Rail News

HS2 criticisms

24.05.13: Of course the NAO figures are out of date because whenever a responsible body points out the weakness of HS2, its proponents conjure up a revised case to muddy the water. The fact is that HS2 is not the right plan for Britain. We should not...

More than track and trains

24.05.13: Railway stations have a central role in their communities, and the potential to dramatically improve their prospects. ScotRail’s new fund is great news for people living in Scotland, as well as its staff, who can now apply for match f...

Social media promotes faster London Midland service

24.05.13: London Midland has boosted its customer base through social media, introducing ‘Twicket Offices’ at universities and colleges to promote faster trains on the Crewe to London route. Students were encouraged to follow and tweet th...

Staff shares must be protected – RMT

24.05.13: Staff could be facing financial loss as it emerges that FirstGroup could be prevented from bidding for new rail franchises. Changes to franchising rules could require operators to hold an investment grade credit rating in order to bid. The...

Transport infrastructure is the backbone of economy – ministers

24.05.13: More investment in strategic transport infrastructure and services is needed to meet growing demand, ministers agreed in a joint Declaration on Funding Transport during their 2013 Summit in Leipzig, Germany. The Global Summit of Transport M...

ScotRail Foundation to fund £100,000 community projects

24.05.13: A new £100,000 fund has been launched to help Scottish communities support children or young people, or improve the environment. The ScotRail Foundation will distribute grants of between £250 and £5,000 to groups seeking t...

Don’t ask, don’t get

23.05.13: Is there a case for extending Crossrail into Reading? Councillor Tony Page certainly thinks so, and has urged transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin to consider the benefits of additional capacity to the city. As a cross-London scheme...

Crossrail ‘should be extended’ to Reading

23.05.13: Reading’s transport leader, Cllr Tony Page has urged transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin to extend Crossrail to Reading. Page calls for the £16bn London rail link to run into Reading, which has the additional capacity as a ma...

Metro closure to allow modernisation works

23.05.13: Nexus, which operates the Tyne & Wear Metro, is to close major lines for 27 consecutive days as part of the £385m modernisation programme.13:0 The line between Haymarket, the airport and Four Lane Ends will be closed from August 4...

High speed spurs could boost decentralisation – Greengauge 21

23.05.13: Greengauge 21 has welcomed comments from transport minister Simon Burns, confirming how further extensions could be added to HS2 to help rebalance the national economy. Extending the project to a high-speed network across the UK could be &l...

Credit rating franchise requirement considered

22.05.13: FirstGroup could face possible exclusion from bidding for future franchises, if it loses its 'investment grade' credit rating. The Government is considering changes to the franchising rules that could make the rating a requirement for any b...

Under the microscope

22.05.13: Network Rail has published more transparency data today, accelerating its aim to become more accountable for spending. It is a good example for the rest of the industry, and could set a precedent for the supply chain to become more open abo...

Northern Rail sees car park expansions

22.05.13: A £1m improvement scheme has been completed at two of Northern Rail’s stations in Calderdale. Todmorden and Sowerby Bridge car parks have been expanded, by 18 and 37 spaces respectively. The project was funded through the Statio...

Time to train

21.05.13: Carillion’s training centre is now certified to provide the practical and theoretical skills needed to undertake the planned £2bn electrification expansion programme. The industry has a long gap to bridge before it can rely on a...

Case for Crossrail 2 to be examined by London Assembly committee

21.05.13: The London Assembly Transport Committee is investigating the case for building Crossrail 2 today, and will question some of the key figures behind the project. Its backers say it will be vital to support overcrowding and rising demand in Lo...