Rail News

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 £1bn 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 Stati...

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...

Steer to focus on economy as CILT president

21.05.13: Britain has the “best railway in Europe” Jim Steer has said as incoming president of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT). Steer, best known for his roles at consultancy Steer Davies Gleave and high-speed ra...

OLEC selects Carillion to provide electrification training

21.05.13: Carillion has opened a new electrification training centre to develop skills and capability for Network Rail’s £2bn electrification expansion programme. The OHL training span is based at Carillion’s projects and training y...

A closer look

20.05.13: ScotRail is teaming up with Glasgow Caledonian University to provide an in-depth analysis of their maintenance systems and recommendations on how they could be improved. It is an interesting idea; bringing academia and industry together to...

Legal challenge to new London-Oxford line fails

20.05.13: The new rail link between London and Oxford line will go ahead, after a legal case brought by an Oxford resident failed in the High Court. The DfT approved the £130m Evergreen 3 proposal last year, with construction due to start this...

Spoil removal begins at Hatfield collapse site

20.05.13: Engineers have started to remove spoil from the rail line damaged by a landslip at Hatfield colliery. The incident has led to a series of engineering projects planned between May and November being replanned by Network Rail. The line is now...

ScotRail to fund maintenance systems research project

20.05.13: Researchers will study ScotRail’s maintenance systems to boost efficiency and reliability through a two year Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP). The £126,000 project, jointly funded by ScotRail and the UK Government, will see...