A comprehensive long-term strategy to develop the UK’s inter urban rail network is essential for future economic growth and achieving net zero, according to a new report from the High Speed Rail Group. Political figures on all sides are urged to look beyond HS2 and take a fresh approach in order to maximise the potential of high speed rail in the UK, which the High Speed Rail Group say is “vast”. The High Speed Rail Group, which brings together expertise in engineering, operations, funding and regulation, outlines five recommendations for the next Government in its new report, High Speed Rail ..read more

LG Display, the world’s leading innovator of display technologies, announced today its supply of Transparent OLED displays to a train for the first time in Korea, as they have been installed on the country’s newly launched Great Train eXpress (GTX). As one of the world’s fastest underground rail services, operating at approximately three times the speed of conventional subway trains, GTX connects major hubs in Seoul with the greater metropolitan area. LG Display’s groundbreaking 55-inch Transparent OLEDs, installed as GTX-A cabin windows, are expected to create a comfortable and smart on-boar ..read more

Readers can learn more about Labour’s policy announcement here. Anthony Smith, chair of Independent Rail Retailers (IRR) said: “The Independent Rail Retailers association welcomes Labour’s statement about the potential future direction of the railways and its ambitious delivery plan. “Retailing is the gateway to growth on Britain’s railways, and as experts and innovators in this field, we look forward to working with any future government to develop a forward-thinking, passenger-focused policy in this area. “Independent retailers, in partnership with Government and the rail industry, can help ..read more

Freightliner issued this statement: Freightliner welcomes the vision for rail announced by Labour today as being a positive plan for the rail sector.  The announcement by Louise Haigh, the Shadow Secretary of State for Transport, recognises the importance of harnessing the potential of the rail freight sector in delivering significant environmental and economic benefits for the UK.  Growing rail freight is crucial to meet our net zero and decarbonisation commitments, improve economic productivity and deliver regional growth.  Therefore, the commitment to grow the size of the fr ..read more

Rail Partners chief executive, Andy Bagnall, said:   ‘Train companies agree that change is needed for the railways, but nationalisation is a political rather than a practical solution which will increase costs over time. ‘Creating a thriving railway for customers and taxpayers does not have to be an ideological choice between a monopoly railway in public hands and one that delivers private investment and innovation through franchising. ‘There is an alternative plan which gives the best of both worlds and is already being used by Labour Mayors and increasingly across Europe.’ Andy continu ..read more

The UK Labour Party have released this statement, detailing their policy for the UK rail sector: Britain’s railways should be a source of pride, not exasperation. As the country which created the railways, they are an iconic part of our heritage, and have played an essential role in enabling people to see our country, spend time with loved ones, and seize economic opportunities for more than two centuries. Labour’s plan is to create a unified and simplified governance structure that places passengers at the heart of the goal, objectives and incentives for the railway, and to bring train opera ..read more

The HS2 project has been ongoing in the UK for over a decade. Its timeline, however, is by no means straightforward. Here are the origins of HS2; who first thought of the high-speed rail? What is its legislative history? What were the early stages of construction? 2009 The first high speed rail line in the UK opened in 2003, High-Speed 1 (HS1), linking the Channel Tunnel to London. At the end of 2009, then Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown promised £20 billion for rail infrastructure between the North and South of England. The Department for Transport announced a case to examine the possibil ..read more

Digital twin technology has emerged as a revolutionary tool in engineering, allowing businesses to create highly accurate simulations of physical assets, systems, or processes. These digital replicas not only enable real-time monitoring and pre-emptive fault detection but also facilitate a deeper understanding of asset performance under various scenarios, thus enhancing operational efficiency and reducing expenses significantly. Join us as we delve into the world of digital twins, exploring their relevance within rail infrastructure. This webinar will cover the fundamental concepts of digital ..read more

The California High Speed Rail Project, run by Authority, is well underway. However, this high-speed development was years in the planning for the state, here’s part one of its history. The need for a working passenger railway, and the accompanying infrastructure, is fairly clear from the figures. California ranked first with the highest number of registered vehicles in 2019 out of the US states, with a total of 31,247,270. They were then followed by Texas, with 23,007,145, Florida, with 17,833,719, New York, 11,389158, and Ohio, 10,901,279. An added pressure to the existing infrastructure is ..read more

The Railway Industry Association (RIA) is pleased to announce that the award-winning Annual Conference & Dinner will take place on 6-7 November 2024, at the Leonardo Royal Hotel, London. This year’s conference focuses on the theme ‘A fresh start for UK rail’ and will feature a large interactive exhibition area and spotlight pitches where new services and products will be showcased. The evening programme includes networking drinks, dinner and entertainment. As usual, the conference attracts some of the most senior industry figures and this year includes: Andrew Haines OBE, Network Ra ..read more