The chancellor should freeze rail fares next year, and make the announcement in the Autumn Budget at the end of this month, according to the Campaign for Better Transport ..read more

WEDNESDAY BRIEFING: Lobby group claims private rail operators are better value ++ Belfast’s new station to open within days +++ Leaf fall timetables start ..read more

Transport secretary Louise Haigh has raised hopes that the high speed link between Old Oak Common and London Euston could be back on the agenda. An announcement about the Euston section could be included in the budget speech on 30 October ..read more

ScotRail’s full timetable has been restored, after three months of reduced services. Meanwhile, trains have started running again on the Isle of Wight between Ryde and Shanklin after a month of engineering work, but not to Ryde Pier Head ..read more

Arriva has published a series of proposals which it says are designed to improve the railways in the shorter term. Its report ‘Accelerating the Government’s Ambition to Fix Britain’s Railways’ includes recommendations such as making more effective use of the existing network, rolling stock and other assets, making timetabling more flexible and responsive, and also allowing train operating companies to make decisions about timetables ..read more

KeolisAmey has been awarded a new eight year contract to run the Docklands Light Railway on behalf of Transport for London ..read more

Transport secretary Louise Haigh has appointed West Midlands Combined Authority chief executive Laura Shoaf as the chair of Shadow Great British Railways, which was set up by Ms Haigh a month ago. SGBR is a first step towards creating Great British Railways in full, although an Act of Parliament will be needed first ..read more

Transport watchdog London TravelWatch has described a decision by the Office of Rail and Road as ‘incredible’, amid a new controversy which has flared up about the safety of London Euston. One journalist has described it as ‘easily the worst main station in Western Europe ..read more

ScotRail has announced that its full timetable will be restored on Monday. A pay deal was agreed with drivers’ union ASLEF on 25 September, and ScotRail said it can now restore the service that had been advertised until 10 July ..read more

MONDAY BRIEFING: Traiins stranded by storm in South Devon ++ HS1 access charges could fall ++ Union condemns return of ScotRail peak fares ..read more