All UK policy articles – Page 6
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Rail Business UKGovernment announces 5·9% increase in regulated fares in England
UK: The government has announced that the annual increase in regulated fares in England is to be capped at 5·9%, 6·4 percentage points lower than the Retail Price Index figure on which they have been historically based. Until the pandemic, fares had been raised in January ...
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Rail Business UKGWR fleet to shrink further as it abandons Class 769 introduction
UK: Great Western Railway is to hand back all 19 of the Class 769/9 multi-system ‘Flex’ multiple-units to leasing company Porterbrook in April 2023.
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Rail Business UKRail leaders frustrated as DfT tightens grip and cuts loom
UK: Rail Business UK has taken soundings from across the train operating companies, Network Rail and from sources close to the Department for Transport, finding a bleak outlook. Industry leaders fear having to implement stark cuts to rail provision, even if the industrial relations issues plaguing the sector can be resolved.
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Rail Business UKHydrogen has a modest role to play in decarbonising rail, committee says
UK: Hydrogen has a modest but potentially critical role to play in rail decarbonisation, and the government should set out the lessons learned from hydrogen trains abroad, according to a report from the House of Commons Science & Technology Committee.
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In depthTraction Technology: Remanufacturing diesel trains with battery power
Although UK rolling stock specialist Vivarail entered administration on December 1, the company’s Managing Director Steve McBride argues that remanufacturing of existing trains with battery traction remains a compelling choice for a quick and cost-effective transition away from diesel power.
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Rail Business UKRecognition of EU rail certifications extended
UK: The government has announced that European Union conformity assessment for interoperable rail products will continue to be recognised in Great Britain until December 31 2024, while the ending of recognition of EU certification of entities in charge of maintenance of wagons has been postponed until ...
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Rail Business UKCompetition concerns over Hitachi’s planned acquisition of Thales signalling business
UK: The Competition & Markets Authority has expressed concern that Hitachi Rail’s planned acquisition of Thales’ Ground Transportation Business could eliminate a credible competitor for the supply of signalling systems, at a time when efforts are being made to increase competition in the UK market. Hitachi ...
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Rail Business UKInterview: c2c focuses on climate and community
Sometimes misrepresented as a recently modernised operation, the c2c suburban business which runs trains between London and Essex is in need of investment. Managing Director Rob Mullen sets out his priorities to Nick Kingsley.
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Rail Business UKNo timescale for Great British Railways legislation, Transport Secretary confirms
UK: Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper says he cannot give a timescale for the legislation which will be needed to set up Great British Railways.
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Rail Business UKModernisation and efficiency improvements included in High Level Output Specification
UK: There is ‘an urgent need for continued modernisation and significant efficiency improvements to bear down on the cost of the railway’, according to the High Level Output Specification which sets out what the Secretary of State wants to be achieved from the management of rail ...
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Metro Report InternationalReplacement trams and Underground trains in Transport for London draft business plan
UK: Transport for London has published its draft business plan for the period from April 2023 until April 2026. This covers the scheduled delivery of new Siemens Mobility Piccadilly Line and CAF Docklands Light Railway trains, and completion of the Four Lines Modernisation programme on London ...
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Rail Business UKRail Partners calls for changes to prevent cuts leading to a ‘spiral of decline’
UK: The Rail Partners association of train operator owning groups has called for changes which it says are needed to prevent lower post-pandemic revenues, rising industry costs and delays to reform triggering a ‘spiral of decline’ with a ‘protracted hiatus, stunted recovery from the pandemic and ...
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Rail Business UKOpen access should replace inter-city franchising, says independent operators’ association
UK: A fully-commercial open-access model should replace government contracts for the provision of long-distance services in Great Britain, according to the Alliance of Passenger Rail New Entrants. ‘It seems that the only choice being discussed is between public service contract concessions and renationalisation’, said AllRail Secretary ...
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Rail Business UKMerriman named rail and HS2 minister
UK: Huw Merriman MP has been appointed as a minister of state at the Department for Transport responsible for the rail and High Speed 2 briefs.
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Rail Business UKRSSB reviews the deployment of hydrogen traction
UK: The Rail Safety & Standards Board has published an interim report as part of its investigation into the deployment of hydrogen fuel cells in rail applications.
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Rail Business UKMcLoughlin berates government over northern rail failures as disruption set to worsen
UK: TfN Chair Lord Patrick McLoughlin has described the ongoing rail disruption on routes within and to and from northern England as ‘unacceptable’.
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Rail Business UKMark Harper appointed Secretary of State for Transport
UK: New Prime Minister Rishi Sunak named Mark Harper as Secretary of State for Transport on October 25, succeeding Anne-Marie Trevelyan. Commenting on his appointment, Harper said ‘transport affects us all, and I can’t wait to tackle the challenges we face so we can deliver for ...
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Rail Business UKRecommendations to accelerate the Integrated Rail Plan published
UK: The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Infrastructure and the Institution of Civil Engineers have published Accelerating the Delivery of the Integrated Rail Plan, making recommendations to streamline planning including the creation of a national transport strategy for England. The report into speeding up the delivery of ...
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Rail Business UKNorthern mayors shift rail disruption blame from operators to ministers
UK: The Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region mayors have moved away from directly blaming train operators for the ongoing disruption to services in the northwest of England, instead saying the Department for Transport’s tight control of finances is preventing deals between operators and their staff. ...
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Rail Business UKRail unions declare opposition to bill which would require minimum services during strikes
UK: Due to have its first reading on October 20, the Transport Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill through which the government aims to ensure a minimum level of service is provided during industrial action has attracted criticism ranging from a free-market think tank to the Trades ...