All UK policy articles
-
Rail Business UK
Cancellation of HS2 Phase 2 may force demand management on trains north of Birmingham, NAO says
UK: The cancellation of Phase 2 of High Speed 2 means the programme will now not address the capacity issues on the West Coast Main Line north of Birmingham, according to the National Audit Office. The NAO warns that improving existing infrastructure may be expensive and ...
-
Rail Business UK
Government introduces bill to take passenger train operations into the public sector
UK: The legislation envisages that the direct award of a contract to a public sector operator would become the default, rather than a last resort.
-
Rail Business UK
Nationalisation, Great British Railways and devolution plans included in King’s Speech
UK: A package of rail reforms including taking the remaining private train operators into state ownership was unveiled at the state opening of parliament on July 17.
-
Rail Business UK
Burnham bullish on Liverpool – Manchester fast line prospects
UK: Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham remains confident that funding remains available for the development of a new Liverpool – Manchester railway serving Manchester Airport and a new underground station in Manchester following the recent change of government. ‘As far as I know there’s no ...
-
Rail Business UK
Rail and tram-train in Manchester’s Bee Network expansion plans
UK: Local rail services around Manchester are to be brought into the region’s expanding Bee Network by 2028 as part of a public transport development strategy unveiled by Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham on July 10.
-
Rail Business UK
Rail sector responds to Labour general election win
UK: Organisations from across the rail sector have responded to the outcome of the July 4 general election, which saw a landslide victory for the opposition Labour over the previous Conservative government.
-
Rail Business UK
Rail industry leaders urge next government to resolve Sunday working conundrum
UK: Delivering a ‘seven day railway’ must be a priority for the next government, industry leaders have told Rail Business UK following a surge in Sunday cancellations caused by crew shortages.
-
Rail Business UK
Railway Industry Association welcomes rail’s presence in election manifestos
UK: ‘It is good to see rail featuring strongly within the political party election manifesto plans this week’, commented Railway Industry Association Chief Executive Darren Caplan on June 14 after the main political parties had published their policy documents. ‘This prominence reflects the importance of UK ...
-
Rail Business UK
‘Delivered by Rail Freight’ campaign highlights how everyone benefits
UK: The Rail Freight Group has launched a ‘Delivered by Rail Freight’ campaign emphasising the sector’s critical role in transporting essential goods. RFG is calling on the next government to make a number of targeted interventions, explaining that funding the electrification of 100 km of connecting ...
-
Rail Business UK
RMT backs Labour win but says ‘no blank cheques’
UK: The National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers has given qualified backing to Labour ahead of the general election on July 4. RMT issued a statement on June 5 saying the Labour party supports ‘public ownership and reintegration of large parts of the railway’, ...
-
Rail Business UK
Ticket reform and an international rail strategy in Campaign for Better Transport wish list
UK: The Campaign for Better Transport charity has published a general election manifesto setting out its transport asks for the next government. For the rail sector, it says the next government should: reform ticketing, freeze fares while fuel duty remains frozen, base annual increases on ...
-
Rail Business UK
Five recommendations to unleash the potential of rail
UK: Industry association Rail Forum has published an ‘Unleashing the potential of rail: an enabler of economic prosperity’ policy document, outlining five policies for the next government which says would offer significant benefits for customers, taxpayers and the supply chain. Rail Forum wants to see: ...
-
Rail Business UK
Railway Industry Association calls for a ‘fresh start’ after the election
UK: Ahead of the July 4 general election the Railway Industry Association has published a manifesto setting out its five main asks for the next parliament and calling for a fresh start for rail. RIA calls on the next government to: publish a long-term rail ...
-
Rail Business UK
Liverpool – Manchester Railway Board created to push for construction of new line
UK: A Liverpool – Manchester Railway Board has been launched by the two cities’ metro mayors and other stakeholders to lead the development of proposals for a high speed line between the conurbations. The government has said that up to £17bn is to be made available for the new line ...
-
Rail Business UK
Haigh confirms open access operators’ role in Labour’s rail plans
UK: ‘Open access operators like these will play a role in the future of our railways under Labour’, Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said when she officially opened Hull Trains’ Learning & Development Academy.
-
Rail Business UK
HS2 Phase 2b formally scrapped in favour of Liverpool – Manchester railway
UK: A vote in parliament on the evening of May 21 brought a formal end to work on the Crewe to Manchester leg of HS2.
-
Rail Business UK
Government is not putting passengers and taxpayers first, says Public Accounts Committee
UK: The government has made little progress in implementing its plans for rail which are now largely on hold until the next parliament, the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee says in its report into rail reform which was published on May 27. In particular, PAC ...
-
Rail Business UK
Wales ready for rail reform
UK: Speaking to the UK parliamentary Transport Select Committee on May 21, the Welsh Cabinet Secretary for North Wales & Transport, Ken Skates, set out his three requests from the Westminster government as part of the emerging reform programme to establish Great British Railways. Skates called ...
-
Rail Business UK
Interview: ‘Welsh rail services are improving rapidly’
UK: Transport for Wales Rail’s Chief Operating Officer Jan Chaudhry-van der Velde is optimistic about progress being made in transforming passenger services across the country, despite the financial and operational headwinds facing the Welsh transport sector.
-
Rail Business UK
Ticket retailer calls for access to all train fares
UK: A ‘Charter for Change’ calling for third-party retailers to be given full access to all ticketing products has been launched by Virgin Trains Ticketing. This calls for: all tickets, fares and discounts to be made available for sale through all channels, enabling third party ...