West Midlands Railway (WMR) has achieved ‘Excellent Employer’ status for its industry-leading engineering apprenticeship scheme, becoming the first train operator to reach gold accreditation. The 12-month assessment, led by Next Gen Makers, bases results on feedback from existing apprentices to identify companies which deliver outstanding training opportunities. Provided in partnership with Birmingham Metropolitan College, WMR’s […]
Category: Train Operating Companies
Greater Anglia among most punctual UK train operators for three years running
Figures released by Greater Anglia (GA) today (Monday 20 April) highlight continuing excellent punctuality results being delivered for customers across East Anglia, with GA one of the best performing train operators in the UK for over 3 years now. Annual performance for the 12 months to 31 March 2026 using the demanding Time to 3 […]
Northern appoints DFTO executive as new COO
Northern has appointed Warrick Dent as its new chief operating officer (COO). Warrick is currently group operations and performance director at Department for Transport Operator (DFTO), and is set to join the train operator in May. He will succeed Matt Rice, the current COO, who is set to move on to a new challenge outside […]
Northern appoints DFTO executive as new COO
Northern has appointed Warrick Dent as its new chief operating officer (COO). Warrick is currently group operations and performance director at Department for Transport Operator (DFTO), and is set to join the train operator in May. He will succeed Matt Rice, the current COO, who is set to move on to a new challenge outside […]
CrossCountry’s Social Value report highlights £184m contribution to communities and the environment
Long-distance train operator CrossCountry has launched its 2026 Social Value report, outlining the positive impact of the business on people, places and the planet. Launching today (Friday 17 April), the report demonstrates how CrossCountry embeds social value into everyday work – from improving rail accessibility and creating inclusive employment opportunities, to supporting communities and enabling […]
Passengers urged to plan ahead as Network Rail restores two of Brunel’s historic landmarks in Bath
Rail passengers travelling through Bath later this month are being asked to plan their journeys in advance as Network Rail begins major restoration work on two iconic railway structures. Sydney Gardens footbridge will undergo grit‑blasting, steel and masonry repairs, a full repaint and the complete replacement of its wooden deck over the next three months. […]
Alstom’s Traincare Centres welcome charity railtour
Alstom, global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, has welcomed a passenger service into three of its Traincare Centres as part of a unique charity railtour. On Saturday 4 April, a Branch Line Society charter visited Alstom facilities in Manchester (Longsight), Wolverhampton (Oxley) and Liverpool (Edge Hill) as it traversed rare track along the West Coast Main Line […]
GWR’s Great Escapes podcast shortlisted for Radio Times ‘Moment of the Year’ after icy swim
A near-freezing sea swim off the Pembrokeshire coast has earned Great Western Railway’s Great Escapes podcast a place on the shortlist for one of the audio industry’s top awards. The clip, featuring Dan Skinner taking a winter dip with the Bluetits Chill Swimmers, has been nominated for Radio Times Moment of the Year at the Audio and Radio Industry Awards […]
Over 111,000 journeys made as Tap & Go debuts at Grand National
Merseyrail has thanked customers and partners after successfully delivering rail services for the 2026 Grand National Festival, with more than 111,000 journeys made over the three day event. This year marked a huge milestone for the network, with Tap & Go used for the first time during the Grand National, giving racegoers a quicker and […]
Volunteers raise funds for RNLI at Cleethorpes station
A group of volunteers from TransPennine Express (TPE) and The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) took to Cleethorpes station over the weekend to fundraise for the lifeboat charity. TPE announced its partnership with RNLI last year, as well as with two other independent lifeboat charities – St Abbs Lifeboat and Humber Rescue. The partnerships bring […]