It seems that the advertising board that replaced the departures board at Euston Station has been updated to be... a departures board. The departure board under test - Image, Network Rail With the adverts switched off after a backlash from passengers, the board has sat dark, with passenger information given by a number of smaller departure boards. Network Rail will … [Read more...]

FirstGroup Rail was busy last week, by purchasing a nascent open-access, operator, announcing new routes and putting in orders for trains. A Lumo Train, operated by FirstGroup - Image, FirstGroup.  Purchase of Grand Union Train (GWML) With the Great Western franchise to be moved back into public ownership in the next few years, FirstGroup wants to be relevant in that … [Read more...]

For those of you travelling during the festive period, Avanti West Coast has launched a new low-alcohol beer ‘Safety Thirst’. The beer is being launched as part of a safety campaign to help reduce customer accidents at stations and onboard trains during the festive period. Named “Safety Thirst”, the 0.5 percent pale ale, will be stocked onboard the intercity operator’s … [Read more...]

It's taken some time - but after a five-year wait, South Western Railway has formally launched and rolled out its Class 701 Arterio fleet. To celebrate, Unit 701031 was named Nighthawk by Stuart Broad CBE. Five Arterios are already in service, serving the routes to Windsor & Eton Riverside and Shepperton, calling at some of SWR’s busiest stations including … [Read more...]

It's that time of the year again when we look at the Most and Least used rail stations in the UK. Once again, the busiest station in the United Kingdom (for a second year running) is London Liverpool Street. London Liverpool Street Station - Image, ORR.  Located in the City of London, it's the terminus of Greater Anglia services, as well as a major connection node … [Read more...]

Avanti West Coast - the train operator which operates on the West Coast Main Line in the United Kingdom has launched its newest train between Liverpool and London  - with the Class 807 Evero making its debut on the route. Avanti West Coast Evero Class 807 train at Liverpool Lime Street  - Image, Avanti. The Class 807 trains are based on the Hitachi Intercity Express … [Read more...]

With the upcoming timetable change, CrossCountry Trains will launch a new service, connecting the Welsh Capital of Cardiff to the Scottish Capital of Edinburgh via Birmingham. CrossCountry Voyager at Manchester Piccadilly Train Station - Image, Economy Class and Beyond The new weekday service will link Wales, England and Scotland by one train for the first time. The … [Read more...]

We've all done it, looking up at a platform board and realising a train is about to depart within a couple of minutes.  At Birmingham New Street (one of the busier train stations outside of London), you're going to need a little more time to get to the train before departure. Looking down to Birmingham New Street Station from Grand Central  Network Rail has announced … [Read more...]