This week’s round-up of business news from the UK railway industry.
Pay-as-you-go smartcard payment has been extended to cover Great Western Railway and CrossCountry services in the whole of Cornwall and to Plymouth and the Devon Tamar Valley Line stations. It was first launched between Penzance and Par in 2023. Cornwall Council cabinet member for transport Dan Rogerson said ‘we want to help more residents to make the choice to use public transport in Cornwall. Extending the pay-as-you-go scheme shows that we’re continually striving to give residents access to the best value and most convenient ways to make that choice.’
On November 23 the government announced that regulated fares in England will not increase in 2026. Commenting on the decision, Alex Robertson, Chief Executive of independent watchdog Transport Focus said ‘freezing fares will be extremely welcome news for rail passengers who consistently tell us value for money is their highest priority, alongside trains running on time. It should also make it more attractive for people to use the train more often or for the first time. We’ve always recognised there is a difficult balance to strike in how the railway is funded between fares and public subsidy. That makes today’s announcement particularly welcome.’
Chase is to be Transport for London’s ‘Official Payment Partner’ under a multi-year commercial branding partnership. The Chase brand will appear on more than 5 000 contactless Oyster readers across the London Underground, London Overground, Elizabeth Line and Docklands Light Railway, with ‘a range of other branding and activation rights to be revealed in due course’.
ScotRail has confirmed the introduction of electric trains between Glasgow Central and East Kilbride from the December 14 timetable change, with four-car Class 380 EMUs to replace pairs of two-car Class 156 DMUs following the completion of 25 kV 50 Hz electrification; services currently formed of three Class 156 units will continue to operate in their existing format. Additional evening services will provide a broadly half-hour service Monday to Saturday.
The Office of Rail & Road is working with the Department for Transport on a code of practice for ticket selling following the creation of Great British Railways. This will provide an enforcement mechanism to ensure third-party retailers are able to compete once GBR takes over retailing from 14 current train operators.
The Railway Industry Association Northern Ireland has announced the inaugural All Island Rail Summit, which will take place in Belfast on February 18 2026 with attendees able to meet key industry and political stakeholders from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. ‘It’s a must-attend event for any company looking to secure work in the rapidly evolving and ambitious rail sector on the island of Ireland’, said Tristan McMichael, Chair of RIA Northern Ireland.
Network Rail has relaunched its Switched On website, developed by We Communications’ Hopscotch Consulting to provide teachers with free school curriculum-linked materials designed to teach children how to keep themselves safe in a rail setting. ‘When rail safety becomes a mandatory part of the English national curriculum next year, we are one step closer to our desire to ensure that every child is taught how to keep themselves safe when in a rail setting’, said Priti Patel, Chief Health, Safety ＆ Wellbeing Officer at Network Rail
The New River Line Community Rail Partnership has produced an Independent Business Guide to highlight shops and businesses accessible by rail along Greater Anglia’s Hertford East – Broxbourne branch. ‘Now more than ever, we need to support our local shops so we can maintain and protect our high streets’, said NRL Community Rail Officer Katie Goldthorpe. ‘Visiting the towns along the New River Line by train is a convenient, eco-friendly way to explore and support the heart of our community.’
Kelly Warburton has joined Hitachi Rail as Senior Sales Director UK. She was previously Chief Commercial Officer at the Global Centre of Rail Excellence.
Law firm Burges Salmon has been appointed to Crown Commercial Service’s legal panel for Lot 2 Major Projects & Complex Advice and Lot 5 Rail Legal Services, supporting UK central government departments, public sector bodies and related entities. It said Lot 5 recognises the ‘unique nature of rail law and its critical role in supporting national transport objectives’.
East Midlands Railway has earned the Inclusive Employers Gold Standard accreditation for a second time. ‘This accreditation reaffirms our work and shows that policies are being acted upon rather than just sitting on a shelf’, said HR Director Kate Holden.
The RMT trade union has reiterated its long-standing opposition to driver-only operation, saying it is not just about door operations. RMT said ‘there are a number of functions a second safety critical person performs onboard train services including providing passenger assurance, deterring anti-social behaviour, co-ordinating responses to incidents, emergency evacuation and dealing with fires.’ On November 19 General Secretary Eddie Dempsey said ‘a guaranteed safety critical second person onboard a train service is essential for performing a range of functions and responding appropriately to potentially dangerous incidents. It is important we establish with any employer an agreed method of dispatching the train with the necessary safety critical skills and duties incorporated within the role of the second onboard crew member.’