Civils and stations

West Midlands promises rail revolution in new detailed 30-year strategy

16.01.19: The West Midlands has set out its short- and long-term plan for rail in the region, promising new passenger services and stations and to build on the benefits of high-speed rail. Launched by the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE), the &lsq...

Council and business leaders issue warning over investment in HS2 plans for the north east

15.01.19: Business leaders and local councils have written to the HS2 chairman calling for urgent investment in the East Coast Main Line (ECML), warning that without money for high-speed rail in the north east, HS2 risks harming the region. In a join...

Engineers able to predict and fix track faults before they develop using new Costain augmented reality tech

11.01.19: Engineers will be able to use augmented reality (AR) to predict failing components and faults on train tracks and in stations after engineering companies, in collaboration with a university, have developed a network of Internet of Things (IoT). ...

£10.6m Horden station gets the green light

09.01.19: Proposals to build a new £10.55m railway station in East Durham by 2020 have been given the go-ahead today after being granted planning permission. Two 100-metre platforms will be built at Horden, near Peterlee, along with a footbridg...

Structural steelwork begins on Glasgow Queen Street transformation

18.12.18: The transformation of Glasgow Queen Street has been revealed as engineers have finished the installation of the west truss and have begun building the steel skeleton for the new expanded concourse. The west truss is the first completed sect...

TfL shelves plans for Tube upgrades as financial woes revealed

12.12.18: Plans to upgrade major parts of London Underground will be put on hold and Crossrail 2 is now in doubt after TfL has disclosed the extent of its financial difficulties. TfL has published its five-year business plan, revealing that the delay...

Five new platforms for Waterloo station as old Eurostar terminal reopens

11.12.18: The former Eurostar terminal at Waterloo station has been reopened for the first time in 12 years, bringing five new platforms to the Britain’s busiest railway station. Platforms 20 to 22 at Waterloo have been opened to the public, an...

ScotRail announces new train station retail opportunities

05.12.18: ScotRail has announced a range of new retail opportunities at train stations across the country as it looks improve the quality of facilities at stations. Over 20 stations, including Aviemore and Bathgate, are being made available for new v...

Overhaul of Tees Valley’s two biggest stations gets £45m boost, but DfT help still needed

04.12.18: Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) has approved a £45m investment to “dramatically overhaul” Darlington and Middlesbrough stations as part of improvements which mayor Ben Houchen told RTM would be “central” to th...

Private sector deal ‘very close to fruition,’ industrial strategy minister says

28.11.18: The government’s private sector deal with the rail industry is “very close to fruition,” the industry strategy minister has said. Speaking at the Railway Industry Association parliamentary reception in Westminster last nig...

Shadow transport secretary McDonald considers extending control periods to 7 years

28.11.18: The shadow transport secretary has suggested increasing the current spending period length by an extra two years to give the supply industry greater time for planning. Andy McDonald said that increasing the control period length, which is c...

Monitoring the performance of earthworks

27.11.18: Dr Joel Smethurst, associate professor in geotechnical engineering, and Professor William Powrie, professor of geotechnical engineering, both of the University of Southampton, discuss the work and research that’s helped the rail sector in...

Coventry station £82m masterplan given the go-ahead by city council

21.11.18: Groundbreaking plans to transform Coventry city centre and Coventry station have been given the official green light from the city’s council. Coventry City Council announced it has granted permission for the £11.8m scheme to imp...

Introducing iPort

20.11.18: Steve Freeman, managing director of iPort Rail, introduces the UK’s newest inland freight terminal. The UK’s newest inland rail freight terminal for 10 years – iPort Rail – is now open and operational. It is ano...

HS2 kicks off bid race to build Birmingham’s Curzon Street station

19.11.18: HS2 has announced the start of its search for contractors to build its new £435m Curzon Street station. Around four contractors will be shortlisted for the design and build deal ahead of the arrival of HS2 in Birmingham in 2026. ...