Transdev orders 64 Stadler FLIRT EMUs for newly-awarded S-Bahn contract
Transdev Group has announced an order for 64 Stadler FLIRT electric trains as it wins Germany’s biggest ever private rail contract. Transdev, Germany’s largest private operator of rail and bus services, will begin in December 2021 the operation of the entire 385 km-long regional rail network in Hannover (Lower Saxony, Germany) for 12 and a half […]
This stunning French station is among the finalists for the World Architecture Festival
Lorient-Bretagne Sud rail station is amongst those shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival 2018. SNCF spin-off agency AREP delivered the multi-award winning rebuild of the city of Lorient’s station in 2017, and since then, the striking wooden framed and metal structure has picked up recognition at a whole host of international design awards. The passenger […]
The East Coast Main Line is being renationalised, and here’s how it’ll look
The UK Government is to renationalise the East Coast Mainline, one of the busiest rail lines in Britain. In an unprecedented move, the Department for Transport has relieved Stagecoach of its franchise to run trains on the East Coast, stepping in to take the reigns with a self-appointed ‘Operator of Last Resort’. And it turns out, […]
All the thrills, but with a little less frills – the emergence of budget train travel brands
Budget airlines are the best. You pay next to no money, get flown for a few hours with your feet around your head and land in an airport miles from anywhere. Yes, I know, I just read that back too. However, despite the obvious shortcomings, budget airlines are a big thing. Ryanair now has one […]
Major rail improvements for Manchester
Network Rail has announced a series of major improvements for two of Manchester’s biggest stations, Piccadilly and Oxford Road. Under plans released as part of the Northern Hub development project, Piccadilly will get two additional through platforms, whilst Oxford Road will be widened and lengthened to accommodate longer trains. This work will allow four extra trains […]
Midland Mainline hits 125mph
Trains on Britain’s Midland Mainline are now running at 125mph. As of last week, trains have been able to run at practically full pelt from London to a range of destinations in the North of England including Sheffield, Derby, Nottingham, East Midlands Parkway and Leicester. The higher line speeds should result in faster journey times […]
In pictures: Margaret Thatcher’s transport legacy
The Right Honourable Baroness Thatcher passed away today, aged 87. We take a second to remember her transport legacy. Many in the transport (and related) industries will recount that there are two words almost synonymous with Thatcher’s time in office: privatisation and deregulation. It’s fair to say that Thatcher irreversibly changed the face of the transport industry […]
Chiltern Railways – marketing campaign of the year
Chiltern Railways scooped a top transport industry award this month. The Arriva-owned operator picked up ‘transport marketing campaign of the year’ at the prestigious Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) Websites That Sell campaign and Marketing Excellence Awards. Chiltern bagged the award for its launch of Mainline, the fast inter-city service between Birmingham and London. The campaign resulted […]