This Week on the Railway
Overcrowding, strikes, and rising costs of travelling
Meanwhile, signalling on the East Coast Main Line gets an upgrade, GWR unveils a special Paddington-themed livery, and new electrification projects are confirmed
News
Regulated rail fares to increase by 4.6% in March 2025
Something kept quiet in the Autumn 2024 Budget statement was regulated rail fares, but it has since been confirmed that they will rise across England by up to 4.6%, starting 2 March 2025. This marks a return to the Department for Transport's formula of retail prices index
News
What was said about transport in the Autumn 2024 Budget?
Today (30 October 2024), Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer, set out her Autumn 2024 Budget. It is the first time in over 14 years that a Labour budget has been presented to Parliament. Among a lot of talk on tax and spending was a short segment dedicated to transport
News
Early boarding introduced at London Euston
Passengers departing from London Euston will now be able to board their trains sooner, in hopes of reducing instances of the so-called 'Euston rush'. The move is one in a series of interventions to tackle overcrowding at the London terminus after concerns were raised by London TravelWatch. Earlier
News
Bus travel to cost £3 from 2025
The fare cap for bus travel in England will increase by 50% from £2 to £3, starting January 2025. The news was confirmed by Starmer at an event in Birmingham today (Monday, 28 October 2024), ahead of his Government's Autumn Budget on Wednesday. This is the first increase
News
Eurostar Snap: How to save up to 50% on international travel
Eurostar has reintroduced their 'Snap' ticketing scheme, which offers passengers up to a 50% discount on their international travels. The catch? Flexibility is a must — you'll only find out which train you're on 48 hours before departure. The high-speed rail operator hopes to fill
News
New station: Ashley Down opens for passengers
Today (28 September 2024), Ashley Down station in Bristol was opened and saw a return of passenger services to the area for the first time in 60 years. The new station was constructed on the same site that Ashley Hill occupied, a former railway station that fell victim to the
Simulation
Train Sim World 5 review
For returning players, the upgrade is merely incremental, but with solid simulation fundamentals and one of the best route line-ups in the series, Train Sim World 5 is an excellent entry point for new players.
News
ASLEF: train drivers' union vote to end pay dispute
Members of the Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF), known otherwise as the trade union representing train drivers, have accepted a pay proposal from the Department for Transport. After Labour returned to Government in July 2024, ASLEF's negotiating team had their first formal meeting with the
Simulation
Train Sim World 5 launches into Early Access
From today, players who pre-ordered the deluxe or special editions of Train Sim World 5 will be able to get started with early access. Effectively, it offers a five days' head start with the game compared to standard edition owners. TSW5's full release is scheduled for 17
News
0.9% Fare Increase for Railcard Users from September 15
A closer look at train fares with a Railcard discount for 14 and 15 September 2024 reveals a subtle but important change. On Saturday, they're one price, but on Sunday they're another price — slightly more expensive, in fact. And no, this is not to do with
Fact Files
Class 345
The Class 345 Aventra is an electric multiple unit (EMU) operated by Transport for London (TfL) on the Elizabeth line, which runs from Reading and the Heathrow Airport terminals in the west to Abbey Wood and Shenfield to the east. The trains, which were ready long before the core section
