NCT Managing Director awarded MBE
π
Congratulations to Nottingham City Transport Managing Director David Astill, who has been awarded MBE in the New Year's Honours.
publictransport.news/bus/nottingh...
An LNER Azuma under the electric wires.
π The rail industry has launched its biggest timetable update on the East Coast Main Line in more than a decade.
It comes alongside network-wide service changes designed to increase capacity and shave minutes off long distance journeys.
publictransport.news/rail/new-dec...
Bee Network branded train at Manchester Piccadilly
π One year to go: Mayor of Greater Manchester @andyburnham.bsky.social has unveiled his vision for the future of rail in GM.
The first two routes - linking Manchester with Glossop and Stalybridge - are scheduled to join the Bee Network next year.
publictransport.news/rail/one-yea...
It comes as the government begins debating legislation to restructure the rail industry in Parliament.
publictransport.news/rail/great-b...
π¨ REVEALED: the new brand for Great British Railways.
Secretary of State Heidi Alexander has unveiled the new look for Britain's railways. It features a livery based on the Union flag, and a logo featuring the famous 'double arrow' device.
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π΄σ §σ ’σ ·σ ¬σ ³σ Ώ Cardiff Central has been given the greenlight for a Β£140 million revamp, which will see expanded concourses, improved accessibility and measures to ease overcrowding.
publictransport.news/rail/140-mil...
β‘οΈ The first of the brand new Β£400 million 'Aurora' fleet for East Midlands Railway has officially entered service.
The first passenger-carrying train ran on Wednesday 3 December, forming the 0700 from Sheffield to London St Pancras.
publictransport.news/rail/first-a...
A Northern Class 150 and a TPe Class 802 at Manchester Victoria
π TfGM has published its vision for rail, which will see stations and services across the city-region become accountable to regional leaders.
Under the plans, 8 corridors covering 96 stations would join the Bee Network by 2028.
publictransport.news/rail/greater...
@andyburnham.bsky.social
Yutong electric bus at First's Basildon depot
β‘οΈ First Bus and Essex County Council are celebrating the electrification of Basildon depot, which has become the county's first fully-electric bus depot.
55 zero-emission buses now operating across Basildon and the wider South Essex area.
publictransport.news/bus/basildon...
Β£65m boost for the Bee Network
π¬π§ Transport for Greater Manchester's Bee Network is set to benefit from a Β£65m funding boost, bringing 220 more electric buses and advancing a new tram-train project for the city region.
publictransport.news/bus/65-milli...
@andyburnham.bsky.social
Refreshed interior of a Class 376 train
Class 376 painted in blue Southeastern livery
π The first fully-refreshed Class 376 for Southeastern has entered service, bringing new interiors, upgraded accessibility features and a sleek new exterior look to the five-car units that first entered service in 2004.
publictransport.news/rail/first-f...
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Alex Hynes
π¨ BREAKING: Alex Hynes has been appointed as CEO of DfT Operator, succeeding Robin Gisby.
He takes the reigns at DFTO on 23 December.
publictransport.news/rail/alex-hy...
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π¬π§ Alexander Dennis has leant into a bit of light-hearted Britishness with a set of new βtea and toastβ-themed liveries for its latest electric demonstrators.
publictransport.news/bus/alexande...
π¦ For the first time in the UK, Network Rail has confirmed that two trains ran together under ETCS digital signalling on the East Coast Main Line.
The testing took place on the line south of Peterborough, involving Class 717 units under full ETCS control.
publictransport.news/rail/digital...
Ed Wills.
π The Go-Ahead Group has announced that Ed Wills has been appointed Managing Director of Go South Coast.
Wills' appointment follows the sad passing of long-serving former MD Andrew Wickham earlier in 2025.
publictransport.news/uk/go-ahead-...
Electric trains for East Kilbride
π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ ScotRail is getting ready to launch electric trains on the East Kilbride line from 14 December, with Class 380s replacing 4-carriage Class 156s.
publictransport.news/rail/scotrai...
π§ Passengers are being warned by Network Rail and train operators to expect disruption this weekend as the major resignalling of Darlington station is switched on.
Full story: publictransport.news/rail/darling...
π° In case you missed it earlier: the UK government have announced that rail fares will be frozen for the first time in 30 years.
publictransport.news/politics/rai...
Two DLR trains crossing over each other
π Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to green-light a Β£1.7 billion extension of the Docklands Light Railway to Thamesmead in her forthcoming Budget.
publictransport.news/politics/ree...
Sprinter Flirt Flex mocked up at Rotterdam Centraal
π³π± Nederlandse Spoorwegen has ordered 36 'Flirt Flex' units from Stadler, representing an investment of β¬400 million.
The units will have the flexibility to be deployed both as 'Sprinters' on stopping services, and 'Intercity' trains on longer distance routes.
publictransport.news/rail/ns-inve...
Lufthansa Centennial Edition Dreamliner on the apron
βοΈ Lufthansa's 'Centennial Edition' Boeing 787 Dreamliner will touch down in Frankfurt this December.
π©πͺ The aircraft, named 'Berlin', will serve as a flying ambassador for the airline during its centennial celebrations throughout 2026.
publictransport.news/aviation/luf...
20 more stations to go contactless
π³ Contactless pay-as-you-go payments will roll out to 20 more Greater Anglia stations from 14 December.
βοΈ The expansion covers a number of commuter and airport routes in Hertfordshire and Essex, including Liverpool Street to Stansted on the Stansted Express.
publictransport.news/rail/greater...
Β£10m upgrade completed at Salford Central
A Β£10m upgrade has been completed at Salford Central station.
A new roof has been added to the stationβs upper level while platform 2 has been substantially widened and given a glazed ramp roof. A canopy extension has also been constructed over platform 1.
publictransport.news/uk/10m-upgra...
Northern unveils '30 by 30' plan
π Train operator Northern has unveiled its '30 by 30' growth strategy, designed to attract 30 million more passenger trips per year by 2030.
publictransport.news/rail/norther...
Boosted timetable for Southeastern
π Southeastern Railway is rolling out a new timetable from 14 December, adding 29 weekday high-speed services, more carriages on key routes, and increasing the size of its fleet with three extra Class 377 trains.
publictransport.news/rail/southea...
King Charles III opens Taff's Well depot
π΄σ §σ ’σ ·σ ¬σ ³σ Ώ King Charles III has formally opened Taff's Well depot, the new home of the Transport for Wales tram-train fleet.
36 Stadler Class 398 tram-trains are now based at the site, with the opening marking a major milestone in the South Wales Metro transformation.
publictransport.news/rail/king-ch...
Interior of a Transdev eCitaro
π Transdev Blazefield has deployed a fleet of fully-electric Mercedes-Benz eCitaros on its 'Shuttle' bus route, which links the Yorkshire town of Keighley with nearby Bradford.
publictransport.news/bus/transdev...
