UK rail industry news
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Rail Business UKUK rail accident investigation body issues warning over reliance on remote condition monitoring technology
UK: The Rail Accident Investigation Branch has issued urgent advice asking Network Rail to consider the risk of remote monitoring sensors on earthworks being overwhelmed during extreme weather.
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Rail Business UKDocklands Light Railway escalators delivered to site by rail
UK: Quattro Plant has transported replacement escalators to the Docklands Light Railway’s Cutty Sark station using a Doosan Ultimate 250 road-rail vehicle.
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Rail Business UKc2c launches OP1 rail intelligence platform
UK: Commuter train operator c2c has worked with CPC Project Services to deploy a digital intelligence platform which provides operational insight at times of service disruption.
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Rail Business UKDB Cargo UK targets maintenance and engineering growth
UK: DB Cargo UK has appointed Wayne Miller as Engineering Director to lead the growth of its third-party maintenance and engineering activities.
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Rail Business UKUK railway news round-up
This week’s round-up of business news from the UK railway industry.
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Rail Business UKTamper engine carbon clean trial demonstrates benefits
UK: Infrastructure contractor Balfour Beatty has completed an ‘engine carbon clean’ trial using a Plasser & Theurer compact tamper, and is now aiming to roll out the technology across its entire tamper fleet to reduce carbon emissions and improve engine performance.
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Rail Business UKSME innovators aim to improve station weather resilience and the passenger experience
UK: Eight technology companies have been selected to receive funding to develop concepts to improve the passenger experience and improve weather resilience at stations.
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Rail Business UKPersonnel protection system installed at Glasgow Subway depot
UK: A Zonegreen Depot Personnel Protection System has been installed on five tracks at the Glasgow Subway’s Broomloan maintenance facility as part of a wider upgrade undertaken by Story Contracting.
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Rail Business UKRail industry needs to create graduate opportunities, says PBH
UK: ‘As an industry, we need to create opportunities to introduce graduates to the rail industry, including specific training courses’, says Mark Bonner, Managing Director of York-based PBH Rail Group.
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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 UKWrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway tries again
UK: Wrexham, Shropshire & Midlands Railway has resubmitted a formal application to launch open access passenger train services between Wales and London Euston.
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Rail Business UK‘Five firsts’ celebrated at Tuxford as UK rail sector seeks role in hydrogen economy
UK: Network Rail and industry partners held an event at Tuxford in Nottinghamshire on December 3 marking the first use of rail to transport hydrogen on the main line network.
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Rail Business UKORR Chief Executive John Larkinson to leave in April 2026
UK: John Larkinson has announced his decision to leave the Office of Rail & Road at the end of April 2026, after two decades at the regulator and seven years as Chief Executive.
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Rail Business UKUK railway news round-up
This week’s round-up of business news from the UK railway industry.
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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 UKConsolidated guidance issued for cranes operating near railways
UK: The Construction Plant-hire Association has released consolidated guidance to provide clear and consistent requirements for all types of crane operating near live railway environments.
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Rail Business UKFreightliner orders 150 intermodal wagons to a new WH Davis design
UK: Independent wagon manufacturer WH Davis is to supply 150 intermodal wagons of a new design for Porterbrook to lease to Freightliner.
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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 UKChris Burchell appointed as RSSB Chair
UK: Chris Burchell has been appointed as Chair of the Rail Safety & Standards Board with effect from January 1 2026.
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Rail Business UKVirtual worksite marker boards approved for national use
UK: Following successful trials, geofencing technology company Tended has been granted a national deviation to the Rail Industry Rule Book to enable the use of its virtual worksite marker boards for all on-track-plant-only possessions.