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Train Operating Companies

In case you missed it – Part-time solution

Passengers boarding a Heathrow Express train this New Year will have had a better chance than most of seeing a female driver behind the...

Virgin Trains launches industry’s first train driver apprenticeship

More than 1,200 hopefuls applied to join the industry’s first train driver apprenticeship scheme launched by Virgin Trains. A cohort of 30 high-calibre candidates were...

Peak-time railcard for 16-18 year-olds to be trialled

A new peak-time railcard for 16-18 year-old passengers has been announced. The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) said the digital app-based card will be trialled in...

Strategic shake-up

Splitting up the Great Western franchise and creating a new West of England operator is one of several ideas put forward in the Government’s...

DfT announces plans to split two franchises

The Great Western and Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchises could be split under new government plans. Rail minister Paul Maynard said the scheme would...

Ex-Abellio executive to become West Midlands Trains’ MD

Incoming train operating company West Midlands Trains (WMT) has appointed a new managing director. On December 10, WMT will take over the West Midlands franchise...

On board a Greater Anglia Aventra

Greater Anglia's new Aventra is a train built with capacity in mind. Bombardier is manufacturing four variations of the electric multiple unit (EMU) platform...

Wales and Borders: When a franchise isn’t a franchise

The new Wales and Borders franchise competition has deviated sharply from the process that awarded the previous contract to Arriva Trains Wales 14 years...

Smart ticketing across rail network by end of 2018

Transport secretary Chris Grayling has said that passengers will be able to use smart ticketing across "almost all" of the network in England and...

Guards to be retained in new Wales and Borders franchise

The Welsh Government has agreed to have a 'safety critical conductor (guard)' on all services operated through the new Wales and Borders franchise to avoid...

DB Cargo launches trial service for world’s largest steelmaker

DB Cargo UK has launched a trial service with steel giant ArcelorMittal. On September 29, the freight operator moved 1,300 tonnes of steel coil by...

Irish Rail sets out stall

Iarnród Éireann (IÉ) recently responded to the Irish Government’s ‘National Planning Framework’ (NPF) consultation in relation to the future national transport needs of the...

Greater Anglia releases new images of Stadler trains

Images of what some of Greater Anglia's (GA) new fleet of trains could look like have been revealed. The operator has released a number of...

Blowing off steam with RailSport football

Three-time RailSport football winner Chris Henry explains why he’s returning to defend LOROL’s title in 2017. One word sticks in the mind of London Overground...

Greater Anglia reveals mock-up of new Stadler Flirt

Greater Anglia has unveiled a mock-up of one of its new Stadler Flirt trains at its Norwich depot. In total the train operating company (TOC) is...

Military personnel eased into civilian life through new East Midlands Trains job scheme

A lance corporal, lance sergeant and warrant officer make up the first cohort in East Midlands Train's 'Train into Work' programme. The trio will work with the TOC's customer...

Virgin at 20

Andy Milne looks back at 20 years of Virgin's involvement with the rail industry Well, my dear, how does it feel to be a Virgin...

Digital learning curve

Skills forecasting is a tricky business. With advanced programmes like Digital Railway, it is not easy to know exactly how technology will evolve in...