Phil Haigh - Page 2

Comment

Heidi Alexander must deliver a railway fit for the 21st century

With GBR still several years away from managing train operations, Philip Haigh explains why the government has to fully engage with today’s railway.

Phil Haigh 13 Dec

Comment

Opinion: York’s North Eastern Railway memorial gleams for its 100th

A couple of hundred people gathered at York’s railway war memorial on a bright but nippy November 11.

Phil Haigh 3 Dec

Comment

Comment: GBR in 2026 and support for open access and freight

Philip Haigh on new Transport Secretary Louise Haigh’s debut appearance before the House of Commons Transport Select Committee.

Phil Haigh 25 Nov

Comment

Opinon: Looking back at Abermule 1921 - a head-on collision on Cambrian single line that killed 17

Philip Haigh tells the story of another Cambrian line accident over a century ago.

Phil Haigh 20 Nov

Author Phil Haigh landscape columnist image

Comment

Opinion: Rest day agreements to get Northern back on track

Too many cancellations are damaging the operator’s ability to provide a reliable railway. The issues run deeper than the use of fax machines, says Philip Haigh

Phil Haigh 19 Nov

Comment

Comment: Poor planning and lack of clarity damages rail projects

The National Infrastructure Commission has put forward key reasons why projects are late or go over budget. Philip Haigh looks at some examples.

Phil Haigh 13 Nov

Comment

Opinion: Poor planning and lack of clarity damages rail projects

The National Infrastructure Commission has identified reasons why projects are late or go over budget. Philip Haigh looks at rail's examples.

Phil Haigh 7 Nov

Do not trespass sign on siding with train passing it at speed

Comment

Trespass on the railway… and the challenging consequences

PHILIP HAIGH looks at how the railway is working to cut delays, by reducing the number of incidents when trains have to be halted because of railway trespass

Phil Haigh 16 Oct

Comment

Different types of passengers require different types of fare

Passenger numbers are close to pre-pandemic levels, but how and why people are travelling requires careful thought on any fares review, says PHILIP HAIGH

Phil Haigh 14 Oct

Greater Manchester PTE delivered the highly successful Metrolink tram network. Now Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham wants to bring more local lines into his Bee network, alongside Metrolink. On November 8 2022, Metrolink 3079 and 3049 line up at Deansgate with services to Trafford Bar and Eccles. TOM MCATEE.

Feature

Which route will rail franchising take?

A committed local approach or a more national path? Philip Haigh examines how rail franchises could be transformed in the coming years.

Regulation 14 Oct

The launch of Great British Railways could go hand-in-hand with a campaign to Put Passengers First, says Philip Haigh. Passengers stream along Platform 7 having just arrived at King’s Cross on July 13. JACK BOSKETT.

Feature

GBR: a perfect platform for ‘Putting Passengers First’

Change is on the horizon with Great British Railways. Philip Haigh advocates a national campaign to ensure it delivers for customers.

Policy 11 Oct

Comment

Staffordshire Connector: the necessary link to the North?

PHILIP HAIGH examines the report from metro mayors detailing the options for the Midlands-North West Rail Link

Phil Haigh 11 Oct

Comment

Opinion: Passenger support at stations - and making them safe for all

Philip Haigh examines two incidents which highlight the need for excellent customer service to go hand-in-hand with reliable services

Phil Haigh 27 Sept

Comment

Can public-private partnerships be made to deliver?

Philip Haigh examines what is needed for investment from both the public and private sectors to aid railway growth.

Phil Haigh 19 Sept

Iarnród Éireann 2724 waits at Gort with August 11 2010’s 0640 Galway-Limerick, as 2711 vacates the single line with the 0600 Limerick-Galway. This section of line had just reopened as the first phase of a project to restore Ireland’s Western Rail Corridor. Subsequent phases, such as Athenry to Claremorris, fell victim to economic challenges but are being put forward once again by the All-Island Strategic Rail Review. DAVID THROWER.

Comment

Analysis: Ireland's All-Island Strategic Rail Review

Ireland’s All-Island Strategic Rail Review has ambitious designs to transform and develop the countries’ rail network. Philip Haigh examines the facts and figures.

Phil Haigh 2 Sept

Comment

Opinion: How should operators do better with stranded trains?

What happens when your train is stuck, and how equipped are operators to deal with the issues that arise? A new report has some answers, says Philip Haigh.

Phil Haigh 21 Aug

Rail North Committee members expressed sympathy for Northern‘s circumstances, despite it having a worse record on cancellations than some of its fellow operators. Northern 331004 stands at Wakefield Westgate on May 8 with the 0826 Doncaster-Leeds. TOM MCATEE.

Comment

Opinion: Holding operators to account for poor punctuality

Who guards the guards is an ancient question brought into current focus by the new government’s policy of nationalising English train operators.

Phil Haigh 20 Aug

Comment

Opinion: Can HS2 be given a reboot, to put Phase 2 back on track?

Philip Haigh examines the National Audit Office report on HS2 costs, and considers what is required to reinstate the northern leg to Manchester.

Phil Haigh 6 Aug

A Northern Class 195 crosses Arnside Viaduct in Cumbria on February 27. Northern, one of the operators under DfT control, cancelled more than 2,500 services in Period 3 (May 26-June 22), owing to train crew shortages. ALAMY.

Comment

Work together to give the railway a fighting chance

Philip Haigh argues that the Department for Transport, operators and unions all have a part to play in ensuring that rail can win customers.

Phil Haigh 1 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.

Comment

The competition hots up to secure open access success

What must the Office of Rail and Road consider when weighing up the bids to run open access services on an already crowded West Coast Main Line? Philip Haigh reports

Phil Haigh 17 Jul