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The role of open access

Britain’s rail network is full. Well that’s what we’re often told. The justification for major rail projects, like HS2, is that it will free...

Virgin East Coast – The song remains the same

With its customary razzamatazz, the Virgin/Stagecoach operation took over East Coast on 1 March. An Intercity 225 in full Virgin East Coast livery arrived...

Wake up call for Auld Alliance

The Auld Alliance looks set to ride again with the appointment of top French chef, Albert Roux, to spearhead Scots cuisine on the new Caledonian...

Scotland’s new railway

Amongst many other improvements, the next ScotRail franchise is to have faster more comfortable trains connecting its seven cities with scenic trains on tourist...

Longer trains for West Coast

More trains and direct services between Birmingham Airport and Glasgow will expand Anglo-Scottish services from december 2013. A comprehensive timetable overhaul will provide an extra...

McLoughlin restarts franchise programme

The DfT is to push ahead with a new franchising programme after digesting Richard Brown’s review – conducted in the wake of the West...

Leadership needed

Drive and leadership at the most senior level will be needed to strengthen the DfT and deliver the next round of passenger railway franchising. In...

Derby debut

The first vehicle of Southern’s 26 five-car class 377/6s has been completed at Bombardier’s Derby works. Static testing of the first train commences in February....

What do they do? The Rail Delivery Group

Set up in the wake of the McNulty report, the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) was tasked with analysing the 77-page document and working out...

Laidlaw blames inadequate planning

Virgin Trains will continue to run West Coast rail services for the next 9 to 13 months, following a decision by transport secretary, Patrick...

Green Light for new Oxford – Marylebone Route

A new rail route between Oxford and London Marylebone via Bicester has finally been given the go ahead. The Secretary of State for Transport under...

High noon at Marsham Street

Few will have observed Richard Brown slipping through a grey and windy Whitehall to begin his enquiry into the shortcomings of franchise re-letting. No triumphant...

War in the West

Most rail chiefs will tell you the most important people in a railway company are the staff. A company like Virgin Trains or First...

Southern switch for Gatwick

The day-to-day management of Gatwick Airport station has transferred from Network Rail to Southern. Says Southern Director, David Scorey, ‘We already manage 156 stations and...

West Coast contest begins

The DfT has announced four shortlisted bidders to run the West Coast Main Line from December 2012. Abellio, FirstGroup, Keolis/ SNCF and Virgin go head...