Rail franchises operators & contracts

More delays hit GTR after third timetable in two months, leaving passengers furious

17.07.18: Services on the renewed timetable for struggling rail firm GTR have already been hit by a spate of cancellations despite the operator introducing its third timetable in two months. Networks under GTR’s control— Southern, Thamesl...

Up north: a long-term strategy

17.07.18: Until April, David Hoggarth was director of Rail North. Now, after the amalgamation of Rail North with subnational body Transport for the North (TfN), he is the latter’s strategic rail director. Here, he talks about the importance of a lon...

GTR launches third timetable in two months, hopes to provide ‘more robust service’

16.07.18: Struggling operator Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) will introduce its third timetable in just two months following a chaotic service shake-up in May. Rail services around the country were heavily disrupted from 20 May when operators introdu...

Timetable chaos: Rail industry ‘lacks courage’ to say no to impossible demands

13.07.18: The rail industry needs to pluck up the courage to say no to others instead of trying to accommodate every single stakeholder demand – and then failing to deliver on these expectations, rail veteran Chris Gibb has said. Gibb, who chai...

Northern passengers to receive special compensation after May timetable chaos

12.07.18: Northern Rail passengers will have access to a special compensation scheme as a result of the May timetable changes, although details about who will be entitled to refunds are yet to be confirmed. The scheme, announced by the rail minister...

The rail franchise model ‘is bust’ says former Network Rail chief

12.07.18: Article by Callum Wood of Rail Technology Magazine. Former Network Rail chief, John Armitt, has said to the BBC that rail operators have taken a "very significant revenue risk" which has "got them into trouble." This is because the gov...

GTR manager takes up two seats on packed train, tells passengers they can’t share empty carriage

11.07.18: A high-ranking manager at Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has been criticised after taking up two first class seats on a full train and preventing economy passengers using the carriage. Passenger Emma Fitzpatrick photographed Mark Boon, head...

'Disappointed' rail industry reacts to scrapped December timetable changes

10.07.18: The rail industry has reacted to news yesterday that some major TOCs will not be introducing new timetables in December, in an effort to prevent another rail schedule fiasco like the chaotic implementation of new timetables in May. Released...

Network Rail accepts role in ‘unacceptable SWR disruption’ linked to poor recovery plans

05.07.18: Outdated contingency plans, poor incident responses, and incomplete ‘lessons learned’ review were amongst the key culprits behind Network Rail’s major role in contributing to delays across South Western Railway (SWR). ...

ATW pays out £2.4m in penalties for delayed and cancelled services

05.07.18: Arriva Trains Wales has paid out over £2.4m in financial penalties for delayed or cancelled services, a North Wales Assembly Member (AM) has announced.  Speaking to the Welsh Assembly on Tuesday, Aberconwy AM Janet Finch-Saunders...

Timetable chaos: Strong and stable?

03.07.18: David Sidebottom, director at Transport Focus, paints a stark picture of the considerable human impact of delays across London and the north – even before the full extent of the crisis becomes known. The current timetable chaos on Tha...

Welsh rail: Left in the dark

03.07.18: Chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee, David Davies, argues that, in light of cancelled electrification plans, Welsh rail has been left in the dark and has seen little investment compared to the rest of the UK. The cancellation of plans to e...

TOCs take out newspaper ad apologising to customers, pledge new timetable in two weeks

03.07.18: Major train firms have taken out a half-page advert in a major newspaper to apologise to customers for “ongoing problems” since the chaotic introduction of new timetables on 20 May. South-eastern TOCs GTR and Great Northern, in...

Urgent clarity needed amid claims that TransPennine electrification will be scrapped

02.07.18: The government has come under fire after claims it will reverse its decision to electrify the TransPennine rail route connecting Manchester to Leeds and York. Last summer, transport secretary Chris Grayling suggested that the government cou...

Stagecoach hit by £85.6m loss after being stripped of East Coast franchise

28.06.18: Stagecoach has revealed a loss of £85.6m after being stripped of the East Coast franchise, which was recently brought under government control. The DfT is now running the franchise as London North Eastern Railway (LNER). The reve...