Network Rail faces capacity challenge on its Settle-Carlisle line
When news broke earlier this year of extensive closures coming to the northern half of the West Coast Main Line for renewals of overhead wires and signalling, it naturally begged…
How a ‘Big Six’ might provide a map for England’s railways
With Labour in power for a year, pledging to nationalise Britain’s railways, it’s worth a look at progress. After a rapid start, progress has slowed, perhaps even stalled. That quick…
Timetables must balance demand and costs
East Coast Main Line timetables will not change next May. Within barely three months of the rail industry launching a consultation into a new timetable, the Department for Transport has…
Hurdles remain in the path to freight decarbonisation
Shifting freight from road to rail provides the best short-term route to reducing freight’s carbon emissions. That’s because an HGV produces four times more carbon emissions than even a diesel…
When will passengers return?
I woke early the other morning. Too early. All was black outside and time dragged. It seemed to be hours before the eastern sky slowly lightened and the sun hauled…
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Freight
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Decarbonisation shows rail’s route forward
Britain needs more electric railways. They are cleaner and greener. They provide lower operating costs but need heavy investment in masts and wires. Electric railways bring decarbonisation. It’s this heavy…
Could fibre optic sensors prevent a future Carmont accident?
To say the terrible derailment at Carmont shocked those running Scotland’s Railway is an understatement. Staff across ScotRail and Network Rail Scotland were busy – to borrow Scotland’s Railway’s tagline…
Clearing congestion from Castlefield Corridor
Whichever way you look at Manchester there are no easy answers to the congestion caused by pushing more trains along the twin-track Castlefield Corridor between Piccadilly and Deansgate stations. The…
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People make decisions, not systems or structures
Whether or not you believe that Keith Williams’ railway review will achieve lasting improvements, it gives chance to look at why steel wheels on steel rails help this small and…
Restoring operations to rail’s frontline
Halfway between Littleborough and the western portal of Summit Tunnel lies a little-used trailing crossover. Littleborough marks the traditional boundary for Greater Manchester. Venture further east and you’ll be through…