South west

On August 26, carrying GWR colours, 800004 Isambard Kingdom Brunel/Sir Daniel Gooch passes Worle Junction, with a training run from Exeter St Davids to Swindon. It ran from Hitachi Rail Europe’s North Pole depot to Exeter via the Berks & Hants route, then to Swindon, and then to Kemble before returning to HRE’s depot via London Paddington. DAN HASSELL.

News

South West politicians call for service improvements to offset Old Oak Common disruption

Leaders want options to improve on-train experiences when route into Paddington is closed.

Great Western Main Line 25 Feb

GWR 800016 departs Teignmouth working the 0640 Penzance to Cardiff Central on August 29 2024. The currently unfunded Phase 5 aims to prevent landslips that could cause prolonged closures along this one-mile stretch between Teignmouth and Parsons Tunnel. STEVE DONALD.

News

Final phase of South West Rail Resilience Programme still unfunded as first cost estimate emerges

Four phases have been completed, but budget for the remaining work is soon set to run out unless Phase 5 is signed off.

Devon 20 Feb

Comment

Comment: Funding confirmed for Mid Cornwall Metro

Funding confirmed for Mid Cornwall Metro is a boost for South West, says our Industry Insider.

Industry views 20 Feb

Current parking next to the original Bristol Temple Meads station. BTQLLP.

News

Plans for new transport hub and entrance to 'transform' Bristol Temple Meads unveiled

New car park, cycle hub and pedestrian access routes planned in project estimated to cost £30 million.

Bristol 31 Jan

News

Landslips close West of England line

A series of landslips blocked the West of England line at Honiton Tunnel intermittently for nearly a week from 20 August.

disruption 27 Aug

News

Three routes for Orion's logistics service this year

Routes revealed by Orion for logistics services using modified former 100mph passenger trains

3 Mar

News

Network Rail reveals next phase of Dawlish resilience scheme

Dawlish station could be protected by a new high-level promenade as part of Network Rail's resilience plans for the sea wall route

28 May

News

First concrete panels installed in new Dawlish Sea Wall

New Sea Wall starts to take shape at Dawlish

17 Feb

News

GWR launches Class 802s in service

First of Great Western Railway's new £500 million Class 802 fleet enters traffic

20 Aug

News

Dawlish sea wall studies near conclusion

Network Rail nears end of sea wall studies

12 Jul

News

EXCLUSIVE: South West “not getting a fair share” - MP Pollard

“We have three engineering problems: resilience, journey times and capacity. All three need to be addressed.” MP talks EXCLUSIVELY to RAIL

9 May

Gallery

GALLERY: GWR and Hitachi unveil first production Class 802s in Italy

Pictures from RAIL's trip to Pistoia to visit the Class 802.

12 Feb

Recently reformed CrossCountry 221144 departs Dawlish on January 26 with the 1404 Paignton-Manchester Piccadilly. 100 metres of the sea wall collapsed just beyond the station, and now almost four years later the Government is being accused of gambling with the region’s economy due to the lack of a permanent solution to the railway’s resilience. DAVID HUNT.

News

Government “gambling” with South West economy

Four years after storms closed the railway at Dawlish, the Peninsula Rail Task Force (PRTF) says Government is “gambling with the region’s economy”.

9 Feb

News

EXCLUSIVE: Concerns over franchise plans for South West

Cornwall Council and TravelWatch South West express scepticism about plans to split GWR franchise into two

19 Dec

News

EXCLUSIVE: NR confirms commitment to strengthen Dawlish defences

Network Rail’s Western Route Managing Director Mark Langman pledges NR’s commitment to making the coastal route at Dawlish more resilient.

9 Sept

An artist's impression of a South West Aventra. FIRSTGROUP.

News

Bombardier wins South Western Aventra contract

£895m deal designed to boost peak-time capacity

20 Jun

Feature

“I very firmly believe in a devolved railway”

The new Western Route Supervisory Board’s independent chairman DICK FEARN tells how the Board will work together improving the Paddington & the South West line

TOCs 20 Jun

News

The man in the middle

The Western Route Supervisory Board aims to bring track and train operation closer together. DICK FEARN explains the passenger and performance improvements

20 May

News

Passengers get a behind-the-scenes peek at the Waterloo station upgrade

Network Rail is giving passengers a behind-the-scenes look at the major upgrade of London’s Waterloo station.

16 Jan

News

Railway to bring benefits to the South West

Task Force Report cites resilience, faster journey times and improved connectivity as key

22 Nov