Whilst in theory, the Channel Tunnel Rail Link is open to anyone, in practice - only a few companies have ever run on it.  Could a new operator be going into the Eurotunnel - With  Franco-British sreet artist YZ's artwork "I will always see you" - Image, Getlink Well, that seems to be changing with a start-up called Evolyn announcing its intention to run … [Read more...]

It seems that performance has improved enough for both Avanti West Coast and CrossCountry Trains have managed to retain their operations, and have been awarded new operating contracts. Avanti West Coast (operated by a partnership of FirstGroup and Trenitalia) has a long-term contract which will enable them to deliver improved services for passengers, after dramatically … [Read more...]

There's good news for those travelling back and forth between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport, with the Stansted Express rail service increasing to four trains an hour. The full timetable will be resorted from the 10th of December 2023 as the new train timetable is introduced across the network. The move follows the scaling up of the services in May to four … [Read more...]

Avanti West Coast (the operator of long-distance trains out of London Euston) has hit a big milestone with its Pendolino fleet upgrade. Alstom's team at Widnes in front of the first nine-carriage Pendolino to be refurbished following the completion of all 35 of the longer 11-carriage trains - Image, Avanti West Coast The train operator has received its 35th refurbished … [Read more...]

After a break, Eurostar will be offering ski services from London to the French Alps, branded as Eurostar Snow. The service will operate from London St Pancras International, going via Lille, Moutiers and Bourg-Saint-Maurice, allowing connections to Chambéry, Albertville, Moutiers and Aime-La Plagne. Lead-in pricing starts at £99 one way in Standard, £149 in Standard … [Read more...]

Ah, it's summer. This means it's time for more engineering works on the Piccadilly Line connecting Heathrow to Central London. This weekend, the Piccadilly Line line will be shut between Hammersmith/Acton Town and Heathrow. Between 0045 and 0445 on Saturday 12th August there will be no service (night tube) between Hammersmith and Heathrow (all terminals).  Bus PL1 … [Read more...]

The first of the new trains for Transport for London has made it off the production line and is off to Germany for testing. This train - the first of 94 - will be used to replace the existing trains used on the Piccadilly Line under the New Tube for London programme. With it complete, it has been sent to the Siemens Test and Validation Centre in Wegberg-Wildenrath, … [Read more...]

Greater Anglia (who operate the Stansted Express services) will increase services to four an hour during the morning and evening weekday peaks, as passenger numbers return to the airport. The new timetable will see weekday trains run every 15 minutes from Liverpool Street between 05.10 and 08.10 and between 16.10 and 19.40. Trains from the airport to Liverpool Street … [Read more...]

For long-suffering travellers in the North of England and Scotland, there's something to smile about today as FirstGroup is to be stripped of operating its Transpennine Express franchise. Transpennine Express "Nova 1" Class 802 Train - Image, Hitachi Rail.  The Transport Secretary has announced he will not renew or extend Transpennine Express’s (TPE) contract at the end … [Read more...]

The 21st of May is an important day for the Elizabeth Line and the Crossrail project, as the full peak timetable will finally go into effect.   It's a rather big change, with a train operating in the core section roughly every two and a half minutes between Paddington and Whitechapel at peak time with frequencies increased to up to 24 trains per hour in … [Read more...]