The Department for Transport’s programme of renationalisation is continuing, with the next former franchise, Govia Thameslink Railway, set to be taken over by DfT Operator on 31 May. Kaynak

There is no reopening date for the main line platforms at Glasgow Central yet, after a building next door was gutted by fire on Sunday. The remains of the building are unsafe and Glasgow City Council is arranging demolition. Kaynak

Five restored railway stations are due to open in the West Midlands over the next three or four weeks, so long as safety inspectors from the Office of Rail and Road give them the green light. West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker said that stations were set to open at Darlaston

The main platforms at Glasgow Central are set to stay closed until next week at the earliest, following the major fire in a building next to the station on Sunday. Network Rail is concerned about an unstable wall adjoining the station, and said assessments need to be carried out before

London Underground train operators who belong to the RMT are set to stage three pairs of walkouts in March, April and May in a dispute over four-day working, which would mean fewer but longer shifts. It is reported that ASLEF is not objecting to the idea, but the RMT says

Glasgow Central station is closed again today, after a devastating fire destroyed a building alongside on Sunday night. The high level platforms are still sealed off, while although trains are running through the low level station they are not stopping. Kaynak

Hundreds of trains have been cancelled after a fire broke out in a shop next to Glasgow Central station yesterday afternoon. The high level station is closed, while although trains are continuing to run through the low level platforms they are not stopping, with passengers advised to use Argyle Street

The RMT is demanding stronger legal protection for transport workers, as violent incidents continue to rise. The union has called on the Government to introduce a specific criminal offence for assaulting public transport workers ahead of a House of Lords debate. Kaynak

London Underground services may be disrupted later this month, after RMT drivers voted in favour of a strike in protest at Transport for London proposals to introduce a four day working week, although TfL said the shorter week would be optional. Kaynak

Former Railtrack chief executive Gerald Corbett has warned that the government’s plans for Great British Railways will leave the industry’s ‘directing mind’ at risk of interference by ministers. Mr Corbett was speaking as he launched his new book ‘When something happens ? Inside Railtrack: a CEO shares his story for

The Go-op Co-operative, which secured regulatory approval a year ago to run the first rail service owned by passengers, has warned that the benefits to several West Country towns are in jeopardy because of ‘a hostile investment environment’ which is partly caused by wider railway reforms, including the creation of

The government will announce today that some 15 million pounds from private sources is to be invested in the Barking Eurohub, so that regular freight trains can start running through the Channel Tunnel again. Network Rail and its new property development company Platform4 will take long-term control of the Barking

The delayed station at Northumberland Park on the Newcastle-Ashington line opened yesterday, and Northern said the first train had arrived at 08.10. The new station is about ten minutes’ travel time from Newcastle and is also an interchange with Tyne & Wear Metro services. Kaynak

Trains are running between Exeter and Barnstaple for the first time this month, after Network Rail repaired the damage caused by heavy rain which washed away ballast and put some structures at risk. But Network Rail warned that it would be continuing to monitor the situation, because more rain is

Trains are running between Exeter and Barnstaple for the first time this month, after Network Rail repaired the damage caused by heavy rain which washed away ballast and put some structures at risk. But Network Rail warned that it would be continuing to monitor the situation, because more rain is

A Great Western Railway Intercity Express has made a surprise appearance on East West Rail, as there continues to be no firm opening date for the restored line between Bicester and Bletchley, which was completed well over a year ago. People in Winslow have been protesting at the continuing lack

The Prime Minister is supporting proposals to invest almost 500 million pounds in Welsh train services, which include seven new stations. The Welsh Government has already committed 1.1 billion pounds to upgrade and electrify the Core Valley Lines and another 800 million pounds for new trains. Six of the new

The Borders Railway will be closed over three weekends next month, so that parts of the line can be electrified. The scheme was announced in September last year by transport secretary Fiona Hyslop as part of an investment of 342 million pounds in electrification and electric trains for Glasgow, Fife

Trains are running again between Horsham and Dorking (Main) this morning, after more than two weeks of disruption caused by a landslip. The route was closed on 27 January after the slip at Ockley had left two lines hanging in the air. The soil had given way along a nine-metre

Fares on ScotRail will be frozen for 12 months, following a similar freeze south of the border. First Minister John Swinney said it was part of his government’s ‘resolute focus on the cost of living’. Peak fares have already been abolished on ScotRail routes. The freeze has been welcomed by

A new law banning people who behave unacceptably on the railway could be introduced in Scotland. A court can already order anti-social offenders not to travel by train or enter stations, but a new report says a ‘Railway Banning Order’ could be created by passing a new law, while the

Councillors on the Planning Committee of the City of London have voted in favour of granting planning permission for the redevelopment of Liverpool Street station. The plans, which have proved controversial, include an office block as well as a larger concourse, step-free access to all main line and Underground platforms,

A mid-life refurbishment of a Bombardier-built Voyager has been unveiled at Litchurch Lane in Derby. The Voyagers were built in Belgium at the end of the last century for service with Virgin Trains, which ordered them in tilting and non-tilting versions for its West Coast and CrossCountry franchises. The first

The Commons Transport Committee has called for assurances in the Railways Bill that there will no micromanagement of Great British Railways by the government, and that there will be no ‘potential tension’ between GBR and ministers. Two new reports have identified gaps in the Bill’s provisions and also consider the

My preference is for a railway system which is efficient, consistent and even beautiful, bearing in mind that form follows function. A personal view by Railnews editor Sim Harris. Kaynak

The Railway 200 exhibition train ‘Inspiration’ is going west this spring, because some of the latest dates announced for visits include stations in Devon and Cornwall for the first time since Inspiration’s nationwide tour began last summer at the Severn Valley Railway. Since then it has visited stations and heritage

Train services through south London are disrupted this morning after yesterday’s derailment of a Southern train outside Selhurst depot. The incident was made worse by a failure affecting track circuits between Norwood Junction and London Bridge. Kaynak

National Rail has warned of major delays in south London, after 'a number of incidents' which are disrupting Thameslink, Gatwick Express and Southern services. A train has been derailed, and passengers are being urged not to travel on the affected routes. Kaynak

National Rail has warned of major delays in south London, after 'a number of incidents' which are disrupting Thameslink, Gatwick Express and Southern services. A train has been derailed, and passengers were being urged not to travel on the affected routes. Although that warning has now been lifted, disruption is

Three branch lines in south west England will stay closed until further notice, Network Rail has warned, because floodwater has put structures at risk. Trains have not run between Exeter and Okehampton or Barnstaple since the most recent storms, while the Looe Valley Line has not seen trains since the

The contractor which has been running Transport for London’s Oyster and other contactless payment systems has been replaced, less than two years since a major cyber attack in September 2024 in which the names and contact details of up to 5000 TfL customers were reported to have been compromised. Kaynak

Passengers in south west England are facing more disruption today, because the lines between Exeter, Okehampton and Barnstaple are still closed after the recent storms, although rail replacement services are now running. Trains have returned to the Newquay line in Cornwall after flooding near Luxulyan, but there is still no

The West Midlands Trains National Rail Contract held by Transport UK Group will come to an end at 02.00 on Sunday morning, when the individual brands of West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern will be taken over by the state. The change will be the latest in a series of

Train services in Devon and Cornwall are set to be disrupted by floods into next week, Great Western Railway has warned, as forecasters predict more rain to come. Network Rail said engineers have inspected the Barnstaple and Okehampton lines and found sections where the ballast has been washed away. Specialist

An overhead line fault near Salford Quays in Manchester is expected to disrupt Metrolink services on the Eccles line until further notice while repairs are carried out. TfGM said there is no service between Eccles and Pomona. Kaynak

An overhead line fault near Salford Quays in Manchester disrupted Metrolink services on the Eccles line during the morning of 30 January while repairs were carried out. Kaynak

A branch in West London will become the first GWR route to be served by a battery train on 31 January. Saturday services on the West Ealing to Greenford line will be provided from now on by the specially converted Class 230 unit, which was originally part of a D78

Transport for London has unveiled an ambition to take over the Great Northern inner suburban services between Moorgate, Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage, by including them in the Overground network. The proposal has been outlined the draft of TfL’s latest Business Plan, covering the next five years, which will be

Euston station in London is back on the high speed agenda, after the first of two tunnel boring machines began its subterranean journey from Old Oak Common to the Euston Road. This section has been mired in a controversy which was even greater than over the rest of the project,

Train services in south west England are not expected to return to normal before the weekend, National Rail has warned. Storms Ingrid and Chandra, which GWR described as ‘back to back’, have caused severe flooding in parts of Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, while after heavy seas had damaged a sea

Train services in parts of Wales as well as in southern and south west England are being delayed or cancelled as a result of Storm Chandra. There are also warnings of snow later today on higher ground in northern England and Scotland. Kaynak

Northern has revealed that it is planning to buy up to 450 trains, but it has not confirmed how they will paid for. The acquisition is set to be managed in three phases, the first of which will include about 130 trains. Northern invited final tenders from manufacturers in November,

An agreement signed by central government ministers and the Mayor of Greater Manchester has paved the way for a new railway between Manchester and Liverpool as part of Northern Powerhouse Rail. But there have been protests about the lack of any plan to electrify the line to Hull. Kaynak

The Office of Rail and Road has blamed the unpopular cancellation of an early morning train from Manchester to London, which was hastily reinstated, on a lack of information and pressure of work. A controversy blew up when it was revealed that the 07.00 Avanti West Coast service from Manchester

Two train operators in the north of England are continuing to see their passenger figures recover in the wake of the Covid lockdowns, which began almost six years ago. Kaynak

The RMT is stepping up its campaign opposing outsourcing, after Transport for London awarded a five-year cleaning contract to Mitie earlier this month. The contract covers the cleaning of trains and Underground stations, bus stations, TfL offices and the London Transport Museum, and the union is planning to stage a

At least 41 people are now known to have died in Sunday night’s collision between two Spanish high speed trains, and investigators are focusing on the possibility that a fault in a rail joint could have been to blame. Rescuers have been continuing to search the wreckage for more casualties. Kaynak

At least 39 people are known to have died in Sunday night’s collision between two Spanish high speed trains, and investigators are focusing on the possibility that a fault in a rail joint could have been to blame. Rescuers have been continuing to search the wreckage for more casualties. Kaynak

The RMT has described a Spanish high speed train collision in which at least 39 people have been killed as ‘deeply shocking’. Kaynak

Up to 2,000 jobs are reported to be at risk at Network Rail because of financial pressures, reducing the total workforce by almost 5 per cent. Staff in junior managerial grades are said to be the most likely to be affected. Network Rail has yet to confirm any reductions, but

A Hertfordshire man has been warned that he is facing a prison sentence after pleading guilty to 112 charges of travelling without a ticket on Govia Thameslink Railway. Kaynak

New cameras are being installed by South Eastern Railway to monitor areas which are at risk of flooding. It is hoped they will reduce disruption by sending early warning of rising water levels or drainage problems. Five trial locations with a history of flooding have been chosen. One of them

The government’s 45 billion-pound plan to upgrade railways in the north, which includes a new line between Liverpool and Manchester, more electrification and a potential line between Birmingham and Manchester at least partly on the alignment of abandoned HS2 has been welcomed by civic leaders, but some observers are doubtful. Kaynak

The government’s 45 billion-pound plan to upgrade railways in the north, which includes a new line between Liverpool and Manchester, more electrification and a potential line between Birmingham and Manchester at least partly on the alignment of abandoned HS2 has been welcomed by civic leaders, but some observers are doubtful. Kaynak

The government’s 45 billion-pound plan to upgrade railways in the north, which includes a new line between Liverpool and Manchester, more electrification and a potential line between Birmingham and Manchester at least partly on the alignment of abandoned HS2 has been welcomed by civic leaders, but some observers are doubtful. Kaynak

The government has announced plans for a new railway between Manchester and Liverpool. The government said its plans will boost economic potential and living standards in the north, with more reliable and more frequent trains serving major cities, adding up to 40 billion pounds a year to the economy. Kaynak

The government has announced plans for a new railway between Manchester and Liverpool. The government said its plans will boost economic potential and living standards in the north, with more reliable and more frequent trains serving major cities, adding up to 40 billion pounds a year to the economy. Kaynak

The new chair of Network Rail has warned that the creation of Great British Railways and associated reforms must never be at the expense of safety and performance. Richard George was speaking after his appointment had been announced by transport secretary Heidi Alexander. She has also named former Network Rail

Most lines have been cleared and reopened following Storm Goretti last week, but problems caused by winter weather are continuing in some places. Kaynak

Train services have returned to normal in most places after the disruption caused by Storm Goretti, but there are still problems for weekend travellers in the West Midlands, Wales and Cornwall. Kaynak

Network Rail engineers are checking lines in many parts of the country for damage and obstructions after Storm Goretti moved east last night, and some routes are expected to remain closed until tomorrow. Kaynak

Train services in many parts of Britain are being reduced today, in preparation for the arrival of Storm Goretti. There are amber snow warnings affecting Wales, the Midlands, the South West and Yorkshire & Humber, while an amber wind warning has been issued for Cornwall, where gusts could reach 145km/h

Train services have returned to normal after Network Rail’s major programme of engineering work over the Christmas and New Year break. However, more bad weather is likely to cause disruption again from tomorrow, as Storm Goretti arrives. Scotland is still dealing with the effects of heavy snow, and some trains

Snow and ice are continuing to obstruct train services in Scotland, as the cold snap continues. Some lines in the Highlands have disappeared under the snow and Network Rail is using a fleet of snow ploughs to clear the tracks, but more heavy falls are predicted today. Kaynak

This year is going to be an important one for the railways (writes Sim Harris). More former franchises are to be renationalised soon: the next will be West Midlands Trains on 1 February, to be followed by Govia Thameslink Railway on 31 May. Kaynak

Everyone at Railnews wishes you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year. We have now closed for the break and look forward to being with you again on 5 January 2026. Kaynak

RMT general secretary Eddie Dempsey is calling for urgent talks over the future structure of Great British Railways, following the Second Reading of the Railways Bill on 9 December. The RMT is particularly concerned about the implications for collective bargaining, because the Bill does not say who the employer or

Northumberland County Council is bidding to improve the train service from Newcastle upon Tyne to Ashington, which opened a year ago, by continuing trains beyond Ashington to the line’s original terminus at Newbiggin-by-the-Sea. Kaynak

The last High Speed Trains ran in England on Saturday, when GWR operated four-car ‘Castle Class’ sets in Cornwall between Plymouth and Penzance. The career of the HSTs has spanned almost half a century. HSTs began running on British Rail’s Western Region in 1976, and were then used on other

The Mayor of Greater Manchester named the first railways which will join the region’s Bee Network next year, as he unveiled a Northern Class 323 electric unit in promotional Bee Network livery at Manchester Piccadilly. Kaynak

The results of a new four-weekly survey of passengers which has replaced the National Passenger Survey have been published by the Rail Delivery Group. The twice-yearly National Passenger Survey was launched in 1999 and ran until 2020, when work on it was halted by the Covid pandemic. The replacement Rail

Transport for London has awarded an eight-year concession for London Overground to FirstGroup, but the RMT has described the decision as ‘outrageous’. The original London Overground lines were launched by London’s first elected Mayor Ken Livingstone in 2007, and the new contract with First Rail London Ltd will replace Arriva’s

The Second Reading of the Bill to create Great British Railways has begun in the House of Commons. Kaynak

The Bill which will create Great British Railways is being debated in the House of Commons, as the Railways Bill receives its Second Reading. The Government has announced that the GBR identity will start to appear on trains and stations in the spring. Kaynak

Rail unions are warning that staff and passengers are being put at risk by repeated budget reductions which have left fewer British Transport Police officers. The British Transport Police Authority meets in two days from now, when members will be told that the number of officers on patrol has fallen

Strikes which had been called by the RMT on CrossCountry on all four Saturdays in December have been called off, after the union said its dispute over rest day working had been ‘resolved’, although no details of the settlement have been given. Kaynak

Business leaders are losing faith in rail, according to the results of a survey published by the Railway Industry Association. A total of 125 companies were asked whether they thought the rail market would contract or grow in the coming year by independent pollsters Savanta, and almost two thirds thought

An open access application has been submitted again, after the Office of Rail and Road rejected it in July. Alstom’s Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway Company wants track access rights between Wrexham, Shrewsbury, Telford, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Nuneaton and London Euston. Kaynak

The Office of Rail and Road has changed its mind about making the 07.00 Avanti West Coast train from Manchester to London an empty stock working carrying only staff, following widespread protests. Kaynak

The House of Commons is to debate railway reforms in full next week, when the Railways Bill is due to receive its Second Reading. Kaynak

The railway must prepare for increasing hazards as a result of climate change. The warning has come from the Met Office, three days before the start of ‘meteorological’ winter on Monday. The weather service says British winters are becoming generally wetter, meaning that storms, floods and landslides are becoming more

The freeze on regulated National Rail fares in England until March 2027 will have cost 775 million pounds by 2030-31, according to the Treasury. Kaynak

Latest budget announcements Kaynak

Latest budget announcements Kaynak

Latest budget announcements Kaynak

The RMT has declared a dispute with East Midlands Railway following two ‘violent’ assaults by passengers. In one case staff had hot water thrown at them and were attacked with a fire extinguisher, while in a separate incident rival football fans were involved in a ‘mass brawl’ on a train

The Office of Rail and Road has revealed that railway earnings were up last year, further reducing the level of subsidies paid by government. However, there is still some way to go before the level of government support falls back to the levels achieved before Covid. Kaynak

Talks to end the dispute between the RMT and CrossCountry have failed, and the union has announced new strike dates. The dispute is mainly over pay, including overtime rates, rest day working and differentials between grades. Kaynak

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander is set to announce that National Rail fares in England will be frozen in 2026, instead of rising by at least the RPI for July 2025, which was 4.8 per cent. The Scottish Government has already made rail travel cheaper by abolishing peak fares, and this

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander has confirmed that regulated National Rail fares in England will be frozen in 2026, instead of rising by at least the RPI for July 2025, which was 4.8 per cent. The Scottish Government has already made travel on ScotRail cheaper by abolishing peak fares, and this

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is welcoming widespread reports that next week’s budget will include funding for an extension of the Docklands Light Railway to Thamesmead. Kaynak

New plans for East West Rail have been published following a public consultation, including a reduction in the number of stations between Bletchley and Bedford and a new station at Cambridge East, but the rail unions are opposing Chiltern’s intention to run driver-only trains on the newest section, between Bicester

The dates for the next 16 visits by the Railway 200 exhibition train up to mid-March have been announced. The train, ‘Inspiration’, started its journey on 27 June at Kidderminster, and has since been to various places, including several in Scotland. The new list takes the train to stations in

The Peterborough man accused of stabbing 10 people on an LNER train from Doncaster to London on 1 November is now facing seven more charges. Anthony Williams, of Langford Road in Peterborough, is already due to appear before Cambridge Crown Court on 1 December in connection with charges of attempted

The conclusion of engineering work on the Isle of Wight and in Cornwall has allowed trains to return to the lines between Ryde and Shanklin, and between Par and Newquay. Island Line has been dogged by repeated closures in recent years, often in connection with work on Ryde Pier, while

A renationalised operator says it is not waiting for the ‘structural reform’ which will come with Great British Railways to get more passengers on board. Northern, which was returned to public ownership in March 2020, has unveiled a ‘30 by 30’ plan intended to increase annual passenger totals by 30

Most trains are running normally this morning after a weekend in which Storm Claudia flooded tracks and brought down overhead lines. There is still some disruption today, and repairs are continuing. Kaynak

The LNER traincrew member who intervened at the risk of his own life when a man started stabbing his passengers has been discharged from hospital and is now continuing his recovery at home. Eleven people needed hospital treatment, some of them for serious injuries. Samir (‘Sam’) Zitouni, 48, was critically

Rail passengers are being warned of possible disruption today in many parts of England and Wales as Storm Claudia brings heavy rain and high winds. An amber rain warning is in force in the south and Midlands between Peterborough and Cardiff, and less severe yellow warnings have been issued for

A full time Weather Desk staffed by meteorologists is being set up in Scotland for the first time to protect the railway. There will also be Seasonal Resilience Teams to support preparation and help with recovery, and equipment which includes snowploughs, a ?1 million Winter Train for defrosting infrastructure and