Network Rail put on warning over poor performance THE Office of Rail and Road has issued a warning to Network Rail over the level of performance in the North West and Central region. As a national average, Network Rail’s contribution to passenger train delay minutes was 58 per cent, a fall

Dame Julie Walters supports the campaign start conversations on Blue Monday. Photo: Yui Mok/PA Wire More than 150 events are being held at railway stations across the UK to encourage people to talk to each other on Blue Monday – described as the most depressing day of the year. The Samaritans’ Brew Monday

A LEAKED copy of the forthcoming Oakervee Review into HS2 is reported to be warning that the costs of the project could rise again, to £106 billion. The original budget still being confirmed by ministers last summer was £55.7 billion, including substantial contingency margins. The total then rose to around £78

LEGAL action threatened by Stagecoach, Virgin, SNCF and Arriva over the cancellation of their bids for three franchises last April is about to start in the High Court. The court is to hear claims that the Department for Transport ‘mismanaged’ the competitions for Intercity West Coast, East Midlands and South Eastern

In 1965, the Skipton to Ilkley line was closed by Dr Beeching. The line reopened 16 years later as the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway and has gone from strength to strength. It is now bidding to reach Skipton. Mark Smithers tells the story.  IN less than four decades of

Bombardier shares plunge as costs rise PROBLEMS with European rail projects have contributed to a one-third fall in Bombardier shares. Parts of its aviation business are also struggling, and the plane-builder is ‘reassessing’ its minority stake in the A220 jet programme, according to Reuters. Bombardier is shedding unprofitable parts of its

Words: Mark Smithers In 1965, the Skipton to Ilkley line was closed by Dr Beeching. The line reopened 16 years later as the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway and has gone from strength to strength. It is now bidding to reach Skipton. In less than four decades of operation during the

THERE are renewed concerns from council leaders that Boris Johnson could be poised to scrap Phase 1 of HS2 between London and Birmingham, diverting the money to other transport projects further north. The eastern spur from Birmingham to the East Midlands and Leeds could also be at risk. A meeting of

MD of troubled Caledonian Sleeper franchise steps down THE managing director of Caledonian Sleeper Ryan Flaherty is to leave his post after almost two years. Franchise owner Serco said Mr Flaherty was leaving for ‘family reasons’, and would be returning home to the south of England. He will move to another

Glyn Davis Wood in Warwickshire, more than half of which will be lost to HS2 development. HS2 risks destroying “huge swathes” of irreplaceable habitats, including 108 ancient woodlands. The Wildlife Trusts have said HS2 will damage the ecosystems that could solve the climate emergency. The organisation said in its new report – which