Contents:

(click a title below to go direct to that section)
Consultations
Franchising
Network Rail Control Period 7 planning
Publications
Route improvement works
Various

Consultations

31 December 2023. Sunday. Close of Lewes District Council's consultation on Re-imagining Lewes District - delivering the vision 2024-28 - Council priorities for the next four years.


14 January 2024. Sunday. Close of Transport for Wales consultation on new stations between Cardiff Central and Severn Tunnel Junction.


26 January 2024. Friday. Close of Bristol City Council's consultation on its draft Local Plan to 2040.


5 February 2024. Monday. Close of Peninsula Transport's consultation on its draft Transport Strategy - Strategic Transport Priorities to 2050.


8 February 2024. Thursday. Close of Lewes District Council's consultation on Towards a Lewes Local Plan - Spatial Strategy and Policy Directions for 2020-40 - Preferred Options and Policies directions.


25 February 2024. Sunday. Close of East Sussex County Council's survey for Local Transport Plan 4 (2024-2050).

Consultation responses to date, by organisation, can be viewed or downloaded here.

Franchising

Summary of current re-franchising

28 October 2021. Thursday. See Public register of rail passenger contracts including updates.

Latest news

19 September 2023. Tuesday. First Trenitalia as operator of Avanti West Coast and Arriva as operator of CrossCountry awarded new National Rail Contracts commencing Sunday 15 October 2023.

Summary

2018

16 May 2018. Virgin Trains East Coast franchise termination announced.
24 June 2018. London North Eastern Railway became new East Coast Main Line operator under DfT Operator of Last Resort Holdings Ltd.
20 September 2018. CrossCountry refranchising was halted, pending rail review.

2019

8 December 2019. Sunday. Virgin Trains West Coast franchise ended; West Coast Rail: new First/Trenitalia West Coast Partnership franchise commenced, until December 2031 and extendable to December 2034. See franchise agreement, and subsequent emergency measures and emergency recovery measures agreements.

2020

February 2020. Arriva CrossCountry franchise extended to October 2020, with funding for longer trains starting May 2020.

1 March 2020. Sunday. Northern Trains Ltd began operation of former Northern franchise as part of DfT OLR Holdings Ltd, until 1 March 2025.
23 March 2020. Monday. All DfT franchise operators transferred to Emergency Measures Agreements for six months.

30 March 2020. Monday. Great Western Railway (First Group) was granted a new Direct Award for three years, extendable to four.

30 March 2020. Monday. Southeastern (Govia) granted a new Direct Award until 16 October 2021, extendable to 31 March 2022.

26 June 2020. Friday. LNER was given a second Direct Award, for three years to June 2023 and extendable by up to two years, to continue operations beyond its first expiry date on Sunday 28 June 2020.
28 June 2020. Sunday. Expiry of London North Eastern Railway's first Direct Award from 24 June 2018, start of second Direct Award to June 2023.
21 September 2020. Monday. Emergency Measures Agreements were replaced with Emergency Recovery Measures Agreements (ERMAs) for up to a further 18 months.
October 2020. CrossCountry contract extended to 15 October 2023.

February 2020

Arriva CrossCountry Direct Award was due to end (extension by 4 additional reporting periods from October 2019, further 9 additional reporting periods extension available at Transport Secretary's discretion). Then refranchising was halted 20 September 2018, pending rail review. In February 2020 DfT confirmed franchise extended to October 2020, with funding for longer trains starting May 2020, then in October 2020 contract extended extended again to 15 October 2023.

April

Great Western Railway Direct Award due to end (13 additional 'reporting periods' extension assumed). On 30 March 2020 First Group was granted a new Direct Award for three years, extendable to four. Then in June 2022 a replacement contract was awarded expiring 25 June 2028.
Southeastern Direct Award due to end. See Southeastern, and then on 30 March 2020 the DfT granted Govia a further Direct Award to continue operating Southeastern until 16 October 2021, potentially extendable to 31 March 2022, but on 28 September 2021 the extension option was foregone in favour of DfT's Operator of Last Resort Holdings Ltd from 17 October 2021.

February 2021

7 February 2021. Sunday. Transport for Wales Rail Ltd, a subsidiary of Transport for Wales, began operation of former Wales & Borders franchise by previous operator KeolisAmey Wales.

September

28 September 2021. Southeastern extension option was foregone in favour of DfT's Operator of Last Resort Holdings Ltd, from 17 October 2021.

October

16 October 2021. New Southeastern Direct Award due to end, extendable to 31 March 2022. See new SE Direct Award. Instead, DfT's DfT's Operator of Last Resort Holdings Ltd takes over from 17 October 2021.

December 2021

31 December 2021. Chiltern Railways franchise due to end (eligible for up to 7 additional 'reporting periods' extension); Chiltern new 6-year National Rail Contract due to commence. See 31 March 2025.

March 2022

31 March 2022. Thursday. ScotRail franchise due to end (was eligible for up to three years extension). See Transport Scotland.

April 2022

1 April 2022. Friday. ScotRail Trains Limited, owned and overseen by Scottish Rail Holdings Ltd (SRH Ltd), which is wholly owned by the Scottish Government, starts new ScotRail franchise.

June 2022

Great Western Railway was awarded a replacement contract, expiring 25 June 2028.

2023

Access rights for Heathrow Express to London Heathrow Airport Terminals 2/3 and 5 due to expire. 

April

TransPennine Express franchise due to end (eligible for up to 26 additional 'reporting periods' extension)

May

28 May 2023. Sunday. TransPennine Trains Ltd takes over from First TransPennine Express Ltd as part of DfT's Operator of Last Resort Holdings Ltd.

28 May 2023. Sunday. First/MTR South Western contract expiry.


Transport for London 8-year concession for MTR Elizabeth line (potential for 2-year extension) due to end/start of next concession expected.

June

2 June 2023. Sunday. London North Eastern Railway expiry of second Direct Award, notice of variation added extending by a further 2 years.

23 June 2023. Friday. Caledonian Sleeper 15-year Serco franchise terminated, 7 years early. Transport Scotland to become Operator of Last Resort.

25 June 2023. Sunday. ScotRail Trains Limited, owned and overseen by Scottish Rail Holdings Ltd (SRH Ltd), which is wholly owned by the Scottish Government, starts new Caledonian Sleeper franchise.

July

23 July 2023. Sunday. Essex Thameside contract expiry; notice of variation extended the contract until 20 July 2025.

October 2023

15 October 2023. Sunday. Arriva CrossCountry operating contract due to end; award of new contract for minimum of four years, extendable to eight.

15 October 2023. Sunday. Avanti West Coast awarded new contract for minimum of three years, extendable to nine.

May 2024

Transport for London 7.5-year concession for London Overground with option for 2-year extension to May 2026 confirmed.

March 2025

1 March 2025. Sunday. Northern Trains Ltd direct award services contract expires.


31 March 2025. Chiltern Railways new contract, awarded in December 2021,due to expire.


1 April 2025. Govia Thameslink Railway's Thameslink / Southern / Great Northern direct award due to expire.

May

Latest possible end/start of Transport for London Elizabeth line operating concession.

25 May 2025. Sunday. First/MTR South Western Trains 2023 contract variation expiry.

June

London North Eastern Railway latest-possible expiry of extended second Direct Award.

July

20 July 2025. Sunday. Trenitalia c2c Ltd July 2023 contract variation due to expire.

October 2025

Greater Anglia franchise due to end (eligible for up to 13 additional 'reporting periods' extension at Secretary of State's discretion), new East Anglia franchise would have been due to commence.

April 2026

1 April 2026. West Midlands Trains franchise due to end (subject to option for extension of up to 2 years.)

May 2026

Latest possible end/start of Transport for London extended operating concession for London Overground.

2028

Merseyrail concession due for renewal.

June

25 June 2028. Great Western Railway new contract, awarded in June 2022, due to expire.

March 2030

Caledonian Sleeper 15-year franchise was due to end but terminated in June 2023.

October 2030

13 October 2030. East Midlands Railway new contract, awarded in October 2022, due to expire.

April 2031

First/Trenitalia West Coast Partnership due to end; extensions available up to April 2034. More info: First/Trenitalia WCP

October 2033

Wales & Borders and new South Wales Metro franchise due to end.

April 2034

First/Trenitalia West Coast Partnership extensions due to end. More info: First/Trenitalia WCP

Network Rail Control Period 7 planning

Rail infrastructure investment planning for 2024-29, Control Period 7.
Office of Rail & Road's 2023 Periodic Review (PR23) for Control Period 7 (CP7) 2024-29 started on 17 June 2021 with consultation on Review of the Schedule 8 train performance regime (17 June - 10 September) and then on Review of Network Rail's access charges (15 July - 24 September 2021). PR23 policy framework initial consultations began with a policy consultation on outcomes, infrastructure performance and managing change (28 July - 30 September 2022).
The Transport Secretary issued a Written Statement to Parliament on 1 December 2022 when publishing the High Level Output Specification (HLOS) and Statement of Funds Available (SoFA) for CP7.
Network Rail published their Strategic Business Plan for Control Period 7 (2024-29) on 19 May 2023.
The Office of Rail and Road published their draft Determination on Network Rail's Strategic Business Plan on 15th June for consultation.
The ORR published their Final Determination for England & Wales on 31st October 2023, and Network Rail responded. Also published was the Final Determination for Scotland.
See PR23 timeline.

Publications

2020

July

2 July 2020. Thursday. National Rail Passenger Survey, Spring 2020 results published. More info: TF-NRPS

2022

November

24 November 2022. Thursday. Estimates of station usage for 2021/22 published. More info: ORR

2023

February

9 February 2023 - Regional rail usage 2021/22 published. More info: ORR.

August

3 August 2023. Thursday. Train Operating Company Key Statistics 2022/23 published. More info: TOCs

September

14 September 2023. Thursday. Passenger rail performance Q1 2023/24 (April-June 2023) published - Public Performance Measure (PPM), Cancelled and Significantly Late (CaSL). More info: ORR

21 September 2023. Thursday. Freight rail usage and performance Q1 2023/24 (April-June 2023) published - freight moved, freight lifted, normalised freight delay. More info: ORR

28 September 2023. Thursday. Rail safety statistics 2022/23 published. More info: ORR

October

19 October 2023. Thursday. Rail infrastructure and assets 2022/23 published. More info: ORR

November

2 November 2023. Thursday. Disabled Persons Railcard (DPRC) and assisted journeys data for 1 April - 22 July 2023 (periods 1-4) published. More info: ORR and ORR

9 November 2023. Thursday. Passenger rail usage Q1 2023/24 (April-June 2023) published - Passenger train KM, Passenger KM, journeys, revenue. More info: ORR

14 November 2023. Thursday. Rail Emissions 2022/23 published. More info: ORR

December

1 December 2023. Friday. Passenger rail performance: Cancellations data for Period 8, 15 October - 11 November 2023. More info: ORR

7 December 2023. Thursday. Passenger rail performance Q2 2023/24 (July - September 2023) published - Public Performance Measure (PPM), Cancelled and Significantly Late (CaSL). More info: ORR

12 December 2023. Tuesday. Freight rail usage and performance Q2 2023/24 (July - September 2023) published - freight moved, freight lifted, normalised freight delay. More info: ORR

14 December 2023. Thursday. Estimates of station usage for 2022/23 published. More info: ORR

19 December 2023. Tuesday. Passenger rail usage Q2 2023/24 (July - September 2023) published - Passenger train KM, Passenger KM, journeys, revenue. More info: ORR

January 2024

5 January 2024. Friday (provisional). Passenger rail performance: Cancellations data for Period 9, 12 November - 9 December 2023. More info: ORR

18 January 2024. Thursday. Disabled Persons Railcard (DPRC) and assisted journeys data for 23 July - 14 October 2023 (periods 5-7) published. More info: ORR and ORR

26 January 2024. Friday (provisional). Passenger rail performance: Cancellations data for Period 10, 10 December 2023 - 6 January 2024. More info: ORR

February 2024

February 2024 - Regional rail usage 2022/23 published. More info: ORR.

23 February 2024. Friday (provisional). Passenger rail performance: Cancellations data for Period 11, 7 January - 3 February. More info: ORR

March 2024

7 March 2024. Thursday. Passenger rail performance Q3 2023/24 (October - December 2023) published - Public Performance Measure (PPM), Cancelled and Significantly Late (CaSL). More info: ORR

14 March 2024. Tuesday. Freight rail usage and performance Q3 2023/24 (October - December 2023) published - freight moved, freight lifted, normalised freight delay. More info: ORR

21 March 2024. Tuesday. Passenger rail usage Q3 2023/24 (October - December 2023) published - Passenger train KM, Passenger KM, journeys, revenue. More info: ORR

22 March 2024. Friday (provisional). Passenger rail performance: Cancellations data for Period 12, 4 February - 2 March. More info: ORR

Route improvement works

Major improvement works in 2022, but why do it at weekends and over bank holidays?
Mind how you go, or you'll NOT enjoy your 'trip': watch THIS!
~ 6 January 2018 onwards - Great North Rail Project works, including Transpennine Route Upgrade. Enjoy the highlights; buy the book.
~ 15 July-27 December 2023 - services suspended at Lichfield Trent Valley Cross-City line platform 3 during demolition and reconstruction.
~ 25 November-10 December - services suspended between Salisbury and Yeovil Junction for Templecombe switches and crossings renewal, Gillingham tunnel cutting maintenance, track maintenance, Templecombe and Gillingham station improvements. REMINDER-1; REMINDER-2; final REMINDER-3.
~ 16/17 December, 23 December-1 January, 6/7, 13/14 January - services suspended between London Victoria and Herne Hill via Brixton, and between Clapham Junction and Surrey Quays.
~ 24-27 December - services suspended in and out of London Paddington.
~ 24 December-1 January 2024 - More than 96% of the rail network will be open for ‘business as usual’ over the Christmas and New Year period, BUT check before travelling across the Anglia region and the North West & Central region generally and the North West route and Central route in particular, and the Wales & Western region and across Scotland-1 and Scotland-2 as extensive engineering work will be taking place.
~ 6-14 January - services suspended on the Tarka Line to Barnstaple.
~ 10-18 February - services suspended / amended in South London affecting Southern and London Overground services.
~ 27-30 July - services suspended through Oxford for replacement of Botley Road bridge just south of station.

Various

2019

December

31 December 2019. Tuesday. Final date for rail vehicles to comply with accessibility regulations. More info: ORR and DfT

2021

September

20 September 2021. Monday. Start of extended services on Northern line to Battersea Power Station, via Kennington and Nine Elms. More info: NLE

November

20 November 2021. Saturday. Start of regular Exeter-Okehampton services on The Dartmoor Line.

December

12 December 2021. Sunday. Start of regular services for re-opened Soham station.

2022

May

24 May 2022. Tuesday. Start of Elizabeth line services between Paddington Low Level and Abbey Wood.

July

18 July 2022. Start of scheduled London Overground services between Gospel Oak and Barking Riverside.

October

24 October 2022. Monday. Elizabeth line's Bond Street station opens.

November

6 November 2022. Sunday. Start of Elizabeth line through services between Paddington and Shenfield, and between Reading / Heathrow Airport and Abbey Wood.

2023

May

21 May 2023. Sunday. Completion of full Elizabeth line through services between Reading / Heathrow Airport and Abbey Wood / Shenfield.

December

10 December 2023. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

2024

April

1 April 2024. Control Period 7 (2024-29) starts.

May

2 May 2024. Thursday. UK local elections.


2 June 2024. Sunday. National rail timetable change.


2 June 2024. Sunday. Levenmouth line passenger services due to start?

2 June 2024. Sunday. Northumberland Line passenger services due to start?

December

8 December 2024. Sunday. National rail timetable change.


8 December 2024. Sunday. East West Rail services due to start between Oxford and Bletchley.

2025

May

1 May 2025. Thursday. UK local elections.


18 May 2025. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

December

14 December 2025. Sunday. National rail timetable change.


14 December 2025. Sunday. East West Rail services due to start between Oxford and Milton Keynes via Bletchley.

2026

May

7 May 2026. Thursday. UK local elections.


17 May 2026. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

December

13 December 2026. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

2027

May

6 May 2027. Thursday. UK local elections.


16 May 2027. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

December

12 December 2027. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

2028

May

4 May 2028. Thursday. UK local elections.


21 May 2028. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

December

10 December 2028. Sunday. National rail timetable change.


10 December 2028. Sunday. East West Rail services due to start between Bedford and Oxford.

2029

April

1 April 2029. Control Period 8 (2029-34) starts.

May

3 May 2029. Thursday. UK local elections.


20 May 2029. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

December

9 December 2029. Sunday. National rail timetable change.


9 December 2029. Sunday. HS2 'preview' services start between Old Oak Common and
~ Birmingham Curzon Street via Birmingham Interchange (3tph)
~ Liverpool Lime Street via Crewe and Runcorn (1tph)
~ Manchester Piccadilly via Wilmslow and Stockport (1tph)
~ Glasgow Central via Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan North Western, Preston, and Carlisle (1tph).

2030

May

2 May 2030. Thursday. UK local elections.


19 May 2030. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

December

8 December 2030. Sunday. National rail timetable change.


8 December 2030. Sunday. East West Rail services due to start between Cambridge and Oxford.

2031

May

1 May 2031. Thursday. UK local elections.


18 May 2031. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

December

14 December 2031. Sunday. National rail timetable change.


14 December 2031. Sunday. HS2 services start between London Euston, Old Oak Common and
~ Birmingham Curzon Street via Birmingham Interchange (3tph)
~ Liverpool Lime Street via Crewe and Runcorn, and Lancaster via Crewe, Warrington Bank Quay, Wigan North Western, and Preston (1tph, dividing northbound/joining southbound at Crewe)
~ Liverpool Lime Street via Crewe and Runcorn (1tph)
~ Manchester Piccadilly via Stockport (3tph, of which 1tph also Wilmslow)
~ Glasgow Central via Preston and Carlisle (1tph)
~ Macclesfield via Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent (1tph).