In a memorial service at Selby Abbey, LNER joined with colleagues from the rail industry to remember those who died in or were impacted by the Great Heck rail crash, 25 years on. In the early hours of 28 February 2001, a Land Rover towing a trailer left the M62 motorway, came down the motorway […]
Category: Train Operating Companies
ScotRail launches finance procurement phase for new trains
ScotRail has commenced the procurement process for financing options for a new suburban train fleet. This is part of the process to fund the building and delivery of the fleet, which will comprise a minimum of 69 trains, with an option of additional orders of up to 37 trains. ScotRail will then enter into a rolling stock lease when the new trains enter service in the early 2030s. A separate procurement process was launched in November last year to find […]
Avanti West Coast trialling new tech to boost service reliability
Avanti West Coast has begun trialling a pioneering new tool to boost train service reliability during unplanned disruption in a world first for transport. Working with Centre for Modelling and Simulation (CFMS) – an independent digital engineering research organisation – the intercity operator has adopted a timetable optimisation program to support its response to unplanned […]
London Euston to see enhanced facilities, accessibility, and customer experience
Passengers using London Euston will benefit from a package of customer focused upgrades this spring as Network Rail continues its programme of improvements across one of the country’s busiest stations. On Monday 2 March, work will begin to upgrade the Assisted Travel Lounge, creating a more comfortable and accessible space with increased seating capacity and improved […]
TPE’s Coast to Coast menu proves a hit with first class customers
TransPennine Express (TPE) has revealed its First Class customers have devoured more than 14,000 sausage rolls and 11,000 cheeseburgers on its trains between Liverpool and Newcastle in the last year. Passengers have also consumed more than 10,560 litres of beer in the form of more than 32,000 330ml cans of Northern Monk TransPennine Pale – […]
First pint pulled following investment in Carlisle station pub
The first pint has been pulled in a new pub at Carlisle station set to galvanise the region’s independent brewery scene. The Scott & Brassey opened on Wednesday 25 February on Platform 4 following an extensive renovation of the premises by Network Rail, with support from Avanti West Coast, which manages the station, and the […]
SWR apprenticeship programme wins gold
SOUTH Western Railway (SWR) has been awarded the prestigious Investors in People (IIP) ‘Gold’ accreditation for its apprenticeships programme. The award completes the trio of accolades that IIP offers to employers for making work better for colleagues, following earlier gold accreditation for the people and wellbeing categories, announced in December. In its final report, which accompanied the confirmation that SWR had […]
CrossCountry’s first refurbished Voyager enters service
CrossCountry has welcomed passengers onboard its first refurbished Voyager train – marking a major milestone in a £75 million investment to upgrade long‑distance travel across Britain. The train’s return to service on Tuesday 24 February follows completion of its refurbishment at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane works in Derby, where the new look was recently launched to […]
Railway through Dartford reopens following major half-term upgrade
The South Eastern Railway has successfully reopened the railway through Dartford after completing a significant upgrade programme carried out over the February half-term, with passengers thanked for their patience during this essential work Dartford Junction, the busiest railway junction in Kent, has undergone a £10 million renewal to improve long-term reliability for customers travelling between […]
Famous Five chase mythical dragon in new GWR campaign
Great Western Railway (GWR) has launched a new campaign celebrating the myths and legends that have defined the South West and Wales for centuries with the Famous Five on a quest to track down a dragon spotted flying over the region. The 60-second film, directed by Oscar and BAFTA-winner Peter Baynton (The Boy, the Mole, […]