‘Defining moment’: UK’s largest train operator enters public ownership Politics Ministers have hailed the nationalisation of the of the largest train franchise as a ‘defining moment’ as the government pushes forward with nationalising the railway. Transport secretary Heidi Alexander hailed the nationalisation of Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), with its services accounting for one in six train journeys in the UK. Its four brands, Southern, Thameslink, [...]
Trainline calls for better delay repay after passengers lose out on £80m Business London listed ticketing app Trainline has launched a new campaign urging the government to improve delay repay compensation after consumers lost out on millions. Rail passengers are missing out on an estimated £80m in compensation for journeys each year, with the “bureaucratic and inconsistent claims” process being too frustrating for passengers to navigate while preventing [...]
South Western Railway performance nosedives after nationalisation Transport and infrastructure Performance at South Western Railway has plummeted in the months since it became the first network to be brought under state ownership, piling fresh scrutiny on the government’s nationalisation drive just days after it announced the lines that will be taken public next. Delays and cancellations both rose sharply over the three months after it [...]
Why commuter trains are the best place to gather market intelligence January 22, 2025 From overheard conversations to poorly concealed laptop screens, the morning commute is a rich source of leaked information, says Sam Turvey Every year my communications consultancy puts out a global M&A leaks report highlighting where in the world leaks are most prevalent, and speculates on why people leak confidential information. A debate normally ensues about [...]
London commuter slowdown dents growth at Great Western Railway and Heathrow Express operator December 3, 2024 Fewer London commuters slowed growth at the company behind Great Western Railway and the Heathrow Express, as delays and cancellations became more frequent during its latest financial year. First Great Western (FGW) has said that while the leisure market has “recovered strongly”, the number of commuters into London remain behind December 2019 levels despite have [...]
Storm Bert: Great Western Railway suspends London Paddington services November 25, 2024 Train services between London Paddington and both South West England and south Wales have been severely impacted by the effect of Storm Bert. Great Western Railway (GWR) has suspended services on ‘all key routes” due to flooding and fallen trees while other operators have cancelled services today while more than 180 flood warnings remain in [...]
Anatomy of a snack trolley: ‘Why is there always flapjack?’ April 11, 2024 Who decides what you eat when you fly or catch a train? Amelia Tait goes in search to the answer to the big question: 'Why always flapjack?'
Rail cancellations swell as figures reveal 2022-23 worst year on record May 25, 2023 Train passengers in Britain have faced record levels of disruption over the last twelve months, with new figures revealing 2022-23 was the worst year ever for rail cancellations. Passengers have faced record levels of disruption after the past year was the worst on record for train cancellations, figures from the Office for Road and Rail [...]
GWR engineers join rail workers and strike on 1 October September 27, 2022 Around 350 engineers will join colleagues working at Great Western Railways (GWR) as well as across the network and strike on 1 October over salaries. The union Unite said that, despite a current inflation rate of 9.9 per cent, GWR engineers were not offered a pay increase. Disruption will affect the operator’s depots and stations [...]
Rail union bosses who called for biggest train strike in 25 years take home £280,000 in pay and perks July 12, 2022 With the transport unions having voted on the ‘biggest rail strike in 25 years’, it has been revealed that two Aslef trade union bosses had a combined total remuneration of £281,601 in 2021. Aslef’s general secretary, Mick Whelan, took home £151,371 in total remuneration in 2021. While Aslef’s Assistant General Secretary, Simon Weller, received £130,230 in the same year, the TaxPayers’ Alliance said [...]