A working group has met for the first time to prepare a feasibility study examining the potential for a direct Caledonian Sleeper service to mainland Europe. The Scottish Government had committed itself in its last manifesto to look at such a scheme. Kaynak

The rules about 16-17 Railcards have been changed, so that they give young people a longer period of half-price travel. Until now, these Railcards had expired when the holder reached the age of 18, but from 17 August the cards will be valid for a year after purchase, even if

A new station was officially opened in Devon on 31 July, and trains started calling the following day. Okehampton Interchange is on the outskirts of the town, where the new ?18 million station has a 200-space car park, sheltered cycle storage and a covered bus interchange, with electric vehicle charging

HS2 Ltd has renegotiated two major contracts in a bid to reduce the costs of the project, but chief executive Mark Wild warns ‘there’s more to do’. Kaynak

The RMT has called its 70 members at Manchester Piccadilly who work for Avanti West Coast out on strike again, in a dispute over the allegedly unfair dismissal of one of their colleagues. The 24-hour walkouts are set to be staged on 1 and 29 August, and again on 10

Trains have returned to a south Devon station which was badly damaged by fire on 21 July. Trains are running again between Paignton, Newton Abbot, Exeter and Exmouth, but intercity services which usually run to Paignton are terminating at Exeter St David’s or Newton Abbot. Kaynak

The Office of Rail and Road has revealed details of how it will cope with railway reforms, and is inviting views before a formal consultation is launched later this year. The creation of Great British Railways will end the need for contracted National Rail operators to have individual licences, but

The Devon holiday resort of Paignton could be without trains during the start of this year’s peak summer season, after the station was badly damaged by a fire. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said the cause was suspicious, and three boys aged 13, 15 and 16 have been

Network Rail has imposed speed restrictions on some lines in the east of England, after prolonged dry weather caused the soil under the railway to shrink. Engineering work to repair the uneven railway which results will be causing some timetable changes from early August. Kaynak

The RMT is to stage protest strikes at East Midlands Railway on the first three Saturdays in August as the operator continues to struggle with problems affecting its fleet of new Class 810 Aurora trains, built by Hitachi. EMR has cut back its intercity and regional services so that the

A new passenger information system is being tested on 38 ScotRail trains in the Glasgow area. Dubbed the On Train Passenger Announcements system, it has been developed by Network Rail, train operators and the Rail Delivery Group. Kaynak

Fewer East Midlands Railway intercity services are running from today, because of problems with the operator’s new Hitachi Class 810 Aurora trains, as well as holdups in maintaining the long-standing Class 222 Meridian fleet, for which Hitachi is now responsible. The Class 810s should have replaced the 222s, but the

The first trains to carry the new Great British Railways identity for Anglia have been unveiled at London Liverpool Street station. The event confirmed that regional identities will be carried on GBR trains. Kaynak

Merseyrail may run only an emergency service this weekend if the RMT stages a strike over pay. Only the Southport line could have a 15-minute service on Saturday and Sunday, to take spectators to the Open Golf championships at Royal Birkdale, which started on Sunday. Kaynak

A new business unit has been created in a further step towards Great British Railways. GBR West Midlands is the fourth organisation of its kind to be set up, as the Bill to create Great British Railways continues its journey through the House of Lords. West Midlands will join GBR