting new arrivals to a heads-up on summer holiday dispatch times. Grab a Yorkshire brew and have a browse...
All under one roof We’ve finally got all our stock – from both TrainTrax and The Model Tree Shop – moved into our new HQ. There’s still some organising to do (and quite a few boxes to unpack), but things are coming together nicely. We even have a layout running! We’ve also replenished many of the items that were running low and dealt with some hefty deliveries.
Big arrivals from KATO Europe -
Our 'Euros' special... New in:
The sleek German ICE 4 – now available in its standard form and in a striking commemorative German flag livery.
Glacier Express sets, coaches, and loco – new versions all just in and looking great.
The eye-catching BR175 (VT 18.16) sets in both N and HO gauge.
These BR175 sets are perfect for DC/analogue use, but there’s currently a hitch with DCC compatibility on the N gauge versions. We’re waiting on a fix and will keep you posted.
New pre-orders from KATO Japan As mentioned in my last email, July announcements are now open for pre-order, with most arrivals expected in Q4 2025. Highlights include:
Two handsome C62 Japanese steam locomotives
A pair of stunning “Romancecars” and the luxurious 787 “36 plus 3”
Re-runs of the ever-popular Pocket Line series
A range of commuter EMUs, scenic buildings, vehicles, and figure sets
Remember – KATO models are produced in limited batches with no guarantee of re-runs, so it’s always wise to reserve early.
Summer slow-down It’s holiday season, and we’re a small team. Over the next few weeks, there may be occasional delays with dispatch and replies to emails while we take a few well-earned breaks. One of us will still be around and doing our best to stay on top of things.
July 2025 news from Train Trax UK - we have moved!
It’s been an intense couple of weeks—but we’re pleased to report that our move is complete and we’re now up and running in our new HQ. Every last box of track, every loco, every scenic detail has been safely relocated… and yes, we even know where most of it is.
Our systems are now back online, orders are being processed, and many of the products that were running low are now restocked. There are still a few loose ends to tie up, so thanks for bearing with us—we really appreciate your patience.
Our new address appears below. Please let us know in advance if you wish to visit us - over the summer period there probably won't be someone on-site every day.
🚆 Latest Arrivals
This week we’ve received several large (and yes, rather expensive!) deliveries from Japan and KATO's UK distributor. Highlights include:
Some of these had been unavailable for a while due to manufacturing delays, so it’s good to see them return. If you used the “email me when available” feature on our website, you’ll have already had first dibs!
Japanese Train Sets In Stock Now:
Hankyu Railway 2300 Series sets
JR D51 Steam Locomotive Starter Sets
Fun Aoimori Railway Sets
701 Series 1000 Morioka Colour (2-car sets)
ED79 Electric Locos (with single-arm pantographs)
E233 Series 6000 Yokohama Line (8-car sets)
D51 Standard Steam Locos
E3 Series 2000 "Tsubasa" Yamagata Shinkansen (7-car sets)
Plus a selection of HO scale JR wagons
Visit the site to see what’s in stock while it lasts.
📦 New Pre-orders from KATO Japan
We’ve also begun to catch up on our admin backlog, which means the latest KATO Japan announcements pictured above are now open for pre-order. Most are due to arrive in Q4 2025.
Notable highlights include:
Pocket Line re-runs – always excellent value and great fun
C62 Steam Locomotives – two beautiful versions
Odakyu "Romancecar" and 787 Series “36+3” luxury EMUs
Regional commuter units from across Japan
A new batch of buildings, vehicles, and figures.
As always, these are made in limited runs with no guarantees of re-issues—so if something catches your eye, it’s worth getting your pre-order in.
Thanks again for your continued support through the move. We’re excited about the next chapter and can’t wait to show you what’s coming next.
Best wishes, Ian & the Train Trax Team www.traintrax.co.uk www.model-railway-magic.co.uk www.themodeltreeshop.co.uk
More June 2025 news from Train Trax UK - latest 🚆announcements from KatoUSA and Kato in Japan
Get yourself a brew - it's a long email this time. New product announcements from Japan and the US.
I’ve always had a soft spot for trams, so I was pleased to see this month’s announcements from KATO Japan include three light rail items, plus a new starter set.
There are also new buildings, OUIGO España trains, E233 EMUs, trucks, containers, hopper wagons, locos, and more. Take a look at the posters above and the individual listings towards the bottom of the email. All except the OuiGo España trains are arriving towards the end of this year.
For those who 'favor' the North American railways, we've also listed some brand-new arrivals to Kato USA's ES44 GEVO line up! Look out for these, all arriving early next year:
CP #8757 in bright orange – the “Every Child Matters” tribute unit.
CP #8781 – the first to wear Hapag-Lloyd branding.
Fresh CSX designs inspired by the Seaboard System and Western Maryland Scenic.
UP #5395 – stars, stripes, and serious presence.
You can find these too by scrolling down to the pictures at the bottom of the email once you've read all the rest! In other news: Rolling Sale We've tweaked what's in our rolling sale. Some are overstock, some are end-of-line, and some are just because we like to keep things moving. The sale is constantly changing, so it’s worth checking back regularly — once something’s gone, it’s gone. Take a look: https://traintrax.co.uk/sale
Modular Monday We've restocked with our Hex-TRAK module kits! https://traintrax.co.uk/hex-trak-module-kits
Latest Arrivals in stock
We've had more deliveries from the USA and Japan. Locos, trains and more this time…
KatoUSA EMD SD80MAC Locos in Conrail and NS liveries
Kato Europe ICE4 in the special 'Federal Republic of Germany' livery ( and add-on sets)
Japanese Containers, for the 'Kangaroo Liner' Container train , pulled by the EF66 27 Freight loco.
Figure sets of various kinds For our little Japanese passengers there's
683 Series "Shirasagi" 6-Car Set,
JR Shikoku 8000 Series Limited Express "Shiokaze/Ishizuchi" 8 Car Set and the
E655 Series Nagomi (Japanese) 5-Car Set - with the special Imperial add-on car.
also the KatoUSA dash-nine's have arrived.
Price changes I'm sorry to announce that there's some KATO UK RRP prices changes happening. Most items are staying very similar, but a few of the pricier items are increasing.
We'll hold our current (discounted) pricing until we restock items, or the end of the month, whichever comes around fastest.
And finally… For those following the endless saga of our forthcoming new lease, we've still not moved, but we are getting closer. Stay tuned for more news.
Enjoy your weekend - we find the best way to stay cool is to shut the curtains and play trains.
Best wishes,
Ian & the Train Trax Team www.traintrax.co.uk www.model-railway-magic.co.uk www.themodeltreeshop.co.uk
June news from Train Trax UK - we're still here; new arrivals.
We woke up this morning to head over to the Kato Japanese site for some exciting Friday announcements. There's plenty there so we'll be translating, digesting and deciding over the next couple of weeks and then open UK pre-orders once we've confirmed pricing.
In the meantime...
🚧 Moving Soon: Order Now to Avoid Disruption
We’ve been planning a HQ move for a while, but some last-minute delays with the lease mean we’re still in our current location—for now. We don’t have a confirmed moving date yet, but it’s coming. In the meantime, we’re keeping stock levels ticking over, though you might notice a few gaps here and there.
If you’re after something specific, just ask—we can often get items in quickly, even if they’re not on the shelves right now.
Once the move begins, there may be some disruption to dispatch times. So if you’ve got projects in progress or plans in place, now’s a good time to stock up and stay on track. Keep an eye on our social media channels for updates.
We’ve had some incoming deliveries lately:
Unitram track is back in full force: track, points, road plates, and more. Plus the TV1 starter sets are ready to go.
New Japanese sets: 313 Series starter packs, the cherry pink 227-500 series, and the latest 323 Series from Osaka’s Loop Line.
From KatoUSA: Volvo trucks with containers and chassis, plus new EMD SD70M variations—including the 4015 excursion and ‘Spirit of Tampa’ specials in UP and CSX liveries.
At Train Trax, we’re proud to run a business that puts fairness, transparency, and customer wellbeing at the heart of what we do. That’s why we’re re-accrediting with the Good Business Charter—recognising our commitment to responsible business practices in everything from pricing to prompt service.
More May news from Train Trax UK - Lots of updates inside
We’ve got plenty of news to share this week:
🚆 New Arrivals: We’ve unpacked some fantastic new items this week.
UniTram 'E-Series' Track pieces: Expand your city layouts with these versatile additions - it's been a while since Unitram has been available and this new type of unprinted track and road sections is particularly versatile.
Heavy haul limestone train from the Tosan Main Line: Hopper wagons are available as a set of nice or twin packs. It's possible to make up the whole 18 car formation! Buy the locos separately or as a twin pack.
Dogs and Cats Figures: Bring life to your layout with these characterful animals in N gauge.
Seibu Railway Sets: Stylish and unique, these sets add a Japanese touch.
🌳 Last Chance: Spring Sale at The Model Tree Shop Over at our sister site, the Spring Sale wraps up this weekend! Don’t miss out on 10% off model trees and scenery items. Perfect for railway modellers, dioramas, architectural models, and more.
🚧 Moving Soon: Order Now to Avoid Disruption We’re preparing for a premises move around the beginning of June. There might be some disruption to dispatch times and stock levels, so place your orders now to keep your modelling plans on track.
🔄 Pre-Order Now: RhB Krok and More Pre-orders are now open for the latest announcements, including the iconic RhB Krok. Check out the green button links towards the end of the email - reserve yours today and stay ahead of the crowd!
🧠 Mental Health Awareness Week Taking time for hobbies like model railways can be a great way to unwind and find a bit of calm. We’re here to support our customers and encourage everyone to make time for themselves.
Stay tuned for more updates, and happy modelling!
Best,
Ian & the Train Trax Team
May already—how did that happen? With the bank holiday weekend coming up for many of us in the UK, it's a great chance to spend a little more time at the workbench or running trains. However you spend it, we hope it includes something railway-related!
In my last emails I drew your attention to KATO Japan's regular announcements. There's updated versions of:
the beautiful, green and gold TWILIGHT EXPRESS,
HB-E300 'Resort Shirakami' with an amazing print
the fascinating M250 Series Super Rail Cargo multiple unit (which can be extended to a looong train)
the all new E8 Series Yamagata Shinkansen "Tsubasa" which will be available either as a 7 car special edition, or 3 car basic + 4 car add-on.
All of these are expected to be released in Japan in August, and will be with us a few weeks later. We've now confirmed our pricing for those items and you can pre-order them here.
Also announced in the meantime is a brand new tooling for the SD70ACU from KatoUSA, due at the end of the year.
In many ways the SD70ACU is a modified SD90MAC. The SD90MAC struggled to find a place on US and Canadian Railroads in the 90s. While Union Pacific and Canadian Pacific purchased many of these engines - smaller railroads felt alienated from the gigantic primer movers which limited the SD90MAC’s operational use. In 2016 Norfolk Southern decided to convert several SD90MACs to SD70ACUs, the Siemens tech was swapped with Mitsubishi components and the cab was replaced with the SD70ACe’s cab.
Canadian Pacific decided to rebuild their collection of SD90MACs as well. However instead of going to Norfolk Southern to rebuild these engines, they reached out to Progress Rail instead. 60 ACUs were delivered in 2019 and this order contained several heritage units. These special heritage units were used to commemorate different branches of the US and Canadian Army.
Announcements are coming thick and fast from Japan. There are some MORE items still for us to list, including a new TGV, a H5 Shinkansen in HO scale, those RhB sets I mentioned in my last email and more. Watch this space...
Best regards, Ian & the Train Trax team www.traintrax.co.uk www.model-railway-magic.co.uk www.themodeltreeshop.co.uk
PS. Keep an eye on your inboxes and social media for another special message from me shortly about Golden week.
Heading to the York Show
Spring has spring, and Easter weekend is nearly upon us. We’re nearly ready for the York Model Railway Show. I wonder what the weather will do for us? Whatever happens you’ll find us in the same spot at the racecourse as previous years, though we’re hoping to fit in even more stock this time. We’ll also be bringing along some things from themodeltreeshop.co.uk for those who want to add a bit of scenery to their layouts. We always look forward to meeting customers old and new face-to-face.
New announcements
Many folk will have seen videos online of a Swiss Ge6/6 I RhB 'Krokodil' that Kato Europe demonstrated at the Dortmund Intermodellbau show in Germany. It looks fantastic but it's still in development as we understand it. Tentative availability is in the Autumn, and we don't have pricing just yet. Interestingly it looks like there will be DC and DCC Sound versions. It will also be available in a set with some appropriate coaching stock. We'll open pre-orders when we have a better idea of pricing - stay tuned to these emails over the coming months!
Earlier in the month KATO Japan made their regular announcements. There's an updated versions of the TWILIGHT EXPRESS, HB-E300 'Resort Shirakami' and the fascinating M250 Series Super Rail Cargo multiple unit. All new is the E8 Series Yamagata Shinkansen "Tsubasa" which will be available either as a 7 car special edition, or 3 car basic + 4 car add-on. All of these are expected to be released in Japan in August, and will be with us a few weeks later. All really interesting trains with lovely details - the livery on the Resort Shirakami is astonishing. Again, we need to confirm UK pricing on these items but will open pre-orders very soon.
Remember a few months ago when we brought you news of the European 1:160 Class 66/77 locos? The prices on these DC locos have now been reduced substantially and DCC Sound versions of these locos have been confirmed. These are available for pre-order right now but you'll need to act quickly to secure one. Links below.
Whether you're building, running, or just shunting for fun, enjoy the season and keep things on track.
Until next time—mind the gap (and the pollen).
Best regards, Ian & the Train Trax team www.traintrax.co.uk www.model-railway-magic.co.uk www.themodeltreeshop.co.uk
April news from Train Trax UK - GWR Class 800/3 and Amtrak Surfliner now in stock
Exciting Arrivals
We've had some great new arrivals recently, so be sure to check out the links above. The GWR 9-car sets are fantastic runners, just as we’ve come to expect from Kato’s Class 800 series. By the time you read this, we’ll have the DC/Analog, DCC Fitted, and DCC Sound versions in stock.
Our KatoUSA Surfliner 8-car sets (Analogue and DCC Fitted) have already sold out, but the 4-car basic sets and add-ons are still available seperately. These are really interesting sets, and we know some of you have even traveled on this route while on 'vacation'. The DCC Sound versions are on their way, so keep an eye out.
Heading to the York Show
Easter weekend is coming up, which means we’re getting ready for the York Show. You’ll find us in the same spot at the racecourse as previous years, though we’re hoping to fit in even more stock this time. We’ll also be bringing along some things from themodeltreeshop.co.uk for those who want to add a bit of scenery to their layouts.
If there’s something specific you’d like us to bring, just let us know. We’ll do our best to fit it in. You can also pre-order online for collection at the show, which is a great way to save on postage.
A Quick Word About Ordering
We've had some long rambling phone calls from people recently, and it's not sustainable, but we're too polite to hang up. What should we do?
We’ve had a few people mention that they don’t use PayPal or prefer not to buy online. Apart from a handful of shows each year, we run as an online-only business. That’s how we keep overheads down and pass the savings on to you.
We do our best to answer calls when we can, but we don’t have the capacity to take orders over the phone. Instead, we’ve put a lot of time and effort into making our website as simple and secure as possible, with a choice of safe payment methods.
We’re always happy to help, and we've proud of our customer service reputation. However, if you need assistance, email is the best way to reach us. That way, we can look into things properly and share photos or diagrams if needed.
A Busy Few Weeks Ahead
Between getting ready for the York show and the school holidays, things will be a little busier than usual over the next few weeks. If orders or emails take a bit longer, we really appreciate your patience.
Thanks as always for your support, and we’re looking forward to seeing some of you in York.
Best regards, Ian & the Train Trax team www.traintrax.co.uk www.model-railway-magic.co.uk www.themodeltreeshop.co.uk
PS. Latest news will be on our Facebook page if you want hear about what's happening day to day.
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