Railnews Magazine July 2025 Back Issue

Railnews for July reports that the Office of Rail and Road has refused five open access applications, including three from Virgin Trains which would have involved 20 daily departures from London Euston.

The ORR says there would be no capacity for extra trains on the West Coast Main Line, which is very congested south of Rugby in particular. Meanwhile, the RMT is calling for all outstanding open access applications to be rejected.

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander has described HS2 as a ‘litany of failure’ and an ‘appalling mess’, but she told MPs on 18 June that although cancelled sections will not be reinstated, the line between London and Birmingham will be completed. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced £25.3 billion for HS2 as part of her Spending Review.

Costs are also the reason that the Royal Train is to be decommissioned, as part of wider efforts to control spending at the Palace. However, the Royal family may still use service trains in future.

Govia Thameslink Railway and Network Rail have apologised after passengers were trapped on a train in south London for two hours on the hottest day of the year, after a train had failed. Eurostar services were also disrupted after two trespassers died on a high speed line in France. The delays were made worse by cable thieves near Lille.

The recovery in passengers since the pandemic is continuing, with new growth in sight, while other developments have included the first freight train on East West Rail and the arrival of the first two Class 99 locomotives for GBRf.

Great Western Railway says a year-long experiment with battery trains has succeeded, and that they could replace diesel trains on local services.

Finally, the Railway 200 exhibition train ‘Inspiration’ has begun a nationwide tour.

Railnews for July is out now.