All UK policy articles – Page 2
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Rail Business UKViewpoint: the fare evasion prosecution scandal explained
UK: Nathan Seymour-Hyde, Partner and Solicitor at Reeds Solicitors, explains how train operators misused the Single Justice Procedure and why up to 75 000 convictions for fare evasion offences have now been quashed.
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Rail Business UKInterview: Chiltern Railways is ‘focused on what we can control’
UK: As the rail sector braces itself for major institutional change, Chiltern Railways Managing Director Richard Allan is keen to deliver tangible improvements now. Key investment priorities include decarbonising its rolling stock fleet. Tony Miles posed the questions.
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Rail Business UKRail unions welcome imminent repeal of Minimum Service Levels legislation
UK: The railway unions have welcomed the government’s announcement that it is to repeal the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 as part of its upcoming Employment Rights Bill. The previous government brought in the legislation in an effort to ensure that a minimum level of ...
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Rail Business UKCouncil remains ‘absolutely committed’ to Portishead railway reopening
UK: North Somerset Council says it remains committed to reopening the Portishead to Bristol line, despite the government’s cancellation of the Restoring Your Railway programme. Rail schemes within the programme will now be subject to review by the Secretary of State for Transport. In early 2023 ...
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Rail Business UKDfT projects review commissioned and Restoring Your Railway Fund scrapped
UK: Secretary of State for Transport Louise Haigh has commissioned an internal review of the Department for Transport’s capital spend portfolio, following Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ July 29 statement in the House of Commons about unfunded public spending.
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Rail Business UKCall to retain cash payment at stations
UK: Great British Railways must retain cash payment options, watchdog Transport Focus has said, because some passengers in the most deprived areas could be disadvantaged if they had to use other payment methods. In its Is Cash Still Important On Today’s Railway? report, Transport Focus says ...
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Rail Business UKCancellation of HS2 Phase 2 may force demand management on trains north of Birmingham, NAO says
UK: The cancellation of Phase 2 of High Speed 2 means the programme will now not address the capacity issues on the West Coast Main Line north of Birmingham, according to the National Audit Office. The NAO warns that improving existing infrastructure may be expensive and ...
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Rail Business UKGovernment introduces bill to take passenger train operations into the public sector
UK: The legislation envisages that the direct award of a contract to a public sector operator would become the default, rather than a last resort.
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Rail Business UKNationalisation, Great British Railways and devolution plans included in King’s Speech
UK: A package of rail reforms including taking the remaining private train operators into state ownership was unveiled at the state opening of parliament on July 17.
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Rail Business UKBurnham bullish on Liverpool – Manchester fast line prospects
UK: Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham remains confident that funding remains available for the development of a new Liverpool – Manchester railway serving Manchester Airport and a new underground station in Manchester following the recent change of government. ‘As far as I know there’s no ...
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Rail Business UKRail and tram-train in Manchester’s Bee Network expansion plans
UK: Local rail services around Manchester are to be brought into the region’s expanding Bee Network by 2028 as part of a public transport development strategy unveiled by Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham on July 10.
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Rail Business UKRail sector responds to Labour general election win
UK: Organisations from across the rail sector have responded to the outcome of the July 4 general election, which saw a landslide victory for the opposition Labour over the previous Conservative government.
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Rail Business UKRail industry leaders urge next government to resolve Sunday working conundrum
UK: Delivering a ‘seven day railway’ must be a priority for the next government, industry leaders have told Rail Business UK following a surge in Sunday cancellations caused by crew shortages.
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Rail Business UKRailway Industry Association welcomes rail’s presence in election manifestos
UK: ‘It is good to see rail featuring strongly within the political party election manifesto plans this week’, commented Railway Industry Association Chief Executive Darren Caplan on June 14 after the main political parties had published their policy documents. ‘This prominence reflects the importance of UK ...
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Rail Business UK‘Delivered by Rail Freight’ campaign highlights how everyone benefits
UK: The Rail Freight Group has launched a ‘Delivered by Rail Freight’ campaign emphasising the sector’s critical role in transporting essential goods. RFG is calling on the next government to make a number of targeted interventions, explaining that funding the electrification of 100 km of connecting ...
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Rail Business UKRMT backs Labour win but says ‘no blank cheques’
UK: The National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers has given qualified backing to Labour ahead of the general election on July 4. RMT issued a statement on June 5 saying the Labour party supports ‘public ownership and reintegration of large parts of the railway’, ...
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Rail Business UKTicket reform and an international rail strategy in Campaign for Better Transport wish list
UK: The Campaign for Better Transport charity has published a general election manifesto setting out its transport asks for the next government. For the rail sector, it says the next government should: reform ticketing, freeze fares while fuel duty remains frozen, base annual increases on ...
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Rail Business UKFive recommendations to unleash the potential of rail
UK: Industry association Rail Forum has published an ‘Unleashing the potential of rail: an enabler of economic prosperity’ policy document, outlining five policies for the next government which says would offer significant benefits for customers, taxpayers and the supply chain. Rail Forum wants to see: ...
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Rail Business UKRailway Industry Association calls for a ‘fresh start’ after the election
UK: Ahead of the July 4 general election the Railway Industry Association has published a manifesto setting out its five main asks for the next parliament and calling for a fresh start for rail. RIA calls on the next government to: publish a long-term rail ...
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Rail Business UKLiverpool – Manchester Railway Board created to push for construction of new line
UK: A Liverpool – Manchester Railway Board has been launched by the two cities’ metro mayors and other stakeholders to lead the development of proposals for a high speed line between the conurbations. The government has said that up to £17bn is to be made available for the new line ...