This week’s round-up of business news from the UK railway industry.
The Secretary of State has issued an expiry notice confirming that Chiltern Railways will transfer from Arriva to DfT Operator Ltd on September 20 2026. The transfer of all passenger services operated under contracts with DfT is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
From April 1 unused tickets will only be eligible for a refund up to 23.59 on the day they become valid for travel. DfT said this would prevent fraud where people ask for their money back even though they have used a service, and would save ‘around £40m annually’.
The Scottish government has announced that companions of visually impaired people with an Eye Plus One National Entitlement Card will be able to travel free on ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper services in Scotland from April 1. This follows a year-long pilot. ‘This change will support around 8 000 visually impaired National Entitlement Cardholders who rely on ScotRail and Caledonian Sleeper services’, said Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop. ‘The pilot has clearly shown the profound impact that affordable, accessible rail travel can have for blind and partially sighted people.’
Corrosion protection specialist Steelpaint has secured a further Network Rail approval from by independent specialist Socotec, extending the use of its Stelcatec moisture-cure polyurethane coating system from maintenance and refurbishment work to new build projects such as bridges, stations and platforms. ‘This second approval is a major step forward for us in the UK rail market’, said director Frank Müller. ‘Stelcatec was limited to repair and maintenance applications. With the newbuild certification in place, it can now be specified from the outset on new rail structures, simplifying corrosion protection strategies and reducing long-term maintenance burdens.’
Alan Quince has joined PBH Rail as joint director of its Systems Engineering division. He joins after 30 years at Network Rail, and managing his own company Aqres for three years. ‘His expertise in digital signalling, safety assurance, and railway systems integration will complement our existing expertise, and will be invaluable in supporting the growth and development of our engineers’, said PBH Rail Technical Director Wayne Feery. PBH Rail Group now employs 98 staff across its Permanent Way, Systems Engineering, OLE, Survey and Civils divisions.
Land Sheriffs has been awarded a renewed contract to provided Network Rail with 24 h mobile patrols to monitor stations and respond to incidents in the Thames Valley. This includes additional trespass and welfare services, after an increase in incidents prompted a trial of dedicated trespass and welfare officers during the previous contract.
East West Rail project promoter EWR Co has signed up to the Construction Leadership Council’s Five Client Carbon Commitments, intended as simple, practical steps that organisations can take to show how they are reducing their carbon emissions and by when. ‘We are sending a strong signal to our partners and the wider industry that low carbon delivery is not optional — it is integral to how we build, invest, and innovate from this point forward’, said Tristan Lincoln-Gordon, Head of Environment at EWR Co.