Philip Haigh

Crossrail Department for Transport Infrastructure Network Rail Politics Rolling stock Train operators Transport Scotland

Problems that politicians cause on the railway

April 30, 2020 Philip Haigh

Ministers and civil servants cannot control aspects of the railway and then deny responsibility when things go wrong.

Infrastructure Network Rail Planning Safety Uncategorized

Soft skills prevent accidents like Waterloo

April 30, 2020 Philip Haigh

Any student of railway accidents knows how risks slip through the smallest gap. Gary Hart’s vehicle careered from the M62 onto the East Coast Main Line near Heck in October…

Freight Network Rail Planning Politics Trade unions Train operators

McNulty’s ‘Damp squib’ still offers valuable lessons

April 21, 2020 Philip Haigh

Jumping on a train the other day, I found a Transport Focus questionnaire abandoned on my seat. I can guess what passengers will say in this latest survey. They will…

Freight Infrastructure Network Rail Planning Politics Rolling stock Uncategorized

Is reopening Woodhead viable?

February 17, 2020 Philip Haigh

There’s an irony in Woodhead’s tunnels carrying electricity under the Pennines. Where once they thrived on carrying its raw material, coal, now they carry the finished product. Woodhead the line…

Planning Politics Transport Scotland

Potential but no plans for Scottish rail reopenings

August 8, 2019 Philip Haigh

There’s a stark contrast on show at Alloa station. The line heading west towards Stirling features shiny rails. That heading east is heavy with rust. Yet the line only reopened…

Infrastructure Planning Politics Transport Scotland

Transport Scotland should build Dalmeny Chord to boost rail access to Edinburgh Airport

May 2, 2019 Philip Haigh

Recent news that Edinburgh Airport is to increase road capacity to its terminal is a sure sign that public transport to Scotland’s busiest airport needs to improve.The Scottish government dropped…

Uncategorized

Digital Railway: better information for better decisions

December 18, 2018 Philip Haigh

Digital Railway is an alluring concept that’s easy to describe in general terms but much harder to pin down in detail.According to Network Rail: “Digital railway offers capacity and performance…

Uncategorized

Hydrogen can be the number one for tomorrow’s railway

December 18, 2018 Philip Haigh

Diesel is dirty. And electric expensive. This gives rail a problem.What fuel should tomorrow’s trains burn? After decades wedded to diesel it seemed that rail was about to break into…

Uncategorized

RAIB report highlights lack of leadership at NR

December 18, 2018 Philip Haigh

No reports from the Rail Accident Investigation Branch make easy reading. When RAIB’s chief inspector describes an incident as alarming, the railway should sit up and pay attention.Thankfully, there was…

Uncategorized

Time for RMT to embrace the role of on-board supervisor

December 18, 2018 Philip Haigh

ASLEF’s deal with Southern has no implications for other train operators. That’s the claim from Mick Whelan, the drivers’ union general secretary in the wake of his members on Southern…

Philip Haigh

Latest Post

Problems that politicians cause on the railway

Soft skills prevent accidents like Waterloo

McNulty’s ‘Damp squib’ still offers valuable lessons

Is reopening Woodhead viable?

Potential but no plans for Scottish rail reopenings

Transport Scotland should build Dalmeny Chord to boost rail access to Edinburgh Airport

Digital Railway: better information for better decisions

Hydrogen can be the number one for tomorrow’s railway

RAIB report highlights lack of leadership at NR

Time for RMT to embrace the role of on-board supervisor

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