Avanti West Coast: Ticket sales pass £1bn despite operating troubles Transport and infrastructure Turnover at Avanti West Coast jumped past £1bn last year, even as it was named as one of the least reliable rail operators in Britain, it has been revealed. The train operator, which is jointly owned by Firstgroup and Italian rail firm, Trenitalia, has posted a turnover of £1.01bn for the 12 months to 31 [...]
Avanti West Coast boss insists ‘laser focus’ will help cut cancellations and delays Transport and infrastructure Avanti West Coast needs to maintain a “laser focus” on cutting cancellations and delays to its train services, its boss has said. Managing director Andy Mellors also insisted that the operator is “making progress” in improving its performance but that there is “still more to do”. The MD was speaking to the PA news agency [...]
How Network Rail is planning to stop the ‘Euston rush’ Transport and infrastructure A plan to reduce the number of passengers rushing to platforms at Euston station in London has been revealed by Network Rail. The Government-owned company is to allow passengers travelling on around 40 per cent of Avanti West Coast services from the London station to board trains 20 minutes before departure. Network Rail said this [...]
HS2 will reach Euston, transport secretary signals October 8, 2024 Transport secretary Louise Haigh has given the strongest signal yet that HS2 will reach London’s Euston station, ahead of an announcement she said would be coming soon. The Cabinet minister said an announcement on the project could occur during the Budget on Wednesday, 30 October. Speaking to Times Radio this morning, Haigh said: “We’ve said [...]
Rail line connecting North West to Midlands would be ’40 per cent’ cheaper than HS2 September 13, 2024 Plans for a new rail line connecting the West Midlands to the North West could be delivered at just 60 per cent of the cost of HS2’s cancelled Northern leg, according to Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. The proposed 80km line, backed by a consortium of businesses and politicians, would run from Lichfield in Staffordshire to [...]
Renationalisation won’t get our railways back on track July 23, 2024 Slow, crowded and expensive, there’s no doubt our railways need a major overhaul – but it’s far from clear that Great British Railways is the answer, says Emma Revell One of the many delightful quirks of our democracy is the State Opening of Parliament, where the government’s legislative agenda for the coming session is set [...]
Labour threatens to strip Avanti rail contract as Branson plans rival June 12, 2024 Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh told Sky News Avanti had provided passengers with "woeful service" on the West Coast Main Line.
London train strikes: Everything you need to know ahead of May bank holiday week disruption May 2, 2024 There will be more disruption over the May bank holiday week as train drivers stage yet another round of strikes. City A.M. has all the details.
Fresh train strikes to disrupt commuters in May as drivers walk out again April 22, 2024 Train drivers at 16 rail companies will launch another series of one-day strikes in May, it has been announced.
Political scraps over public or private ownership are a distraction to solving Britain’s railway woes April 22, 2024 Delays, cancellations and strikes - the UK's railways are in a mess. But both parties' solutions for fixing the nation's rail network are flawed, argues Guy Taylor