The third Railnews podcast has been published. Today we’ll be hearing about the major railway reforms which lie ahead, how they are coping with a watery problem at an HS2 worksite, and why next year will be particularly important to the railway industry. LISTEN NOW

Sir Kenneth Grange, who designed the appearance of British Rail’s first High Speed Trains in the 1970s, has died just four days after his 95th birthday. The novel appearance of the InterCity 125 power cars quickly became a symbol of British Rail’s increasingly successful InterCity business, after the first had entered public service on the Western Region main line in October 1976. Although HSTs were limited to 125mph (200km/h) in service, the prototype train had set a world speed record for a diesel locomotive of 143.2 mph (230.5 km/h) in 1973 during trials on the East Coast Main Line. Sir Kenneth, whose industrial designs spanned a wide range of objects, including the Kenwood Chef food mixer and the Anglepoise lamp, had been commissioned to design the InterCity 125 livery, but he decided to redesign the appearance of the power car without telling British Rail. He worked with an aerodynamic engineer, and they tested a model in a wind tunnel. He later said BR’s original design ‘was rather quite brutal, rather clumsy. I thought “Oh I'd like to get my hands on that”, although the brief was nothing to do with the shape, absolutely not at all.’ In the event his revised design was accepted, and the fleet quickly grew in size. Because the HSTs could run at 125mph, which was 25mph faster than previous diesel express trains, British Rail marketing used the tag line ‘The Journey Shrinker’, while British Transport Films made a demonstration film without a commentary entitled ‘Overture One-Two-Five’. This showed the new trains speeding along the Western Region main line, and included a dramatic musical score by David Gow. In later life, Sir Kenneth was honoured at various railway events. The first production power car, 43 002, was repainted by Great Western Railway in the original livery and named by him on 2 May 2016 at St Philip's Marsh depot in Bristol, to mark the 40th anniversary of the HSTs entering service. He later visited York in October of the same year, and 'signed' a power car with spray paint. He was also the Honorary President of the 125 Group, which has restored the original prototype power car. The Group said: ‘Sir Kenneth became a good friend of the Group, an advocate of our aims and has been our Honorary President for the last ten years – visiting us at events on numerous occasions. ‘We pass on our deepest condolences to his wife Apryl and all his family.’ Sir Kenneth Henry Grange CBE PPCSD RDI  17 July 1929 – 21 July 2024

Network Rail has revealed that there was a case of trespassing on the railway every half hour on average in the year to 5 April, and that the total number of incidents reported was more than 19,300. Compared with the previous year, the number of accumulated delay minutes rose by 15 per cent last year, making trespass one of the biggest causes of late running. It accounted for 108,168 minutes of delays to trains – equivalent to just over 1800 hours, 75 days or 225 working days. Trespass is almost twice as likely to happen during the summer months, because more than three out of five incidents were recorded during British Summer Time. Network Rail and British Transport Police are calling on people to ‘keep themselves safe’ when they are near railway property. A long-established programme of safety education is continuing over the summer holidays. One case used as an example of how straying on to the railway can have tragic results is that of 11-year old Harrison Ballantyne, who was killed on the line. Harrison’s story is told on the You vs Train website, which spells out the risks of crossing the lineside fence. Parents of younger children may find more suitable details on the Switched On website, which includes education about the dangers of trespassing for all ages between 3 and 16. Network Rail’s head of level crossings and public safety Rob Wainwright said: ‘Trespass can have a devastating impact, not just to the trespasser at risk of serious life-changing if not fatal injuries, but also on their friends and family. ‘Every year we see people taking risks, often unintentionally, because they don’t fully understand the dangers. Sometimes that ends tragically, like the case of Harrison.  As the holiday season approaches, we are once again asking parents to ensure that they and their children know all about rail safety so they can behave responsibly. Help us to get everyone to where they want to be safely and on time this summer.’

Network Rail has named the acting chair who is replacing Lord Peter Hendy, after he was appointed rail minister at the Department for Transport on 8 July. His successor for now is Network Rail senior non-executive director Mike Putnam. Mr Putnam, who is a chartered engineer, joined the Board of Network Rail in 2018 and has over 25 years’ executive experience in the development, construction and services sectors. He was president and chief executive officer of Skanska UK plc until May 2017, and is currently an independent non-executive director of TransPennine Route Upgrade, a non-executive director of Bazalgette Tunnel Limited (Thames Tideway), vice-chair of the Supervisory Board of Arcadis NV and a non-executive director with Finning Inc of Vancouver. He has also been a non-executive director of Southern Water Services for the past seven years, but will be stepping down at the end of July. Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines said: ‘Mike has been an invaluable member of our Board for over six years and his immense experience will continue to be a huge asset to the Board, to me and to the company.’ Mike Putnam added: ‘Peter’s are big shoes to fill as I help to push Network Rail forward to address its key priorities of running a safe and better performing railway, whilst helping Andrew to get the company, and the whole industry ready, for its journey into a new chapter with the establishment of Great British Railways.’ Network Rail said the process of appointing a permanent successor to Lord Hendy will begin ‘in due course’ and be led by the transport secretary, Louise Haigh.

National Rail is warning that failures affecting computer systems are disrupting train services this morning, particularly on Govia Thameslink Railway, although other operators are also reporting problems. Passengers are being warned that problems in retrieving driver diagrams, which are the details of duties, routes and timetables for individual drivers, mean that some trains cannot run, while real time information displays are also faulty. The failures are part of a much wider series of faults which is affecting banks and airlines around the world, including Australia, Japan, India and the USA. In Britain medical appointment services are also affected. Microsoft is reported to be using ‘mitigation measures’, but the cause of the problems is not yet clear.

One of the Bills mentioned in the King’s Speech will receive its First Reading in the Commons today, because the Government must beat a deadline just over eight weeks from now. The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill provides for passenger operators to be transferred to the public sector by default instead of being re-offered as contracts to the private sector. There are ten passenger operators still in the private sector, and the government intends to renationalise each one when the contract expires or reaches a ‘break point’. It has also warned that it could terminate agreements early if there is a breach of contract. The passenger contracts let by the last government are due to expire on various dates between this year and 2027, and the first two come up on 15 September.  Both Greater Anglia, which is owned by UK Transport Group and Mitsui, and West Midlands Trains, owned by UK Transport Group Limited and JREM Train, reach their ‘core expiry dates’ then, when the contracts can be terminated without penalty. The Bill receiving its First Reading today needs to be law before 15 September, which is why it has been given priority in the Parliamentary timetable. The more complicated Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill, which establishes Great British Railways, will need more Parliamentary time. There will then be a breather, because the next two contracts to expire, Chiltern Railways and Govia Thameslink Railway, do not reach their break points until 1 April next year.(The database of contracts on Railnews Business has been updated since the King’s Speech to include all  forthcoming expiry dates, as shown in the contract documents.)

HM the King has confirmed that Great British Railways will be created and private sector passenger operators nationalised. ► ‘Shadow’ Great British Railways to be set up straight away to start industry collaboration ► Two railway bills planned: one to allow public ownership, the other to create full GBR ► Ticketing reforms, Rail Freight support and welcome for open access where it ‘adds value’ ► Plans receive broad welcome, but Rail Partners claims nationalisation will increase costs The industry has been swift to respond to the King’s Speech. Railway Industry Association chief executive Darren Caplan said RIA ‘welcomes today’s King’s Speech as a strong legislative programme for driving growth by building sustainable infrastructure and improving transport. ‘RIA and our members support the Government’s pledge to establish a reformed and unified railway system under Great British Railways focused on improving affordability, reliability and performance. A new body with strategic oversight and responsibility for rail can focus on meeting growing passenger demand and boosting industry revenues. ‘Rail suppliers will also be positive about the previously announced plans to set out a strong and visible pipeline of rail work for the sector and to develop a long-term industrial strategy for rolling stock. Accelerating new train orders and low carbon network upgrades can fast-track growth by boosting jobs and skills across the UK and we would encourage the new Government to prioritise such investment. We look forward to more details of how these commitments will be implemented in due course.’ Union reactions The general secretary of the RMT Mick Lynch said: ‘We welcome today's announcements specifically around removing restrictions on trade unions, the New Deal for workers and the rolling out of public ownership of our railways. ‘These achievements are down to pressure from the trade union movement, and we will continue to articulate what is in the best interests of railway workers and working people as a whole. We will also continue to actively engage with the government on the pay issues in our sectors which can be resolved quickly. ‘Labour has also committed to upgrading rail connectivity in the North. Our belief is that HS2 remains the best option for improving transport links, promoting economic growth and building a modern railway infrastructure, fit for the 21st century.’ ASLEF general secretary Mick Whelan also welcomed the government’s plans. He said: ‘Keir Starmer has delivered today on the Labour Party’s manifesto commitment by setting out plans to bring Britain’s railways back into public ownership. ‘This is the right decision, at the right time, to take the brakes off the UK economy and rebuild Britain. John Major’s decision to privatise British Rail in 1994 was foolish, ideologically-driven, and doomed to fail. It was described even by that arch-privateer Margaret Thatcher as “a privatisation too far” and so it has proved. ‘The privateers have taken hundreds of millions of pounds from our railways and successive Conservative governments have pursued a policy of managed decline which has sold taxpayers, passengers, and staff short. ‘Now we are going to see the wheels and the steel put back together, an end to the failed fragmentation of our network, and a railway brought back into the public sector, where it belongs, to be run as a public service, not for private profit.’ ‘Signal of intent’ Urban Transport Group director Jason Prince said: ‘The King’s Speech sends a strong signal of intent that this Government is serious about transforming our transport sector. ‘Our rail services need reform, so it is encouraging that the Government is moving ahead with the creation of Great British Railways. And on buses, local leaders will be given greater powers to franchise or publicly own bus services – powers we have long called for. ‘Together with the recognition that greater devolution can herald positive change for local communities, these new Bills could lead to big improvements in transport.’ Costs warning However, the private sector operators’ lobby group Rail Partners claimed ‘full nationalisation is a political not a practical solution, which will increase costs over time’. Rail Partners chief executive Andy Bagnall said: ‘The commitment to reform in today’s King’s Speech is an important milestone. However, getting the detail right below the headline is critical to achieving the government’s ambitions for green growth and reducing the railway’s financial burden on the taxpayer. ‘We want the same outcomes as the new Labour Government – a better railway for those that use it and pay for it. But to change the railway for the better, we must correctly understand the causes of the current challenges to get the right solutions – and full nationalisation is a political not a practical solution, which will increase costs over time. ‘We welcome the recognition that private sector freight and open access operators have a lot to offer, but passenger train companies also have a track record of growing the railway. They want to partner with the government to achieve this success again, within the new framework.’ The programme of legislation set out today in the King’s speech will be debated in the House of Commons this afternoon.

HM the King has confirmed that Great British Railways will be created and private sector passenger operators nationalised. ► ‘Shadow’ Great British Railways to be set up straight away to start industry collaboration ► Two railway bills planned: one to allow public ownership, the other to create full GBR ► Ticketing reforms, Rail Freight support and welcome for open access where it ‘adds value’ ► Plans receive broad welcome, but Rail Partners claims nationalisation will increase costs The industry has been swift to respond to the King’s Speech. Railway Industry Association chief executive Darren Caplan said RIA ‘welcomes today’s King’s Speech as a strong legislative programme for driving growth by building sustainable infrastructure and improving transport. ‘RIA and our members support the Government’s pledge to establish a reformed and unified railway system under Great British Railways focused on improving affordability, reliability and performance. A new body with strategic oversight and responsibility for rail can focus on meeting growing passenger demand and boosting industry revenues. ‘Rail suppliers will also be positive about the previously announced plans to set out a strong and visible pipeline of rail work for the sector and to develop a long-term industrial strategy for rolling stock. Accelerating new train orders and low carbon network upgrades can fast-track growth by boosting jobs and skills across the UK and we would encourage the new Government to prioritise such investment. We look forward to more details of how these commitments will be implemented in due course.’ Union reactions The general secretary of the RMT Mick Lynch said: ‘We welcome today's announcements specifically around removing restrictions on trade unions, the New Deal for workers and the rolling out of public ownership of our railways. ‘These achievements are down to pressure from the trade union movement, and we will continue to articulate what is in the best interests of railway workers and working people as a whole. We will also continue to actively engage with the government on the pay issues in our sectors which can be resolved quickly. ‘Labour has also committed to upgrading rail connectivity in the North. Our belief is that HS2 remains the best option for improving transport links, promoting economic growth and building a modern railway infrastructure, fit for the 21st century.’ ASLEF general secretary Mick Whelan also welcomed the government’s plans. He said: ‘Keir Starmer has delivered today on the Labour Party’s manifesto commitment by setting out plans to bring Britain’s railways back into public ownership. ‘This is the right decision, at the right time, to take the brakes off the UK economy and rebuild Britain. John Major’s decision to privatise British Rail in 1994 was foolish, ideologically-driven, and doomed to fail. It was described even by that arch-privateer Margaret Thatcher as “a privatisation too far” and so it has proved. ‘The privateers have taken hundreds of millions of pounds from our railways and successive Conservative governments have pursued a policy of managed decline which has sold taxpayers, passengers, and staff short. ‘Now we are going to see the wheels and the steel put back together, an end to the failed fragmentation of our network, and a railway brought back into the public sector, where it belongs, to be run as a public service, not for private profit.’ ‘Signal of intent’ Urban Transport Group director Jason Prince said: ‘The King’s Speech sends a strong signal of intent that this Government is serious about transforming our transport sector. ‘Our rail services need reform, so it is encouraging that the Government is moving ahead with the creation of Great British Railways. And on buses, local leaders will be given greater powers to franchise or publicly own bus services – powers we have long called for. ‘Together with the recognition that greater devolution can herald positive change for local communities, these new Bills could lead to big improvements in transport.’ Costs warning However, the private sector operators’ lobby group Rail Partners claimed ‘full nationalisation is a political not a practical solution, which will increase costs over time’. Rail Partners chief executive Andy Bagnall said: ‘The commitment to reform in today’s King’s Speech is an important milestone. However, getting the detail right below the headline is critical to achieving the government’s ambitions for green growth and reducing the railway’s financial burden on the taxpayer. ‘We want the same outcomes as the new Labour Government – a better railway for those that use it and pay for it. But to change the railway for the better, we must correctly understand the causes of the current challenges to get the right solutions – and full nationalisation is a political not a practical solution, which will increase costs over time. ‘We welcome the recognition that private sector freight and open access operators have a lot to offer, but passenger train companies also have a track record of growing the railway. They want to partner with the government to achieve this success again, within the new framework.’ The programme of legislation set out today in the King’s speech will be debated in the House of Commons this afternoon.

His Majesty the King is expected to give contracted private passenger train operators their notice today, as he presents the government’s legislative programme in the House of Lords following the Labour landslide in the general election on 4 July. It has been reported that the King’s Speech will include 35 bills, one of which will create the new ‘directing mind’, Great British Railways. GBR will have the power to take control of the present National Rail Contracts when they expire, reach a break point or are terminated early for breach of contract. The end of the line for the remaining private sector contracts will be formally announced more than 28 years since the first franchises were awarded in December 1995, as part of railway privatisation under John Major’s Conservative government. Since then a total of 97 passenger contracts have been launched, suspended, terminated early or been allowed to run to their full term. Nearly all were controlled by the private sector. The first franchises to take over from British Rail were First Great Western and South West Trains, which both started on 4 February 1996. The last franchise to be launched was Avanti West Coast, on 8 December 2019, when it replaced Virgin Trains West Coast. The Covid pandemic meant that the government had to step in, because the franchises would not have been able to survive when passenger figures fell dramatically as one result of the ‘stay at home’ rule imposed in March 2020. In September of that year transport secretary Grant Shapps announced that the traditional franchises would not be revived. Since then, just over half of the operators have been given a form of management contract. The government collects the revenue and pays the costs, giving each operator a management fee. However, seven operators have already been renationalised, starting with LNER on 24 June 2018. This followed the collapse of the Virgin Trains East Coast franchise, 90 per cent of which had been owned by Stagecoach. The contract had lasted for just over three years. Other English contracts renationalised since then have been Northern, Southeastern and TransPennine Express, while the devolved governments in Scotland and Wales have also taken back control of Caledonian Sleeper, ScotRail and Wales & Borders, which is now Transport for Wales. Under present plans, the private sector will be allowed to continue running open access services and charter trains. The August edition of Railnews will include a major feature comparing today’s proposed renationalisation of the passenger railway with the original creation of the British Transport Commission in 1948, and also a chart to allow readers to track the progress of nationalisation.

Plans have been unveiled for the first two lines on the proposed West Yorkshire tram system, after former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced funding for the scheme as one result of abandoning Phases 2A and 2B of HS2 between the West Midlands, Crewe and Manchester. A public consultation has been launched by West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which is suggesting that Phase 1 of the tram scheme would see links built between central and south Leeds, and also between Leeds and Bradford. The publication of the proposals follows a meeting last week with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to discuss how the Metro Mayors will help with the government's mission for growth. Leeds and Bradford have been chosen as the hubs from which the West Yorkshire network can grow, as they are the region’s most concentrated centres of population, business, leisure and shopping.  All potential phase one options for the Leeds Line run close to the White Rose Centre, with two route options also running close to Elland Road. Some of the other places the proposed route would aim to connect include Leeds General Infirmary, The South Bank, Holbeck and Beeston. The Bradford Line will connect Bradford city centre and Leeds city centre. The proposed route would include areas such as Thornbury, Laisterdyke, Pudsey, Armley and Wortley. The Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin said: ‘West Yorkshire is a truly special place to live and work, but learning, earning a living or spending time with friends and family should not be limited by a difficult journey. ‘A crucial part of our growth mission, Mass Transit will transform the transport options available to the people of West Yorkshire, as well as attracting investment into the region and boosting our economy. ‘We want to create a better-connected West Yorkshire, with a Mass Transit system that is affordable, easy to use, and safe and secure for all.’ Once the preferred routes have been developed, a further statutory consultation will follow in 2025. This consultation will include proposals for tram stops, depots, potential park and ride sites and engineering works.  The Combined Authority said it will continue to work with Kirklees Council on the Dewsbury Line Development Project, and also with Calderdale and Wakefield councils on future phases.