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On a trip to Belgium yesterday, I was surprised at Brussels Midi to see a couple of commuter train formations with locos in the middle. A typical commuter train consist in northern Europe these days is a loco-hauled push-pull electric set with 5-6 double-decker coaches. The trains I saw...

This is now on the ORR web site: http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/pr13/publications/final-determination.php NR has got some but by no means all of the increases it wanted from the draft in June. From a quick read: - a number of projects, including Northern Hub, Electric Spine (except MML) and...

Mod Note: Split from this thread Pre-qualification and prospectus, ITT is in February next year. https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/intercity-east-coast-franchise-competition 8-9 years (with optional 2-year extension) current routes and stations "Northern/Transpennine franchise...

Planning to cover the Brussels-Köln route next month, I was surprised to find a Senior off-peak ticket between any two stations on SNCB for only €6 return. Across the border to Aachen there is an add-on making it €9.60. Still a great deal. I'm aiming to use this ticket...

This is now on the DfT web site: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/249001/fares-ticketing-next-steps.pdf There is lots of meat here for the future, but the headlines are all about reducing the annual "flex" from 5% to 2%. Most of it, like the summary...

From the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24396224 Simon Burns is not everybody's cup of tea, but he certainly learnt how to bat for the railway in his year as Transport Minister (no 2 to Patrick McLoughlin). They might promote Norman Baker to the role, or more likely will appoint...

Looks like the DfT Fares Review report is going to be published "soon". Meanwhile, they have a little taster for us in this trial next year, which appears to be about new "shoulder-peak fares". https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-to-invest-in-flexible-ticketing-trial I can't help...

Network Rail has responded to the ORR draft determination of its CP5 funding (2014-19): http://www.networkrail.co.uk/publications/delivery-plans/control-period-5/response-to-the-draft-determination/ Basically NR has refused to accept the determination and wants "at least £1.4 billion" added...

Passing through Bristol today, I noticed bulldozers hard at work in the triangle at Patchway (between the two Cardiff lines and the Avonmouth line). I assume this is the start of construction of the GW IEP depot. It also marks the start of Agility (ie Hitachi) spending big money on the...

Network Rail has now publicised the dates for the Watford WCML resignalling: http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/News-Releases/EMBARGOED-Major-improvement-work-for-the-West-Coast-Main-Line-at-Watford-1e18.aspx Apparently the 18-day blockade saves us 54 disrupted weekends. :cry: The...

Reported on the BBC web site: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-23443396 Edit: Some backpedalling evident on the BBC web site. They now say he "may" leave next year... Spot the difference in the first line of the quote (my bold):

Patrick McLoughlin has just announced the order for 270 IEP vehicles for East Coast services. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-gives-green-light-for-more-state-of-the-art-intercity-trains The announcement doesn't explicitly state how many trainsets or of what type, but I...

I spent an unhappy couple of hours at Stockholm Central on Saturday - came in from Copenhagen on an X2000 and left on an intercity-train (age indeterminate) for Oslo. In the process of changing trains, I noticed weeds 6 feet high on/between the main tracks through the station - worse than NR...

This from the Telegraph web site: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/10136791/Row-over-troubled-families-hampers-Osbornes-spending-deal.html So what does this mean for rail? Some new infrastructure project approved? Time for Gospel Oak to Barking electrification at last? It might just...

Just seen this item on the NR site, about the completion of Chester's station upgrade with the footbridge upgrade. It's filed under Wales and West news, not North West and Midlands as you would expect. The NR spokesman was Mark Longland, Wales Route Director...

Big clouds of black smoke over Flintshire this morning, apparently from a recycling plant fire at Greenfield near Holywell Jn. North Wales main line apparently closed with bus substitution Chester-Rhyl. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-22656034 Also a signalling problem at Earlestown so...

Big day for the railway on June 12. ORR will be publishing its draft determination on NR's CP5 budget and plans. http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/pr13/getInvolved/DD-launch-events.php This is Round 3 in the battle to confirm what money is spent by NR on maintenance and projects over CP5...

Looks like work has already started on this major project: http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/News-Releases/7478/First-stage-of-250m-Stafford-rail-improvements-begin Three phases: 1 - 75-100mph linespeed upgrade Crewe-Norton Bridge (from now until Apr 2014) 2 - Stafford...

A very interesting document has appeared on the ORR web site, breaking down the costs and income of the GB railway. http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/gb-financials-2012.pdf The figures are now of course more than a year old. There is a lot of detail about NR and TOC income and...

I noticed today that the new modular signalling (still with plastic bags over it) is laid out for reversible working all the way from Nantwich to Shrewsbury. I think crossovers remain only at Wem and Nantwich so the sections are quite long, but there are some intermediate signals as well...