Open access operator planning new London Waterloo-Southampton service
Arriva-owned Alliance Rail Holdings has launched a consultation into its plans for a new open access rail service between Southampton and London Waterloo.
The service, which would begin in December 2017, would initially include seven...
New West Coast rail operator to also run HS2 services
A new rail franchise has been created which will combine both the InterCity West Coast franchise and HS2, the UK government has announced.
The West Coast Partnership franchise will start in 2019 and will incorporate...
Operators pre-qualify for Wales and Borders franchise
Transport for Wales has pre-qualified four bidders to run rail services in Wales and the Borders from 2018.
The shortlist includes Abellio Rail Cymru, Arriva Rail Wales/Rheilffyrdd Arriva Cymru Limited, KeolisAmey and MTR Corporation (Cymru) Ltd.
Transport for Wales, a not-for-profit...
Operators invited to bid for East Anglia franchise
The introduction of two 90-minute services in each direction between Norwich and London is at the heart of a new franchise deal drawn up for the East Anglia region.
On September 17, the UK's Department...
GTR – Dawn of the mega franchise
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) chief executive Charles Horton talks to Marc Johnson about how the operator is addressing the service challenges posed by Thameslink’s vast infrastructure programme Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) can now rightly call itself the biggest rail franchise in Britain following the absorption of Southern and Gatwick Express...
Abellio ScotRail franchise launched
The ScotRail franchise - Scotland's biggest public service contract - has been formally handed over Dutch-owned operator Abellio.
The launch of the new franchise was signalled with a £1 million ticket giveway for customers and...
New trains at centre of Great Western franchise extension
Hitachi has been chosen to supply a fleet of new intercity trains as part of a four-year contract extension agreed between First Group and the Department for Transport (DfT) for the Great Western Main...
First handed TransPennine Express extension
First Group has been awarded a one-year extension to continue operating the TransPennine Express franchise.
First will retain the franchise until April 2016 under the direct award, which includes a number of commitments to improve...
Keolis revenues rise following Thameslink success
Keolis has reported a 9.3 per cent increase in revenue in 2014 to €5.6 billion following several major contract wins.
A €473 million boost in revenues has been backed up by a 15.4 per cent...
The role of open access
Britain’s rail network is full. Well that’s what we’re often told. The justification for major rail projects, like HS2, is that it will free up paths on already crowded main lines. To meet the rise in predicted demand for rail travel in the coming decades, we need more capacity than...
