Though it is traditional to predict what a new year will bring, Rail Engineer is mindful of an ancient Chinese saying that: "Those who have knowledge, don't predict. Those who predict, don't have knowledge.” Hence, we prefer to consider what may happen rather than to predict. A huge issue for...

In Issue 215 (Jul-Aug 2025) Rail Engineer reported on how Coventry City Council had invited the public to ride on the prototype Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) vehicle. This ran on a 220-metre length of the CVLR’s novel trackform which had been installed in eight weeks. CVLR has been developed...

A major bridge replacement scheme on the West Coast Main Line (WCML) has been completed, with the installation of a new structure at Clifton near Penrith as part of wider upgrade works. The work saw the Clifton railway bridge, which passes over the M6, replaced by Network Rail and its...

On Tuesday 10 February, CrossCountry unveiled the first of its refurbished Voyager trains at Alstom’s Litchurch Lane works in Derby. Assembled guests and excited staff from both companies were invited to tour the train and experience the improvements first-hand.As could be seen, the refurbishment programme has delivered a fully...

On 14 January, Secretary of State Heidi Alexander set out the Government’s plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) which are to be delivered in three phases: Electrification and upgrades east of the Pennines for delivery in the 2030s covering Leeds-Bradford, Sheffield-Leeds, and Leeds-York corridors. Capacity is to be increased at...

Over the last few years, several serious accidents investigated by RAIB have involved freight train braking systems. Accidents are costly, but significant costs are also incurred even when no accident occurs, for example when wagons are withdrawn from service due to wheel flats. In its reports, RAIB recommended better...

In Rail Engineer 217 (Dec-Nov 2025) we reported on a September 2025 IMechE event which featured several case studies on rolling stock cracks and fractures. In that issue, we examined the standards, tools, and techniques involved in managing cracks and fractures on trains. In essence, if standards are complied with,...

The benefits of the European Train Control System (ETCS) include enhanced safety, as ETCS continuously monitors train speed and ensures compliance with speed restrictions, as well as reducing the risk of incidents caused by driver error - for example the recent speed exceedances across the network. By optimising train...

Rail Engineer has written extensively about the development of Battery Electric Multiple Units (BEMU), and Discontinuous Electrification. In Issue 215 (Jul-Aug 2025), our article about the Cardiff Valleys explained the importance of system design to ensure that BEMUs can get around the discontinuous OLE without running out of power....

Ben Lane, director of technology, Siemens Mobility UK&I The UK is on the cusp of the biggest affordability shift for rail in a generation. The question is whether we can turn pent up demand into punctual, reliable journeys, despite the public funding squeeze. The answer is we can, here’s how. The...

On 3 November 2025, the lead bogie of a passenger train derailed at Shap in Cumbria after hitting a landslip. The train was travelling at 133.5km/h (83mph) and continued to run derailed for 560 metres, according to the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB). Of the nine staff and 86...