Rail Review Q2 2024

Comment

How we can modernise the retail experience…

Transport Focus Director Natasha Grace considers how any fares and ticketing reform should take into account the role of station staff

Passengers 22 Jul

Comment

A level playing field

Anthony Smith, chair of the trade body Independent Rail Retailers, discusses how the organisation’s members can fuel growth

Passengers 11 Jul

"I’m not that young - I drove a bus for 12 years. But I do feel like I am in the bottom half of the age range here" - Donna Pryce

Feature

Finding and keeping diverse new talent

With a looming ‘retirement bulge’ in the industry, Paul Clifton visits Southern’s Selhurst Depot, and looks at efforts to widen candidate selection

Staff and employment 8 Jul

Led by a Nederlandse Spoorwegen Vectron locomotive, the Berlin-Amsterdam inter-city service (which is operated by Deutsche Bahn together with Nederlandse Spoorwegen) is about to leave Berlin Hauptbanhof on May 8. ALAMY.

Feature

European differences and similarities

Labour would pursue a slow renationalisation if elected on Thursday. Steve Medhurst looks at how other European countries operate their railways

Policy 3 Jul

Comment

Rail freight’s serious problems…

… but Phil Mortimer offers ways in which he believes the sector can improve its future without excessive Whitehall involvement

Freight 1 Jul

Comment

The role of private finance

Russell Jackson argues the case for private investment to help deliver much-needed rail infrastructure projects

Finance 1 Jul

Feature

Ticketless please! Slow march to a digital world

Simpler ticketing is high on the politicians' and passengers' wishlists. Tom Edwards looks at successful examples of pay-as-you-go systems in London.

Passengers 28 Jun

TransPennine Express 802203 crosses Sankey Viaduct with the 0824 Liverpool Lime Street-Newcastle on April 9 2023. TPE is one of the operators currently under the control of the DfT’s Operator of Last Resort - so effectively under public ownership. JAMIE SQUIBBS.

Comment

Conservative and Labour: comparing the policies

Ian Tucker compares the rail policies of the two main parties fighting the election on July 4th.

Policy 28 Jun

Inside a Class 321 Varamis Rail train. Pic: PAUL CLIFTON

Feature

New freight entrants and the obstacles they face

The newest entrant to the rail freight market is parcels carrier Varamis. Paul Clifton asks founder Phil Read what he needs from an incoming government.

Freight 25 Jun

The Rail Freight Group is asking for freight capacity to be protected and safeguarded for growth. Freightliner 66550 charges through Colchester on August 10 2023, with the 0459 Trafford Park-Felixstowe North intermodal. PAUL BIGGS.

Comment

The next government must turbo-charge freight growth

Maggie Simpson on measures the next government must take to boost the freight sector and beat targets

Freight 24 Jun

Freightliner 66504 overshadowed by Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station. The company wants guaranteed train paths. Pic: JACK BOSKETT

Feature

What rail freight needs to survive and thrive

Train operators, container port owners and supply chain experts describe the paths that the government and the freight companies should take for growth.

Policy 24 Jun

Andrew Haines, Chief Executive Network Rail

Feature

Exclusive: Andrew Haines on GBR and the future of rail

Network Rail Chief Executive Andrew Haines believes the industry needs to change after 30 years of stagnation.

Policy 17 Jun

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.

Feature

Open access under a new government

The Government has approved new open access operators. Labour says it will retain the concept if it wins the election. Paul Clifton hears from the operators.

Open access 14 Jun

LNER 801225 races north on the East Coast Main Line between Huntingdon and Abbots Ripton with a London King’s Cross-Edinburgh service on May 4. ALAMY.

Comment

Time to slow down the East Coast Main Line

Gareth Dennis argues the case for more trains stopping at more stations, to ease the capacity crunch

TOCs 13 Jun

A Greater Anglia passenger train crosses over the M25 at Brentwood.

Comment

My manifesto for rail to thrive

Sir Michael Holden, chairman of the Editorial Board of RAIL’s business title RailReview, examines the records of the two parties and delivers his own manifesto

Policy 10 Jun