Open access - Page 2

News

Alliance Rail details finalised Waterloo-Marchwood open access proposal as plan is submitted

Alliance Rail, part of Grand Union, hopes to start operating in September 2026.

Open access 23 Apr

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, centre, with North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and officials from Hitachi, Angel Trains and Grand Central being shown around Hitachi's Newton Aycliffe factory. HITACHI.

News

Transport Secretary: government still sees role for open access

Heidi Alexander makes comment during visit to Hitachi factory to mark Grand Central's order for nine tri-mode units.

Open access 16 Apr

Feature

Interview: Ian Yeowart of GCR fame on the future of open access

Ian Yeowart was instrumental in setting up the Grand Central Railway he's still submitting successful applications. He talks to Peter Plisner.

Major projects 15 Apr

News

"Too many challenges for approval": cross-country open access plan withdrawn

Grand Union withdraws application after which had been with ORR for more than a year.

Open access 8 Apr

Off-lease 221104 passes Wellington as part of a driver training run between Central Rivers TMD and Wrexham. ALISTAIR COX.

News

Open access operator's frustration as year-long wait for decision continues

Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway wants to run between North Wales and London Euston.

Open access 7 Apr

An artist's impression of Grand Central's Hitachi tri-mode set. ARRIVA.

News

Grand Central announces Hitachi tri-mode order after securing 11-year track access extension

Open access operator announces £300m deal for Hitachi's first UK tri-mode units.

Grand Central 3 Apr

803002 working Lumo's 1S93 1045 Kings Cross to Edinburgh through Little Ponton in Lincolnshire on August 5 2022. PAUL CLARK

News

Network Rail "can't support" Lumo Paignton plans as it outlines capacity concerns

Network Rail says no paths exist for a number of services planned on Great Western Main Line.

Lumo 3 Apr

Aerial shot of Liverpool Lime Street. TOM MCATEE.

News

Two new open access cross-country routes set to be submitted to rail regulator

Rail consultants SLC Rail have worked up plans for two new open access routes.

Open access 2 Apr

Eurostar train stands at St Pancras. ALAMY.

News

"Massive untapped potential": New Channel Tunnel open access hopefuls detail plans

Gemini Trains CEO speaks to RAIL about firm's plans to start running international services.

Open access 2 Apr

Lumo train enters Newcastle station. PAUL BIGGS.

News

Three operators opt out of displaying real-time performance data at railway stations

Trio of operators decline to take part in government drive to hold firms to account.

Lumo 1 Apr

Two Virgin Pendolinos pass each other on the West Coast Main Line near Rugby. ALAMY.

News

Virgin scales back West Coast Main Line open access plan

Operator reduces number of planned services and removes one destination from its application.

Virgin 1 Apr

Grand Central's 180104 speeds through South Otterington (near Northallerton) on September 12 2024 with the 0853 Sunderland to London King’s Cross. ALEX AYRE.

News

Grand Central secures track access to Bradford and Sunderland until 2038

EXCLUSIVE: ORR approves 11-year extension for existing rights on East Coast Main Line.

Grand Central 28 Mar

Grand Central 180110 passes St Neots (Cambridgeshire) on December 6 2023. The company is seeking additional stops at Peterborough and new paths to Yorkshire locations. ALAMY.

News

Grand Central plans new direct Cleethorpes London service

Rail operator Arriva has announced plans to introduce a direct rail service between Cleethorpes, Grimsby, and London.

Open access 21 Mar

Virgin Trains 390104 at London Euston prior to working the 2300 to Manchester Piccadilly on September 4. RICHARD CLINNICK.

News

Virgin appeals to overturn Network Rail's Liverpool path decision for Avanti

Virgin says Network Rail shouldn't have given Avanti West Coast permission to start running in long-disused paths.

Virgin 21 Mar

Former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh praised open access - and Lumo in particular - but the government has recently sounded a more cautious note. On January 24 2022, Lumo’s 1436 from London King’s Cross rests at Edinburgh Waverley, operated by 803002. TOM MCATEE.

Feature

The fight to open up the network

The government has cooled in its support for open access operations, but companies remain optimistic that their ambitions will reach fruition.

Policy 20 Mar

News

Class 221 runs to Wrexham as part of open access operator's training programme

Off-lease Voyager unit used by Alstom to check platforms at stations on proposed open access service between Wrexham and London.

Open access 12 Mar

Jason Chamberlain, Partner, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP

Comment

Guest comment: Will the new railway really be open to open access?

A legal view by Jason Chamberlain, Partner, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP

Industry views 10 Mar

London Overground’s 378207 is flanked by GB Railfreight’s 69003 at Clapham Junction on January 30. A South Western Railway Class 455 is in the background. PETER MUGRIDGE.

News

Industry seeks greater detail on rail reform consultation as leaders highlight areas of concern

Speakers at an All-Party Parliamentary Rail Group meeting outlined areas they'd like more detail on.

Rail reform 5 Mar

Ian Yeowart, Managing Director of Alliance Rail.

News

Grand Union writes to DfT after U-turn in stance on cross-country open access plan

Grand Union Trains' Cardiff-Edinburgh service was one of eight open access plans objected to by DfT.

Open access 4 Mar

An early concept of how a new Parkway station in Shropshire could look. WESTONWILLIAMSON+PARTNERS.

News

Open access operator and council's proposed Shrewsbury "parkway" station take step forward

Wrexham, Shropshire and Midlands Railway working with Shropshire Council on plans.

new station 3 Mar

Open access - Page 2

Alliance Rail details finalised Waterloo-Marchwood open access proposal as plan is submitted

Transport Secretary: government still sees role for open access

Interview: Ian Yeowart of GCR fame on the future of open access

"Too many challenges for approval": cross-country open access plan withdrawn

Open access operator's frustration as year-long wait for decision continues

Grand Central announces Hitachi tri-mode order after securing 11-year track access extension

Network Rail "can't support" Lumo Paignton plans as it outlines capacity concerns

Two new open access cross-country routes set to be submitted to rail regulator

"Massive untapped potential": New Channel Tunnel open access hopefuls detail plans

Three operators opt out of displaying real-time performance data at railway stations

Virgin scales back West Coast Main Line open access plan

Grand Central secures track access to Bradford and Sunderland until 2038

Grand Central plans new direct Cleethorpes London service

Virgin appeals to overturn Network Rail's Liverpool path decision for Avanti

The fight to open up the network

Class 221 runs to Wrexham as part of open access operator's training programme

Guest comment: Will the new railway really be open to open access?

Industry seeks greater detail on rail reform consultation as leaders highlight areas of concern

Grand Union writes to DfT after U-turn in stance on cross-country open access plan

Open access operator and council's proposed Shrewsbury "parkway" station take step forward

Most read

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

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

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

Open access - Page 2

Alliance Rail details finalised Waterloo-Marchwood open access proposal as plan is submitted

Transport Secretary: government still sees role for open access

Interview: Ian Yeowart of GCR fame on the future of open access

"Too many challenges for approval": cross-country open access plan withdrawn

Open access operator's frustration as year-long wait for decision continues

Grand Central announces Hitachi tri-mode order after securing 11-year track access extension

Network Rail "can't support" Lumo Paignton plans as it outlines capacity concerns

Two new open access cross-country routes set to be submitted to rail regulator

"Massive untapped potential": New Channel Tunnel open access hopefuls detail plans

Three operators opt out of displaying real-time performance data at railway stations

Virgin scales back West Coast Main Line open access plan

Grand Central secures track access to Bradford and Sunderland until 2038

Grand Central plans new direct Cleethorpes London service

Virgin appeals to overturn Network Rail's Liverpool path decision for Avanti

The fight to open up the network

Class 221 runs to Wrexham as part of open access operator's training programme

Guest comment: Will the new railway really be open to open access?

Industry seeks greater detail on rail reform consultation as leaders highlight areas of concern

Grand Union writes to DfT after U-turn in stance on cross-country open access plan

Open access operator and council's proposed Shrewsbury "parkway" station take step forward

Most read

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

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

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

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