UK railway news round-up

The South Eastern Railway partnership of Southeastern and Network Rail is expanding a programme to fit thermal imaging cameras from One Big Circle to the front of passenger trains. An initial project with 12 Class 707 EMUs identified 41 overheating incidents and prevented over 9 000 min of delays for customers, and is now being expanded to include 20 Class 375 trainsets. Southeastern said other UK operators have used similar technology, but it is the first to permanently install onboard cameras on this scale. Five of the Class 375s will also be fitted with cameras underneath the body to monitor how slippery the track is as well as the condition of the conductor rail and shoe.

Steer acted as technical advisor to CMA CGM in its acquisition of Freightliner UK Intermodal Logistics, providing due diligence support throughout the Phase 2 preferred bidder stage. The transaction is expected to close in early 2026 following regulatory approvals. Antonio Beltrán Arranz, Associate at Steer, said ‘Steer’s involvement in this transaction reflects its expanding presence as a trusted adviser to investors, operators and public bodies across Europe’s intermodal sectors’.

Lumo has completed a ‘refresh’ of the 1 930 seats across its five Hitachi trainsets, using a brighter and more durable seat fabric from Diamond Rail.

The Three Valleys Community Rail Partnership has been launched for the Cardiff to Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil lines, funded through Transport for Wales.

Following a trial at Benfleet, all of c2c’s station car parks have transitioned to paperless receipts, with a scannable QR code on screen or email address alternative. The operator said this will save at least 216 rolls of paper every year, eliminating the need for two bulk deliveries.

The Back Up charity has partnered with Avanti West Coast, the Bee Network and Alstom to deliver a Manchester City Skills Course helping people with spinal cord injury build confidence and independence when travelling. The five-day residential programme brought participants together to explore public transport, try new activities and share their lived experiences of accessibility with transport providers.

Network Rail is expanding the use of Tended’s geofencing technology to its Leeds and Sheffield Delivery Units, following initial implementation at Retford and Scunthorpe. Geofencing will be used where teams are working separated from open lines, helping them to maintain a safe distance from those lines, as well as supporting individuals working alone, two-person teams (COSS+1) and aiding the Site Warden in loud or complex settings.

Butterfly Data provided pro bono support to develop an AI reporting assistant for the Gloucestershire & Oxfordshire Community Rail Partnership. This digests raw community feedback and generates branded reports with visual insights. Butterfly said this frees up time for the team to focus on expert review and strategic analysis. ‘With the routine elements of reporting automated, our team’s expertise is focused where it matters most: analysing the findings, identifying themes, engaging residents and delivering new initiatives that make rail services more responsive and inclusive’, said GOCRP Executive Director Hannah McDonnell.

Capel CS has been appointed to Greater Anglia’s £174m Civils & Building Works Framework across four lots: depots & lineside assets, stations & non-lineside infrastructure, mechanical & electrical works and station painting.