Rail service improvements and disruptions

Wherry Lines see introduction of new signalling system

17 February 2020130 years of signalling history came to an end today (Feb 17th) on the Wherry lines alongside the reopening of the Norwich to Yarmouth line. This follows completion of work to introduce a new computerised signalling system, improving dependabilit...

TransPennine Express receives ‘public target’ from Transport for the North

13 February 2020Agreed by Transport for the North leaders in back in January, the ‘public target’ follows a period at the end of last year when TransPennine Express returned the worst performance figures in the country, with sometimes less than half t...

Network Rail install new Dawlish sea wall

13 February 2020Network Rail’s plan to protect the vital rail line to the south west from rising sea levels and extreme weather has taken a big step forward despite challenging storm conditions. A large sea wall is being installed in Dawlish, Devon to defe...

Network Rail awards five-year term to Jacobs for Design Services

12 February 2020Network Rail has awarded places on four Lots to Jacobs for their prestigious Design Services Framework (DSF), to deliver multi-disciplinary technical and professional services, including geotechnical, civils and structures capability. This is the...

Network Rail endorses Bender UK signal system

11 February 2020Bender UK’s Innovative RS4 Signalling Power Protection system has been approved by Network Rail. The system delivers heightened sensitivity for first fault location and allows compliance with Network Rail’s Insulation Monitoring and Fa...

£46m depot unveiled in Wigan

10 February 2020Officially opened on Friday (Feb 7th) the new £46m state-of-the-art train depot in Wigan has been built by Network Rail alongside Arriva Rail North. The depot will provide a home for many of Northern’s new trains that will be cleaned...

Grant Shapps welcomes new direct Amsterdam-London rail service

04 February 2020Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps has today (Jan 4) welcomed the new direct Eurostar rail service between Amsterdam and London, set to launch in April 2020. Since Early 2018 passengers have been able to make this journey on the Eurostar, but with...

Digital Displacement project on track to reduce rail emissions

31 January 2020Source: RTM Dec/Jan   With challenging targets to radically reduce railway CO2 emissions, Artemis Intelligent Power is looking at the potential of Digital Displacement® hydraulics as a novel route to lower emissions for freight locomoti...

ORR launch signalling systems market study

27 January 2020The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has today (Jan 27) opened a market study into the supply of rail signalling systems. The study will aim to examine issues within the rail signalling marketplace and address them if appropriate, taking into accoun...

New tech-enabled trains are putting passengers in control

23 January 2020Source: RTM Dec 19/Jan 20 Robert Nisbet, director of Nations and Regions at the Rail Delivery Group, looks ahead at the future of Interconnectivity of the Rail Industry. This year, nine operators are introducing new and upgraded trains with bett...

Engineering expertise in Northern's £100m investment

23 January 2020Rail operator, Northern, has published insight into the processes and engineering expertise involved with its current £100m investment into its trains. The ongoing modernisation programme is working to fully refurbish 268 diesel and electri...

DfT statement on South Western Railway

22 January 2020The Department for Transport (DfT) has today (Jan 22) announced an update on South Western Railway, outlining precautionary measures to ensure the continuation of services. Transport secretary, Grant Shapps, has released a written statement highl...

The age of Intelligent Infrastructure - Network Rail

21 January 2020Source: RTM Dec 19/Jan 20   Predictive technology that informs engineers when, where and why faults will occur on the railway are vital to improving infrastructure performance and driving a better service for passengers. Jonathan Schofield...

Merseyrail named most reliable train operator in the UK for the second year running

21 January 2020Merseyrail has been awarded as the most punctual rail operator in the country for the second year running – with 96.4% of its trains running on time. It has also achieved its best performing year ever in 2019, with the oldest passenger flee...

Vivarail’s Class 230 achieves UK first with 40-mile battery-powered trip

16 January 2020Vivarail achieved a UK first yesterday (Jan 15) as their Class 230 train travelled 40 miles on battery power alone. It comes during a time of desperate need for a cleaner, greener train network as the UK strives for net zero carbon by 2050. Duri...