Government

News

Plans for two new stations on Bristol-Exeter line supported

MP is "delighted" as approval for stations at Wellington and Cullompton get Government backing.

new station 27 Jun

News

Calls for Government to focus more on small-scale projects and rolling stock plan

Mixed response to Spending Review includes calls for support for projects that could help freight.

Government 18 Jun

HS2 viaduct on the approach to Birmingham Curzon Street. HS2 LTD.

News

Spending Review: Government commits more money to rail projects but subsidy set to fall

Government commits more than £10bn to projects across England and Wales, and more than £23bn to HS2.

Government 11 Jun

News

New Liverpool-Manchester railway expected to get green light in Spending Review

The Liverpool-Manchester rail link is set to be given the green light in the upcoming spending review (June 11) RAIL understands.

Northern Powerhouse Rail 11 Jun

Tyne and Wear Metro Stadler Class 555 No 555021 arrives at Pelaw. PAUL BIGGS.

News

Tram-trains, new metro lines and mass transit systems part of £15bn city region transport plan

Nine regions to benefit from £15.6bn in funding for a series of transport projects.

Government 4 Jun

News

Rail reliability data at stations launched as government pushes for greater accountability

Rail passengers across England can now access real-time data on the punctuality and reliability of their local train services, as new station-level statistics have gone live.

Passengers 6 Mar

Comment

Comment: How Great British Railways can help to lift the gloom

The practice of government is always harder than the theory, as confusion over open access opportunities underlines, says Christian Wolmar.

Chirstian Wolmar 10 Feb

Comment

Comment: Where track and train integration will be put to the test

To what extent might Great British Railways have control of the railways? Philip Haigh considers what MPs heard at a recent Transport Select Committee meeting.

Phil Haigh 7 Feb

News

John Prescott obituary: A man passionate about transport who tried to push through big investment promises

The former Secretary of State for Environment, Transport & The Regions died in November

Government 9 Dec

News

Greater Anglia among first TOCs to be taken over by DfT operator in 2025, government confirms

The government has announced that three train operators will be publicly operated next year

Greater Anglia 4 Dec

A DB Cargo Class 66 tows three Royal Mail '325' units through Shrewsbury en-route to Newport for scrapping

News

Royal Mail ending rail services 'undermines' government's commitment to freight, DB Cargo CEO tells ministers

Andrea Rossi, DB Cargo's Chief Executive, wrote to Louise Haigh and Peter Hendy after Royal Mail ended its contract with the operator

DB Cargo 27 Nov

An East Midlands Railway Class 222 approaches Braybrooke on the Midland Main Line. PAUL BIGGS.

News

Minister provides Midland Main Line electrification update as Network Rail plans next stage of work

The government was asked about the Midland Main Line electrification in the House of Commons

Midland Main Line 26 Nov

News

Louise Haigh gives indication of when first train operators to be taken over by government will be announced

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has indicated when the first train operators will have services transferred to the government, and when she expected all ten to be taken over

Louise Haigh 13 Nov

A ticket being checked by a conductor on a train

News

Transport Secretary announces review into fare evasion practices after 'egregious' prosecutions

Louise Haigh has commissioned the Office of Rail and Road to look into the way train operating companies tackle suspected fare evasion

Louise Haigh 13 Nov

This view shows work to build the viaduct across the Colne Valley and Grand Union Canal (near Denham on the north-west edge of London) in late March. HS2

News

Government announces review into HS2 costs

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has announced a major review into the spiralling costs of the HS2. The move comes after years of failed delivery and escalating expenses.

HS2 21 Oct

News

New Infrastructure body will aim to accelerate major projects

In a bid to revitalise the UK's infrastructure systems, the government has announced the establishment of a new National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA).

HS2 11 Oct

Comment

Opinion: Who will pay for the drivers' pay deal?

The government is walking a financial tightrope, says Howard Johnston.

Industry views 29 Aug

Liverpool Street on November 17 2023. GA’s franchise is up for review in September, perhaps too soon to be affected by the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill. MIKE COOPER.

Comment

Labour in a hurry to implement changes on the railway

Christian Wolmar on Labour's first frantic weeks in office and why the new government isn't hanging around when it comes to rail reform.

Christian Wolmar 6 Aug

Avanti West Coast is the principal operator on the West Coast Main Line, and has submitted five different bids for extra train paths as it seeks to return services that were withdrawn during COVID. But it faces competition from a posse of open access operators. AWC 805005 approaches Rugeley Trent Valley on May 10, during a Class 805 ‘Evero’ test run. ALAMY.

News

Rail nationalisation bill clears first hurdle in the Commons

Eventual rail nationalisation moved one step closer to reality as the Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill cleared its first hurdle as MP’s voted 351 to 84 to give the bill a second reading on 30 July.

nationalisation 30 Jul

News

DfT ministerial team now all in place

The Department for Transport now has a full complement of ministers as Sir Keir Starmer puts his new government in place.

DfT 10 Jul

Government

Plans for two new stations on Bristol-Exeter line supported

Calls for Government to focus more on small-scale projects and rolling stock plan

Spending Review: Government commits more money to rail projects but subsidy set to fall

New Liverpool-Manchester railway expected to get green light in Spending Review

Tram-trains, new metro lines and mass transit systems part of £15bn city region transport plan

Rail reliability data at stations launched as government pushes for greater accountability

Comment: How Great British Railways can help to lift the gloom

Comment: Where track and train integration will be put to the test

John Prescott obituary: A man passionate about transport who tried to push through big investment promises

Greater Anglia among first TOCs to be taken over by DfT operator in 2025, government confirms

Royal Mail ending rail services 'undermines' government's commitment to freight, DB Cargo CEO tells ministers

Minister provides Midland Main Line electrification update as Network Rail plans next stage of work

Louise Haigh gives indication of when first train operators to be taken over by government will be announced

Transport Secretary announces review into fare evasion practices after 'egregious' prosecutions

Government announces review into HS2 costs

New Infrastructure body will aim to accelerate major projects

Opinion: Who will pay for the drivers' pay deal?

Labour in a hurry to implement changes on the railway

Rail nationalisation bill clears first hurdle in the Commons

DfT ministerial team now all in place

Most read

No takers so first DB Cargo UK Class 67 goes for scrap

HS2 faces £100bn cost and delay until late-2030s, government told

FirstGroup explains why Class 222s were "only option" for Lumo Euston-Stirling service

Government

Plans for two new stations on Bristol-Exeter line supported

Calls for Government to focus more on small-scale projects and rolling stock plan

Spending Review: Government commits more money to rail projects but subsidy set to fall

New Liverpool-Manchester railway expected to get green light in Spending Review

Tram-trains, new metro lines and mass transit systems part of £15bn city region transport plan

Rail reliability data at stations launched as government pushes for greater accountability

Comment: How Great British Railways can help to lift the gloom

Comment: Where track and train integration will be put to the test

John Prescott obituary: A man passionate about transport who tried to push through big investment promises

Greater Anglia among first TOCs to be taken over by DfT operator in 2025, government confirms

Royal Mail ending rail services 'undermines' government's commitment to freight, DB Cargo CEO tells ministers

Minister provides Midland Main Line electrification update as Network Rail plans next stage of work

Louise Haigh gives indication of when first train operators to be taken over by government will be announced

Transport Secretary announces review into fare evasion practices after 'egregious' prosecutions

Government announces review into HS2 costs

New Infrastructure body will aim to accelerate major projects

Opinion: Who will pay for the drivers' pay deal?

Labour in a hurry to implement changes on the railway

Rail nationalisation bill clears first hurdle in the Commons

DfT ministerial team now all in place

Most read

No takers so first DB Cargo UK Class 67 goes for scrap

HS2 faces £100bn cost and delay until late-2030s, government told

FirstGroup explains why Class 222s were "only option" for Lumo Euston-Stirling service

GB Railfreight planning to repurpose at least 12 more Class 66s for heavy trainloads

DB Cargo UK discussing transferring drivers to rival as it deals with Network Rail contract loss

FirstGroup confirms Class 222s for Euston-Stirling Lumo route

Chiltern Railways on verge of agreeing deal to take ex-TransPennine Express Mk 5s

Why the Class 67s have been running on borrowed time for nearly the whole of their lives

Network Rail begins process to replace rail infrastructure monitoring trains