Greater Anglia nationalisation date confirmed
UK: The Secretary of State for Transport has issued an contract expiry notice confirming the date when train operator Greater Anglia is to be nationalised.
Scottish government to abolish peak fares
UK: The permanent abolition of peak fares, the end of the alcohol ban and an allocation of funding for rail freight are included in the Programme for Government 2025-26 presented by Scortland’s First Minister John Swinney on May 6.
Caledonian Sleeper launches branded merchandise range
UK: London to Scotland night train operator Caledonian Sleeper has launched an online souvenir shop in partnership with branded merchandise agency ORB Group.
Arriva plans Newcastle – Birmingham – Brighton open access train service
UK: Arriva Group has announced plans to launch an open access passenger service between Newcastle and Brighton via Birmingham and London Gatwick Airport.
East Midlands Railway Class 170 DMU refurbished
UK: East Midlands Railway has unveiled the first of 44 Class 170 regional diesel multiple-units which are to be refurbished to ‘echo the sleek aesthetic’ of the Hitachi Class 810 Aurora inter-city trainsets which are to enter service later this year.
Caledonian Sleeper appoints interim Managing Director
UK: Caledonian Sleeper’s Commercial & Procurement Director Graham Kelly has been appointed as interim Managing Director from April 18.
ETCS tested on steam locomotive
UK: Testing is underway with what is thought to be the first installation of European Train Control System equipment on an operational steam locomotive, as part of a plan to secure the long-term future of heritage traction operation on the national rail network.
Single leadership for GWR and Network Rail control
UK: Great Western Railway and Network Rail have brought their control functions together as a single joint team with the aim of bolstering collaborative working and service delivery.
Battery train undergoes high passenger load testing
UK: Great Western Railway recruited 250 volunteers to help assess the energy consumption of its Class 230 battery train when fully loaded.
Incentive scheme aims to increase international trains on HS1
EUROPE: High Speed 1 concessionaire London St Pancras Highspeed has announced a International Growth Incentive Scheme designed to encourage new and existing train operators to introduce services and increase passenger volumes on the route between London and the Channel Tunnel.
Arriva orders battery-equipped electro-diesel trains for Grand Central
UK: Arriva Group has ordered nine electric-diesel-battery hybrid trains to replace its open access operator Grand Central’s entire fleet.