England railway business news
News about railway operations, infrastructure, suppliers and policy in England, from Rail Business UK.
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Rail Business UKWest Midlands Trains transfer to public ownership ‘an exciting opportunity’ as DfT cools on mayoral control of rail services
UK: West Midlands Trains is the latest operator to transfer from the private to the public sector, moving from Transport UK ownership to DfT Operator Ltd at 02.00 on February 1.
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Rail Business UKRail suppliers welcome report into the rolling stock manufacturing sector’s future skills needs
UK: The railway supply industry has welcomed a House of Commons Transport Committee report into the skills needs of the train, motor vehicle, bus, aircraft and ship manufacturing sectors in England.
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Rail Business UKInfrastructure: Creating a 'living replica' of the Severn Tunnel
Network Rail and Bentley Systems have worked together to create a digital twin of the 7 km Severn Tunnel, filling in a gap in the infrastructure manager’s asset data on its Great Western Main Line.
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Rail Business UKRail sector welcomes Northern Powerhouse Rail ambition but calls for more clarity
UK: Stakeholders from across the rail sector have welcomed the government’s committment to developing the Northern Powerhouse Rail programme and prposals for a new line between Birmingham and Manchester, but have called for more details on scope, governance and timescales as well as decisive action to begin delivery.
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Rail Business UKThree-phase Northern Powerhouse Rail strategy and Manchester – Birmingham studies announced
UK: The government has set out a £45bn ambition for the long-discussed Northern Powerhouse Rail programme to ‘drastically improve’ how people travel across the north of England, as well as plans to study a new Manchester – Birmingham line.
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Rail Business UKWrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway tries again
UK: Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway has resubmitted a formal application to launch open access passenger train services between Wales and London Euston.
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Rail Business UKFirstGroup wins next London Overground operating contract
UK: Transport for London has selected FirstGroup for the next concession to operate London Overground inner-suburban passenger services.
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Rail Business UKLeamside Line reopening studies commissioned
UK: Infrastructure consultancy Aecom has been appointed to undertake studies for the proposed reopening of the Leamside Line, including identifying opportunities to increase jobs and housing along the corridor.
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Rail Business UKCouncil seeks best commercial and procurement approach for developing Rugby Parkway station
UK: Warwickshire County Council is seeking to understand market appetite for financing a portfolio of new stations, starting with the proposed Rugby Parkway.
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Rail Business UKEast West Rail sets out updated plans for Oxford to Cambridge rail corridor
UK: Project promoter East West Railway Co has announced updated proposals for the Oxford to Cambridge railway corridor following public consultation and detailed technical design work.
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Rail Business UKBeaulieu Park station opens to support Chelmsford housing development
UK: The £175m Beaulieu Park station on the Great Eastern Main Line has opened to support the Chelmsford Garden Community development of more than 10 000 new homes.
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Rail Business UKOxford Cowley branch passenger train service funding announced
UK: The government has announced funding to introduce passenger train services on the currently freight-only branch serving BMW’s Cowley car factory in Oxford.
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Rail Business UKRichmond’s 1937 Art Deco station restored
UK: A major refurbishment of the 1937 Art Deco station at Richmond in southwest London has been completed, reversing later alterations and addressing weathering which had degraded the building’s distinctive appearance.
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Rail Business UKElectrification and five new stations in Oxfordshire’s 15-year rail strategy
UK: Oxfordshire County Council is seeking feedback from residents, businesses and visitors to support the development of its OxRail 2040 strategy.
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Rail Business UKSLC to develop outline business case for Penistone Line enhancements
UK: Kirklees Council has appointed rail consultancy SLC to develop an outline business case for enhancements to ‘transform’ the Penistone Line between Huddersfield and Sheffield.
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Rail Business UKHuddersfield station to close for 30-day Transpennine Route Upgrade blockade
UK: A 30-day blockade of the line between Stalybridge and Heaton Lodge Junction to the east of Huddersfield will begin on August 30 as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade programme.
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Rail Business UKElectrification pause shows a lack of whole system thinking, rail industry groups say
UK: Rail industry groups have expressed disappointment at the decision to pause the Midland Main Line electrification programme.
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Rail Business UKBritannic Explorer to be hauled by GB Railfreight Class 99s
UK: Luxury travel brand Belmond is to launch its Britannic Explorer sleeper cruise train shortly, offering three-day itineraries from London to Wales, Cornwall and the Lake District.
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Rail Business UKGovernment backs Midlands Rail Hub
UK: The government is to provide capital funding for the Midlands Rail Hub programme, which the Department for Transport said would be the region’s ‘biggest and most ambitious rail improvement scheme to date’.
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Rail Business UKRail industry responds to spending review
UK: The rail industry responds to the government’s 2025 Spending Review on June 11, setting departmental budgets for day‑to‑day spending until 2028‑29 and capital investment until 2029‑30.