Rail Magazine

Lumo Class 803 and LNER Azuma unit side by side at London King's Cross. ALAMY.

News

Changing open access analysis "would delay all ECML decisions"

Office of Rail and Road writes back to DfT warning of the impact changing the analysis process at such a late stage.

East Coast Main Line 4 Jul

News

Daytime inspections expanded by South East Railways

TOCs 4 Jul

Freightliner 70011 negotiates Eastleigh station with the 0641 Crewe Basford Hall to Southampton Maritime on April 30, as GB Railfreight 66728 Institution of Railway Operators works the 1147 Southampton Western Docks to East Midlands Gateway. The two companies hold the biggest share of UK freight operations, with intermodal a growth area. MARK PIKE.

News

Year-on-year freight growth driven by increases in top three flows

Rail freight 4 Jul

67005 undergoing a refresh prior to being renamed from Queen's Messenger to King's Messenger in March 2025. DB CARGO UK.

News

When RAIL was given a unique look at the Royal Train

DB Cargo UK 4 Jul

Off-lease 221104 passes Wellington as part of a driver training run between Central Rivers TMD and Wrexham. ALISTAIR COX.

News

All three West Coast Main Line open access bid rejected

Open access 3 Jul

803002 working Lumo's 1S93 1045 Kings Cross to Edinburgh through Little Ponton in Lincolnshire on August 5 2022. PAUL CLARK

News

WCML open access decisions explained - DfT letter "not relevant"

Office of Rail and Road 3 Jul

South Western Railway Class 701s stored at Long Marston. JACK BOSKETT.

News

MP raises SWR '701' delay with government

South Western Railway 3 Jul

News

DRS told to improve on nuclear material handling shortcomings

Direct Rail Services 3 Jul

Stored SWR Class 701s and former West Midlands Railway Class 323s at Long Marston. JACK BOSKETT/RAIL.

News

UK "fails to provide trains people want or like"

Rail Live 2 Jul

Comment

Comment

The madness of the 28,000 jobs claim

Claims on the number of jobs to come from the introduction of driverless cars are ridiculous, says Christian Wolmar

Christian Wolmar 4 Jul

Avanti West Coast is the principal operator on the West Coast Main Line, and has submitted five different bids for extra train paths as it seeks to return services that were withdrawn during COVID. But it faces competition from a posse of open access operators. AWC 805005 approaches Rugeley Trent Valley on May 10, during a Class 805 ‘Evero’ test run. ALAMY.

Comment

Snap Analysis: It's the end of the open season for open access

The decision from The Office of Rail and Road could spell the end of many open access operators aspirations for expansion as the reality of the ECML and WCML capacity issues begins to bite.

Industry views 3 Jul

Comment

Snap Analysis: It's the end of the open season for open access

Industry views 3 Jul

Around 30% of Nottingham Express Transit passengers travel by tram rather than use their cars because of the comfort and reliability, says Wolmar. Nottingham trams run along the city’s South Parade on June 12 2023. ALAMY.

Comment

How to make trams a priority

Christian Wolmar 2 Jul

Comment

Momentum builds for Washington and Metro expansion

Phil Haigh 27 Jun

News

Comment: Here comes the sun

Dickon Ross 18 Jun

Insights from the experts

The first section of roof to be restored as part of the wider Huddersfield station upgrade was unveiled in April. With the expansive scaffolding structure now moved so the restoration of the next section can commence. Northern Class 150 waits at the west-facing Penistone Platform 2. This platform will be moved closer to the main entrance to improve accessibility. CHRIS HOWE.

Feature

Milestones for Manchester-Leeds

Chris Howe explores the latest Transpennine Route Upgrade developments, and records how the railway landscape in the area is rapidly changing.

Major projects 2 Jul

On September 4 2007, and by now the Chief Executive of Eurostar, Richard Brown was at Gare du Nord in Paris to mark the start of running over high-speed lines to London’s refurbished St Pancras. It was effectively the completion of the Channel Tunnel project. ALAMY.

Feature

RAIL events

News

Reviews

Dating from 1984, the ‘Highland Chieftain’ service was originally operated by HSTs, with Azumas taking over in 2019. On July 21 2021, 800112 is between Inverness and Aviemore, as it heads over Slochd Viaduct with the ‘Highland Chieftain’ for London. Under the current public (as opposed to working) timetable, northbound trains leave King’s Cross at 1200 and arrive in Inverness at 2007, while southbound trains depart from the Highland city at 0755 and arrive in London at 1549. NIGEL CAPELLE.

Feature

Review: ‘Chieftain’ is a practical long-distance choice

In RAIL’s latest Mystery Shopper, we take LNER’s ‘Highland Chieftain’ to Inverness, boarding at Peterborough. How does it fare against driving or flying?

Reviews 24 Jun

The main entrance to the Irish Ferries terminal at Dublin Port. ANDY COMFORT

Feature

Changing open access analysis "would delay all ECML decisions"

Daytime inspections expanded by South East Railways

Year-on-year freight growth driven by increases in top three flows

When RAIL was given a unique look at the Royal Train

All three West Coast Main Line open access bid rejected

WCML open access decisions explained - DfT letter "not relevant"

MP raises SWR '701' delay with government

DRS told to improve on nuclear material handling shortcomings

UK "fails to provide trains people want or like"