Rail cancellations swell as figures reveal 2022-23 worst year on record Transport Train passengers in Britain have faced record levels of disruption over the last twelve months, with new figures revealing 2022-23 was the worst year ever for rail cancellations. Passengers have faced record levels of disruption after the past year was the worst on record for train cancellations, figures from the Office for Road and Rail [...]
Plans to shake up British railway network could be watered down as new powers likely delayed trains Plans to shake up the railway network may be watered down as legislation to give powers to a proposed new public sector body could be delayed, it has been reported. Great British Railways (GBR), announced in 2021 by then-prime minister Boris Johnson as a way to simplify the rail network and improve services for passengers, [...]
60 business leaders warn Sunak to bring Great British Railway plans forward – or jobs and investment will be on the line Great British Railway Sixty business leaders have written to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak today, urging him not to delay legislation that would establish Great British Railways (GBR) beyond the current parliament. The letter, which was also addressed to Transport Secretary Mark Harper and Rail and HS2 Minister Huw Merriman, argued that pushing the reforms into the long grass [...]
‘Unmitigated disaster’: Unions and Sadiq Khan slam transport sec Mark Harper’s rail reform plan February 8, 2023 Unions and Sadiq Khan have slammed the government’s plans to enhance the private sector’s role in railways, calling it “an unmitigated disaster.” It comes after transport secretary Mark Harper announced last night the creation of Great British Railways (GBR), saying the new public body will take “politics out of the railways.” According to Harper yesterday, [...]
Great British Railways confirmed: Body will take ‘politics out’ of sector, says Mark Harper February 7, 2023 Transport secretary Mark Harper has confirmed the creation of Great British Railways, saying the new public body will take “politics out of the railways”. “This is not Network Rail 2.0, nor a return to British Rail,” Harper told the sector as he delivered the annual George Bradshaw address earlier this evening. “Taking the politics out [...]
Rail travel: Government halving the cost of single LNER fares in a move that will ‘unleash more competition, innovation and growth’ February 7, 2023 The government is set to halve the cost of single rail fares across the wider LNER rail network, as part of its plan to reform the UK’s railways. Transport secretary Mark Harper will announce an extension of single-leg pricing beyond the few LNER services that have trialled the ticketing system since 2020. The move will [...]
From strikes to Avanti West Coast: Here the top five things to look out for in rail next year December 28, 2022 Railway has taken centre stage in the UK public discourse as the tug of war between unions and train operators over the past six months has led to unthinkable misery to millions of people and businesses. Rail minister Huw Merriman said last month the walkouts had cost the UK economy £500m, while hospitality and retail [...]
Great British Railways’ creation to take place before next election November 15, 2022 The creation of new rail body Great British Railways continues to drag on, as the legislation will now be tabled before the next general election. Just last month then-transport secretary Anne Marie Trevelyan said GBR would be postponed to the next parliamentary session as the current energy and financial crisis took over the government’s agenda. [...]
Millions of Brits to face major train disruption today despite rail strike called off November 7, 2022 Passengers are urged to check with train operators before they travel with some still expected to run a reduced timetable due to the train strike change coming at such short notice. Rail services will continue to be disrupted today, despite a series of planned strikes being called off. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport [...]
Wednesday from hell for millions of Brits as rail strike gets underway October 5, 2022 Millions of train travellers brace themselves for major chaos today due to another strike in the long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. Members of the drivers’ union Aslef and the Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) will walk out, causing huge disruption to services with millions of Brits expected to work from home. Aslef general [...]