The Global Centre of Rail Excellence and Neath Port Talbot Council have launched a skills programme to help 72 former Tata steelworkers find employment in the rail industry. The Access to Rail Engineering Programme is run from the GCRE site, where the first of six cohorts began training on July 7. The three-week training course run by Train’d Up will allow participants to gain qualifications in Personal Track Safety, Track Induction Training and a Level 1 NVQ Certificate in Rail Engineering Track Renewals. GCRE is encouraging more rail and supply chain employers to get involved, and it is keen for people made redundant from Tata Steel or a company in its supply chain to apply.
The Railway Industry Association has launched an interactive resource containing rail decarbonisation and rolling stock data. ‘The data gleaned from last year’s Delivering a lower cost, higher performing net zero railway report has allowed us to create the new RIA Traction Decarb Tool to support both members and the wider the industry’, said RIA Technical & Innovation Director Richard Carr on July 2. Senior Technical & Innovation Advisor David Clarke said ‘RIA’s upcoming Decarbonisation Delivery Challenge report will restate and reframe the economic and social benefits of a rolling programme of electrification and decarbonisation. We hope it will support the Department for Transport’s ongoing development of a rail decarbonisation and rolling stock strategy aligned to the government’s wider growth missions.’
TransPennine Express has opened a £530 000 staff facility near Glasgow Central station. This has refurbished office areas, dedicated training and meeting rooms, a mess room, quiet rooms and a breakout area with a pool table, upgraded toilets and showers. ‘The move to Caledonian Chambers is more than just a new address, it’s a bold commitment to our people and our future’, said Major Projects & TRU Director Chris Nutton on July 7. ‘By doubling our workforce capacity here, we’re ensuring we have the space, environment, and infrastructure in place to support our team in Scotland to thrive and reap benefits of our partnership with Network Rail.’
As part of the East Coast Digital Programme 16 Class 43 power cars are to be fitted with Hitachi Rail ETCS equipment. The first four belong to RailAdventure, and are used for rolling stock movements; four belong to Locomotive Services Ltd and are used for private charters; and the remaining eight are leased by Colas Rail from Porterbrook and are used for infrastructure management including Network Rail’s New Measurement Train. The work is expected to be completed by mid-2026. An initial three ‘first in class’ power cars have already been fitted and are normally part of the NMT.
Mark Anderson has joined CrossCountry as Customer & Commercial Director in a permanent move, having held the role on an interim basis since July 2024. Nick Westcott has been appointed Service Delivery Director, having been Train Service Delivery Director for the Elizabeth Line.
Independent Rail Retailers has published a prospectus setting out a vision for the future of ticket sales. IRR Chair Anthony Smith said ‘our members are not just selling tickets — they are selling rail travel, helping to grow the market and improve the passenger experience. This prospectus sets out how we can work with government and industry to build a rail retail system that’s innovative, fair and puts customers first.’
LNER, Northern and TransPennine Express are working with West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Network Rail and 10 blind people to trial a temporary West Yorkshire travel pass which can be used at automated ticket gates, unlike the standard English National Concessionary Travel Scheme pass for blind people. The aim is to enable users to access services independently without needing help from gateline staff.
The Rail Ombudsman website has been redesigned using cloud-based software platform Tizo, with the aim of offering a more accessible, intuitive and informative experience for both consumers and industry stakeholders. Accessibility testing was procured by the Office of Rail & Road to ensure it meets the latest WCAG 2.2 AA standards.
Vaping and the use of electronic cigarettes has been banned on the Tyne & Wear Metro following the introduction of a new byelaw on July 1. This brings the rules in line with the ban on smoking in place since the system opened in 1980.
Porterbrook has appointed Max Ordish as Head of Freight & Commercial Projects. He was previously Senior Commercial Delivery Manager at the leasing company.