Network Rail was prepared for disruption affecting steel production, it has emerged, after a weekend in which Parliament passed a Bill allowing the government to take control of the British Steel works in Scunthorpe. Because it was not clear whether the Chinese owners of the Scunthorpe works would allow the two blast furnaces to continue production, Network Rail built up an emergency stock of rails, which would meet its needs for the coming year. More than 80 per cent of the rails bought by Network Rail come from Scunthorpe, and the stocks now in store at various depots around the country would give Network Rail time to find new suppliers if Scunthorpe did close. This seems less likely after business secretary Jonathan Reynolds was able to direct British Steel to buy the raw materials needed to maintain production. In the longer term rails could be produced using electric arc furnaces which do not rely on coal, although the changeover could take several years and production would need to be controlled tightly to avoid impurities in the steel. Network Rail has already tested rails produced in an electric arc furnace. It said: ‘We do not expect the announcement to have any impact on the continued delivery of reliable rail services for passengers and freight users. We are continuing to work with government and our suppliers, and we have comprehensive contingency plans to ensure the continued supply of rail needed to fulfil our operational needs.’ A new centre for storing newly-manufactured lengths of rail was opened by British Steel in Scunthorpe last November, to ensure continuity of supply for Network Rail. The new hub can hold around 25,000 tonnes of rails, and has 11 multi-gantry hoists to lift the finished rails on to wagons. 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.

Updated 12.20The number of railway passengers travelling to work has reached 30 per cent, according to the Department for Transport, which says commuting also tends to be concentrated on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. The most likely reason for using trains is travelling for leisure, which involved 54 per cent of journeys. Another 15 per cent of passengers were making journeys for business purposes, apart from commuting. Many people are using trains regularly. Of these, 61 per cent said they travelled by rail for leisure at least once a month, and 41 per cent say they commute by train at least once week, with midweek travel being most common. The figures are the result of new research by the DfT. Before privatisation, in 1989, the proportion of journeys made using season tickets, which tended to be the broad equivalent of commuting, reached a peak of one journey in two. This proportion had fallen to 42 per cent by 2002 but then rose again, reaching 48 per cent in 2008. By 2019, the last year before the pandemic, it had fallen back to 34 per cent. This decline continued after the pandemic had started, reaching 14.6 per cent in 2022-3 and easing back further to 13.34 per cent in 2023-4, suggesting that many commuters are no longer using conventional season tickets because they do not travel every day. Rail minister Lord Peter Hendy said: ‘Our railway is the backbone of our economy, connecting people across the country and fuelling business, growth and opportunity, supporting the Plan for Change. ‘This research shows thousands of passengers choose the train for their leisure travel. To go and see family and friends, go on holiday or go to big events whether its concerts, festivals or a football match, the train is the best way to get there.’ Campaign for Better Transport chief executive Ben Plowden said: ‘Rail enriches our lives and supports the leisure and tourism sector. Every time a leisure traveller chooses rail, it reduces traffic on our roads, air pollution and carbon emissions, so Government and rail industry need to make sure they are meeting the needs of leisure travellers. This includes affordable fares, space on board for luggage and bikes, and managing work on the network so it minimises disruption to services during busy holiday periods and sporting fixtures.’ 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.

Italian Railways has announced that it intends to launch high speed services between London and Paris by 2029. FS Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Spanish company Evolyn, which has also been named as a potential international operator from London. The project is being supported by an investment of 1 million Euros, and follows an announcement by the Office of Rail and Road that there is some capacity for new operators at Temple Mills depot in east London, which has been used only by Eurostar since it opened in 2007. The initial route is London and Paris, but FS said its services could be extended later to Lille, Lyon, Marseilles and Milan as part of wider ambitions to run more trains in Europe. It has also raised hopes in Kent by mentioning Ashford as a possible calling point. The rolling stock would be ‘inspired’ by Frecciarossa train sets. FS Group chief executive officer and general manager Stefano Antonio Donnarumma said: ‘High-speed rail networks are the backbone of efficient and environmentally friendly mobility, and by expanding our presence on key corridors, we are not just investing in infrastructure and innovation, but also in the future of European transport. More competition will help to create a more efficient and customer-oriented industry, offering a real alternative to air travel.’ FS Group currently runs c2c and has a 30 per cent stake in Avanti West Coast, although both these contracts are due to be renationalised. 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 a future print edition.

Network Rail has submitted revised plans for the redevelopment of London Liverpool Street station to the City of London Corporation after a public consultation received almost 2,000 responses last year, many of which were objections. The main changes to the plans are redesigned station entrances, changes to the roof so that it is more in keeping with its Victorian origins, different landscaping around the Kindertransport statue, a realignment of the office building so that does not conceal the Grade II* listed Andaz Hotel, which was originally the Great Eastern Railway hotel, and other changes to the height and size of the proposed office building. The original plans had involved a partial demolition of the original station, but the objections included one from Historic England. Other priorities revealed by the consultation’s responses were step-free access through the station, new lifts and escalators, and also new toilets to include ‘family-friendly’ spaces on every level. Network Rail Property group property director Robin Dobson said: ‘We’re proud to be leading the submission of a transformative scheme for the redevelopment of London Liverpool Street station — one that is a truly accessible and inclusive space, can support the forecast annual passenger rise to over 200 million and deliver vital improvements to the everyday experience of passengers while respecting and celebrating the station’s historic character. ‘Investing in transport infrastructure is essential to unlocking future economic growth for London and beyond. This investment will ensure Liverpool Street remains a landmark gateway to the City of London for generations to come. ‘Following extensive consultation and engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, our plans put passengers first whilst respecting and retaining the station’s Victorian features, including the iconic trainshed and the Great Eastern Hotel.’ The scheme will cost ‘hundreds of millions’, but Network Rail plans to work with private sector developers who will be able to create new office space above the station. The plans also include eight new lifts, six more escalators and a larger concourse, as well as ‘landmark entrances’ from Liverpool Street, Bishopsgate and Exchange Square. ACME is the scheme architect, and is working with Network Rail Property. ACME founding director Friedrich Ludewig said: ‘We are retaining the essential qualities of the existing station, celebrating elements that were previously hidden, creating sustainable new workplaces and providing spaces to expand into for generations to come. Liverpool Street station will become the world-class transport hub that the City of London and all Londoners deserve.’ 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 a future print edition.

Siemens has begun work on its new £100 million centre in Wiltshire by staging a ground-breaking ceremony. Rail minister Lord Hendy joined members of Siemens Mobility’s leadership team, Chippenham MP Sarah Gibson, past employees and members of the local community to celebrate the occasion. Chippenham was the base for Westinghouse Signalling for many years, which was bought from Invensys by Siemens in 2013. The new centre will employ about 800 people working on the next generation of conventional, digital signalling and control systems for British and international markets. Rob Morris is joint CEO and managing director for Rail Infrastructure and Software in the UK and Ireland. He said: ‘Breaking ground on our new Chippenham facility marks a significant milestone for Siemens Mobility and the wider UK rail industry. This investment reinforces our commitment to driving innovation in rail technology and to transform rail travel and transport for passengers and freight across the UK. It was particularly special to welcome past employees and local school children, who represent both our proud heritage and the future of our industry.’ Peter, Lord Hendy said: ‘This £100 million investment will bring a huge amount of opportunity with it. Current and future rail projects will benefit from better signalling systems, modernising our infrastructure and meaning better services for millions of passengers. ‘More than 800 people will have a job at this site, giving people the opportunity to build a life here in Chippenham and have a career in the railway industry – which I can say from experience is very rewarding. I look forward to seeing this investment create jobs, boost business, and bolster Wiltshire’s potential.’ 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 a future print edition.

Updated 10.00London St. Pancras Highspeed has unveiled an incentive scheme for new and existing international train operators, to encourage rail travel between London and continental Europe. The leaseholder of HS1 said its International Growth Incentive Scheme will encourage train operators to introduce new services to new destinations, connect intermediate stations, introduce new rolling stock and increase the number of passengers. Train operators who qualify will be entitled to discounts of up to 50 per cent in year one, 40 per cent in year two and 30 per cent in year three on track access charges. London St. Pancras Highspeed said it wants to run as many international services as possible with the intention of encouraging growth, offering greater choice and lower fares to increase sustainable tourism. The International Growth Incentive Scheme is available to all international high-speed passenger operators using or proposing to use the high-speed line. There is a New Services Incentive, offering a discount on charges for new train services. There is also a Passenger Incentive, offering a rebate equivalent to £1 for every additional passenger carried above previous levels. This is to be paid into a joint fund to support marketing and other activities aimed at increasing demand. The proposals have come amid plans to more than double international capacity at St Pancras station to nearly 5,000 passengers an hour. London St. Pancras Highspeed CEO Robert Sinclair said: ‘The International Growth Incentive Scheme is an innovative and groundbreaking proposal designed to boost international rail travel with more services to more destinations in Europe. ‘We are enabling operators to expand their services, increase the network of destinations they serve and invest in new rolling stock. ‘Our ambition is to make rail the preferred mode of travel, and we know that high-speed rail can reduce carbon emissions by up to 96 per cent compared with flying. ‘We believe this will boost the UK’s economic growth and contribute to our national effort to cut carbon.’ The proposals have been welcomed by at least one potential operator. Gemini Trains has applied to the Office of Rail and Road for an open access licence to operate between London and Paris, with other routes to follow. Gemini CEO Adrian Quine said: ‘We have spent two years developing a very robust business plan prior to today’s announcement. This will further strengthen our plan for competitively priced fares, attracting more people to make the shift from road and air to rail. We are now seriously assessing whether this scheme will enable us to offer additional new and exciting routes.’   Virgin has also announced ambitions to run international services. It said: ‘Full steam ahead for competition as another barrier is lifted on the cross-Channel route. London St Pancras Highspeed is working hard to unlock competition on the cross-Channel route and the new International Growth Incentive Scheme is a welcome step in the right direction. It will stimulate choice and encourage both new and established operators to be dynamic and creative. ‘Today’s announcement means Virgin can further accelerate its plans, which is great news for consumers on both sides of the Channel as they will finally get the choice and breadth of service they deserve. Virgin looks forward to sharing its plans in more detail in due course.’ 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 a future print edition.

Arriva Group is announcing today that will lease nine new battery hybrid trains to replace its existing Grand Central fleet. The 45 Hitachi tri-mode vehicles will be owned by Angel Trains and the lease will run for 10 years. The fleet will be built by Hitachi at Newton Aycliffe in County Durham and should be delivered in 2028. The trains will be able to generate electricity using diesel engines, or draw their power directly from the overhead or batteries. Arriva said the order follows Office of Rail and Road approval for Grand Central’s track access rights to be extended to 2038, and that the battery element of the order provides ‘a new advanced manufacturing opportunity’ for the factory and the wider supply chain. The new trains will increase seat numbers by 20 per cent, which means another 400,000 seats will be available over a year. The trains could be used on other routes in the future, because of their multiple traction modes. They are also expected to reduce noise and emissions. Arriva UK Trains managing director Amanda Furlong said: ‘This major investment underscores our commitment to the UK market. We are proud to connect under-served communities with regional and national centres, helping make sustainable train travel the easy choice. ‘These best-in-class, greener trains will deliver more comfortable journeys and a step-change in capacity on our popular Grand Central services. We look forward to announcing further rolling stock orders, providing jobs and wider economic benefits, as and when our network grows.’ The order has come as private sector train operators continue to push for more open access routes as the former franchises are progressively renationalised, although the Department for Transport has declined to support all the outstanding open access applications except one from Alstom for London to Wrexham. Transport secretary Heidi Alexander has also indicated that she may change the formal guidance she gives to the ORR about open access operation. She said: ‘Just four months since the Prime Minister and I welcomed a significant deal for Hitachi and its workforce in Newton Aycliffe, this new £300 million investment marks yet another step forward in securing the future of rail manufacturing in the North East. ‘Not only will this new battery technology deliver greener journeys for passengers, but it will also boost skills for the workforce and futureproof jobs here in Newton Aycliffe as we continue to deliver a railway fit for the 21st century.’ Arriva is awaiting a decision from the Office of Rail and Road after it applied in March for new track access rights for direct services between Cleethorpes, Grimsby, Habrough, Scunthorpe and London.  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 a future print edition.

Network Rail and British Transport Police have released the results of a new survey which suggests that almost three out of five people don’t know that electrified railways can be lethal. The survey reported that 59 per cent of those questioned did not know what the third rail is for, while 38 per cent don’t believe that electrocution from conductor rails can cause serious injuries – or worse. A campaign has been launched today, as the spring and summer holidays approach. Lighter evenings are associated with a 20 per cent increase in trespassing. A new series of films called ‘Stay off the Tracks’ has been produced as part of the ‘You vs Train’ campaign, which emphasises the dangers on railways, and the potentially catastrophic effects of taking a risk on them. The films feature first responders collaborating with professionals from the film industry to recreate the sights, sounds and effects they have encountered when dealing with critical injuries caused by coming into contact with the 750V DC conductor rail. Nicole Lee is the NHS Burns Network Manager for the London and South East and features in the campaign. She explains that: ‘As a burns nurse, I've witnessed the severe consequences of third rail injuries. The high voltage can cause profound burns, leading to long-term physical and emotional suffering. It's distressing to see individuals endure injuries that could have been easily prevented by staying off the tracks. These injuries not only affect the victims but also have a lasting impact on their families and friends.’ The survey also revealed 41 per cent of people believe it is safe to walk on the line if no trains are coming, and 40 per cent think it is safe to pick something off the track as long as they do not touch a rail, while a third of younger people aged between 18 and 44 admit they would take a short cut across the line. Network Rail said the findings were ‘underscoring the urgent need to educate the public further on railway safety’. Conductor rails are mainly found south and west of London and also on the Merseyrail network, while London Underground lines have two conductor rails, which are just as dangerous. Overhead lines carrying 25,000 volts are used on railways in many parts of the country, from South Wales to East Anglia, the South East, the Midlands, Northern England and Scotland. The overhead is even more dangerous than conductor rails, because it is not necessary to touch the wire to get a fatal shock. The voltage is so high that the current can arc through the air for a metre or more – and the range of the arc increases in damp conditions. 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 a future print edition.

All ScotRail fares have risen by 3.8 per cent today, but opposition politicans are speaking of ‘dismayed’ passengers and a ‘spiral of decline’. The increase is lower than the 4.6 per cent rises in England and Wales a month ago, but the Scottish increase covers all fares rather than just those which are regulated. For commuters the rise will effectively be the second in just over six months, because a year-long pilot to suspend peak fares ended in September. It had attracted almost 7 per cent more passengers, but the government said that figure needed to have been 10 per cent in order to break even. Transport secretary Fiona Hyslop said: ‘We know that any increase is unwelcome for passengers, therefore we have kept the rise as low as possible to maintain the attractiveness and affordability of rail as a travel option. ‘We continue to look at ways to encourage greater rail use and that is why we are continuing our 20 per cent discounts on season tickets until September 2025 as planned and expanding the availability of flexipass. ‘ScotRail also continue to develop fares initiatives which can help attract more passengers, while offering savings and added value to existing rail users.’ Sue Webber, who is the Conservative transport spokeswoman, said: ‘Nicola Sturgeon promised a bright new future for Scotland's railways when nationalising it almost three years ago, but the exact opposite has happened. ‘Passengers will be dismayed they will have to fork out even more in the coming months for services that are frequently cancelled and delayed.’ For Labour, Claire Baker said the increase would ‘hammer’ passengers, and lead to a ‘spiral of decline’, while the Scottish Green Party's spokesman Mark Ruskell said rail travel needed to be ‘affordable and accessible’ to attract people out of their cars. He continued: ‘When the Scottish Greens were in government we secured the removal of peak rail fares, only for the SNP to bring them back as soon as we were out of the room. ‘If we want safer and cleaner communities and less cars on our roads, then we need to cut the cost of public transport.’ Daniel O'Malley of the Scottish Liberal Democrats said: ‘Scotland needs a cheap, reliable and frequent rail service – it's a win-win for passengers and the planet.’ He also called for more lines to be reopened. 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 a future print edition.

EXCLUSIVE Plans to extend Great Western electrification may be announced today. Railnews understands that projects in both CP7 and CP8 are set to extend electrification from Newbury to Somerset, Devon and Cornwall in a series of related upgrades, and that a ‘launch budget’ of £104 million has been set aside to pay for scoping work. The plans are said to include 25kV electrification through to Penzance, which was suggested by British Rail as part of one electrification option in 1981. Branch lines to Falmouth Docks and Newquay would also be included, because they form each end of the new Mid-Cornwall Metro, and the Newquay branch is also used by bi-mode Class 802 Intercity Expresses, which presently have to run on diesel power west of Newbury. Platforms would be extended at Falmouth Town and Falmouth Docks, and more of the Newquay line would be doubled on the approach to the station, to improve capacity. The wires would also be extended from Newton Abbot to Paignton, and from Exeter St David’s to Barnstaple, while the ‘Bristol gap’ would be closed by installing overhead lines from Chippenham to Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads, and from Bristol Parkway along the 7km Filton Bank, again to Temple Meads, and from there onwards to Cogload Junction near Taunton in Somerset, where the Bristol line meets the Berks & Hants line from Newbury. The Weston-super-Mare loop would be included. Other local lines in the south west to St Ives, Looe, Gunnislake, Okehampton and Exmouth are candidates for future battery trains, which are being developed following tests with the technology on the Greenford branch in west London. Short sections of conductor rail for charging the batteries would be installed at St Erth, Liskeard, Plymouth and Exeter St David’s. However, advances in hydrogen power may lead to a rethink of this part of the plan. Meanwhile, limited headroom may mean that short sections of discontinuous electrification are needed in Whiteball Tunnel and across the Royal Albert Bridge, although alternatives are also being considered to avoid a continuing need for bi-mode trains in the longer term. The schemes would make a major contribution towards meeting the government’s ambitions to end the use of diesel traction on the railways by 2040. Some lines in East Anglia are also set to get battery trains. They include the East Suffolk Line between Lowestoft and Ipswich, and the Bittern Line between Norwich and Sheringham. A Network Rail insider said: ‘The old GWR appointed consultants to research electrification between Taunton and Penzance just before the Second World War, because of the rising price of steam coal and to improve the working on the steep gradients in south Devon. The scheme was dropped for economic reasons.’ An announcement may be made at midday.   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 a future print edition.