This week’s round-up of business news from the UK railway industry.
The first of CrossCountry’s Voyager DEMUs to be refurbished in a £75m programme being undertaken by Beacon and Alstom re-entered passenger service on February 24. ’This programme is about extending the life of a well proven fleet while delivering a step change in comfort, accessibility and onboard experience for passengers, said Steve Harvey, Services Director UK & Ireland at Alstom.
Independent Rail Retailers has published a report calling for ‘urgent’ reform of the Delay Repay system to allow third-party retailers to submit claims on behalf of passengers, which it says would cut complexity, reduce friction and bring compensation into line with how people expect digital services to work. IRR Chair Anthony Smith said ‘Delay Repay is a key issue that passengers raise with independent retailers. When journeys go wrong, people expect compensation to be simple, fair and automatic, not a confusing obstacle course.’
Northern opened a National Rail station alongside the Tyne & Wear Metro’s Northumberland Park station on February 22. Nexus Managing Director Cathy Massarella said this ’creates a direct link straight into the Tyne & Wear Metro, opening even more opportunities for tens of thousands of people across the region’. Northern reports that more than one million journeys have been made on the Northumberland Line since it reopened in December 2024. The final station at Bedlington is to open on March 29.
South Western Railway is the second train operator to achieve Investors in People Gold accreditation in the People, Wellbeing and Apprentices categories. IIP said SWR ‘provides an environment where the amount of care provided to apprentices is exemplary. The apprenticeship team are really proactive and committed to providing the best experience for the range of apprentices. The organisation has successfully embedded a culture where apprentices feel valued, safe, and integrated from day one.’
Great Western Railway has worked with VCCP Roar and WPP Media’s Mindshare to launch a multi-channel advertising campaign designed to boost leisure travel which is inspired by myths and legends of southwest England and Wales.
As part of the government’s Access for All programme, Network Rail has started work on a project delivering step-free access to all platforms at Luton station. The main construction work is taking place from February to December. A footbridge span is to be installed in June, followed by lifts towards the end of 2026. The project is scheduled for completion in spring 2027.