Surprise political casualty as new British rail strike announced
The state of industrial dispute that currently grips the British rail network has claimed a high-profile political casualty. Surprisingly – shockingly for some – the socialist opposition Labour Party sacked their shadow transport secretary Sam...Read more
British weather cools down but strike climate heats up again
Britain faces a fresh wave of strikes across the rail network, starting this Wednesday with an all-out stoppage by the biggest union in the sector, the RMT (Rail, Maritime and Transport). Then, just when you...Read more
Britain faces decades of climate disruption says minister in the hot seat
This week’s heatwave has put pressure on UK infrastructure like never before. The unprecedented closure of the East Coast Main Line, in the face of temperatures more akin to Spain than Stevenage, was the headline...Read more
UK Strike: countdown to shutdown
The Great British Rail Strike is just one day away, and barring a turning of the tide that would impress even King Canute, the network is set to grind to a halt on Tuesday, and...Read more
UK strike threat draws concern from industry and public
Freight traffic coming to a halt would place a severe strain on the UK economy and possibly send the recovery of the rail industry crashing off the tracks. These are among the views expressed during...Read moreBritain on ‘war footing’ for rail strike
A ballot for strike action will see the UK government prioritise the movement of freight trains in a way not seen since the general mobilisation at the outbreak the First World War. The stark warning...Read more
42 answers to the question: Who wants to be HQ for Great British Railways?
An astonishing response has been received to the first round of open competition to select the community that will host the headquarters of Great British Railways – the new overarching body that will administer the...Read more
A better greener Britain says government transport plan
The British government has published its post-pandemic plans for transport, and rail freight plays a significant role. The plan addresses travel, and transport patterns changes and redefines the route map for transport and logistics in...Read more
UK government funding for Freightliner’s dual-fuel project
The UK government is to finance a research programme aimed at advancing a dual-fuel solution for the class 66 locomotive. It is part of its First of a Kind scheme, awarded to a consortium led...Read more
Where are the freight benefits in UK’s latest near-billion pound investment?
UK’s transport secretary Grant Shapps has launched a 794 million-pound (880 million euros) investment, claiming to boost rail links in the south and north of England. Money has been allocated to develop East West Rail...Read more
Modest plans for North East England upgrade
Funding has been secured for the Ashington to Newcastle commuter project. It will see a freight-only line in the North East of England upgraded to mixed traffic status, and regain a passenger connection for the...Read more
UK Rail industry refutes Christmas works postponement stories
The Railway Industry Association, the trade body for UK rail suppliers, has hit back at recent reports that essential upgrades to the railways over Christmas should not go ahead. The RIA has reacted to comments...Read more
UK Transport Secretary gives mixed signals on Christmas engineering works
A word out of turn and Grant Shapps has cast doubt over the traditional period of intensive engineering works carried out during the two weeks of Christmas and New Year. In a national radio interview...Read more
UK ends franchising passenger traffic, what does it mean for freight?
The UK government has announced this morning that it will support the passenger network for at least the next 18 months. This means that it is officially renationalising the railways, doing away with the franchising...Read more
Transpennine upgrade funding pledged by UK government and welcomed by freight operators
Work on the Transpennine main line between Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester, has been strengthened by a funding package announced by the UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps. 589 million British pounds (646 million Euros) has been...Read more
UK slipping behind EU on decarbonising freight
Transport policy in the UK is not moving fast enough to keep up with decarbonisation planning in the EU, says the Rail Freight Group. There are fears that inaction could put rail freight and the...Read more