Open access - Page 3

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

Open access operators hit back at DfT's opposition to track access bids

Operators 'unsurprised' after Department for Transport opposes eight out of nine open access applications.

Open access 20 Feb

Comment

Our thoughts on DfT opposing eight open access applications

News Editor David Stubbings and Industry Editor Richard Wilcock share their thoughts on the latest DfT feedback.

Editor's comment 17 Feb

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

News

DfT opposes eight out of nine open access applications citing revenue and performance concerns

Department for Transport said several did not meet the abstraction threshold, and raised several other concerns.

Open access 10 Feb

News

FirstGroup urges speedier response to access bids as it promotes open access operations

New report called on government to support applications saying open access is 'vital'.

FirstGroup 6 Feb

News

Consultation begins on Fawley line’s ‘cheaper than £45 million’ open access service

Ian Yeowart's Alliance Rail (Southern) plans service from Marchwood to Southampton and London Waterloo

Open access 24 Jan

News

More details of FirstGroup's Lumo plan for Paignton emerge

Operator wants to start running between London Paddington and Paignton, via Bristol, from 2028

FirstGroup 23 Jan

News

Transport Secretary's open access letter 'suggests making it harder for new applications'

Rail Partners concerned about Heidi Alexander's letter, but operators say applications meet her expectations

Open access 22 Jan

Private operator… and state-owned franchisee. Lumo 803002 (left) with the 1023 London King’s Cross to Edinburgh stands at Newcastle on February 26 2023, alongside LNER 801211 on the competing 1003 King’s Cross-Edinburgh. Despite Labour’s nationalisation plans, the government has been supportive of open access. PAUL BIGGS.

Feature

An open invitation or mixed messages for open access ?

Ministers appeared to back the latest open access deal guaranteeing private operation within a nationalised railway. Peter Plisner looks at the state of play.

Open access 22 Jan

Comment

Comment: Open access operations - is the government for or against?

The government has been sending mixed messages over its support for open access. Christian Wolmar looks at where this leaves the investing operators.

Christian Wolmar 22 Jan

News

FirstGroup calls for government to 'encourage' open access as it argues against clampdown

FirstGroup publishes report outlining benefits of open access as it outlines recommendations for improvements

Open access 21 Jan

180107 Hart of the North heads non-stop through Peterborough with an afternoon Sunderland-King’s Cross service on July 28. NEIL PULLING

News

Network Rail assessing impact of Grand Central's plan for bi-mode trains on East Coast Main Line

Open access operator is looking to replace DMU fleet if existing track access rights are renewed

Grand Central 17 Jan

Go-op board: John Hassall, Alex Lawrie, David Warren at Swindon station. JON CRAIG.

News

Open access operator Go-op begins crowdfunding campaign ahead of planned 2026 launch

Co-operative train operator needs more than £2 million to start running services in Somerset and Wiltshire

Go-op 9 Jan

Heidi Alexander. ©House of Commons/Laurie Noble

News

Transport Secretary raises open access concerns in letter to ORR

Heidi Alexander writes to rail regulator which is currently assessing a number of track access requests from open access operators

Heidi Alexander 7 Jan

Lumo 803 001 arrives at Newcastle Central forming the 1525 Edinburgh-King’s Cross on August 6 2022. Lumo is one of three open access operators on the East Coast Main Line. ANTONY GUPPY.

News

Rolling stock deadline prompted Grand Union's sale of Carmarthen open access rights to FirstGroup

Open access operator sold its rights from Paddington to South Wales after being told it couldn't use second-hand stock.

Open access 7 Jan

Hull Trains' 802302 at Goole on January 5. HULL TRAINS/PAUL LEESON TAYLOR.

News

Hull Trains introduces temporary calling point as engineering work blocks regular route

Open access operator serving station for just over a week

Hull Trains 7 Jan

News

FirstGroup's half-year results reveal plans for 'operational delivery' for rail

Company presented upbeat set of half-year results to shareholders at end of 2024.

FirstGroup 6 Jan

GWR-liveried 769946 at Basingstoke station in October 2021. MARK PIKE.

News

New open access operation planned between London Waterloo and Fawley branch

Man behind Grand Union is looking to start a new operation on the South Western Main Line from 2026

Open access 30 Dec

Comment

Comment: open access opens up new opportunities for government

Editor Dickon Ross on RAIL's coverage of the emerging role of open access in Great British Railways that could reshape the future of TOCs after nationalisation.

Editor's comment 30 Dec

Comment

Comment: FirstGroup's plans for open access expansion

An order for new trains at Newton Aycliffe is welcome, but Philip Haigh asks where are the ambitions for new stock with low floors for accessibility.

Phil Haigh 30 Dec

Lumo train enters Newcastle station. PAUL BIGGS.

News

FirstGroup targets the road market with its Lumo Paignton plan

FirstGroup has applied for permission to start six services between Paddington and Paignton via Bristol from 2028

FirstGroup 27 Dec

Open access - Page 3

Open access operators hit back at DfT's opposition to track access bids

Our thoughts on DfT opposing eight open access applications

DfT opposes eight out of nine open access applications citing revenue and performance concerns

FirstGroup urges speedier response to access bids as it promotes open access operations

Consultation begins on Fawley line’s ‘cheaper than £45 million’ open access service

More details of FirstGroup's Lumo plan for Paignton emerge

Transport Secretary's open access letter 'suggests making it harder for new applications'

An open invitation or mixed messages for open access ?

Comment: Open access operations - is the government for or against?

FirstGroup calls for government to 'encourage' open access as it argues against clampdown

Network Rail assessing impact of Grand Central's plan for bi-mode trains on East Coast Main Line

Open access operator Go-op begins crowdfunding campaign ahead of planned 2026 launch

Transport Secretary raises open access concerns in letter to ORR

Rolling stock deadline prompted Grand Union's sale of Carmarthen open access rights to FirstGroup

Hull Trains introduces temporary calling point as engineering work blocks regular route

FirstGroup's half-year results reveal plans for 'operational delivery' for rail

New open access operation planned between London Waterloo and Fawley branch

Comment: open access opens up new opportunities for government

Comment: FirstGroup's plans for open access expansion

FirstGroup targets the road market with its Lumo Paignton plan

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 3

Open access operators hit back at DfT's opposition to track access bids

Our thoughts on DfT opposing eight open access applications

DfT opposes eight out of nine open access applications citing revenue and performance concerns

FirstGroup urges speedier response to access bids as it promotes open access operations

Consultation begins on Fawley line’s ‘cheaper than £45 million’ open access service

More details of FirstGroup's Lumo plan for Paignton emerge

Transport Secretary's open access letter 'suggests making it harder for new applications'

An open invitation or mixed messages for open access ?

Comment: Open access operations - is the government for or against?

FirstGroup calls for government to 'encourage' open access as it argues against clampdown

Network Rail assessing impact of Grand Central's plan for bi-mode trains on East Coast Main Line

Open access operator Go-op begins crowdfunding campaign ahead of planned 2026 launch

Transport Secretary raises open access concerns in letter to ORR

Rolling stock deadline prompted Grand Union's sale of Carmarthen open access rights to FirstGroup

Hull Trains introduces temporary calling point as engineering work blocks regular route

FirstGroup's half-year results reveal plans for 'operational delivery' for rail

New open access operation planned between London Waterloo and Fawley branch

Comment: open access opens up new opportunities for government

Comment: FirstGroup's plans for open access expansion

FirstGroup targets the road market with its Lumo Paignton plan

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