Green Signals

Failure to electrify Britain’s railway is costing the UKbillions of pounds How Network Rail is coping with the heat – we speak to NR’sDeputy CEO Jake Kelly And an HS2 tunnel extension in Bromford is judged not tohave had the correct planning permission… ** Book for the Green Signals Jolly on July 23rd here In this episode: (00:00) Intro (00:34) Electrification (25:34) HS2’s Bromford Tunnel (29:58)...

Why does heat wreak havoc with the railway? And what can wedo about it? A so-called ‘near miss between two trains at Clay Cross turns out to be nothing of the sort… And the National Audit Office makes someremarkable recommendations on HS2 ** Book for the Green Signals Jolly on July 23rd here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/green-signals-jolly-to-the-keighley-worth-valley-railway-tickets-198653602171...

Bedford train crash latest – What do we know? And, crucially, what don’t we know yet? RAIB releases its report into October 2024’s Talerddig rail accident – and there are a few surprises … And the ORR rejects Alliance Rail again over its Marchwood open access application. **Link to download the TicketyBoo app: ⁠⁠https://myticketyboo.com/app_download/⁠⁠ Link to TicketyBoo website: ⁠⁠https://myticke...

The Great Central Railway is unique. It is the only main line double track heritage railway in Europe. And it’s brilliant! However, they are not standing still. They have an ambitious and exciting plan to reunify the two surviving sections of the Great Central Railway to create an 18 mile, living museum of transport, anchored by that unique double track section where it is possible to see steam tr...

The dramatic freight only railway line from Saltburn to Boulby potash mine on the Cleveland coast is a truly spectacular railway. Once forming much of the Saltburn to Whitby line, the 12 mile branch to Boulby is a railway delight with steep gradients, semaphore signals, closed stations, jointed track, token block signalling, even a tunnel on the section of the line that is privately owned and of c...

Is the Government’s Rail Reform failing? And how do we fixit? Andy Burnham says he’ll bring back HS2 to Manchester if he’ssuccessful at becoming PM And we catch up with RealTimeTrains founder TomCairns about the new RTT app **Link to download the TicketyBoo app: ⁠https://myticketyboo.com/app_download/⁠ Link to TicketyBoo website: ⁠https://myticketyboo.com/⁠ Use code GREENSIGNALS5 at checkout toget...

Two thirds of all Great British Railways spend will be with the railway supply chain. It’s a dynamic environment that is constantly adapting, constantly changing and constantly investing. One of the businesses at the heart of that supply chain is Wabtec and at the moment, they are changing more than most with a £30 million investment to create a new super site, a jewel in the crown of the UK rail...

Government plans to cut transport spend to fund defence –what could it mean for railways? Kernow Connect – Is the Okehampton to Launceston and Bodminnew railway proposal the most delusional scheme of the year? And DfT explains how GBR will be held to account – but isthe most important question still unanswered? **Link to download the TicketyBoo app: https://myticketyboo.com/app_download/ Link to T...

Why did the Government block train operators from buying cheaper fuel?! Can HS2 trains be tested on HS1, or not? And… the Jacobite steam train returns! But NOT with Mark 1 carriages. **Link to download the TicketyBoo app Link to TicketyBoo website Use code GREENSIGNALS5 at checkout to get £5 off your first booking** In this episode: (00:00) Intro (00:27) Government blocked fuel hedging? (09:28) Ca...

Formed in 1908, WH Davis Ltd. has been based at Langwith Junction near Shirebrook its entire history and is today recognised as the UK’s last remaining independent rail wagon manufacturer. I’ve come to have look around this extraordinary place which remains a standard bearer of world class precision engineering and heavy duty manufacturing supporting the rail sector both home and abroad. Membershi...

HS2 planned to use a technology that “hasn’t been inventedyet”… Really? GBR’s livery begins rolling out on trains, but what happens next? And now Thameslink is following Avanti West Coast’s exampleand cancelling some summer services. What is going on? ** Find out more about the Emerald Isle Belle here: https://www.belletrains.co.uk/emerald-belle-2027 or by calling 01284 330123 In this episode: (00...

Over 25 years since the UK’s first open access passenger rail service, and the subject still divides opinion. Those for point to services to communities that had been forgotten, competition driving down prices as well as stimulating. Those against point to revenue abstraction not outweighed by the growth and to adding serious performance challenges on an already congested network. One person who h...

On the morning of Sunday 25 May, the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander MP boarded the first South Western Railway service to depart London Waterloo. The company’s new Managing Director, Lawrence Bowman, has been steadily working hard since to create an integrated SWR and Network Rail team, responsible for both train operations and infrastructure. As Great British Railways continues...

Artificial Intelligence is no longer science fiction. It’s increasingly science fact. And it’s coming to the railway whether we like it or not. GBRX has created the AI Industry Action Plan to show how Britain’s railway will move from isolated AI pilots to safe, scalable, system-wide adoption. Green Signals went along to the glitzy launch event for the AI Industry Action Plan at the Science Museum,...

HS2’s ‘Original Sins’. Up to £102bn cost. Slower speeds. Years late. What went wrong? Avanti West Coast prepares to cut 38 daily weekday servicesfor six weeks. Bristol to Oxford direct services are restored! And Artificial Intelligence is coming to the railway fasterthan ever… **Link to download the TicketyBoo app: https://myticketyboo.com/app_download/ Link to TicketyBoo website: https://myticket...

There is considerable debate about the causes of, and future predictions for, climate change. But what is not in any doubt is that our weather has become more unpredictable and extreme. The South West of England has always suffered more than most and the railway has always been at the forefront of meeting the challenge. In 2014, a serious breach of the sea wall at Dawlish caused the railway to be...

Great Western Railway will be nationalised in December… and that much-loved historic green livery will soon disappear HS2’s big ‘reset’ is delayed AGAIN. Or is it? GB Railfreight’s Class 99s take a big leap towards entering service And… an LNER overspeed incident might have been caused by driver distraction. **Link to download the TicketyBoo app: https://myticketyboo.com/app_download/ Link to Tick...

It’s not the end of heritage trams in Blackpool! We ask Blackpool Transport what its plans are now that Tramtown has closed… Ending ‘Boom and Bust’ on the railway – the Government responds to Transport Select Committee recommendations once again... but will Richard be as supportive this time? And we celebrate 150 years of the Settle & Carlisle Railway. ** Find out more about the Emerald Isle B...

Chris Gibb is one of the country’s most respected and experienced railway operators. His storied career includes a period as Chief operating Officer of Virgin Trains. Few people know how to get the most out of operating the West Coast Main Line as much as Chris Gibb. He’s spent time running Scotrail and sitting on the Board of Network Rail. Latterly he’s been the Senior NED on the Board of DFTO. H...

It is the railway line that survived against all the odds. It became a high profile cause celebre for campaigners and a political football for railway administrators over a long drawn out period beginning in the 1960s with the publication of Richard Beeching’s infamous report and ending in the late 1980s with a remarkable reprieve. On 1st May 2026, this glorious railway celebrated its 150th annive...

The sacking of an experienced railwayman from DfT Operator…Chris Gibb gives Green Signals an exclusive interview Breaking news that Blackpool’s Tramtown has been closed ‘permanently’ Shock, horror! Richard agrees with the Government on its response to Railways Bill recommendations from the Transport Select Committee And… Bransty Tunnel on the Cumbrian Coast Line. Why have repairs still not started...

Britain has a proud history of advanced railway research. It was British Rail who conceived the hugely successful High Speed Train. The BR Research Centre then came up with the brilliant tilting train design of the Advanced Passenger Train until it was scrapped, only for it to reappear years later, when it was sold back to us by a French Italian consortium in the form of the Pendolino. The Railway...

Few railway organisations have witnessed as much change in their role and structure over the past 30 years as the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). This, despite being a constant feature of the landscape. And yet the next few years will bring about the biggest changes so far in their role. John Larkinson has been CEO for over 7 years, the culmination of a long and distinguished career in the railway...

A single trespasser on the East Coast Main Line causes 426 trains to be delayed and tens of thousands of passengers to be stranded. So, what happened? Will Leeds ever get its trams? A leaked report raises doubts – and questions – for Chancellor Rachel Reeves and West Yorks Mayor Tracy Brabin And a railwayman of nearly 50 years’ experience is fired from DfT Operator for breaching the civil service...

Network Rail is pivotal to whether GBR is a success or not. The reality will always be that Network Rail, with its resources, people, assets and role drives pretty much whether the railway performs day to day both now and in the future. Jeremy Westlake is the CEO. In taking over from Andrew Haines he stepped out of the relative shadow of Chief Financial Officer role into the full glare of the top...