A new passenger information system is being tested on 38 ScotRail trains in the Glasgow area. Dubbed the On Train Passenger Announcements system, it has been developed by Network Rail, train operators and the Rail Delivery Group. From today, staff in the control centre are able to send announcements directly to trains,
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East Midlands Railway cuts intercity timetable as 810s falter
Fewer East Midlands Railway intercity services are running from today, because of problems with the operator’s new Hitachi Class 810 Aurora trains, as well as holdups in maintaining the long-standing Class 222 Meridian fleet, for which Hitachi is now responsible. The Class 810s should have replaced the 222s, but the transition
GBR Anglia liveries unveiled in London
The first trains to carry the new Great British Railways identity for Anglia have been unveiled at London Liverpool Street station. The event confirmed that regional identities will be carried on GBR trains. Rail minister Lord Peter Hendy joined GBR Anglia managing director Jamie Burles and colleagues from c2c, Greater Anglia and
Merseyrail plans emergency service if staff strike
Merseyrail may run only an emergency service this weekend if the RMT stages a strike over pay. Only the Southport line could have a 15-minute service on Saturday and Sunday, to take spectators to the Open Golf championships at Royal Birkdale, which started on Sunday. However, the outlook is not yet clear,
West Midlands integrated as GBR plans move ahead
Denise WettonA new business unit has been created in a further step towards Great British Railways. GBR West Midlands is the fourth organisation of its kind to be set up, as the Bill to create Great British Railways continues its journey through the House of Lords. West Midlands will join GBR
Government combats fraud with new ticket gate plan
A bid to reduce fraudulent rail travel has been launched by the government, which is providing £33 million for more and better ticket gates at some stations currently run by six operators. It is estimated that travel cheats are costing the railway industry between £300 million and £400 million a year,
Merseyrail to ban non-folding e-bikes because of fire risk
E-bikes which cannot be folded are to be banned by Merseyrail from the start of 2027. The operator says the ban is being imposed because of the risk of fire from lithium-iron batteries. Although it concedes that such fires are rare, it says they can break out without warning, and would
Embankment fire disrupted Overground
A major embankment fire in north east London disrupted London Overground services on the Weaver line last night. More than 120 firefighters and 20 fire tenders were called to the blaze near Wood Street in Walthamstow, which started at around 18.30. The track and some buildings near the embankment were damaged,
Merseyrail renationalisation plan proposed
The Mayor of Liverpool has unveiled plans to renationalise Merseyrail. Mayor Steve Rotheram is presenting a report to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority next week, which recommends that the present concession held by Transport UK Group and Serco Group should not be renewed. Liverpool is working to follow the examples of
Here comes summer — again
East Midlands Railway is warning its passengers to travel only if they must for the rest of this week, as high temperatures are expected to affect the railway. The UK Health and Security Agency has issued an amber heat-health alert in six regions of England from today until Sunday. People who need