Today, 22nd April, the Railway Industry Association launches a new report ‘Why Rail Electrification’ which explains exactly why electrification is a future-proof technology that gives electric trains greater range, efficiency and lower operating costs than self-powered traction. Thus, rail decarbonisation requires large-scale electrification and is also a good investment. On...

Southampton is the UK’s second busiest container port and a vital part of the UK freight network. Around 800 containers a day pass through Freightliner’s Southampton Maritime Terminal at Redbridge which handles around 24 container trains daily. In addition, DB Cargo and GB rail freight average 18 trains per...

Rail Operations (UK) has signed a framework agreement with Stadler for the supply of 30 Class 93 tri-mode locomotives, of which an initial batch of ten locomotives will be due for delivery in early 2023. While the Class 93 concept was first proposed in 2018, it was not possible...

At this time of financial crisis, when government spends around £600 million a month to operate empty trains, rail investment is a big ask, especially with uncertain future demand. Yet, regardless of post-Covid travel changes, rail infrastructure is a long-term business and modal shift to rail is needed to...

It doesn’t take more than a few seconds looking at a deserted King’s Cross or New Street to appreciate the effect that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the passenger rail network. But what about the rail freight sector? Rail Engineer talked to Network Rail’s interim Freight Director, Charley Wallace,...

In days gone by, activists flattened pylons to forcibly isolate smaller areas from the energy grid. Nowadays it’s hackers - whose motives range from political to purely financial - who are attempting to use digital means to remotely access our critical infrastructure. The protection engineering and SCADA technology, or the...

From cyber-secure to cyber smart: why a broader understanding of cyber security is vital to our railway’s resilience. The safety of our railways is paramount. Yet, as digital technologies transform our networks, our concept of safety must evolve to include cyber security at its core. To maintain cyber security, it’s...

Much continues to be written about cyber security, the threats that exist and the precautionary measures that should be taken. The problem is very real and cyber-attacks take many forms, ranging from critical systems being disabled with implications for safety, through to ransom attacks that demand monetary payments for...

The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) has been a feature of the east side of London for many years now; it’s difficult to remember a time before it. However, the system has expanded considerably since the early days and has evolved to becoming a core part of the Transport for...

Against the backdrop of the Coronavirus pandemic, there has been a significant decrease in the number of those travelling by public transport, resulting in part from the virus’ impact on passenger confidence. The number of journeys between April and June 2020 fell by more than 80% compared to the previous...

Mobile internet connectivity on trains is now the expectation of most passengers. Data connectivity is also now essential for railway operations and maintenance, and will be even more important for in-cab signalling. But providing reliable cost-effective radio connectivity is not easy. It is like trying to guarantee continuous communications...

If you have ever stood on Crewe station, you may have noticed that hardly any freight trains pass through it. This is because they are diverted via a separate four-track railway in a deep cutting to the west. Known as the Crewe Independent Lines, it is tunnelled beneath the...