Is HS2 Phase 2 about to be revived? We discuss an important new report to Government says we must not allow the West Coast Main Line to collapse. Richard takes a trip on the UK’s most exciting freight train with GB Railfreight – an alumina train from North Blyth to Fort William in Scotland. He also gets to go behind the scenes on Network Rail’s New Measurement Train – the fascinating Doctor Yellow. And we have a lovely story about the All Aboard to Northampton project! Membership: If you want to see even more from Green Signals, including exclusive content, become a member.

Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/GreenSignals Green Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list Follow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers Credits: Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

Train strikes – the fight we all thought was over, just became more heated than ever. We speak to ASLEF’s Mick Whelan to understand what’s gone wrong now. Is it time to close the Island Line? We visit the Isle of Wight’s railway to find out. And an HS2 construction update as bridges and viaducts move into place! Subscribe: If you liked this video, please give it a thumbs up. Better still, hit that subscribe button. It supports the channel and means you'll be notified whenever we publish something new. Green Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list Follow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers Credits: Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

The man who ran the three largest transit systems in three continents… Andy Byford a.k.a. ‘Train Daddy’s’ list of jobs is quite extraordinary. He’s been Operations Director of Rail Corp in New South Wales, Australia; CEO of the Toronto Transit Commission; CEO of New York Mass Transit Authority; and of course Commissioner for Transport at Transport for London in the UK.

There have been some massive highs – getting Crossrail finished and opening the Elizabeth Line, sorting out the Toronto Transit Commission, which he inherited in a real state and turned it round into North America’s best transit authority.

But there have been some real challenges as well… not least his final year in New York.

In this interview, Andy talks openly and honestly about all stages of his career, right through to his current role where he is responsible for the high speed rail programmes at Amtrak.

What really comes across is his passion and determination for getting the basics right, for leading from the front, and for backing his people whatever the role, however large the organisation, and whatever attacks they are facing. It’s a truly inspirational story. Green Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list Follow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers Credits: Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

Is the Jacobite Steam Train about to have a powerful rival in the new partnership between Locomotive Services Ltd & the Scottish Railway Preservation Society? We speak to LSL Managing Director Tony Bush to find out! We preview a not-to-be-missed interview coming very soon with former Transport for London Commissioner, Andy Byford (known in the US as ‘Train Daddy’) We take a thrilling ride on the Ffestiniog Railway’s Gravity Train Some shocking images from the CPKC Final Spike Steam Tour in Mexico highlight the true dangers of trespass – as a woman is tragically killed while attempting to take a selfie with Canadian Pacific 2816 And… Avanti West Coast welcomes the final refurbished Pendolino back to the fleet, completing the biggest ever UK fleet upgrade Green Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list Follow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers Credits: Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

Our General Election Manifestos special! We review the rail policies of the main parties: The Conservatives continue with their Network North plan The Labour Party continues with their Get Britain Moving plan And one party manifesto has Richard needing to go outside for some fresh air after reading it… But we have some good news too! Transport for London has ordered 10 new Aventra trains from Alstom to secure the future of Derby Litchurch Lane! Green Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list Follow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers Credits: Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

Lumo and the divisive issue of Open Access. Richard Bowker interviews MD Martijn Gilbert and things get a bit lively! Is Open Access on the railway a good thing or a bad thing? Or perhaps a bit of both! One of the strongest advocates for Open Access on Britain’s railway is Martijn Gilbert, Managing Director of First Group’s open access operations, which includes Lumo and Hull Trains. We discuss:

• Martijn's early career and what got him interested in open access
• How Hull Trains are bouncing back post pandemic and how Lumo is doing since launch
• The problematic issues that Open Access raises
• Martijn's views of Labour’s policy for Open Access
• Lumo & Hull trains plans for the future

Green Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list Follow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers Credits: Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

Flying Scotsman, the world’s most famous steam locomotive, is to have a new custodian. But what is a custodian, who are they, and what will it mean in practice? Jacobite steam train operator West Coast Railway Company is fitting central door locking after all BUT…only to Mark 2s it seems… Lumo trains and the divisive issue of Open Access. Richard interviews MD Martijn Gilbert and things get a bit lively! And some good news… the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway is due to fully reopen! Green Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list Follow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers Credits: Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

Behind the scenes at Hitachi Rail’s Newton Aycliffe train building facility, where we find out about the process and skills required to build trains… and discuss why it’s absolutely vital that the Newton Aycliffe factory is saved. We also speak to the Rt Hon Justine Greening about the work of the Purpose Coalition.

Keeping with Hitachi Rail… Avanti West Coast’s new Evero train fleet launches!

Nigel asks if Richard is going to get himself into some hot water with Richard Branson…

Breaking News! Jacobite steam train exemption application update.

And we discuss the Levenmouth rail link opening!

Green Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org

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HS2 Phase 2 to Manchester may have been cancelled but the problems have only begun. How to deal with the 54 brand new Alstom / Hitachi trains on order? What about fewer seats being available on Britain’s most valuable route, London – Manchester? And then there’s Euston station – what on earth do we build now? Chris Gibb, a senior figure in the railway industry previously a director of Virgin Cross Country, Virgin West Coast and Network Rail to name but three thinks he knows what to do – and he’s written it down in a dramatic new plan which we discuss in detail with him.

Andrew Haines has appeared at the Public Accounts Committee where he and the DfT officials also present seemed to reject the notion of a directing mind. The Labour Party, possibly the next party of Government, appear to think otherwise. Is there a showdown coming?

There’s mixed news in the Heritage Sector. In an interview with Steve Davies MBE, Chairman of the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust which owns celebrity locomotive 60163 Tornado, we discuss how its recent general overhaul cost £1m as well as the challenges faced when installing a modern electronic signalling system onto a steam engine. Then we consider the desperate times faced at the Nene Valley Railway which needs £300,000 to stay afloat.

And, there’s good news from the Community Rail sector. We discuss Community Rail week and the marvellous work volunteers carry out to promote their loco lines and stations.

Green Signals: Website - ⁠http://www.greensignals.org⁠

YouTube - ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals⁠ Newsletter - ⁠http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list⁠ Follow: X (Twitter) - ⁠https://twitter.com/greensignallers⁠ LinkedIn - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd⁠ Instagram - ⁠https://instagram.com/greensignallers⁠ Credits: Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

With thanks to the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust for additional material

Hitachi’s new battery Class 802 train trial. We take an exclusive behind the scenes look at this ground breaking new collaboration between Hitachi, TransPennine Express and Angel Trains direct from Newton Aycliffe. Rishi Sunak fires the starting gun on a General Election. Are the railways about to enter a new era? Is Sir Richard Branson about to mount a Virgin Trains comeback on the West Coast Main Line, this time with Open Access? Southeastern Railway launches a major tender for brand new trains – we talk to MD Steve White to get the inside track. And… we’ve some good news on the route of the Jacobite Steam Train for once – Glenfinnan viaduct is getting a makeover using an innovative new rope access system. But it’s not for the faint hearted! Green Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list Follow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers Credits: Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

Jacobite steam train controversy intensifies as customers vent their frustration at increasingly poor service.

HS2 – the Government makes a sensible u-turn on funding the HS2 tunnels from Old Oak Common to Euston… but did Labour miss an opportunity with their response to the news?

We discuss the initial findings of our look into train drivers’ terms and conditions following the feedback we received to our Big Interview with Rail Minister Huw Merriman… but it’s seriously complicated.

WiFi on trains – just when we thought a viable superfast solution was approaching, it appears to have been cruelly snatched away…

We talk to someone who can count five generations of his family working for the railways – and he has a lovely story to tell about the West Coast Main Line electrification too.

And a little update on tree clearance in the South West following our recent visit with Route MD Nick Millington.

Green Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list Follow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers Credits: Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

What the Metro Mayors want to spend YOUR money on – we delve into some of the transport promises in winning Mayoral manifestos and ask how realistic they are.

Richard has to eat a bit of humble pie over Yorkshire; and

The Channel Tunnel turns 30!

This time presented by Richard Bowker and Green Signals General Manager Stef Foster. Green Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list Follow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers Credits: Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

The unscripted, uncensored, uncut blather from the Green Signals team after we've finished recording a show... When we finish recording an episode of Green Signals, the three of us always hang around for a while to chat about the show and what we've got coming up... so we decided to carry on recording and let our listeners in on the action. Expect some fun, more than a bit of silliness, and some sneak peeks into what we're working on. **This is a very special sneak preview of some of the exclusive content we'll be offering in our upcoming membership scheme, details of which will be announced very soon** Green Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list Follow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers Credits: Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

Our Top 5 myths of rail ‘nationalisation’ based on the reaction to Labour’s plans for the railway if it wins the next General Election. We discuss what’s been said in the media and by others and debunk some of the myths that are starting to take root as a result.

Rail Minister Huw Merriman was our most recent Big Interview guest we reflect on what he said and whether we agreed with him on everything from HS2, to train strikes, rail freight, decarbonisation, rolling stock and more.

And Richard gets excited about a very special train that’s going to be running in June for the Railway Benefit Fund. Green Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list Follow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers Credits: Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

We meet Rail Minister Huw Merriman in his private office at the Department for Transport to ask as many of the big questions people have about our railways as we could. We cover: HS2 - the decision to cancel the line to Manchester, the facts about the project's rising costs, and whether Network North is a genuine alternative. Train strikes - we ask "surely it's time that everybody started talking to each other?" Fares and train tickets Rail Reform and the creation of Great British Railways - will anything really happen before the next General Election? And... Rail freight, new trains and decarbonisation These are the rail issues everyone is talking about - and in this interview, we tackle them all. Head on.

Green Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list Follow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers Credits: Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

Trains vs planes – why taking the train can be up to 80% cheaper than flying and 17 times greener, according to new research published by the Rail Delivery Group. We examine the findings in detail… and discover some surprising facts along the way.

Rail ‘fat cats’ earn big bonuses, while passengers face worse performance… but is that really true? According to the Daily Mirror it is, but we don’t agree.

We have a bit of an update on the Jacobite steam train and its return to service, but many questions still remain unanswered.

Is the heritage railway sector in crisis? We discuss our recent experience having fun with steam trains on the fantastic Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway’s ‘Snowdonian’ and some of the conversations we had about the fate of the heritage railway sector more widely.

And… it’s Railway Family Week and you can get involved!

Green Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list Follow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers Credits: Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has announced Labour’s Plan to Fix Britain’s Railways (Getting Britain Moving) – Richard and Nigel give their first impressions of the plan and pull out the key points in this special Breaking News Special episode. We answer: Will it work? Is it ‘unfunded and pointless’, as suggested by the Government? What could it mean for rail fares and ticketing? What could it mean for rail freight? Green Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list Follow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers Credits: Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

The inner workings of the Department for Transport and Government finances are revealed in this fascinating interview with former Permanent Secretary of both the Department for Transport and the Home Office, Sir Philip Rutnam.

Having spent his career as a senior civil servant, including in roles within the Treasury, there is no one better to tell the inside story of the Government’s relationship with railways. Green Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list Follow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers Credits: Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

The Jacobite steam train fails on its first run of the season from Fort William to Mallaig, stopping near Glenfinnan viaduct… and it had Mk 1 carriages on the train. Alstom Derby and the Government are on the verge of doing a deal over a train order for the Elizabeth line – an order that could save the UK train manufacturing facility. Is the East Coast Main Line timetable change heading towards a repeat of the 2018 Thameslink and Northern timetable fiascos?... Leading Richard to ask whether the answer to this and the other challenges facing the industry is a British Rail 2.0. He then shares his own six-point plan for his version of British Rail 2.0. The Railway Industry Association (RIA)) launches a plan to deliver a lower cost, higher performing net zero railway by 2050. And Northern Rail uses classical music to curb anti-social behaviour. Yes, really! Green Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list Follow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers Credits: Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

The latest updates on both the Jacobite steam train stand-off with ORR and the campaign to save Alstom Derby’s UK train manufacturing facility. We’re not beyond the point of no return to save Alstom’s Derby Litchurch Lane train building facility but government MUST act now or we will lose it. We analyse our exclusive interview with Alstom Managing Director of UK and Ireland Nick Crossfield, which you can also watch here: https://youtu.be/aRLaioz1ZB8 The Jacobite Steam Train dispute between West Coast Railway Company and the rail regulator ORR heats up yet again as the operator gets MPs involved. Meanwhile affected tourist businesses criticise WCRC for not complying. But, there’s good news on the Hope Valley Line as upgrades to Dore & Totley station are completed. Green Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list Follow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers Credits: Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

Nick Crossfield, Managing Director of Alstom's UK and Ireland business discusses the background to the desperate situation at the Alstom Derby UK manufacturing train building factory, where closure through lack of orders is a real possibility. It would have devastating consequences for the men and women who work there and on the UK's credibility in global rail vehicle manufacturing. We discuss how in December last year, Secretary of State Mark Harper committed that a package which included around 90 additional Aventra carriages that could be used to provide much needed extra capacity on London's booming Elizabeth line would be signed, sealed and delivered by the end of January 2024. But that deadline came and went. We also hear how if the UK government makes the decision to order those extra carriages, Alstom will invest yet more in Derby, with the result that Derby becomes the centre of excellence for Alstom's new electric commuter train worldwide. An export story to be proud of. This is a story of government and civil service bureaucracy, procrastination and world-class dithering. At stake, around 15 ,000 jobs in the factory as well as the local and regional supply chain. Nick explains how it's still possible to save the factory. But for Derby, it's one minute to midnight. Green Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list Follow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers Credits: Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

Are 147 years of UK manufacturing of trains about to come to an end in Derby as Alstom begins the process of mothballing its facility there?

The Jacobite steam train dispute between West Coast Railway Company and the Office of Rail and Road rumbles on.

Is Labour about to do a u-turn on bringing the railways back into public ownership? Leading to a somewhat spicy debate between Nigel and Richard about the potential costs of rail nationalisation…

And a new £17.5 million rail terminal opens at Southampton docks. Green Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list Follow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers Credits: Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

West Coast Railway Company stops sales of Jacobite steam train tickets – the famous Harry Potter Hogwarts Express route across Glenfinnan Viaduct, amid another battle with the ORR over central door locking.

Mayors Andy Street and Andy Burnham unveil their alternative to HS2… but is it a viable alternative?

ASLEF announces more train strikes.

And… good news on train passenger numbers! Rail journeys are up 20%! Green Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list Follow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers Credits: Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

Is the most innovative and important rail site in Europe coming to Wales? We visit the Global Centre of Rail Excellence site to find out… CrossCountry services are cancelled on several routes and Transport Secretary Louise Haigh intervenes… Driver training begins on the Northumberland Line from Newcastle to Ashington, ahead of passenger services returning to the line on December 15th. Green Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list Follow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers Credits: Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

The Department for Transport appoints Scotland’s Railway Managing Director Alex Hynes as its new Director General of the Rail Infrastructure and Service Delivery Group, giving us a ray of hope for the first time, which leads us on to…

Richard spilling the beans on a hitherto unknown exchange that took place during the Rail Review 2004 – and why we must heed the lessons on history.

Auditors question the going concern status of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and we ask whether the sector is slipping into real crisis?

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been at it again with his private jets.

The M25 closes for a weekend… and we ask whether National Highways has done any media training lately!

Richard experiences train tickets and rail fares madness first hand…

And Marylebone station celebrates 125 years. Not bad considering it nearly became a coach park.

Green Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals Follow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers Credits: Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

We examine what the railway got from last week’s budget with a bit of Budget 2024 analysis… spoiler alert – nothing that hasn’t already been announced!

The National Audit Office (NAO) report into the Department for Transport’s Rail Transformation Programme is not flattering – we discuss why five of the high level benefits have been rated RED.

The Department for Transport reorganises again. Is it just another example of rearranging the deckchairs, or should we be worrying that the DfT is trying to take an even tighter grip on the railway?

And Grand Union is granted open access rights for a new service from London Euston to Stirling from 2025. But Richard is not happy about it…

Train tickets just got more expensive… Rail fares go up by 4.9% sparking fury amongst passenger groups. Has the time come to reconsider the balance between fares and subsidy?

Rail Minister Huw Merriman and driver’s union ASLEF are at loggerheads again – and a resolution seems as far away as ever.

Our adventures on Great Western Railway begin with the launch of our Pullman dining video (https://youtu.be/6fHub4_Vkb0?si=fsZMeiqBndjWFc_Z) and plenty more to look forward to.

HS2 Limited delivers 1 million tonnes of construction material – by train of course!

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Credits:

Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

Local leaders are to receive £4.7 billion to transform transport in the North and Midlands through the Local Transport Fund – money that has apparently been reallocated from HS2. But is there a catch?

Why has the Government still not committed to Northern Powerhouse Rail? Henri Murison, Chief Executive of The Northern Powerhouse Partnership joins us to discuss!

Avanti West Coast talk about what they are doing for women, and we hear from an expert on what more the whole industry needs to do.

The countdown to the return of rail services to Levenmouth is on.

And… Florence the HS2 TBM (tunnel boring machine) completes her 10-mile journey under the Chilterns.

Green Signals:

Website - http://www.greensignals.org

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Credits:

Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

Network Rail Chief Executive Andrew Haines joins us to talk all things draft Rail Reform Bill. If you’ve been left with all sorts of questions after the Department for Transport’s recent announcement, watch this and you’ll be much clearer afterwards!

We talk about:

• Is the Great British Railways (GBR) brand going to be the name of the new Integrated Rail Body or will it die as some have been suggesting?

• And indeed, will the Network Rail brand disappear too?
• What chance is there of getting this into legislation before the General Election?
• Why has it taken so long to get to this point?
• Is the Government serious about this or are they just throwing a curve ball to Labour?
• Why so much emphasis on the role of the private sector
• Rail franchising
• Presumably Department for Transport staff will transfer to GBR?
• How are we going to change the culture?
• Bringing track and train closer together
• Is a ‘guiding mind’ what we really need?
• How do people know that rail reform is really going to stick this time?
• Summary – and Andrew’s closing comments that you really don’t want to miss!

Green Signals:

Website - http://www.greensignals.org

Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list

Follow:

X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd

Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers

Credits:

Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

The Department for Transport finally publishes the Rail Reform Bill, but is there any point to it?

Nigel reviews the annual George Bradshaw address which saw two senior rail politicians go head-to-head. But who came out on top?

Avanti West Coast are in the national news again thanks largely to ASLEF – but has the union overstepped the mark this time?

And Richard has been in the firing line over his comments on the ‘Reversing Beeching’ plans. But, being Richard, he’s fighting back!

Green Signals:

Website - http://www.greensignals.org

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Follow:

X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers

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Richard talks about his visit to Wales & Borders with Nick Millington MBE, Route Director at Network Rail and finds out about lagoons, climate models and vegetation control. In particular Richard is amazed at the complex multi-agency approach to securing ecology licences and concludes, perhaps controversially, that it's time to let Network Rail self certify. After all, they can do it with safety critical matters so why not when it comes to clearing dying or dead Ash trees? Nigel and Richard then discuss Richard Beeching's famous report of the 1960s and in particular, the Government's proposals, announced four years ago, to reopen lines and stations closed by Beeching through the Restoring Your Railway fund. We ask whether it has achieved anything (and the conclusion is very little) but then Nigel really sets Richard's "Victor Meldrew" going by talking about the Borders Railway to Carlisle and the possible reopening of the Peak District line through Bakewell and Monsal Dale. Along the way Nigel & Richard discuss how to decide whether something is strategic (they have a different view), what Confirmation Bias means (and why it's an issue) and how on earth anything is going to happen when the cost for a new station at Devizes alone was looking like it could hit £65m!

Richard Bowker visits Network Rail's Wales and Western region to spend the day with Route Director Nick Millington MBE. It's a fascinating day of learning about the challenges of weather resilience on Britain's railways, the devastating effects of climate change, the complexities of managing trees and vegetation on the lineside... and surprisingly, about dormice. How does Network Rail manage flood risk? How are trees on the railway managed? What rules are there to protect habitats adjacent to the railway? This is the first in a new series of podcasts from Green Signals where we seek to share knowledge and expertise from around the railway and, hopefully, to explain some of the things that many people don't know that much about!

Following Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s scrapping of HS2 Phase 2A, HS2 is branded ‘very poor value for money’ by the Public Accounts Committee…

And... is Labour about to unveil its plans for its own vision of rail nationalisation, and is it back to the bad old days of curly sandwiches?

Train strikes have hit the headlines frequently over the past three years as an increasingly bitter dispute between train drivers’ union ASLEF and the government and train operating companies continues.

Our Big Interview guest is ASLEF General Secretary Mick Whelan. We find out how the rail strikes began in the first place and what has happened since… And, crucially, what it will take to end the long-running disruption to passengers.

Without HS2, the West Coast Main Line will soon be rammed. We speak to experts Simon Pilkington and William Barter to explain why. We ask whether the problematic Trent Valley bottleneck can ever be resolved on the WCML. And controversially, we ask whether we should just cancel HS2 right now. Is there any point in continuing if we only build Phase 1? We also bring you some little teasers from our upcoming videos on Network Rail’s New Measurement Train (the Flying Banana as it is often known), and the Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) in South Wales. Green Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list Follow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers Credits: Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

Ministers seem unable to agree, either on transport decisions – or more embarrassingly – with each other at a Conservative Home conference.

What is going on with LNER fares and ticketing? It’s now clear that its Simpler Fares trial is turning out to be anything but simple…

Will HS2 now reduce capacity to Manchester? And is the wider world and mainstream media finally waking up to the true stupidity of Rishi Sunak’s scrapping of HS2 Phase 2a?

Plus, a new Green Signals feature – positive and GOOD news from the grass roots railway, including the UK’s very first railway station railway library!

Why train ticket booking and rail fares in the UK are so confusing. With the help of fares expert The Man in Seat 61 Mark Smith, we demystify:

• LNER’s new Simpler Fares pilot
• The Great British Rail Sale
• Which? magazine’s report that railway ticket vending machines are twice as expensive as booking train tickets online
• How to buy the cheapest train tickets or get the best deal on train tickets

We also cover:

• HS2 land safeguarding lifted north of Birmingham – has it struck a fatal blow to the high speed rail project?
• Northern Mayors Andy Burnham and Andy Street’s HS2 alternative and has Defence Secretary Grant Shapps just poured cold water on it before Mark Harper and Rishi Sunak have even heard what it is?
• Rail disruption in Network Rail’s Western region on 363 days out of 365 – is it really as bad as that?

Has Harry Potter’s favourite train the ‘Hogwarts Express’ hit the buffers now that Jacobite steam train operator West Coast Railways has been derailed by the ORR?

Has Labour leader Keir Starmer bottled it on HS2?

Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper responds to Richard’s letter on HS2… except that he doesn’t…

And ASLEF announces yet more strikes. But are they working, and is it time to really ‘take the gloves off’?

It's been a week of severe weather disruption on the railway, news that HS2 land may not be sold before the next election, Tube strikes being called off, and the release of some disappointing train cancellation stats. On this week’s show…

• LNER’s #FreedomAllTheWay teaser campaign and advert
• HS2 land sell-off unlikely before the General Election and why mayors Andy Burnham and Andy Street are making a BIG mistake
• Pre-cancellation stats from train operators (translation: misleading stats!)
• Major weather disruption and floods this last week - and…
• Serious rail disruption in the South West, and finally some good news…
• Tube strikes called off
• This week's quiz!

The first of our new The Big Interview episodes, and we were so excited about it that we decided to invite two guests to join us! Director of the Rail Freight Group Maggie Simpson comes on to discuss freight strategy, including the effect of Rishi Sunak's decision to cancel HS2 Phase 2 and the "breach of trust" that it represents. And GB Railfreight Managing Director John Smith joins us for a fascinating and lively discussion about everything from HS2 to railfreight challenges and the economics of running a freight operating company.

The first of our new magazine-style episodes, where we focus on the big topical issues and what’s been happening on and around the railway over the festive period.

Here’s what we delve into this time…

• The great Christmas getaway on the roads
• Rail disruption over the Christmas break
• Richard’s Monsal Trail video and an interesting fact about Dr Beeching
• Peter Townend tribute video success
• Storm damage and HSTs
• More cuts coming for TOC budgets
• New Year Honours
• Predicting what ‘rail hating Rishi’ might be cooking up this year, and…
• A new feature – our weekly quiz with the chance to get a namecheck on the next show (but you’ll have to listen to the end to find out how).

Getting into the festive spirit this time with our Christmas Special! Richard Bowker and Nigel Harris answer the questions listeners and viewers have been sending in over the past couple of weeks - and they really were about anything and everything on the railway! Q1 - Was privatisation a total disaster? Q2 - What might the impact of AI be on the rail industry? Q3 - In the last 30 years, who would you say has made the greatest contribution to the railway? Q4 - Can the railway community be part of the solution to homelessness? Q5 - Which is the finest type of locomotive ever to run on Britain’s railway? Q6 - Why does wheelslip occur on trains? Q7 - How would you enhance the customer experience on the West Highland Lines? Q8 - Has any politician ever made a really positive contribution to the railways? Q9 - How can we prevent Railcard fraud? Q10 Why are leaves on the line such a problem? Q11 - Which railway figure do you wish you had had a chance to work for or with?

It’s another busy episode with plenty to talk about… and this time, we’ve gone ‘on location’ too!

Richard Bowker reports from Siemens Mobility’s HQ in Chippenham, where he attended a very special event on December 12 which marked 35 years since the notorious Clapham rail accident in which 35 people died and a further 69 suffered life-changing injuries. It was a tragic disaster that led to fundamental changes in railway safety management.

Then we return to Scotland for part 2 of our exploration of railways north of the border, speaking to Director of Rail at Transport Scotland Bill Reeve, who gives us a strategic and government perspective… and it’s a fascinating chat!

Finally, we have a frank discussion about the major incident at Paddington on December 7, which led to stranded passengers self-evacuating. And Richard doesn’t pull his punches on this one…

In this special extra episode of Green Signals, we remember the life of rail elder statesman Peter Norman Townend who died on October 18th at the grand old age of 98.

A railwayman whose career began in 1941 at the age of 16, as a premium apprentice for the London & North Eastern Railway at Doncaster ‘Plant’ – as its headquarters was known locally – Peter was undoubtedly best-known for his time as Shedmaster at ‘Top Shed’ at London’s King’s Cross during the last great days of steam, in the later 1950s and early 1960s.

Peter's is a legendary name to many on and around the railway. After steam went, he served the emerging modern industry with distinction too, as the King’s Cross Divisional Traction & Rolling Stock Engineer and took early retirement in 1984.

To the end of his days, Peter acted as a unique adviser to organisations including the National Railway Museum and the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, during its audacious building of Tornado. No-one understood the Gresley ‘Pacific’ in particular like Peter Townend. In his days at King’s Cross, he had a squadron of 40 ‘Pacifics’ in his care.

Presenters Nigel Harris and Stef Foster are joined by Tony Streeter (Associate Editor, Trackside magazine), Steve Davies (Former Director of the National Railway Museum), and Mark Townend (Peter's son).

This time, we’re heading north of the border with special guest Alex Hynes (Managing Director, Scotland’s Railway) to find out why they seem to keep getting it right on railways in Scotland when the rest of the UK struggles.

We talk alignment of track and train, the Sleeper, and rolling stock.

Richard Bowker puts his cynical accountant’s hat on to question the gamble Scotland has taken to scrap Peak fares for a six-month trial period.

And we find out how Scotland is responding to one of its biggest challenges – resilience in the face of climate change.

Away from Scotland, we pay tribute to the late Alistair Darling, Baron Darling of Roulanish and former Secretary of State for Transport, who died shortly before we recorded this episode.

HS2 cancellation of Phase 2 north of Birmingham means writing off £2 billion of costs. Restoring Your Railways (often referred to as ‘Reversing Beeching’) is cancelled by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves… and Richard is jumping for joy. Meanwhile, HS2 from Old Oak Common to Euston appears to be safe – for now. 75,000 fare evasion prosecutions are officially judged unlawful – we speak to a leading lawyer on the subject about what happens next. Royal Mail’s decision to quit rail – Varamis Rail tells us why they might have the answer... Green Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list Follow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers Credits: Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

As the country braces for more rail strikes in early December, we decided that Green Signals should focus some time this week on understanding how and why we've got to where we have with industrial relations.

What are the strikes on the railway all about? What should the Government be doing to put an end to them? We are joined by Graham Eccles, former Co-Chair of the Virgin Rail Group and one of the most experienced industrial relations specialists the railway has ever produced.

Graham tells it like it is and provides the best explanation we've ever heard of why the industry has got into this position.

In this magazine-style episode, we also discuss the growing problem of luggage on trains and the decision by some operators to start actively restricting what passengers can bring on board.

And we top it off with a chat with NSAR's Neil Robertson on the results of the Annual Rail Workforce Survey and the impending skills and experience shortage faced by the railway.

Network Rail Chairman Peter, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill joins us for his first media interview about Railway 200... and it's a good one! Peter tells us all about the plans for celebrating the bicentenary of the birth of the modern railway in 2025 and how he wants all of you to get involved.

But beyond that, he also discusses the wider importance of the railway and why it is so vital that we take this opportunity to celebrate its origins both to inspire the next generation of railway workers and to reset the public's relationship with rail.

Outside our 'big interview' we also talk about Secretary of State for Transport Mark Harper's recent appearance at the Transport Select Committee... spoiler alert - we weren't impressed.

We also discuss news of Alstom's announcement that it is going to start of the process of winding down train building in Derby.

Reflecting on our recent appearance at the Transport Select Committee, in this episode of Green Signals we are delighted to be joined by Andrew McNaughton. Not only did Andrew give evidence with us at the TSC recently, he was HS2's Technical Director and one of its first two employees back in 2009.

There is no-one better to talk to in detail about why HS2 was designed the way it was (and, perhaps more importantly, why it wasn't designed differently)!

Andrew brilliantly describes reasons for HS2's alignment, speed and capacity. But the really important discussion is that we all agree just how vital it is to fight for Phase 2A to go ahead, for a whole host of reasons that you really do need to hear. Without it, we have all kinds of problems ahead.

We also explain in this episode what a White Paper is and what a select committee does.

Aside from HS2, Richard has a bit of a Victor Meldrew moment while giving his views on the King's Speech. To say he was underwhelmed by the announcement of a Draft Bill for GBR is a bit of an understatement...

MD Mark Hopwood lifts the veil at Great Western.

In this episode of Green Signals we are delighted to welcome to the show Mark Hopwood CBE, the Managing Director of Great Western.

Mark is a career railwayman but is widely and properly recognised as one of the most visionary railway leaders of his generation. His ‘can do’ attitude backed by years of experience with a passion for delivering for his customers has enabled Great Western to deliver outstanding results, year after year.Mark himself accepts it’s not easy and the period we are living through is one of the toughest in recent times.

In a wide ranging interview we talk about the challenges of day to day operations and the very basics of running a railway company in 2023. We cover projects such as the electrification of the Great Western Main line, the opening of the Elizabeth line and the reopening of the line to Okehampton, pretty much the first and so far most successful of the “Reversing Beeching” projects.

Mark explains in detail why it is perfectly reasonable of the Government to want to keep a firm grip on costs – who could disagree – but we discuss whether the split of the P&L on today’s railway with the DfT in charge of costs and the Treasury receiving all the revenue really makes sense and whether it is holding us back in a return to growth. We finish with a discussion on whether it still makes sense to be running sleeper trains and Pullman dining cars in these cash constrained modern times.

Away from Great Western we talk about whether a Judicial Review of the Government’s decision to cancel HS2 north of Birmingham is a possibility.

This is a cracking episode with one of the railway industry’s best known and most experienced leaders and is one not to miss!