Government - VibeWire Magazine

Greater Anglia to be nationalised from October

Guest authors
May 12, 2025
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The Department for Transport has confirmed that Greater Anglia is set to be nationalised on 12 October 2025. The train operator has said that it is committed to ensuring a smooth transition to public ownership and has both the plans and expertise in place to deliver this outcome. In the meantime, it will continue to […]

Minimum age for train drivers lowered to 18

Guest authors
May 7, 2025
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Eighteen-year-olds will now be allowed to drive trains now that the Government has lowered the minimum age from 20 in a bid to tackle driver shortages. Thousands of jobs and apprenticeships will be made available to those between 18 and 20 years old as early as December, offering skilled roles, valuable experience, and long-term career […]

Publicly-owned train operators collaborate to improve experience of deaf passengers

Guest authors
May 6, 2025
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Publicly-owned train operators will collaborate more and share best practice on products and services to improve accessibility on the railway. Robin Gisby, chief executive of DFTO, the body responsible for train operators in public ownership – which already includes LNER, Northern, Southeastern, and TransPennine Express – says as more operators join the group, even more […]

DEFRA signs BT contract to use EE for real-time environment data

Guest authors
May 1, 2025
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The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has signed a contract with BT to use its EE mobile network for real-time data. At the heart of the five-year contract is the provision of 34,000 mobile connections. These will not only supp…

UK announces first ban in Europe on SIM farms

Guest authors
April 25, 2025
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The UK government is set to ban the possession and supply of ‘SIM farms’ in the fight against fraudsters and scammers. SIM farms, sophisticated devices capable of housing numerous SIM cards simultaneously, enable offenders to automate the s…

Transport Secretary faces MPs on rail reform, decarbonisation and airport expansion

Guest authors
April 23, 2025
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Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander MP will face the Transport Committee for the first time since taking up the post. The cross-party Committee will question the Cabinet Minister on the range of major reforms the Department for Transport is undertaking, as well as on wider strategic issues such as decarbonisation across transport modes and road safety. […]

FCC chair calls EU satellite strategy ‘anti-American’

Guest authors
April 15, 2025
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FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has urged EU nations to reevaluate their satellite strategy amid concerns about relying on Starlink for services. Speaking to the Financial Times, Carr emphasised the importance of unity and cautioned allies to “focus on the r…

Tech Transparency Project: Millions download covert Chinese VPNs

Guest authors
April 2, 2025
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An investigation by the Tech Transparency Project (TTP) has found that millions of Americans have downloaded VPNs that secretly route their internet traffic through Chinese companies, with several linked to a firm previously sanctioned by the US govern…

UK outlines its maritime decarbonisation

Simon Walton
March 27, 2025
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The government-led initiative aims to make Britain’s shipping fleet emissions net zero by 2050 and drive growth in coastal communities.

Chiltern Railways announced as East West Rail operator

Guest authors
March 25, 2025
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Arriva Group has welcomed the announcement from the Department for Transport that its train operating company, Chiltern Railways has been selected for the first stage of the East West Rail link. Set to launch later this year, the new line will link Oxford and Milton Keynes with rail services for the first time in nearly […]