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Rail dates

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


East West Rail Company
14 November 2024. Thursday. Start of East West Rail non-statutory consultation, including 16 drop-in consultation events, closing Friday 24 January 2025.

Birmingham City Council
15 November 2024. Friday. Close of Birmingham City Council consultation on Moor Street Gateway.

Peak District National Park Authority
29 November 2024. Friday. Close of Peak District National Park Authority consultation on Issues & Options and Sustainability Appraisal for new Local Plan.

Devon-Torbay Councils
30 November 2024. Saturday. Close of two-month public consultation on Devon & Torbay Local Transport Plan 4, 2025-40.

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4 December 2024. Wednesday. Close of Network Rail Property consultation on Redevelopment of London Liverpool Street station.

Transport for the South East.jpg
10 December 2024. Tuesday. Start of 12-week consultation by Transport for the South East on their second Transport Strategy.

MHCLG
13 December 2024. Friday. Close of Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government Call for Evidence for New Towns Taskforce.

Greater Nottingham Planning Partnership
16 December 2024. Monday. Close (at 5pm) of Greater Nottingham Planning Partnership Regulation 19 'publication stage' consultation on draft Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan.

DfT new
5 January 2025. Sunday. Close of DfT consultation on Network Rail's proposed closure (and replacement) of Ravensthorpe station, West Yorkshire.

East West Rail Company
24 January 2025. Friday. Close of East West Rail non-statutory consultation, including 16 drop-in consultation events.

North East Combined Authority
26 January 2025. Sunday. Close of North East Mayor consultation on Local Transport Plan for NE Combined Authority.

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

Franchising

DfT new

Summary of current re-franchising

28 October 2021 / last updated 7 May 2024. See Public register of rail passenger contracts including updates.
See also National Rail Contracts expiry dates as at June 2024.

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

First Group Trenitalia Avanti West Coast
8 December 2019. Sunday. Virgin Trains West Coast franchise ended; West Coast Rail: in August a new First/Trenitalia West Coast Partnership franchise was announced, commencing December 2019 until December 2031, extendable to December 2034. Contract replaced in September 2023 (see below) with a core term to October 2026 and full term to October 3032.

2020

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

DfT OLR Holdings NORTHERN Railway
1 March 2020. Sunday. Northern Trains Ltd began operation of former Northern franchise as part of DfT OLR Holdings Ltd, until 1 March 2025.

DfT new
23 March 2020. Monday. All DfT franchise operators transferred to Emergency Measures Agreements for six months.

First Group Great Western Railway.png
30 March 2020. Monday. First Group's Great Western Railway was granted a new Direct Award for three years, extendable to four.
Govia.png Southeastern
30 March 2020. Monday. Govia's Southeastern granted a new Direct Award until 16 October 2021, extendable to 31 March 2022.
DfT OLR Holdings LNER 2
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. On 26 June 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.

DfT new
21 September 2020. Monday. Emergency Measures Agreements were replaced with Emergency Recovery Measures Agreements (ERMAs) for up to a further 18 months.

CrossCountry new
October 2020. Arriva CrossCountry contract extended again to 15 October 2023.

2021


2nd version
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.

Transport UK Group Greater Anglia - new
10 September 2021. Greater Anglia direct award contract awarded.

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

DfT OLR Holdings Southeastern
16 October 2021. New Southeastern Direct Award due to end, extendable to 31 March 2022. See new SE Direct Award. Instead, DfT's Operator of Last Resort Holdings Ltd takes over from 17 October 2021, until 13 October 2024.

Chiltern Railways new
31 December 2021. Chiltern Railways franchise due to end. New National Rail Contract, awarded 2 December, commenced 31 December, initially until 31 March 2025, extendable to 31 December 2027. Business Plan for 2023/24 added 11 December 2023.

2022


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

Transport Scotland.jpg ScotRail - Reile na h-Alba
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.

First Group Great Western Railway.png
14 June 2022. Tuesday. First Group's Great Western Railway was awarded a replacement contract with a core term to 22 June 2025, expiring 25 June 2028.

Transport UK Group East Midlands Railway
4 October 2022. East Midlands Railway new contract awarded, expiring in October 2030.

2023


DfT OLR Holdings Image
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, for 2 years extendable to 4 years.

First Group MTR Image
28 May 2023. Sunday. First/MTR South Western contract renewal, for 2 years.

Transport for London | TfL Logo MTR Elizabeth line
May 2023. Transport for London 8-year concession for MTR Elizabeth line (potential for 2-year extension) due to end/start of next concession expected.

DfT OLR Holdings LNER 2
2 June 2023. Sunday. London North Eastern Railway expiry of second Direct Award, notice of variation added extending by a further 2 years. Business Plan for 2023/24 added 11 December 2023.

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

ScotRail - Reile na h-Alba Caledonian Sleeper.jpg
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.

Trenitalia C2C.png
23 July 2023. Sunday. Essex Thameside contract expiry; notice of variation extended the contract until 20 July 2025.

First Group Trenitalia Avanti West Coast
18 September 2023. Monday. New First / Trenitalia West Coast Partnership contract awarded, core term to October 2026, full term to October 2032.

CrossCountry new
15 October 2023. Sunday. Arriva CrossCountry operating contract due to end. Award on 19 September of a new National Rail Contract for minimum of four years, extendable to eight.

First Group Trenitalia Avanti West Coast
15 October 2023. Sunday. Avanti West Coast awarded on 19 September a new National Rail Contract for minimum of three years, extendable to nine.

2024


Transport for London | TfL Logo Arriva Rail London London Overground
Transport for London 7.5-year concession for London Overground with option for 2-year extension to May 2026 confirmed.

Transport UK Group Greater Anglia - new
15 September 2024. Greater Anglia contract core term expires.

Transport UK Group West Midlands Trains.png
15 September 2024. West Midlands Trains National Rail Contract core term expires.

DfT OLR Holdings Southeastern
13 October 2024. Southeastern direct award contract expires.

2025


DfT OLR Holdings NORTHERN Railway
1 March 2025. Sunday. Northern Trains Ltd direct award services contract expires.

Chiltern Railways new
31 March 2025. Arriva Group's National Rail Contract for Chiltern Railways, awarded in December 2021, ends guaranteed term, extendable to 31 December 2027.

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

Transport for London | TfL Logo DLR.png
1 April 2025. KeolisAmey's DLR contract expires.

First Group MTR Image
25 May 2025. Sunday. First/MTR South Western Trains 2023 contract variation expires.

Transport for London | TfL Logo Image
25 May 2025. Sunday. Transport for London Elizabeth line operating concession expires / new concession starts.

DfT OLR Holdings Image
25 May 2025. Sunday. TransPennine Trains Ltd OLR contract for initial 2 years due to expire, extendable by a further 2 years.

DfT OLR Holdings LNER 2
22 June 2025. Sunday. London North Eastern Railway expiry of extended second Direct Award.

First Group Great Western Railway.png
22 June 2025. Tuesday. First Group's Great Western Railway contract core term expires, extendable to 25 June 2028.

Trenitalia C2C.png
20 July 2025. Sunday. Trenitalia c2c Ltd July 2023 contract variation due to expire.

2026


Transport for London | TfL Logo London Overground
3 May 2026. Latest possible end/start of Transport for London extended operating concession for London Overground.

Transport UK Group West Midlands Trains.png
20 September 2026. West Midlands Trains National Rail Contract due to expire.

Transport UK Group Greater Anglia - new
20 September 2026. Greater Anglia direct award contract due to expire.

First Group Trenitalia Avanti West Coast
18 October 2026. First / Trenitalia West Coast Partnership contract core term expires, may run to October 2032.

Transport UK Group East Midlands Railway
18 October 2026. East Midlands Railway core contract term expires, full term expires October 2030.

2027


DfT OLR Holdings Image
30 May 2027. Sunday. TransPennine Trains Ltd OLR contract for up to 4 years expires.

CrossCountry new
17 October 2027. Sunday. Arriva CrossCountry National Rail Contract core term expires.

Chiltern Railways new
31 December 2027. Arriva Group's National Rail Contract for Chiltern Railways, awarded in December 2021 to March 2025, expires if extended.

2028


Transport UK Group Merseyrail.png
Merseyrail concession due for renewal.

Image
1 April 2028. Govia Thameslink Railway's Thameslink / Southern / Great Northern direct award due to expire.

First Group Great Western Railway.png
25 June 2028. Great Western Railway contract awarded in June 2022 due to expire.

Heathrow Express First Group Great Western Railway.png
25 June 2028. Access rights for Heathrow Express into London Heathrow Airport (operated by Great Western Railway) due to expire.

2030


Caledonian Sleeper.jpg
March 2030. Caledonian Sleeper 15-year franchise was due to end but terminated in June 2023.

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

2031


CrossCountry new
12 October 2031. Sunday. Arriva CrossCountry National Rail Contract due to expire.

2032


Transport for London | TfL Logo Image
May 2032. Sunday. Transport for London Elizabeth line operating concession expires unless up to 2-year extension option exercised.

First Group Trenitalia Avanti West Coast
17 October 2032. First / Trenitalia West Coast Partnership contract, awarded September 2023, due to expire.

2033


2nd version
October 2033. Wales & Borders and new South Wales Metro franchise due to expire.

2034


Transport for London | TfL Logo Image
May 2034. Sunday. Transport for London Elizabeth line operating concession due to expire after full 9 years.

Network Rail Control Period 7 planning

Image Image DfT new
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.
Network Rail published its Delivery Plan for Control Period 7 (2024-29), on 3 April 2024. More details here.
See PR23 timeline.

Publications


Image
Click for Publications including the 4-weekly Rail User Survey.

Image
Click for Publication dates for statistics.

November

28 November 2023. Thursday. Rail industry finance (UK) 2022/23 published. More info: Finance

December

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

2024


February

22 February 2024. Thursday. Regional rail usage 2022/23 published. More info: Regions

July

18 July 2024. Thursday. Rail Fares Index 2024 published. More info: Fares

30 July 2024. Thursday. Train Operating Company Key Statistics 2023/24 published. More info: TOCs

August

8 August 2024. Thursday. Passenger satisfaction with complaints handling 2023/24 published. More info: Complaints

September

26 September 2024. Thursday. Rail safety statistics 2023/24 published. More info: Safety

October

10 October 2024. Thursday. Rail infrastructure and assets 2023/24 published. More info: Assets

29 October 2024. Tuesday. Rail Environment (previously Emissions) 2023/24 published. More info: Environment

November

21 November 2024. Thursday. Station usage estimates for 2023/24 to be published. More info: Stations

21 November 2024. Thursday. Regional rail usage estimates for 2023/24 to be published. More info: Regions

28 November 2024. Thursday. Rail industry finance (UK) 2023/24 to be published. More info: Finance

Route improvement works

Image Image
Planned improvement works in 2024 - 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.

Various


2019


December


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

2021


September


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

November


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

December


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

2022


May


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

July


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

October

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

November


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

2023


May


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

2024


April


Image
1 April 2024. Control Period 7 (2024-29) started.

June


Transport Scotland.jpg ScotRail - Reile na h-Alba
2 June 2024. Sunday. Levenmouth line passenger services started, to Leven via Cameron Bridge

December


Image
15 December 2024. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

Northumberland County Council NORTHERN Railway
15 December 2024. Sunday. Northumberland Line passenger services due to start, initially serving three of six planned new stations.

2025


May


Electoral Commission
1 May 2025. Thursday. UK local elections.

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18 May 2025. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

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18 May 2025. Sunday. East West Rail services due to start between Oxford and Bletchley.

December


Image
14 December 2025. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

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

2026


May


Electoral Commission
7 May 2026. Thursday. UK local elections.

Image
17 May 2026. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

December


Image
13 December 2026. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

2027


May


Electoral Commission
6 May 2027. Thursday. UK local elections.

Image
16 May 2027. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

December


Image
12 December 2027. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

2028


May


Electoral Commission
4 May 2028. Thursday. UK local elections.

Image
21 May 2028. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

December


Image
10 December 2028. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

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

2029


April


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

May


Electoral Commission
3 May 2029. Thursday. UK local elections.

Image
20 May 2029. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

December


Image
9 December 2029. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

First Group Trenitalia
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


Electoral Commission
2 May 2030. Thursday. UK local elections.

Image
19 May 2030. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

December


Image
8 December 2030. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

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

2031


May


Electoral Commission
1 May 2031. Thursday. UK local elections.

Image
18 May 2031. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

December


Image
14 December 2031. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

Image
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).


(Cached)