All UK policy articles
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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 UKSuppliers say rail improvements cannot wait for Great British Railways
UK: The Railway Industry Association has published its latest assessment of progress with rail policy since Labour came to power, identifying several areas where it is says development has been slow.
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Rail Business UKRail reform could create ‘sweeping powers to deprioritise freight’
UK: The Rail Freight Group has called on parliament to address its concerns that current proposals for rail reform could give Great British Railways or the government ‘sweeping powers to deprioritise freight’.
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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 UKGreat British Railways branding, train livery and logo unveiled
UK: The Department for Transport has unveiled the branding, train livery and logo of the future Great British Railways, which is to be established as a ‘guiding mind’ for the national network.
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Rail Business UKHeywood and Denton on the map as Manchester’s tram-train ambitions inch forward
UK: Transport for Greater Manchester is working with Stockport Council to develop a business case to bring trams from East Didsbury to Stockport.
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Rail Business UKRail industry responds to November 2025 budget
UK: The rail sector has responded to the budget statement delivered by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, which the Railway Industry Association said ’contained limited new measures affecting the railway industry and rail businesses’.
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Rail Business UKScottish government scales back electrification ambition to focus on fleet renewal
UK: The Scottish government has issued a revised rail decarbonisation plan that shifts the focus away from electrification to emphasise a reduction of rolling stock emissions.
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Rail Business UKInterview: ‘We are waking Merseyrail up’
As its 25-year agreement to run electric suburban services around Liverpool nears its end, Merseyrail has become a model for how local control of rail operations can bring tangible benefits to the community, as its Managing Director Neil Grabham explains to Nick Kingsley.
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Rail Business UKMidland Main Line electrification to the north ‘not affordable’
UK: Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander says the government’s approach to rail investment ‘will be guided by securing value for taxpayers’ by ‘only supporting projects that are fully costed and affordable’.
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Rail Business UKRail freight sector raises concerns about Great British Railways plans
UK: The rail freight sector has expressed concern that the future Great British Railways might focus on its own nationalised passenger services at the expense of freight operations, which will remain in the private sector.
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Rail Business UKRailways Bill to create Great British Railways and ‘open the door to reform’ laid before parliament
UK: Rail Business UK looks at what the government’s Railways Bill will do, how Great British Railways will be established and what the legislation means for the wider rail sector including freight operators, the supply chain and passengers.
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Rail Business UKRail sector stakeholders respond to the government’s Railways Bill
UK: Rail Business UK provides a round-up of rail industry stakeholders’ comments on the government’s Railway Bill.
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Rail Business UKTravel companies call for clear separation of Great British Railways’ ticket sales activities
UK: The Online Travel UK trade association has called for clear separation of operational and retail functions at the future Great British Railways, including legislative safeguards to ensure that third-party retailers have equal access to all ticketing products and services.
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Rail Business UKUnion warns against ‘flawed productivity measures and wage restraint’ in the rail sector
UK: The RMT trade union has written to Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander saying the government should not use ‘flawed productivity measures and wage restraint’ in the rail sector.
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Rail Business UKIntegrated rail leadership shows early promise
UK: Integrated leadership teams are being set up across publicly owned passenger train operators and Network Rail routes to increase collaboration and accountability.
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Rail Business UKNationalised Greater Anglia to be a benchmark for other train operators
UK: The operation of Greater Anglia passenger services transferred from Transport UK to the public sector on October 12.
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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 UKBee Network pipeline confirms Manchester’s tram-train and underground rail ambitions
UK: Transport for Greater Manchester has approved £6m to develop plans for significant expansion of the Metrolink network, including new tram-train services and potential underground routes in the city centre.