THE first test trains ran on the Northern Line extension of London Underground over Christmas, and the successful trips through 3.2km of tunnels from the new step-plate junction at Kennington to Nine Elms and Battersea were described as a ‘major milestone’. The trains were able to reverse at Battersea Power Station,

Photos: PA Media Passengers who crowded on to trains to escape the tightening of COVID-19 restrictions in London have been branded “totally irresponsible” by the Health Secretary Matt Hancock. Mr Hancock condemned the busy scenes on Saturday night which came after the Prime Minister announced tougher coronavirus measures for the capital. Extra police

Newcastle City Council has refused planning permission for a new surface coal mine at Dewley Hill. The decision means an end to UK-based coal production, and has dashed the hopes of Britain’s heritage railways, who need affordable coal to continue operating. Earlier this week, we reported how the Heritage Railway Association called

THE Railnews website is taking a Christmas break. We will be back on Monday 4 January. Thank you for being with us in 2020 and for all your comments. We hope you have a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year. The next print edition of Railnews will be published on

WHILE millions of people are looking forward to turkey and treats, thousands of Network Rail workers will be spending their Christmas on the track instead. Among the many projects which will be undertaken between Christmas Eve and the New Year, the East Coast Main Line upgrade will be continuing and London

A train operator has announced it will cancel “a small number” of services over Christmas due to a coronavirus outbreak among staff. Great Western Railway (GWR) said it will run an amended timetable from December 21 to 27 to give passengers “greater clarity”. This will include providing “road transport at key

Updated 11.33 TRAIN services between London and south west England have been cut back because of an outbreak of Covid-19 at Laira depot in Plymouth. GWR said the number of cases is ‘significant’, and that it has been forced to reduce its timetable between London, Exeter, Paignton and Plymouth. Some trains will be

A major rail line is returning to London’s Tube map 22 years after being removed. Thameslink services will be back on the map from next month following a long-running campaign, Transport for London (TfL) said. The network runs between Bedford and Brighton via central London, including stations such as London Bridge, Blackfriars

Rail passengers will be hit by an above inflation fares rise for the first time in eight years, the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced. Ticket prices will increase by an average of 2.6% from March 1 next year, which is July’s Retail Prices Index (RPI) measure of inflation plus 1%. Successive

Updated 11.05FARES on National Rail will be increased by 2.6 per cent next year, but the government has put back the increase from the first week in January until 1 March, saying that the decision to delay the increase will offer ‘a significant window for commuters who cannot work at