Rail franchises operators & contracts

Aldrington station refurbished ahead of schedule

03 September 2020Passengers at Aldrington station, in East Sussex, are to set benefit from newly improved platforms following a £500k investment. Engineers have carried out remedial works to restore and strengthen platforms 1 and 2. The platform redevelopm...

Major £1.2bn East Coast Main Line works confirmed

03 September 2020With improving journeys for passengers as soon as possible a priority, Network Rail have today (3 Sept) confirmed dates for key works on the East Coast Upgrade. The completed works will bring improved dependability and punctuality for passengers...

Ep.16 Unlocking rail investment, David Ollerhead

02 September 2020David Ollerhead, Programme Director at Network Rail’s Open for Business Programme, joins host Ailsa Cowen for episode 15 of Rail Technology Magazine’s podcast, Track Talk. David discusses playing with trains as a child, investment into...

Rail industry to increase services to boost passenger confidence

28 August 2020Just in time for going back to school, from Monday 7th September, train services will increase to near pre-Covid outbreak levels, as part of the introduction of a new timetable formulated to build on the improved punctuality performance seen durin...

HS2’s eco-friendly station gets planning green light

27 August 2020HS2’s landmark station, that will be the centre of the Midlands network, has had plans approved by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council. The station recently became the first railway station globally to achieve the BREEAM ‘Outstandin...

Multi-million-pound upgrade work across August Bank Holiday

26 August 2020Network Rail are reminding passengers of significant upgrades taking place across rail networks this weekend. Between the West Midlands and London Euston work is taking place to make journeys more reliable for passengers and freight customers in...

Major upgrades to Great Eastern Main Line this autumn

26 August 2020Numerous upgrade works are set to take place this autumn on the main line between Stratford and Shenfield to advance the reliability of passenger journeys and prepare for the introduction of Elizabeth line services. At Stratford and Maryland, imp...

SWR new £1bn Arterio fleet to transform passenger travel

25 August 2020Today (25 Aug) South Western Railway have revealed Arterio as the name for the new £1 billion train fleet set to revolutionise travel across South West London, Surrey and Berkshire. SWR’s Managing Director revealed the name during a s...

The UK’s first fully wrapped Pride train by Avanti West Coast

25 August 2020Staffed by a full LGBTQ+ crew, the UK’s first train to be fully wrapped in the progressive Pride flag, 11 carriage long, will run its first official service today (25 Aug). After the Covid-19 outbreak forced the cancellation of Pride events...

South West Wales receives new Community Rail Partnership

24 August 2020Community Rail Partnership launched for the South West Wales region, designed to help communities get the most benefit from their rail services. The partnership, South West Wales Connected, will engage with communities across Swansea, Neath, Port...

Hull Trains return to the track today

21 August 2020After five months of services being suspended due to Covid-19, Hull Trains finally make their anticipated return today. The people of Hull and East Riding will see trains between Beverly and London Kings Cross running for the first time since Sun...

New Acceleration Unit launched by Transport Secretary

21 August 2020Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, has today (Aug 21) announced the launch of a new Acceleration Unit to help bring essential rail and road upgrades that will create jobs, rise connectivity, and boost the economy coming out of the Covid-19 outbrea...

Transport Focus calls for ‘Head Out to Help Out’ scheme

18 August 2020Independent watchdog Transport Focus is asking the Government and train companies to work collaboratively, in order to reform the rail farers and ticketing system. This is hoped to give passengers better value for money, thereby encouraging them t...

Avanti West Coast announce more services from September

17 August 2020Avanti West Coast will be reinstating numerous destinations from the 7th of September as part of alterations to its timetable. Blackpool, Wrexham, Shrewsbury and Edinburgh will all see the return of direct Avanti West Coast services to and from L...

Rail companies call for polluters to pay their fair share

12 August 2020Rail Delivery Group have submitted proposals to influence the government’s Transport Decarbonisation Plan in hope of encouraging passengers to make greener choices when travelling in Britain or to international destinations that are reachabl...