Riding sunbeams
- Published Mon 12 of Mar, 2018 16:57 GMT - (5024 Reads)10:10, the climate change charity, is working with the Energy Futures Lab at Imperial College, London, to develop a viable solution for solar-powered railways. The graphic by 10:10 Climate Action illustrates the principle. It is ironic that the artist has depicted a diesel unit but we like the picture so used it anyway.
Wisbech half-hourly
- Published Sun 11 of Mar, 2018 23:49 GMT - (4425 Reads)Railfuture has joined together with local people, rail planning experts and influential local business leaders to progress Wisbechrail through a new group they have set up called the Wisbech Consultative Group. This will harness peoples’ ideas about where the station should be, what facilities it should have and other issues to do with a new train service.
Woodhead spurned
- Published Wed 07 of Mar, 2018 14:03 GMT - (10665 Reads)This picture is the image chosen by Transport for the North to illustrate its Long Term Rail Strategy. Is it fantasy or reality?
Railworker fatigue survey
- Published Mon 05 of Mar, 2018 19:22 GMT - (2837 Reads)A UK rail employee survey to explore the relationship between self-reported fatigue levels and characteristics of influential risk factors of workload, sleep quality and daily life events.
HS2 connectivity
- Published Fri 02 of Mar, 2018 16:53 GMT - (4788 Reads)HS2 will create massive extra rail capacity, but unless it is integrated with local transport networks to create connectivity with city centres and their surrounding city regions, congestion not economic growth will result. Image: proposed colocation of HS2 platforms and existing city centre station at Leeds.
Taste of the future
- Published Mon 26 of Feb, 2018 17:44 GMT - (2641 Reads)Milan compared
- Published Sun 07 of Jan, 2018 16:47 GMT - (4216 Reads) A modern Trenord low platform double deck accessible train. The picture was taken at Come Ferro Nord station. Staffed with a waiting room, toilets and a really nice snack bar. All photos by Ian Brown CBE, Chair European Passenger Group, for Railfuture.
Women and railways
- Published Tue 02 of Jan, 2018 14:20 GMT - (2468 Reads)Rail for Fife
- Published Sun 31 of Dec, 2017 23:14 GMT - (4968 Reads)Waterloo 'National'
- Published Sun 31 of Dec, 2017 11:18 GMT - (4097 Reads)Fixing our creaking railways
- Published Sun 03 of Dec, 2017 00:09 GMT - (4022 Reads)The government’s Strategic Vision for Rail, published on 29th November 2017, sets out a vision for our railways. The proposal to reopen lines closed by Beeching captured the attention of the press, but equally significant were the proposals for joint operation of train and track and changes to the franchising system. Apperley Bridge, which opened in 2015, is an example of a rail development which unlocked new housing in an area within commuting distance of Leeds. Photo by Chris Austin for Railfuture.
New Swansea Bay metro?
- Published Mon 06 of Nov, 2017 13:23 GMT - (7611 Reads)A revolutionary idea for a metro linking Swansea with its surrounding towns has been unveiled by Professor Mark Barry of Cardiff University. New lines and stations could make new rail services possible, supported by buses feeding in at stations like Llanelli and Gowerton.
Best Station Cafe
- Published Thu 28 of Sep, 2017 14:36 BST - (5725 Reads)Hebden Bridge Station Café voted best in country. Railfuture Communications Director Chris Hyomes presents the award to Lisa and Antoinette, owners of The Coffee Station, Hebden Bridge.
South Wales Metro
- Published Thu 28 of Sep, 2017 11:33 BST - (8896 Reads)The Welsh Government is seeking visionary proposals for a South Wales Metro from bidders for the Wales and Borders rail franchise. The new operator is expected to also take responsibility for the infrastructure on the core Valley Lines, on which services may no longer use pure diesel traction. The map shows the integrated services for which the operator may take responsibility, which may be provided by rail, light rail or bus.
Subtle sound of silence
- Published Mon 25 of Sep, 2017 13:21 BST - (3861 Reads)Railfuture is pro-rail rather than being anti-road. However, many imagine what life might be like if roads did not dominate people’s lives as they currently do. Whilst on a business trip to Brussels, Jerry Alderson had a chance to experience what a world with far fewer cars would feel like and how the public might make use of their new freedom to walk, cycle and play in relative safety. All photos by the author.
Why wiring went wrong
- Published Sat 09 of Sep, 2017 20:40 BST - (6424 Reads)Railfuture has long campaigned for much of Britain’s railway to be electrified, not as an end in itself but because of the benefits it can bring to passengers (and also freight users). Electrification fell out of favour in the early 1990s but came back around 2009 partly thanks to the lobbying of Railfuture’s distinguished Vice President Adrian Shooter. However, Network Rail’s inability to deliver the government’s challenging programme of electrification, not least because vital skills and experience including project management had been lost, is a major set-back. Electrifying the Gospel Oak to Barking line has been a Railfuture aspiration for a long time. Pictured above is a stanchion minus overhead wires at South Tottenham station on the GOBLIN line, where the electrification work overran. Photo by Jerry Alderson.
Electric plug
- Published Fri 08 of Sep, 2017 22:20 BST - (3597 Reads)Ray King presents the Derbyshire Times report on a stunt by 10:10 and Campaign for Better Transport calling on the Transport Secretary to reverse his decision to cancel Midland Main Line electrification. Railfuture supports electrification but sees the way forward differently; our article Why electrify shows how this can be achieved.
Why electrify?
- Published Thu 31 of Aug, 2017 18:58 BST - (6872 Reads)On 20 July 2017, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling shocked rail campaigners and stakeholders by announcing that planned electrification of the Midland Main Line north of Kettering, the Great Western Main Line west of Cardiff, and Oxenholme to Windermere is cancelled. Photo Network Rail.
Essential reading
- Published Tue 29 of Aug, 2017 22:20 BST - (3340 Reads)Britain's Growing Railway
- Published Tue 15 of Aug, 2017 08:58 BST - (6671 Reads)The front page of Railfuture's book Buy the book
Railfuture’s campaigns, opinions and successes are often reported by the press and media, see Railfuture in the news.