Rail franchises operators & contracts

Trains kept moving by AWC despite damaged overhead wires

11 September 2020Avanti West Coast have taken an unlikely option to allow their timetable to run, without delays, despite damaged overhead wires. The operator successfully ran their Pendolino fleet without power under damaged overhead wires for the first time. T...

GTR spreads messages of support on Suicide Prevention Day

10 September 2020As today (10 Sept) mark the annual World Suicide Prevention Day, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), have revealed ‘Affirmation Art’ clusters across some of its busiest stations to raise awareness of the company’s ongoing support and...

Transport Secretary commits to a resilient railway

10 September 2020Network Rail’s provisional report on the Stonehaven tragedy, commissioned by the Transport Secretary Grant Shapps immediately after the event, has bene released today (10 Sept), illustrating out direct and lasting action to advance the railw...

Major station improvements and electric vehicle charging hubs

09 September 2020Following the announcement of Govia Thameslink Railway’s (GTR) programme to develop numerous stations, today (9 Sept) on World Electric Vehicle (EV) Day, GTR welcomed Secretary of State Grant Shapps to open rail’s largest dedicated EV...

Contract awarded by Network Rail to strengthen bridges

09 September 2020Three contracts have been awarded by Network Rail to carry out strengthening work to three railway bridges across the Wessex route in the South of England. The contract with Dyer and Butler, part of M Group Services, includes all aspects from des...

New electric train fleet revealed for Birmingham’s Cross-City Line

09 September 2020The electric train fleet set to transform travel on Birmingham’s Cross-City Line has been revealed to rail passengers in the West Midlands. A sneak-peak was provided for some members of the public, where they witnessed the dozens of new sta...

Network Rail engineers reopen bridge ahead of schedule

08 September 2020Following a fast response by Network Rail engineers, a Cambridgeshire bridge has reopened to rail services ahead of schedule after it was hit by a lorry yesterday (7 Sept). The lorry caused widespread damage to the bridge in Coldhams Lane, Cambri...

SWR awards £5m in community improvement schemes

08 September 2020A total of £5m in funding is now set to benefit 67 local schemes supported by the South Western Railway Customer and Communities Improvement Fund (CCIF). Designed to help boost the local economy and recovery, SWR invited bids from its CCIF...

Network Rail begin work to recover railway at Stonehaven

08 September 2020This week Network Rail are beginning the careful procedure of recovering the carriages involved in the tragic accident that occurred on the 12th of Aug at Stonehaven. The ScotRail service derailed after striking a landslip and heartbreakingly, th...

Major investment for signalling upgrade in Manchester

07 September 2020Manchester’s railway signalling system is set to be brought into the 21st century as part of the Great North Rail Project. Tens of millions of pounds is to be used to improve journeys for passengers and freight, with the nearly 40-year-old...

Hitachi Rail: Five years at flagship factory in the North East

07 September 2020September marks five years of operation for Hitachi Rail’s North East home in Newton Aycliffe.   Since then, the team has since built 192 trains, which are now in service in the UK. This includes the Class 800/801/802 Intercity Expres...

LNER boost services as passengers return

07 September 2020As many people begin their usual commute again today, whether that’s back to work or back to school, many rail franchisers have increased their timetable accordingly. One of these is London North Eastern Railway (LNER) who are introducing a...

ORR and the rail industry are working together to improve passenger info

04 September 2020The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) and the rail industry are working together to develop passenger information. Following ORR’s call earlier this year for the rail industry to improve passenger information, particularly during disruption, th...

HS2 construction begins with 22,000 jobs expected

04 September 2020Europe’s largest infrastructure project has today (4 Sept) reached a momentous milestone with the start of construction on the project, highlighting the large number of jobs the project will be recruiting for in the coming months and years. ...

Electrification plans for line between Fife and Clackmannanshire

04 September 2020The next stage of development work is due to begin for Network Rail engineers between Alloa and Longannet, which could see passenger services return between Clackmannanshire and Fiife. As part of the Scottish Government’s decarbonisation pl...