UK rail product acceptance takes too long, costs too much & prevents innovation. An anecdote or a fact - it is actually quite hard to separate feelings from facts in this topic. For 6 months, I worked for the Office of Rail and Road, benchmarking the UK against European best practice (1/2)

Upskilling for overhead electrification work UK: QTS Group's electrification subsidiary REL has delivered a pilot training programme designed to upskill the next generation of overhead line equipment linesmen and support the long-term future of the sector.

Upskilling for overhead electrification work www.railwaygazette.com/uk/upskilling-for-overhe...

Pendolino windscreen cleaning regime revised UK: Alstom and contractor OCS have developed a revised approach to cleaning the windscreens of Avanti West Coast's Pendolino inter-city train fleet.

Pendolino windscreen cleaning regime revised www.railwaygazette.com/uk/pendolino-windscreen-...

Delivery phases replace connection stages in updated Oxford to Cambridge railway plan UK: Oxford to Cambridge railway corridor project promoter East West Railway Co has announced updated proposals including an 'accelerated' construction programme and a target of up to five trains an hour on the full future route.

Delivery phases replace connection stages in updated Oxford to Cambridge railway plan www.railwaygazette.com/uk/delivery-phases-repla...

Rail industry to phase out signal post telephones in resignalling projects UK: The Rail Safety & Standards Board's Industry Leadership Group has agreed to Network Rail's request to stop the provision of signal post telephones during resignalling works, starting with a project in Fife.

Rail industry to phase out signal post telephones in resignalling projects www.railwaygazette.com/uk/rail-industry-to-phas...

TMS Maritime completes seawall repairs UK: TMS Maritime has completed repairs to the sea wall between Dawlish and Teignmouth, where the seaward face suffered significant damage from Storm Chandra and a substantial sink hole closed the footpath adjacent to the line.

TMS Maritime completes seawall repairs www.railwaygazette.com/uk/tms-maritime-complete...

UK railway news round-up This week's round-up of business news from the UK railway industry.

UK railway news round-up www.railwaygazette.com/uk/uk-railway-news-round...

Passenger train services return to Birmingham’s Camp Hill line UK: Passenger services were reinstated on the Camp Hill line on April 7, restoring a service that was withdrawn in 1941 owing to coal shortages during the Second World War. Tony Miles reports from Birmingham.

Passenger train services return to Birmingham’s Camp Hill line www.railwaygazette.com/uk/passenger-train-servi...

Great Western passengers feel the joys of spring UK: Great Western Railway is testing the EcoSeat, which uses pocket spring technology more commonly found in mattresses.

Great Western passengers feel the joys of spring www.railwaygazette.com/uk/great-western-passeng...

Surplus coal wagons rebuilt for construction traffic UK: Heavy Haul Rail has taken delivery of the last of 76 rebuilt MWA-C box wagons for carrying construction materials and other bulk traffic; these were originally used to carry coal.

Surplus coal wagons rebuilt for construction traffic www.railwaygazette.com/uk/surplus-coal-wagons-r...

Apprentice Customer Drivers qualify ahead of Lumo’s West Coast launch UK: The first apprentice drivers for open access operator Lumo's London to Stirling service have completed training ahead of the launch, which is planned by July.

Apprentice Customer Drivers qualify ahead of Lumo’s West Coast launch www.railwaygazette.com/uk/apprentice-customer-d...

West Midlands Metro extended to Millennium Point UK: Tram operator West Midland Metro opened the first stage of its Birmingham Eastside extension on April 5.

West Midlands Metro extended to Millennium Point www.railwaygazette.com/light-rail-and-tram/west...

‘Global first’ in London tram track renewals UK: In what supplier Sika says is a world first, contractor VolkerRail has installed polymer rail grout on a section of embedded track on the London Trams network using a machine instead of manual application.

‘Global first’ in London tram track renewals www.railwaygazette.com/light-rail-and-tram/glob...

Loram partnership to expand One Big Circle’s circumference around the world UK: US-headquartered track maintenance and monitoring company Loram has acquired a minority stake in One Big Circle in a strategic partnership which aims to combine Automated Intelligent Video Review technology with Loram's global reach and rail infrastructure expertise.

Loram partnership to expand One Big Circle’s circumference around the world www.railwaygazette.com/uk/loram-partnership-to-...

UK railway news round-up This week's round-up of business news from the UK railway industry.

UK railway news round-up www.railwaygazette.com/uk/uk-railway-news-round...

Lumo reveals first glimpse of refurbished Class 222 trains as West Coast base opens UK: FirstGroup's open access operator Lumo hopes to order new-build battery-electric trainsets if it secures longer acess rights to run its upcoming London to Stirling services.

Lumo reveals first glimpse of refurbished Class 222 trains as West Coast base opens www.railwaygazette.com/uk/lumo-reveals-first-gl...

Train operator trials tool to optimise timetables during unplanned disruption UK: Inter-city train operator Avanti West Coast is trialling a timetable optimisation tool developed to boost service reliability during unplanned disruption such as speed restrictions or line closures.

Train operator trials tool to optimise timetables during unplanned disruption www.railwaygazette.com/uk/train-operator-trials...

Investors to fund London Overground shuttle train services UK: Investors Yoo Capital and DFI are to fund a peak-time London Overground shuttle service between Clapham Junction, Kensington (Olympia) and Shepherd's Bush as part of a £1·3bn regeneration of the Olympia events venue as an entertainment destination.

Investors to fund London Overground shuttle train services www.railwaygazette.com/uk/investors-to-fund-lon...

Investor to increase stake in Thameslink train fleet UK: Denmark-based energy and decarbonisation infrastructure investor AIP Management has signed an agreement to acquire an additional stake in Cross London Trains, which owns the Thameslink fleet.

Investor to increase stake in Thameslink train fleet www.railwaygazette.com/uk/investor-to-increase-...

Freight operator adopts virtual training technology UK: GB Railfreight is using Apple Vision Pro headsets and spatial computing from JigSpace to provide crew with remote training on the layout of its Stadler Class 99 locomotives ahead of their entry into service.

Freight operator adopts virtual training technology www.railwaygazette.com/uk/freight-operator-adop...

Viewpoint: Rebuilding trust in British precision manufacturing is an economic imperative, not nostalgia The assumption that sourcing rolling stock components from overseas is always cheaper and therefore better value no longer holds true, argues Andrew McClusky, Managing Director of precision surface coating specialist BEP Surface Technologies.

Viewpoint: Rebuilding trust in British precision manufacturing is an economic imperative, not nostalgia www.railwaygazette.com/uk/viewpoint-rebuilding-...

Hydrogen companies agree traction technology collaboration UK: Hydrogen and electric vehicle electrical system supplier Hypermotive and hydrogen traction technology company Vanguard STS have agreed to collaborate to accelerate the deployment of commercial hydrogen-powered rail vehicles and equipment.

Hydrogen companies agree traction technology collaboration www.railwaygazette.com/uk/hydrogen-companies-ag...

Train ticket changes will push corporate travellers to cars, says Business Travel Association UK: The Business Travel Association says changes to rail ticket refund rules will penalise the 'lowest-risk, highest-yielding customers' and give travel management companies and corporate clients insufficient time to adapt.

Train ticket changes will push corporate travellers to cars, says Business Travel Association www.railwaygazette.com/uk/train-ticket-changes-...

Alstom accredited as a LGBTQ+ Trailblazing Employer UK: Alstom has been recognised as a Trailblazing Employer in Stonewall's Proud Employers Accreditation scheme for organisations demonstrating commitment to LQBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace.

Alstom accredited as a LGBTQ+ Trailblazing Employer www.railwaygazette.com/uk/alstom-accredited-as-...

UK railway news round-up This week's round-up of business news from the UK railway industry.

UK railway news round-up www.railwaygazette.com/uk/uk-railway-news-round...

GB Railfreight CEO John Smith to step back after 25 years UK: Freight operator GB Railfreight has announced that founder and Chief Executive John Smith is to step back from his role, and the company and its shareholder Infracapital have begun the process of appointing his replacement as part of long-standing succession planning.

GB Railfreight CEO John Smith to step back after 25 years www.railwaygazette.com/uk/gb-railfreight-ceo-jo...

GB Railfreight CEO John Smith to step back after 25 years UK: Freight operator GB Railfreight has announced that founder and Chief Executive John Smith is to step back from his role, and the company and its shareholder Infracapital have begun the process of ...

GB Railfreight has announced that founder and Chief Executive John Smith is to step back from his role, and the company and its shareholder Infracapital have begun the process of appointing his replacement as part of long-standing succession planning www.railwaygazette.com/uk/gb-railfr...

Engineers take advantage of emergency closure of Glasgow Central station UK: Glasgow Central station has fully reopened following disruption caused by a major fire in an adjacent commercial building, with Network Rail having taken the opportunity of the unexpected closure ...

Glasgow Central station has fully reopened following disruption caused by a major fire in an adjacent building, with Network Rail having taken the opportunity of the unexpected closure of Scotland’s busiest station to undertake maintenance and renewal works
www.railwaygazette.com/uk/engineers...

AtkinsRéalis awarded £98m signalling contract UK: Network Rail has awarded AtkinsRéalis a £98m three-year contract to upgrade signalling and telecoms under the Havant area relock and recontrol project.

Network Rail has awarded AtkinsRéalis a £98m three-year contract to upgrade signalling and telecoms under the Havant area relock and recontrol project www.railwaygazette.com/uk/atkinsrea...

Engineers take advantage of emergency closure of Glasgow Central station UK: Glasgow Central station has fully reopened following disruption caused by a major fire in an adjacent commercial building, with Network Rail having taken the opportunity of the unexpected closure of Scotland's busiest station to undertake maintenance and renewal works that would normally have taken around 10 months to complete.

Engineers take advantage of emergency closure of Glasgow Central station www.railwaygazette.com/uk/engineers-take-advant...