The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has rejected applications from three companies seeking track access contracts with Network Rail to run services on the West Coast Main Line (WCML). ORR concluded there is insufficient capacity on the West Coast Main Line southern section for the introduction of any of the proposed services: from East […]
Category: Industry News
Turntide Technologies secures Hitachi order to power first battery trains built in the UK
Turntide Technologies, a global leader in electrification solutions, has been selected by Hitachi Rail to supply Gen 2 lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery system for its Grand Central intercity battery train contract. Turntide Technologies will supply next-generation LFP batteries, which are designed to be smaller and more powerful than previous lithium-ion batteries. This order comes […]
RSSB launches new free E-learning course on Taking Safe Decisions
The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) has launched a new free e-learning course, Taking Safe Decisions. The course, developed with the support of the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), offers practical guidance on topics including: The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) recently identified inconsistencies within the rail industry in how decisions regarding […]
Independent Rail Retailers prospectus champions passenger choice and innovation
Independent Rail Retailers (IRR) has launched a new prospectus setting out a clear vision for the future of rail retailing highlighting the key role independent retailers play in modernising the passenger experience, growing rail use, and supporting a competitive, customer-first rail industry. Contributing over £5 billion in train tickets annually, accounting for a significant portion […]
Hitachi Rail delivers major milestone in London Underground’s largest ever signalling upgrade
Hitachi Rail has completed the latest signalling deployment on London Underground’s Circle, District, Hammersmith & City, and Metropolitan lines. The deployment represents the most technically challenging milestone to date in Transport for London’s Four Lines Modernisation (4LM) project, London’s largest ever signalling upgrade. This latest phase covers the Neasden Depot area, London Underground’s largest, and […]
HS2 completes excavation of 8.4 mile tunnel under the capital
Construction of Britain’s new high-speed railway has passed a major milestone with excavation of the 8.4-mile Northolt Tunnel under London. The fourth of four tunnel boring machines (TBMs) being used to dig the twin-bore tunnel – the second-longest on the HS2 route between London and the West Midlands – completed its work yesterday. The machine, […]
New partnership means rail passengers can say goodbye to mobile blackspots
Project Reach, a new partnership between Network Rail, Neos Networks, and Freshwave, will see an end to the worst signal blackspots on the major rail arteries of Britain as the companies join forces to provide the biggest upgrade to Britain’s rail telecoms infrastructure in decades. Benefitting millions of rail passengers, the partnership will establish the […]
Quarry rail link reopened after 60 years
The rail link at Heidelberg Materials UK’s Horton quarry in Yorkshire has been reinstated as part of the company’s strategy to improve its network of rail connected quarries and depots. Horton quarry, which has been producing limestone and high-quality gritstone since 1889, is situated within the Yorkshire Dales National Park and its original rail siding […]
Network Rail awards new five-year rail supply contracts
Network Rail has today concluded its new rail supply contracts for the provision of almost 450,000 tonnes of rail for the five years to 2030. The contracts have been awarded to British Steel, Saarstahl Rail and Voestalpine, with Arcelor Mittal also able to supply on an ad-hoc basis. Clive Berrington, group director railway business services, […]
HS2 completes three-day Northants viaduct slide
HS2 has revealed new timelapse footage showing engineers carefully sliding a 1,300-tonne viaduct deck into position near the Northants village of Thorpe Mandeville. The steel and concrete deck of the Lower Thorpe viaduct – which stretches for 220 metres – was assembled to one side before being slid into position in just three days, reaching […]