Train operators in public ownership have shared details of the stations on their networks seeing strong passenger growth according to the most recent ORR station usage figures. For Southeastern, Thanet Parkway in Kent, which opened its doors in 2023 has become the operator’s fastest growing station. Passenger entries and exits more than doubled in the […]
Category: Government
Rail Freight Group calls on Parliament to amend Railways Bill 2025
Rail Freight Group (RFG) has called on Government and Parliamentarians to amend the Railways Bill 2025 to strengthen the independent appeals function for rail freight. Under the Bill, which starts its Commons Committee stage this week, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) will be stripped of its current role in awarding track capacity, and […]
Birmingham teenager crowned HS2’s 2,000th apprentice
HS2 has exceeded its target of creating 2,000 apprenticeships on Britain’s high-speed rail project – helping workers build new careers and delivering a multi-million-pound boost to the economy. Latest data shows that an additional 99 people started an apprenticeship between September and December 2025. This takes the total number of new apprentice starts on the […]
Government sets out plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail
The Government today (14 January 2026) released its plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail, promising that people across the North West, Yorkshire, and the North East will benefit from faster commutes, greater job opportunities, and increased investment. The first phase will prioritise upgrades and electrification between Leeds-Sheffield, Leeds-York, and Leeds-Bradford to transform commutes, set to be […]
RIA reviews Government rail performance
Eighteen months since the Government took office in July 2024, The Railway Industry Association (RIA) has delivered its third six-monthly assessment on the progress of UK rail policy. RIA recognises there has been progress on rail reform – including initiation of the Government’s Railways Bill to establish Great British Railways – and there has been […]
New year brings big changes for publicly-owned operators
2026 looks set to be a landmark year for the rail industry as the journey towards Great British Railways accelerates – and the seven train operators already in public ownership are leading the charge, with a range bold plans for the year ahead. Northern will press ahead with its ambitious ‘30 by 30’ plan, a […]
Alex Hynes named as new CEO of DfT Operator
Alex Hynes has been appointed as the new chief executive of Department for Transport Operator Limited (DFTO) to lead the next phase in the transition to Great British Railways. With significant experience in both the rail industry and Department for Transport, his appointment will support the Government’s mission to bring together track and train – […]
Government announces first rail fare freeze in 30 years to ease cost of living
Millions of commuters across the country will benefit from a freeze on rail fares for the first time in 30 years, the Chancellor and Transport Secretary have announced, to help with the cost of living and support economic growth. The Chancellor is set to freeze fares at the Autumn Budget, in a move which will […]
Amey urges Government to prioritise infrastructure certainty and investment
Amey has officially submitted its response to HM Treasury ahead of the 2025 Autumn Budget, urging the Government to prioritise infrastructure investment as a catalyst for national productivity, economic resilience, and the UK’s Net Zero ambitions. As a provider of full life-cycle engineering, with a UK workforce of 12,000, and over a century of experience […]
Scottish Government refreshes rail decarbonisation plan
The Scottish Government has set out a refreshed vision for a cleaner, modernised rail network with the publication of its updated decarbonisation strategy, Rail Recharged: Scotland’s Fleet Transition Strategy. Building on progress since 2020, the plan shifts focus toward fleet renewal and a proportionate, value-driven approach to cutting emissions. The strategy outlines how new trains, […]