First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, together with Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris, and a senior representative from the UK Government, were in Belfast Grand Central Station yesterday (7th May) to witness the formal signing of a landmark contract with leading Swiss manufacturer Stadler for a new fleet of eight […]
Category: Industry News
GB Railfreight’s Class 99s move closer to commercial service
GB Railfreight (GBRf) has reached two significant milestones in the introduction of its new Class 99 locomotive, marking an important step towards their entry into commercial service. Network Rail has granted the Class 99 fleet an Interim Network Rail Statement of Compatibility (NRSC). This allows the Class 99 to operate across Britain’s rail network, marking […]
Derby-built monorail enters commercial service in Cairo
This morning (Wednesday 6 May), the Cairo Monorail began carrying fare-paying passengers with trains assembled and tested at Alstom’s Derby Litchurch Lane Works. It is the first time a British factory has exported rolling stock since 2008, when Derby last put trains on a ship, bound for the Gautrain rail network in South Africa’s Gauteng […]
Derby-built monorail enters commercial service in Cairo
This morning (Wednesday 6 May), the Cairo Monorail began carrying fare-paying passengers with trains assembled and tested at Alstom’s Derby Litchurch Lane Works. It is the first time a British factory has exported rolling stock since 2008, when Derby last put trains on a ship, bound for the Gautrain rail network in South Africa’s Gauteng […]
RIA calls for action after Government response to ‘boom and bust’ report
The Railway Industry Association (RIA) has today called on the Government to turn words into action, following the Government’s response last week to the Transport Select Committee report on rail investment. Commenting on the Government’s response, RIA Chief Executive Darren Caplan said: “Whilst many in the rail supply sector will question the Government’s assertion that […]
Annual performance statistics show c2c is top of the TOCs
Rail operator c2c Railway has announced its annual performance statistics for the 12 months to 31 March 2026, and the results put the train operating company top of the industry charts for service punctuality and reliability. The latest annual Railway Performance statistics, collated and published by Network Rail, show that c2c is the number one […]
First Rail announces new team to lead operation of the London Overground
First Rail London has announced its new management team that has today (May 3) begun operating the London Overground on behalf of Transport for London (TfL). Heading up the team as managing director is David Statham, currently the commercial director for First Rail. He is leading the new team responsible for running the network on […]
Great Central Railway launches Patreon to strengthen community support
The Great Central Railway (GCR) has announced the launch of its official Patreon page, offering supporters a new way to contribute to the preservation and development of the historic railway through affordable monthly donations. The initiative responds to a long-standing sentiment among supporters – “If everyone who loved the GCR just gave a small amount […]
Contracts signed to reopen Portishead Line
One of the most-anticipated rail projects in the south west took a major step forward this morning, as contracts worth £200 million were signed at Bristol Temple Meads to deliver two brand new stations and reinstate the Portishead railway line closed to passengers since 1964. Three contracts have been awarded to deliver the project. Morgan […]
Government rejects Transport Committee’s ‘boom and bust’ testimony
The Government has rejected the premise of a select committee inquiry that rail investment has been subject to systemic ‘boom and bust’, other than in respect of rolling stock. In its response to the Transport Committee’s Rail Investment Pipelines report, the Government acknowledged that “the perception of such cycles is clearly felt by parts of […]