UK passenger train operator news – Page 7
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Rail Business UKSoutheastern to support supply chain in driving environmental and social change
UK: Train operator Southeastern has partnered with consultancy Action Sustainability to help small and medium-sized enterprises in its supply chain drive positive environmental and social change. The initiative aims to overcome barriers such as limited resources, knowledge gaps or uncertainty about where to begin. There will ...
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Rail Business UKFirstGroup orders more Hitachi trains to underpin open access growth ambitions
UK: FirstGroup is to expand its open access fleet with an order for 14 Class 80X trainsets from Hitachi Rail.
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Rail Business UKRail industry responds to confirmation that SWR, c2c and Greater Anglia will transfer to the public sector in 2025
UK: The government has confirmed the timescales for the first three train operators to transfer to the public sector following royal assent to the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act 2024 which provides the legal framework. On December 4 the Department for Transport confirmed that South ...
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Rail Business UKTri-mode trains launch South Wales Metro electric services
UK: Transport for Wales put its Stadler Class 756 tri-mode multiple-units into passenger service on November 18, launching electric operation as part of the South Wales Metro programme to upgrade lines around Cardiff. The Class 756s use 25 kV 50 Hz overhead where available and diesel ...
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Rail Business UKNext London Overground operator sought
UK: Transport for London has invited requests to participate in the procurement of the next London Overground operating concessionaire. The TfL-managed inner-suburban services running on the main line rail network are currently operated by Arriva Rail London under a contract running to May 3 2026. ...
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Rail Business UKGrand Central applies to extend track access rights to 2038
UK: Open access operator Grand Central has formerly applied to industry regulator the Office for Rail & Road to extend its current track access rights which run to 2027 until 2038 to ensure its long-term future. The Arriva-owned company said this could unlock the conditions for ...
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Rail Business UKLondon Overground line branding roll-out begins
UK: Transport for London began rolling out new line names and colours on the London Overground network on November 20. This will replace the previous system where the various routes on the complex inner-suburban rail network were not distinguished with individual branding. The names and colours ...
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News‘Turning point’ reached for potential new Channel Tunnel train operators
EUROPE: The rail industry has finally reached a ‘turning point’ which will facilitate the launch of new international passenger train operators competing with Eurostar on routes to the UK.
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Rail Business UK3D digital maps designed to help people navigate stations
UK: Govia Thameslink Railway is testing digital 3D maps designed to help passengers, and particularly those who are disabled, gain more confidence in navigating its stations. GTR had received feedback that the existing bird’s-eye view maps of its stations could be improved, as they were not ...
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Rail Business UKRail industry shares cybersecurity best practice
UK: ‘Don’t plan for if, plan for when’ a cyber threat will emerge, Rail Safety & Standards Board Chief Executive Mark Philips told more than 100 delegates at a conference to discuss cyber-resilience in the rail industry, The event was organised by Northern with support from ...
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Rail Business UKAvanti West Coast increases Liverpool – London services with launch of electric Evero trains
UK: Avanti West Coast officially launched the Class 807 electric only-version of its Hitachi-built Evero trainsets into service on November 11. This enables the operator to offer an additional weekday return service between Liverpool Lime Street and London Euston. The Class 807’s formal launch follows a ...
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Rail Business UKRemote condition monitoring boosts Northern DMU reliability
UK: A programme to fit engine remote condition monitoring to Northern’s Class 170 Turbostar diesel multiple-unit fleet has been completed. Leasing company Porterbrook says its data showed that moving just one task to condition-based maintenance can save up to 1 500 labour-hours per year. The monitoring ...
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Rail Business UKTrial suggests batteries could reduce inter-city train fuel costs by up to 50%
UK: Trials with an inter-city electro-diesel trainset retrofitted with a traction battery in place of one of its engines achieved fuel cost savings of 35% to 50%, surpassing predictions of up to 30%, while meeting performance requirements and supporting zero-emission operation around stations. The non-passenger carrying ...
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Rail Business UKTalerddig collision DMU had blocked sanding hoses, says RAIB
UK: The sanding hoses on the leading vehicle of the Transport for Wales Class 158 diesel multiple-unit which passed through the passing loop at Talerddig and collided with an oncoming train were blocked and unable to discharge sand, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch has said. In ...
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Rail Business UKEarlier boarding trial aims to improve London Euston passenger experience
UK: Earlier boarding of Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway services from London Euston station is being trialled. This is part of an effort to improve the passenger experience by reducing the rush from the concourse which can occur when the departure platform is announced ...
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Rail Business UKNeurodiverse thinkers cut train operator’s fuel bills
UK: Northern has worked with data scientists to calculate the most fuel efficient way of driving its diesel multiple-units while keeping to time. The tool combines the specific topography of Northern’s routes with real consumption data for different train types. Testing between Middlesbrough and Whitby identified ...
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Rail Business UKBlind passengers offered accessibility app access at all GTR stations
UK: Govia Thameslink Railway now offers free use of a smartphone app designed to enhance accessibility for blind and partially sighted passengers at all 236 of its managed stations. The Aira Explorer app allows users to place a video call with a trained adviser who looks ...
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Rail Business UKViewpoint: Do not rush UK rail reform
Given the scale of the task, the government should resist the temptation to push through hasty reform of the UK rail sector, argues Dominic Booth, Chief Executive of Transport UK Group.
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Rail Business UKScotRail and Network Rail sign strengthened Alliance Agreement
UK: Scottish government-owned passenger train operator ScotRail and infrastructure manager Network Rail have signed a ‘strengthened’ Alliance Agreement, updating the partnership signed by former franchisee Abellio ScotRail in 2015. The purpose of the Alliance is ‘to integrate track and train in order to deliver the best ...
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Rail Business UKBelfast Grand Central station opens for rail services
UK: Rail services have begun using Belfast’s Grand Central station, an integrated transport hub built to replace the previous Great Victoria Street rail and Europa bus stations. Northern Ireland’s Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd said it is the largest transport facility on the island of Ireland, with ...