Economy Class & Beyond

West Midlands Trains set to move back into public ownership

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The march towards passenger rail network nationalisation is continuing with West Midlands Trains announcing when they are due to transfer back to public control. The Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed that West Midlands Trains – operator of services under the West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway brands - is set to transfer to public ownership … [Read more...]

Eurostar to boost London to Amsterdam route to five times a day

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As teased during Eurostar's recent expansion plans, the European train operator is to expand its London St Pancras to Amsterdam Centraal service to five times a day. The new timetable will go into effect on the 15th December 2025.  Eurostar will operate five direct trains per day in each direction, offering passengers even greater flexibility and convenience when … [Read more...]

West Coast Open Access Rail requests… denied!

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At Economy Class and Beyond, we have covered the emergence of new Open Access Operators who wish to operate new services on the West Coast Mainline.  It seems these are in vain, with the Office of Rail and Road concluding there is not enough capacity to let these operations commence. There were three companies in the mix to launch services. They were: Virgin … [Read more...]

Air Canada expands its Air+Rail options, with Lufthansa Rail Express

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Air Canada is expanding its Air+Rail operation with an extension of its codeshare agreement with Lufthansa to include Lufthansa Express Rail services at Frankfurt Airport, operated by Deutsche Bahn. This agreement will allow for intermodal itineraries to be booked in one reservation, offering greater flexibility, more choice, and added convenience to connect with Air … [Read more...]

Delays on the Piccadilly Line – new trains entry-to-service delayed

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For those of you looking forward to riding on the new Piccadilly Line trains (especially for those who travel from Heathrow into Central London), the rollout of the new trains has been delayed. Entry into service is now targeted for the second half of 2026.  The new rolling stock (2024 stock) was originally meant to enter service in 2025. Some trains have been … [Read more...]

FirstGroup sketches out a new route between Hereford and London

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FirstGroup is trying to extend its Open Access operations, this time with a new application to operate between Hereford and London via Cwmbran. Lumo Class 803 along the Scottish Coast - Next Stop, Hereford? Image, FirstGroup The company has submitted an application to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) as part of the process. FirstGroup’s proposal is for two return … [Read more...]

Lumo gears up for Stirling – London Route launch

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FirstGroup and Lumo have got their wish, with the train operator having its route between London and Stirling (Scotland) granted and plans to launch the service unveiled. Lumo Class 222 Train - Image, Lumo The new service is planned to start in Spring 2026.  This expansion aims to enhance travel choice and connectivity for passengers along the central belt of Scotland, … [Read more...]