Stansted Airport contactless pay-as-you-go rail fare payment delayed
UK: The previously-announced expansion of contactless pay-as-you-go payment to a further 20 Greater Anglia stations including the key destination of Stansted Airport has been delayed until ‘summer 2026’.
Much-delayed Class 810 fleet enters service on the Midland Main Line
UK: After a heavily delayed production process, the first of 33 Hitachi Rail Class 810 bi-mode trains has entered service with East Midlands Railway. Tony Miles reports from Derby.
Greater Anglia opens applications for First Step into Rail employability scheme
UK: Greater Anglia is offering a three-week First Step into Rail employability scheme designed to help young people build workplace skills and gain hands-on experience.
LNER’s ERTMS driver training app enhanced
UK: LNER and Velociti Solutions have updated their ERTMS driver-machine interface training app to provide train drivers with more realistic simulations, more accurate screen layouts and additional scenarios.
‘Eye-opener’ trip helps train operator listen to deaf passengers
UK: Govia Thameslink Railway received eye-opening feedback from deaf passengers who it took on a return trip from Cambridge to Stevenage to gain greater understanding of what needs to be done to make independent travel easier.
Campaigners call to ‘end the fiction of Gatwick Express’
UK: Independent rail campaign group Railfuture has called for changes to train services between central London and Gatwick Airport.
Scottish 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.
Interview: ‘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.
‘Next generation’ superfast wi-fi piloted on GWR train
UK: A pilot deployment of ‘next generation’ fast on-train wi-fi using technology developed for Formula 1 has been launched.
Great Western Railway gains autism inclusivity award
UK: Great Western Railway has gained the National Autistic Society’s Autism Friendly Award for businesses which become more inclusive by providing accessible customer services, information and environments.
South Western Railway deploys replacement customer support system
UK: South Western Railway has worked with Route 101 to roll out a replacement customer relationship management platform based on Zendesk Suite Enterprise and SweetHawk SuperSuite.