Virgin is reported to be making another bid to stay in the rail industry. This time, it is looking at international trains through the Channel Tunnel, and seeking to raise £700 million for potential routes between London and cities like Paris and Brussels, in competition with Eurostar. Richard Branson’s Virgin Group won two franchises at the start of privatisation in 1997, but lost the CrossCountry franchise to Arriva in 2007 and Intercity West Coast to FirstGroup and Trenitalia in 2019. In the meantime, it acquired 10 per cent of the Intercity East Coast franchise in 2015 in partnership with majority holder Stagecoach, but lost that franchise in 2018 when it failed and was renationalised as LNER. Virgin has since launched a separate business as a third-party ticket retailer, and has also submitted an application for up to five open access routes from London Euston. These applications have yet to be decided by the Office of Rail and Road, but the Department for Transport has declined to support them, saying that ‘We do not believe that the quantum of paths sought is feasible or realistic and note that the WCML already operates at close to capacity, particularly into/out of London Euston. ‘This application is also at odds with work already underway as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade.’ International routes like the line to the Channel Tunnel have been open access since 2010, but a competitor for Eurostar has yet to be launched, although Deutsche Bahn toyed with the idea before the 2012 Olympics, and more recently Spanish Evolyn has unveiled a proposal to start services linking London and Paris, using Alstom rolling stock. Virgin Group wants to raise £300 million in equity and £400 million in debt, according to the Financial Times. Virgin is quoted as saying: ‘The cross-Channel route is ripe for change and would benefit from competition. While Virgin is not committing to launching a service just yet, we are seeking investment from like-minded partners to invest alongside Virgin and we are delighted with the progress made so far.’ The owners of the HS1 concession, which has been renamed London St Pancras Highspeed, signed a memorandum of understanding with Eurotunnel’s parent company Getlink last month, in what is being described as a ‘landmark partnership’ intended to increase the growth of cross-Channel traffic, possibly adding services to Germany and Switzerland. The number of international passengers through St Pancras could be tripled. There is one problem, which concerns depot capacity. Any further international operator would need to use Temple Mills in east London, but Eurostar is opposing this, telling the ORR last September that an application for depot access from Evolyn was ‘presumptive and lacked essential detail’. The ORR has commissioned an independent study. Temple Mills, opened on 2 October 2007, was the successor to the original Eurostar depot at Old Oak Common, which was needed for domestic purposes. Do you have a comment on this story? Please click here  to send an email to Platform at Railnews. Moderated comments will be published on this site, and may also be used in the next print edition.

An unexploded bomb from World War Two has been unearthed near Paris Gare du Nord station, and all Eurostar services between London and Paris have been cancelled, along with many domestic train services in the Paris region. Eurostars are continuing to run from London to Brussels and Amsterdam, but trains between Amsterdam and Paris have also been cancelled. The discovery of the bomb near Saint-Denis was made during work overnight. Eurostar has apologised for the disruption.

The RMT has announced that former railway worker Eddie Dempsey has been elected unopposed as the new general secretary. He was previously senior assistant general secretary, and will take over from Mick Lynch tomorrow. The RMT said he has ‘pledged to continue RMT’s tradition of industrial strength and tough negotiation to protect members’ interests’. He joined the railway in 2008 and has worked as a member of station staff and also as a train driver. Outgoing general secretary Mick Lynch welcomed the election and expressed confidence in his leadership. He said: ‘It has been an honour to serve as RMT general secretary, representing our members in their struggles for better pay terms and conditions. Eddie Dempsey is a committed trade unionist who has played a pivotal role in our union's recent successes. ‘He has the experience, determination, and leadership qualities to take RMT forward, and I have every confidence that he will continue to stand up for our members with strength and resolve.’ Eddie Dempsey said he was ‘honoured’ to have been chosen. He continued: ‘Our union has a proud history of standing up for working people, and I will ensure that continues. The challenges ahead are significant, but we will meet them with the same unity, strength, and determination that defines RMT. ‘I want to pay tribute to Mick Lynch for his leadership and dedication to our members – he has set a high bar, and I will do my utmost to build on his legacy.’ Do you have a comment on this story? Please click here  to send an email to Platform at Railnews. Moderated comments will be published on this site, and may also be used in the next print edition.

Current performance statistics are being displayed at National Rail stations for the first time, after the previous transport secretary Louise Haigh promised in November that the public would be soon be able to ‘hold us to account’. The data streams went live at more than 1,700 stations this morning. The figures, which cover the 14 operators in England with National Rail Contracts or those which have already been renationalised, are being displayed on screens at larger stations. Other operators are included if they have agreed. The figures can also be retrieved on line if passengers scan a QR code, or visit the Office of Rail and Road data portal. The statistics show the percentage of trains cancelled and how punctual trains are at each station. A train is officially ‘on time’ if it is no more than three minutes late. The displays also include brief information about any work being carried out by the operators and Network Rail to improve performance in the area, with the aim of ‘informing and assuring passengers’ about what is being done. Transport secretary Heidi Alexander is visiting Reading station today. She said: ‘Today marks the beginning of a new era of rail accountability. ‘These displays are a step towards rebuilding trust with passengers using our railways, as we continue to tackle the root causes of frustrating delays and cancellations. ‘Through fundamental rail reform, we’re sweeping away decades of dysfunctionality – putting passengers first, driving growth through connectivity as part of this government’s Plan for Change.’ Rail Delivery Group chair and chief executive Jacqueline Starr added: ‘We know how frustrating it is for customers when their train is cancelled or delayed. By being transparent with this data and the positive actions we’re taking, it shows how serious the industry is in putting this right by continuing to strive for improvements. ‘This send a clear message to customers the rail sector is committed to improving punctuality and to find solutions to make train services more reliable.’ Watchdog Transport Focus is urging operators to use the data to analyse where problems are occurring and take appropriate action. Transport Focus director Natasha Grice said: ‘Passengers tell us they want a reliable, on-time train service and will welcome improvements to information about the punctuality of their service and cancellations being shared more transparently. It’s important that the industry uses this information to drive up performance.’ Do you have a comment on this story? Please click here  to send an email to Platform at Railnews. Moderated comments will be published on this site, and may also be used in the next print edition.

HS2 Ltd has launched a search for 30 graduates in a range of disciplines to join its 31,000-strong workforce this year. The news comes in the wake of the latest report about the high speed project from the Commons Public Accounts Committee, which has said that delays and rising costs are damaging the country’s reputation, and that the struggling project has become a ‘casebook example’ of how not to run such a scheme. HS2’s new chief executive Mark Wild has admitted that there has been a ‘failure in management’. But construction is continuing, and digital engineering graduates will be given the chance to join the staff building the stations, bridges and viaducts, while there will be further opportunities in HS2’s environment, finance, project management, project controls, procurement, digital analytics, asset management and commercial groups. HS2 Ltd said the programmes are designed to help graduates develop a broad understanding of major infrastructure projects. Learners will complete six-month rotational placements, working in different departments concerned with their specialist subject. Head of people development Karen Davis said: ‘Stepping straight into a role that complements to your studies is every graduate’s dream, and I’m delighted that we’re able to extend this opportunity again this year. ‘The sheer scale and significance of HS2 makes it a great place to learn and those who join us will have the opportunity to work alongside some of the very best in the industry, putting them on track for a rewarding future.’ Do you have a comment on this story? Please click here  to send an email to Platform at Railnews. Moderated comments will be published on this site, and may also be used in the next print edition.

The first 13 places to be visited by the Railway 200 exhibition train ‘Inspiration’ from 27 June have been announced. The four-coach train will open to the public for the first time at the Severn Valley Railway between 27 June and 6 July. The train is expected to visit 60 locations over 12 months, with some of its contents arranged by the National Railway Museum. Rail’s innovation and pioneering pedigree will be explored in a ‘Railway Firsts’ coach, highlighting landmark moments in the development of the railway. Alongside will be a ‘Wonderlab on Wheels’, inviting visitors to test their engineering skills with a range of interactive exhibits. This will be next to a carriage called ‘Your Railway Future’, explaining some of the less well-known jobs in rail and encouraging people to join the industry. There will also be a ‘Partner Zone’, offering free, flexible exhibition space. The carriages, which are currently being fitted out, are supported by a £250,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The train will be operated by GB Railfreight. After the Severn Valley, the train’s next 12 dates are Birmingham Moor Street station from 8 to 10 July, London Euston from 12 to 15 July, London Waterloo on 18 and 19 July, Margate station on 20 and 21 July, the Bluebell Railway from 23 to 29 July, Alstom Derby from 1 to 3 August, Norwich station from 7 to 10 August, Lowestoft station from 11 to 14 August, Freightliner Doncaster on 16 and 17 August, the National Railway Museum in York from 23 to 31 August, Darlington station from 10 to 17 September and the Locomotion Museum at Shildon in County Durham from 20 September to 1 October. The Shildon visit will coincide with the 200th anniversary of the first passenger train to be hauled by a steam locomotive, which ran along the Stockton & Darlington Railway on 27 September 1825. The organisers say further details will be announced ‘as local arrangements and the complex train planning process’ continue, and that the train will visit all regions of England as well as Scotland and Wales. Railway 200 programme manager Emma Roberts said: ‘This special exhibition train will provide a unique experience for hundreds of thousands of people across Britain, including many schoolchildren. ‘Inspiration’ will excite, enlighten, entertain and encourage people to take a fresh view of the railway, as part of its bicentenary celebrations. ‘It will also invite visitors to consider a career in rail. We look forward to welcoming them on board for an unforgettable and potentially life-changing experience.’ Do you have a comment on this story? Please click here  to send an email to Platform at Railnews. Moderated comments will be published on this site, and may also be used in the next print edition.

City Mayors have made a new bid to make sure that they have a ‘central role’ in running railway services in their areas, as the Rail Reform Bill takes shape. One of several uncertainties about the detail of railway reform is how Mayors in the city regions and other combined authorities will work effectively with the national ‘directing mind’ Great British Railways. The Urban Transport Group has published a new report, ‘Harnessing the opportunity of our local railways’, which makes the case for integration. This will include decisions about local rail being made at a local level without departing from national policy. Greater Manchester has voiced ambitions to include local railways in its integrated Bee Network, as Transport for London already does. TfL has been operating various suburban lines under the badge Overground since 2007. But the creation of London Overground by former mayor Ken Livingstone required the agreement of the Department for Transport, which had just taken over responsibility for National Rail franchises. The Government has launched a consultation on rail reform, ahead of the planned Rail Reform Bill. The report includes a series of recommendations which include a duty for GBR to work with devolved authorities to ensure that any plans reflect local ambitions for growth and for rail. It also discusses timetabling, fares and ticketing, and stations. Urban Transport Group director Jason Prince said: ‘We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine our railways and harness the potential for rail to become part of devolved and fully integrated local transport networks. ‘As a minimum, rail reform should ensure that there is a clear duty on central government to devolve powers and funding on local rail to devolved leaders and authorities, where this would bring enhanced outcomes for communities and taxpayers. ‘If our railways are to contribute to the Government’s Plan for Change and help to grow local economies, it is devolved leaders who are best placed to ensure passengers and businesses are front and centre of plans for local rail services.’ Do you have a comment on this story? Please click here  to send an email to Platform at Railnews. Moderated comments will be published on this site, and may also be used in the next print edition.

The struggling HS2 project has become a ‘casebook example’ of how not to run such a scheme, according to a committee of MPs. The Public Accounts Committee, which has often criticised the management of HS2 in the past, said the Department for Transport and government development company HS2 Ltd had failed to work together effectively. HS2 now being run by its new chief executive Mark Wild, but he conceded at the end of last year that ‘the programme is in a very serious situation that requires a fundamental reset to enable it to be delivered to the lowest feasible cost’. The Committee has also warned that what remains of the HS2 project is now a ‘reputational risk’ to the UK, and is urging the government to explain what taxpayers can now expect as a return on their investment. As a ‘fundamental reset’ had been prescribed by Mr Wild, the Committee said it would be seeking details of how improvements will be made. However, it continues that ‘neither DfT nor HS2 Ltd currently have the skills or capabilities to make a success of the programme’, noting that gaps have emerged in the past concerning such things as risk management and assurance, project management and project controls. It says it is ‘not convinced that DfT has sufficiently considered how it can bring fresh thinking to its own leadership of HS2, or whether it has the right skills and capabilitie to lead the programme effectively and credibly’. Other unresolved matters include the plight of people who have been affected by the acquisition of their property. The Committee says people may welcome the opportunity to buy it back, but they have been waiting for answers ‘for years’. The report calls for such cases to be addressed ‘sympathetically and rapidly, particularly where this was someone’s home’. Also on the Committee’s list of targets are Euston station and the now notorious bat tunnel, which runs for a kilometre and is costing £100 million, figures ‘which did not strike the right balance between protecting wildlife and the burden on the taxpayer’. Euston station plans now depend on a significant part being played by the private sector, but the Committee is ‘sceptical the private sector will come forward to the level required. In the meantime, local businesses, residents and passengers will continue to face significant disruption at Euston for many years to come.’ Total costs could now be approaching £80 billion, and the report is pessimistic about the likelihood of making significant savings. Public Accounts Committee chair Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown said: ‘Our Committee has not made recommendations in our report on delivering better outcomes for HS2’s future passengers. We are long past that point. It is time to deal with HS2 as what it is – a cautionary tale that should be studied by future Governments in how not to run a major project. We are sceptical of Government’s ability to successfully deliver even a curtailed scheme, one which we already know will on its face bring very poor value for money. The question has instead become: what possible benefit can the Government now salvage for the taxpayer, from a mess that presents real risks to the UK’s overall reputation? ‘The Government must now look to future, and deliver on its responsibilities to Parliament and the wider public – through the lens of its accountability to the PAC.’ HS2 Ltd said that Mark Wild agreed with the Committee’s view that there had been a ‘failure in management’. It continued: ‘He is taking decisive action to get the project back on track at the lowest feasible cost. His fundamental reset is critical to ensure the successful delivery of HS2’s goals – driving economic growth and connecting our biggest cities with fast and reliable journeys.’ The High Speed Rail Group, which represents suppliers, said the report identified ‘the damaging consequences of government interventions of the last two years. Each and every change in scope has added to the delays and costs.’ The DfT has responded to the report by saying: ‘The continuously climbing costs of HS2 are completely unacceptable. That is why the government acted swiftly to get the project back under control by bringing new leadership to HS2 Ltd, directing the company to begin work on resetting culture, schedule and costs, and reinstating robust ministerial oversight.’ Do you have a comment on this story? Please click here  to send an email to Platform at Railnews. Moderated comments will be published on this site, and may also be used in the next print edition.

A call for MSPs to scrap planned rail fare increases in Scotland on 1 April has been outvoted by the SNP and Liberal Democrats, who supported an SNP amendment calling for the increases to go ahead. The Green Party had tabled a motion during opposition debate time which said the forthcoming 3.8 per cent increase should be reversed, that peak time fares should be scrapped permanently, and that simplified integrated ticketing should be introduced on ScotRail. A previous pilot in which peak fares were experimentally suspended ended in August last year. At the time, transport secretary Fiona Hyslop said: ‘The pilot primarily benefited existing train passengers and those with medium to higher incomes. Although passenger levels increased to a maximum of around 6.8 per cent, it would require a 10 per cent increase in passenger numbers for the policy to be self-financing.’ Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell said: ‘I am deeply disappointed that MSPs across the chamber voted to oppose our motion and to keep these punishing fares in place. This is another hammer blow to workers, students and commuters who are already struggling with rising bills in every corner of their lives. ‘Fares in Scotland are already among the most expensive in Europe. We badly need action to cut the cost and make rail travel more affordable for all. We need to stop financially penalising people who have no say in the times they have to catch the train. ‘ScotRail is publicly owned. We need to use that control to build a modern green railway and encourage people to leave their cars at home. If we are serious about cutting emissions then we need to boost public transport, and rail is a crucial part of that. Travelling by car should never seem like the only option available, because it costs both people and planet in the long run.’ Meanwhile, regulated fares in England will rise by 4.6 per cent on Sunday. The rise will be one percentage point above last July’s Retail Price Index, which is normally used as the base for rail fare increases. The government has defended the rise, saying: ‘It's the lowest absolute increase in three years.’ The price of most Railcards will also go up from £30 to £35. In London, TfL Underground and rail fares will rise by 4.6 per cent, but tram and bus fares will not change. Regulated fare increases will also be 4.6 per cent on average in Wales, but some fares could rise by as much as 6 per cent, because Transport for Wales will be applying different increases to each category of fare. Anytime Day Return fares and Off Peak Return fares will both increase by 6 per cent but Seven-Day Season tickets will increase by 3.5 per cent and Anytime Day Singles by 3 per cent. Transport secretary Ken Skates said: ‘We understand that any increase in fares is unwelcome for passengers, but we have tried to keep the increase as low as possible. It is also important to recognise that the increasing majority of passengers no longer use these regulated products. ‘They are a vestige of the privatised railway, established to ensure that private operators could not drive huge increases in fares to maximise their profits at the expense of passengers. It is my hope that with the progress of rail reform, the return of railway services into the public sector will see the end of the need for regulated rail fares.’ Transport Focus chief executive Alex Robertson said: ‘Our research shows there is a clear mismatch between ticket prices and the service people expect to receive for what they have paid. This needs to change. ‘Passengers also know that someone must pay for the railway and funding can only come from fares or taxes. We recognise the difficult balance that must be struck between these two sources of income and that the Secretary of State must ultimately decide where the line is drawn. ‘What passengers will rightly expect now is to see improvements for the money they have paid. A simpler, easier to understand fare structure also can’t come soon enough and would attract more people back onto the railway.’ Paul Tuohy from the Campaign for Better Transport said: ‘Raising rail fares above inflation and hiking the cost of railcards is a kick in the teeth for people who rely on public transport, especially those on low income. Doing this at the same time as keeping fuel duty frozen sends entirely the wrong message. To tackle air pollution, congestion and climate change, we need to make public transport the attractive, affordable choice.’ Do you have a comment on this story? Please click here  to send an email to Platform at Railnews. Moderated comments will be published on this site, and may also be used in the next print edition.

A Class 465 Networker unit has made a journey back in time, by being repainted in Network SouthEast livery. The units were built for NSE services by British Rail, and the train was unveiled at London Charing Cross to mark the Railway 200 festival. It was named for guest of honour Chris Green (pictured in 2011), who was the first managing director of Network SouthEast when the business was launched in June 1986. He later moved to take charge at InterCity before British Rail was broken up under privatisation from 1994. Chris Green said: ‘I remain immensely proud of everything Network SouthEast accomplished and the foundations it built for today’s railway – particularly in and around south-east London and parts of Kent. We showed what can be achieved by working together across track and train and putting customers at the heart of our decision making. ‘Today’s event was a wonderful reminder of that period of time and an opportunity to recognise the role the Networker fleet played in developing Network SouthEast, as well as the role the fleet continues to play across Southeastern today. I am grateful for today’s recognition and I look forward to more strides forward in the coming years, too.’ Rail minister and former Network Rail chairman Lord Hendy was also a guest at the event. He said: ‘Today’s unveiling of the Railway 200 Networker was a great opportunity for railway colleagues, both past and present, and passengers to come together to celebrate this special year for the industry. ‘The exciting year-long series of events and celebrations is not just a nod to the railway’s past; it’s a reminder of how far the sector has come in providing better services for passengers and the pivotal role they continue to play in society.’ The former Southeastern franchise was renationalised in October 2021 and will be transferred to Great British Railways in due course. Its managing director Steve White added: ‘The Southeastern Railway can trace its roots back to 1836 and throughout this year we will be holding a series of Railway 200 themed events to commemorate how the railway has helped our region live, work and grow. ‘Moreover, we want to appeal to a new generation of talent in our communities to consider a career in rail and to join us in writing the next chapter in our history, with a new generation of trains, as we work to build a railway which is purposeful and delivering economic growth, decarbonisation and social mobility.’ The project to recreate the Network SouthEast livery was managed by a small team from Southeastern, Angel Trains, Wabtec and designers Creactive. One compromise could not be avoided. The originally blue doors had to be painted a distinctive grey to conform with modern accessibility requirements. Do you have a comment on this story? Please click here  to send an email to Platform at Railnews. Moderated comments will be published on this site, and may also be used in the next print edition.