All UK policy articles – Page 2
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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.
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Rail Business UKMidlands Rail Hub alliance partners selected
UK: Network Rail has selected its preferred alliance partners to develop the planned Midlands Rail Hub around Birmingham.
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NewsTransport Secretary accepts recommendations of revenue protection review
UK: Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander has written to train operators saying that she has accepted in full the recommendations of the Office of Rail & Road’s review of revenue protection practices.
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Rail Business UKASLEF flushed with success after rail industry agrees to five-point plan on toilet access
UK: Five actions have been agreed to improve railway workers’ access to safe, clean, accessible and dignified toilets, with a Welfare Charter to be adopted by World Toilet Day on November 19 2025.
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Rail Business UKLocal Railways devolution model paves the way for Great British Railways
UK: A Somerset & Gloucestershire Local Railway team has been formed as the latest step in an initiative to provide single management teams for regional infrastructure and local train operations in defined areas of southwest England and Wales.
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Rail Business UKWest Midlands Trains nationalisation date confirmed
UK: West Midlands Trains is to transfer to the public sector on February 1 2026, the Department for Transport has confirmed.
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Rail Business UKRail supply chain welcomes investment clarity from Infrastructure Pipeline
UK: A total of 29 rail projects are included in the pipeline of major capital infrastructure schemes published by National Infrastructure & Service Transformation Authority.
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Rail Business UKMPs launch inquiry into UK transport manufacturing
UK: The House of Commons Transport Select Committee has launched an inquiry into how the government can support transport manufacturing in the UK.
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NewsTaskforce to study launch of direct UK – Germany trains
EUROPE: The British and German governments are to establish a joint taskforce to study the requirements for the launch of direct passenger trains services between the countries within the next 10 years.
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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.