The long-awaited Integrated Rail Plan for the North and Midlands was launched today by the Department for Transport. It has key implications for the West Coast Main Line corridor through setting out revisions to the High Speed 2 network and the approach to Northern Powerhouse Rail. The latter will have interfaces with the West Coast […]
The Government’s long-awaited Rail White Paper was published yesterday. It sets out proposals to create a new public body called Great British Railways, which will oversee a new passenger rail structure based on concessions instead of franchises. The White Paper also sets out plans for a major overhaul of the fares and ticketing system. Further
The importance of the West Coast Main Line to the UK’s transport network is recognised in the interim report of the Union Connectivity Review, which is being led by Sir Peter Hendy. The full report, which was published today, can be found at Union Connectivity Review Interim Report – March 2021 (publishing.service.gov.uk) The interim report
Avanti West Coast rolled out its final upgraded Voyager train on 17 December marking the end of a six-month overhaul programme. The £8.3m investment was completed at Bombardier’s depot in Ilford, east London, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, with customers already benefitting from the trains’ revitalised interiors. The refresh of the 20 trains
Upgrade to Avanti West Coast Voyager fleet now complete Read More »
A stunning new mural has been unveiled in Glasgow Central station to raise awareness of mental health support services across Scotland. Network Rail has joined forces with the Samaritans and Breathing Space to commission local contemporary street artist Sam Bates, aka ‘Smug’, to design and spray paint the major new work on a prominent platform
Avanti West Coast has removed Friday morning peak restrictions on long distance journeys to and from London Euston starting from today, 20 November. The trial, which will run into the New Year, means customers can take advantage of the full range of Off Peak and Advance tickets throughout the day and make a much earlier
Avanti West Coast makes Friday an “off peak” day Read More »
Network Rail has announced major upgrades on the West Coast main line and at London Euston in spring/summer 2021. Two lines into Euston station will be taken out of service for two six-week periods – 2 April to 17 May and 17 July to 31 August – to enable the new HS2 terminus to be
West Coast Main Line and Euston HS2 Engineering Works in 2021 Read More »
New arrangements for rail franchises have been announced today by the Department for Transport as the Emergency Measures Agreements, introduced to allow train services to continue running during the COVID-19 crisis, reached their expiry date. The new Emergency Recovery Measures Agreements will continue to see the revenue risk taken by the DfT, but the management
Grand Central announced on 10th September that it will not now launch its planned North West route train service between Blackpool and London after COVID-19 rendered plans ‘unfeasible’. Company executives at Grand Central and parent company Arriva said following months of exploring all options to launch the proposed expansion of services to the North West
Grand Central’s planned Blackpool to London route falls victim to COVID-19 Read More »
A multi-million-pound transformation of Tring station in Hertfordshire is now complete making it more accessible for passengers. Network Rail has completed the £5.8 million ‘Access for All’ upgrade, which included new lifts, ramps and new footbridge to provide step-free access to all five of Tring station’s platforms for the very first time. The scheme was
