Policy

On September 4 2007, and by now the Chief Executive of Eurostar, Richard Brown was at Gare du Nord in Paris to mark the start of running over high-speed lines to London’s refurbished St Pancras. It was effectively the completion of the Channel Tunnel project. ALAMY.

Feature

Interview: ex-Eurostar boss Richard Brown

Richard Brown, former chief executive and chairman of Eurostar, says the plan for GBR “is quite superficial, full of ambition and fine words, with little in it”

GBR 27 Jun

An HS2 tunnel boring machine is lowered into position.

News

Stewart Review lays bare fundamental issues with HS2

Scathing report details years of chronic mismanagement and failures at all levels of HS2.

HS2 23 Jun

News

Comment: Here comes the sun

Times are tough but the Spending Review offers reasons to be cheerful and the sun is out at RAIL Live

Dickon Ross 18 Jun

Piccadilly Line train car at Siemens factory in Goole

News

Siemens Mobility CEO: Rolling Stock Strategy needs to come quickly

The recently announced 10-year infrastructure strategy should have rolling stock at its heart according to leaders from both Siemens Mobility and Alstom.

Transport Committee 16 Jun

Feature

SWR returns to the public domain - but what difference will it make?

…but what difference will it make to services and passengers? Paul Clifton canvasses the opinion of rail leaders on SWR’s past, present and future.

Policy 10 Jun

Ukrainian railway delegates at Rail Live 2024

Feature

Rail Live 2025: The agenda and subjects for day two’s seminar theatres

The agenda for Rail Live's seminar theatres includes talking points about a host of pressing industry concerns, with insights from attending experts.

Engineering 3 Jun

Ben Plowden, Chief Executive Officer at the Campaign for Better Transport.

Feature

Interview: “The railway is an essential public service” - Ben Plowden

As Ben Plowden takes over as Chief Executive Officer at the Campaign for Better Transport, Anthony Lambert talks with him about his rail reform priorities.

Policy 29 May

Comment

Comment: South Wales project shows visions can become reality

In terms of transport policy, Wales is well ahead of the rest of the UK, says Christian Wolmar.

Christian Wolmar 26 May

News

Lord Blunkett-led review aims to fix Yorkshire's broken rail system

A review led by Lord David Blunkett has unveiled a sweeping, phased rail investment blueprint for Yorkshire, which it hopes will revolutionise connectivity across the region and inject billions into the local and national economy.

Policy 16 May

Comment

Comment: Great British Railways and the balance of power

Differing rail sectors are all pushing for their interests to be protected under the Department for Transport’s new industry body, says Philip Haigh.

Phil Haigh 12 May

Comment

Comment: Devolution revolution… and Great British Railways

The tensions between local and central decision-making for rail.

Editor's comment 7 Apr

Two areas in England that already have devolution are Greater Manchester and the West Midlands. On December 30 2024, 323206 (formerly named Barnt Green) waits at Manchester Piccadilly with the 2006 service to Crewe. Despite its West Midlands livery, the ‘323’ is actually in the service of Northern, being one of 17 such cascaded away from the Midlands in 2023-24. TOM MCATEE.

Feature

Rail devolution… and integration

The English Devolution White Paper and the government’s rail reform consultation are together proposing a major shift of power from central to local government.

Policy 2 Apr