From Marples to Crossrail – how things change
The new and very thorough biography of Ernest Marples, The Shadow behind Beeching, which has just been published by Pen & Sword, is an interesting …
The new and very thorough biography of Ernest Marples, The Shadow behind Beeching, which has just been published by Pen & Sword, is an interesting …
If there is one thing that the current rail strike tells us, it is that no one is in charge of the railways. And that, …
It’s fortunate that many Londoners have become accustomed to working from home over the past couple of years because they are going to have to …
There’s trouble brewing down the line. Industrial relations trouble, that is. The RMT union has launched a ballot of its members for what it …
British Railways lives again. Well sort of. The Queen’s Speech contains plans for a Transport Bill the centrepiece of which is the creation of Great …
How Great British Railways can learn from the old BR Read More »
Your leading article (“Digging Deep”, May 5) rightly celebrates the opening of what is a truly world-class railway. It took courage and vision by various …
Letter to The Times: Crossrail does not take away money from the North Read More »
Dennis Fancett is a happy man. But he is not totally satisfied, as there are further battles ahead. He has been campaigning to get what is …
It’s welcome news that the Government has belatedly realised that attracting people back on to trains is vital for numerous reasons. More people using trains …
One of the most spurious justifications for rail privatisation was that it would ‘get government’ out of the railways’. The very creation of Great British …
Crossrail was, in the words of its former chairman Tony Meggs, ‘the best project in Europe, indeed the world until it wasn’t’. And that transformation …
Why Crossrail took so long – and why it’s worth the wait Read More »
I fell into book writing by accident. In all my career, I have done everything a bit late, which is perhaps why I am still …
The value of economics to writing about transport Read More »
Never say history does not repeat itself. An aspect of the Ukranian war that has been largely neglected by the media is the problem with …
Rail 953: Ukraine conflict shows rail still key in modern warfare Read More »
The reaction by many rail journalists to the publication of the Integrated Rail Plan was uncontrolled fury. They railed against the ‘betrayal’ by the government …
Given world events that have managed to put even Partygate on the back burner, it is difficult to focus on what might seem a parochial …
Rail 952: The agenda for a new transport secretary Read More »
In researching my forthcoming book on the role of the railways in the reoccupation of northern Europe following D Day, I came across this account …
March 2022 Newsletter: Railways still relevant in modern warfare Read More »