Firstgroup and Virgin push back against state clampdown on open-access rail firms January 20, 2025 Firstgroup and Virgin are combining to push back against a government clampdown on some of the last private train firms operating the UK’s railway tracks. So-called open access is a lesser-used model in which firms shoulder commercial risk but take the entire share of any profit. It is viewed as a success story by many [...]
Contactless train ticketing finally coming to London Stansted Airport January 20, 2025 The government has outlined its plans to roll-out contactless ticketing at nearly a hundred UK train stations in 2025, including London Stansted Airport, with a start date less than a fortnight away The Department for Transport (DfT) said on Monday some 47 stations across the South East would be able to use tap-in and tap-out [...]
Rail strikes: Warning of ‘irreparable fallout’ from train walkouts January 2, 2025 The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) has warned of the “irreparable fallout” from the ongoing round of Avanti West Coast rail strikes. Passengers faced disruption after rail managers who are members of the RMT union voted to strike on 31 December and 2 January, with disruption on routes to Glasgow, North Wales, Blackpool and Edinburgh. [...]
HS2’s new boss Mark Wild warns the company is in a ‘very serious situation’ December 30, 2024 HS2 is in a “very serious situation” and needs a “fundamental reset”, the new boss of the company building the high-speed railway has warned. Mark Wild, chief executive of HS2 Ltd, said he is committed to ensuring the railway opens “safely and efficiently”. Earlier this month, HS2 Ltd estimated the cost of building the railway [...]
HS2 chair to step down as cost swells to £66bn December 17, 2024 The chair of the company behind High Speed Two (HS2) is to stop down next year, it has been announced. Sir Jon Thompson has served on the board of HS2 Ltd for almost four years after first joining as a non-executive director in April 2021. He was appointed as the company’s chair in February 2023 [...]
HS2: Costs for London Euston section reach over £7.5bn December 10, 2024 Rachel Reeves confirmed in the Autumn Budget HS2 will terminate at Euston station, following a political kerfuffle over how to find the necessary funding.
Labour hits back at concerns rail nationalisation could compromise safety November 24, 2024 The DOHL currently runs the four nationalised companies: East Coast Main Line, Northern Rail, Southeastern and Transpennine Express.
Northern Trains overcomes ‘uncertain and challenging times’ as revenue passes £1bn October 2, 2024 Northern Trains has posted a revenue of £1bn for its latest financial year after battling “uncertain and challenging times”. The operator has posted a total revenue of £1.07bn for the year to 31 March, 2024, up from the £982.6m it posted in the prior 12 months. Newly-filed accounts with Companies House also show its revenue [...]
LNER: Strikes and storms cost train line over £50m October 2, 2024 The impact of a series of severe storms and continued strike action cost London North Eastern Railway (LNER) more than £50m during its latest financial year, it has been revealed. The train operator said industrial action in the year to 31 March, 2024, reduced its revenue by £25.9m while extreme weather also impacted its revenue [...]
Airport liquid rule: Why UK and European airports are keeping the 100ml limit September 2, 2024 European airports are bringing back back into force the 100ml liquid limit due to a "temporary technical issue" with newly installed security scanners.