RailReview

Britain lags behind other European countries in light rail construction. Our newest piece of tramway is the Blackpool Tramway’s Talbot Road branch, which officially opened in June 12 2024. ALAMY.

Feature

Why the UK needs more trams and how to make more of them

“People like trams” says former Campaign for Better Transport Director Norman Baker. So why not build more?

Light rail 30 Jan

Comment

Comment: The railway will still need fixing - quickly

Rail Partners Chief Executive Andy Bagnall is about to wind up his organisation but leaves with this plea to government on GBR.

Policy 30 Dec

Andy Bagnall, Chief Executive of Rail Partners. RAIL PARTNERS

Comment

Opinion: Moving fast on rail reform: but will things be fixed?

The government should not be blaming the private sector for all the problems the railway faces, says Andy Bagnall, Chief Executive of Rail partners.

Industry views 26 Sept

Olly Glover MP Didcot and Wantage (Liberal Democrat)

Comment

Guest Opinion: Our railway needs a lot more now than nationalisation

Sidestep the public vs private debate and focus more closely on better public transport, says the new Liberal Democrat MP Olly Glover.

Industry views 24 Sept

London Northwestern Railway 350241 pauses at Watford Junction Platform 8 on May 23 2019 with the 1027 service to Tring. STEPHEN ROBERTS

Comment

Bradshaw’s Britain: destination Bletchley

Stephen Roberts’ latest trip based on his 1863 Bradshaw’s Guide takes him from Watford Junction to the home of the Second World War codebreakers.

Industry views 6 Aug

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

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

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

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

Cancelled sign Beast from East 2018 ALAMY M67DBC

Feature

Railway dependability: are we too risk-averse?

Every week now, there is a significant infrastructure failure. There is a growing perception that the railway is less dependable than before.

Health and wellbeing 6 Jun

Transport Secretary Mark Harper 2024 ALAMY

Feature

The Rail Reform Bill: does it help or hinder?

With a general election soon, will February's Rail Reform Bill provide some clarity about the future? Conrad Landin reports

Policy 6 Jun

The crumpled wreckage of the Birmingham-Glasgow TPO at Rickerscote in March 1996. The collision claimed the life of a postal worker. PRESS ASSOCIATION.

Comment

What do passengers want and expect?

No passenger wants an unsafe railway, but do they want one that closes to avoid any risk?

Passengers 30 May

Feature

The changing role of our railway stations

Innovations to improve Britain’s stations often meet stumbling blocks in the form of red tape. PETER PLISNER investigates some of the ways train companies have been breaking through the regulations.

Stations 2 May

The Alpine topography presents challenges for Swiss Federal Railways. ALAMY.

Feature

Extreme weather: are they coping in Europe?

Safety is the priority, but are we at risk of losing the year-round resilience of the railway? Ben Jones looks at how other European railways manage performance when the weather does its worst.

Health and wellbeing 17 Apr

Feature