Railway Benefit Fund (RBF), the charity dedicated to supporting current, former, and retired railway workers and their families, has published its latest Impact Report. The report reveals the charity delivered £2,757,683 in social value in 2025, supporting over 500 railway workers and their families across the UK with the practical help and stability needed to […]
Category: People
Lumo and Hull Trains recruit new head of public affairs
Open access rail operators Lumo and Hull Trains have appointed Joe Gratton as their new head of public affairs. Joe joins the First Rail Open Access team from Tees Valley Combined Authority, where he served as chief of staff. He will be based between Newcastle, London, Hull, and Preston, where his skills and expertise will […]
RSSB appoints Iain Lanaghan to Board
The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) has appointed Iain Lanaghan to its board as a non industry, non executive director and chair of the Audit & Risk Committee, with effect from 1 May 2026. Iain is an experienced chair and non-executive director with more than 40 years’ experience operating at Board level in complex […]
Remote station in Yorkshire is ‘the perfect family home’
A man who lives and volunteers at a remote station in North Yorkshire is encouraging people to visit the area and enjoy the beautiful scenery. Tim Hill and his wife Elly left the busy market town of Bourne in Lincolnshire and moved into the “perfect family home” in Battersby station with their three young children […]
Tributes paid to mastermind of the Tyne and Wear Metro
Tributes have been paid to Professor Tony Ridley, the mastermind of the Tyne and Wear Metro, who has passed away aged 92. Prof Ridley, who was originally from Sunderland, was the main driver of the Metro project in its early years, and without his leadership it may never have come to fruition. As a respected […]
Passengers now enjoying step-free access at Tilehurst
Passengers at Tilehurst station are enjoying step-free access to all platforms for the first time after Network Rail installed three new lifts. Access to the Berkshire station has been transformed for passengers with reduced mobility, prams and heavy luggage. The lifts have been added to the footbridge that was built during the Great Western Electrification […]
West Midlands Railway becomes first UK train operator to strike gold with apprenticeship accreditation
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 […]
West Midlands Railway becomes first UK train operator to strike gold with apprenticeship accreditation
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 […]
West Midlands Railway becomes first UK train operator to strike gold with apprenticeship accreditation
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 […]