Rail Magazine

RAIL magazine is Britain’s biggest-selling modern railways magazine, giving comprehensive news coverage for the industry. Over 25,000 copies are sold every fortnight.

Rail 960: Confusion over future of rail

Rail 960: Confusion over future of rail

The government’s consultation paper on the Williams Shapps report published on June 9 mistakenly put the year down as 2021 rather ...
Rail 959: Why it's only the state that can sort out the railways

Rail 959: Why it’s only the state that can sort out the railways

The railways are suffering from a series of intermingled crises and as Nigel Harris argued so cogently in the last ...
Rail 958: Crossrail gives us the chance to celebrate

Rail 958: Crossrail gives us the chance to celebrate

The time for carping is over. Let’s for once just celebrate and enjoy some good news. Yes, I know, I ...
Rail 957: How SouthEastern scandal exposed franchise failings

Rail 957: How SouthEastern scandal exposed franchise failings

In writing this column every fortnight since 1995, I have always questioned the value of privatising an industry that is ...
Rail 956: Heading for trouble

Rail 956: Heading for trouble

There’s trouble brewing down the line. Industrial relations trouble, that is. The RMT union has launched a ballot of its ...
Rail 955: A campaign well fought

Rail 955: A campaign well fought

Dennis Fancett is a happy man. But he is not totally satisfied, as there are further battles ahead. He has been ...
Rail 954: One country, four rail systems

Rail 954: One country, four rail systems

One of the most spurious justifications for rail privatisation was that it would ‘get government’ out of the railways’. The ...
Rail 953: Ukraine conflict shows rail still key in modern warfare

Rail 953: Ukraine conflict shows rail still key in modern warfare

Never say history does not repeat itself. An aspect of the Ukranian war that has been largely neglected by the ...
Rail 952: The agenda for a new transport secretary

Rail 952: The agenda for a new transport secretary

Given world events that have managed to put even Partygate on the back burner, it is difficult to focus on ...
Rail 951: LNER success shows the way forward; and a note on Transport's eminence grise

Rail 951: LNER success shows the way forward; and a note on Transport’s eminence grise

For many years, the train operating companies have complained about excessive interference from the Department for Treasury – ooops, sorry, ...
Rail 950: It's the passengers, stupid

Rail 950: It’s the passengers, stupid

I’m delighted that Grant Shapps is on the case of the incessant noise that ensures there is never any chance ...
Rail 949: The creeping cuts to rail -and mystery on the Normandy invasion

Rail 949: The creeping cuts to rail -and mystery on the Normandy invasion

Nothing encapsulates the current dilemmas on the railway than the fate of the Marston Vale line which is a 16 ...
Rail 948: Rocky times ahead for rail

Rail 948: Rocky times ahead for rail

Forgive me if I welcome the New Year by letting off a bit of steam (and breaking my rule about ...
Rail 947: Connecting the four nations report is a diversion

Rail 947: Connecting the four nations report is a diversion

In the swathe of reports and events in the past few weeks, one rather important document has been lost. This ...
Rail 945: Was the Integrated Rail Plan really that bad?

Rail 945: Was the Integrated Rail Plan really that bad?

Imagine a slightly different world. The railways are being run by a rather impressive pair,  Andy, the ambitious and media-savvy ...
Rail 944: Media gets it wrong on Salisbury rail crash

Rail 944: Media gets it wrong on Salisbury rail crash

The rail collision at Salisbury attracted the usual amount of over the top coverage from the media but that is ...
Rail 943: Cop-out on the railways

Rail 943: Cop-out on the railways

Promises, promises. There’s quite a lot of them about. The railway structure is to be reformed, some version of British ...
Rail 942: A big test for the Levelling Up agenda

Rail 942: A big test for the Levelling Up agenda

‘Levelling up’ is the big idea following on from other memorable catch phrases like ‘hug a hoodie’ and the Big ...
Rail 941: The damaging war between London and the government

Rail 941: The damaging war between London and the government

I love London, my home town and one of the great cities of the world. It is a much kinder ...
Rail 940: Does HS2 fit with the decarbonising agenda?

Rail 940: Does HS2 fit with the decarbonising agenda?

The government’s decarbonisation policy document is a constipated effort, blood out of stone from reluctant politicians after much delay. It ...
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