Contents:

(click a title below to go direct to that section)
Consultations
Franchising
Network Rail Control Period 6 planning
Publications
Route improvement works
Various

Consultations

5 October 2020. Monday. Start of Network Rail's final consultation on plans for major railway upgrade in West Yorkshire, between Huddersfield and Westtown (Dewsbury) - until early-2021.


3 March 2021. Wednesday. Close of Thames Gateway Kent / C2E Partnership consultation on Abbey Wood to Ebbsfleet.


10 March 2021. Wednesday. Close of Department for Transport's consultation on Timetable options to improve rail performance in the north of England.

10 March 2021. Wednesday. Close of public engagement, on behalf of Ribble Valley Borough Council, on Strategic Outline Business Case for reinstating a regular passenger rail service along the Ribble Valley Line between Blackburn/Clitheroe and Hellifield. Give your feedback.


18 March 2021. Thursday. Close of Trafford Council's consultation on their new Local Plan.


24 March 2021. Wednesday. Close of Hastings Borough Council's consultation on the draft Local Plan.


26 March 2021. Friday. Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's consideration of planning application for South Kensington station, including step-free access.


28 March 2021. Sunday. Close of Network Rail's consultation on proposals for Shaws and Crabtree level crossings in Burscough, West Lancashire.


29 March 2021. Monday. Close of Oxfordshire County Council's Local Transport and Connectivity Plan - vision consultation.


31 March 2021. Wednesday. Close of representations to Planning Inspectorate on application for a Development Consent Order by London Resort.


11 April 2021. Sunday. Close of West Yorkshire Combined Authority's consultation on its Connectivity Infrastructure Plan.


11 April 2021. Sunday. Close of Network Rail's consultation on Cambridge Area Resignalling - 1st March launch day.

Franchising

On Monday 23 March 2020 all DfT franchise operators transfered to Emergency Measures Agreements for six months.
On Monday 21 September they were replaced with Emergency Recovery Measures Agreements (ERMAs) for up to a further 18 months.

Summary of current re-franchising

London North Eastern Railway on 26 June 2020 was given a second Direct Award, for 3 years and extendable by up to 2 years, to continue operations under DfT Operator of Last Resort Holdings Ltd beyond its first expiry date on 28 June 2020, having commenced on 24 June 2018 following termination of the Virgin Trains East Coast franchise announced on 16 May 2018.
South Eastern on 30 March 2020 Govia was granted a new Direct Award until 16 October 2021, extendable to 31 March 2022.
Great Western on 30 March 2020 First Group was granted a new Direct Award for 3 years, extendable to 4.
Cross Country Refranchising halted 20 September 2018, pending rail review. February 2020 DfT confirms franchise extended to October 2020, with funding for longer trains starting May 2020; October 2020 contract extended to October 2023.

December 2019

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8 December 2019. Sunday. Virgin Trains West Coast franchise ended; West Coast Rail: West Coast Partnership new First/Trenitalia franchise commenced, until December 2031 and extendable to December 2034.

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). STOP PRESS-1: refranchising halted 20 September 2018, pending rail review. STOP PRESS-2: February 2020 DfT confirms franchise extended to October 2020, with funding for longer trains starting May 2020.

March

1 March 2020. Sunday. Northern Trains Ltd, subsidiary of DfT OLR Holdings Ltd, began operation of former Northern franchise.

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 3 years, extendable to 4.

Southeastern Direct Award due to end. See SE and then on 30 March 2020 the DfT granted Govia a further Direct Award to continue operating Southeastern until 16 October 2021, extendable to 31 March 2022.

May

Chiltern new franchise - notice would have been expected in the Official Journal of the European Union/Expressions of Interest invited from bidders.

June

28 June 2020. Sunday. Expiry of first Direct Award from 24 June 2018, start of second Direct Award for 3 years to June 2023 extendable by up to a further 2 years.

July

Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern new franchise - Invitation To Tender would have been expected to be issued to short-listed bidders.

October 2020

~ CrossCountry franchise due to end.
~ Chiltern new franchise - Invitation To Tender would have been expected to be issued to short-listed bidders.

May 2021

New Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern - new franchise operator/s would have been due to be announced.

June

TransPennine Express new franchise - submission of Passport Application/Pre-Qualification Questionnaire for non-passport holders would have been expected.

August

Chiltern new franchise - contract award would have been expected.

September

~ Govia Thameslink Railway management contract due to end (eligible for up to 26 additional 'reporting periods' extension)
~ TransPennine Express new franchise - notice would have been expected in the Official Journal of the European Union/Expressions of Interest invited from bidders.

October

16 October 2021. New Southeastern Direct Award due to end, extendable to 31 March 2022. See new SE Direct Award.

December 2021

Chiltern Railways franchise due to end (eligible for up to 7 additional 'reporting periods' extension); Chiltern new franchise would have been due to commence.

February 2022

TransPennine Express new franchise - Invitation To Tender would have been expected to be issued to short-listed bidders.

March

ScotRail franchise now due to end. See Transport Scotland


31 March 2022. Southeastern Direct Award extension from 21 October 2021 due to end. See SE Direct Award.

April

ScotRail franchise had been due to end (was eligible for up to three years extension)

October

South Western new franchise - submission of Passport Application/Pre-Qualification Questionnaire for non-passport holders would have been expected.

December 2022

New TransPennine Express franchise operator would have been due to be announced.

2023

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

January

South Western new franchise - Expressions of Interest would have been expected to be invited from bidders.

April

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

May

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

June

~ London North Eastern Railway expiry of second Direct Award, extendable by up to a further 2 years.
~ South Western new franchise Invitation To Tender would have been expected.

October

~ Arriva CrossCountry operating contract due to end.

December 2023

East Anglia new franchise - submission of Passport Application/Pre-Qualification Questionnaire for non-passport holders would have been expected.

March 2024

East Anglia new franchise - Expressions of Interest would have been expected to be invited from bidders.

April

South Western new franchise award would have been expected.

May

Transport for London 7.5-year concession for London Overground (potential for 2-year extension) due to end/start of next concession expected.

August 2024

~ First/MTR South Western franchise due to expire (up to 11 additional reporting periods available at Secretary of State's discretion), new South Western franchise would have been due to commence.
~ East Anglia new franchise - Invitation To Tender would have been expected.

May 2025

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

June

~ London North Eastern Railway latest-possible expiry of second Direct Award.
~ New East Anglia franchise operator would have been due to be announced.

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 operating concession for London Overground.

August 2027

21 August 2027. East Midlands Railway franchise due to end (subject to option for extension of up to 2 years.)

2028

Merseyrail concession due for renewal.

November 2029

Essex Thameside franchise due to end (eligible for up to 7 additional 'reporting periods' extension at Secretary of State's discretion)

March 2030

Caledonian Sleeper franchise due to end.

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 6 planning

Rail infrastructure investment planning for 2019-24, Control Period 6.
~ ORR issued February 2017 advice to DfT on HLOS and SoFA for Control Period 6 2019-24 (CP6).
~ ORR issued February 2017 guidance to Network Rail on strategic business plans (SBPs) company will produce for CP6 in December 2017.
~ Rail Delivery Group published February 2017 Initial Industry Advice for Control Period 6 (2019-24) to Scottish government and ORR.
~ ORR published April 2017 advice to Transport Scotland on maintenance and renewals expenditure in CP6.
~ ORR published June 2017 conclusions notes on working papers on the outputs framework (WP4) and a close-out report on the enhancements framework (WP5).
~ ORR updates (if necessary) guidance to Network Rail on its strategic business plans, following the DfT's July 2017 High Level Output Specification (HLOS) and initial Statement of Funds Available (SoFA) for CP6, and October 2017 final SoFA.
~ ORR published July 2017 letters to DfT and to Transport Scotland outlining next steps on the HLOS and SoFA process.
~ DfT published July 2017 Guidance to the ORR.
~ ORR issued July 2017 consultation on overall framework for regulating Network Rail - closed 21 September.
~ ORR issued July 2017 Supplementary guidance on Network Rail’s strategic business plan and planning assumptions for England & Wales for CP6.
~ ORR published September 2017 consultation relating to charges and contractual incentives, following June's conclusions from December 2016's consultation.
~ DfT published October 2017 final SoFA for CP6 2019-24; Network Rail's response.
~ Network Rail December 2017 submitted its route and other strategic plans to ORR.
~ ORR published December 2017 an open letter following the January 2017 consultation on the financial framework for PR18.
~ ORR published January 2018 conclusions following July 2017 consultation on the proposed framework for regulating Network Rail’s routes and national system operator (NSO), including incentives and NSO outputs.
~ ORR consultation closed on 18 January 2018 on financial framework for PR18.
~ ORR consultation closed on 25 January 2018 on Working paper 6 The volume incentive and Working paper 7 Collaborative working on the rail network.
~ Network Rail on 9 February 2018 submitted its finalised strategic business plans to ORR (including any updates to the versions provided to ORR on 8 December 2017)
~ Network Rail on 13 February published its Strategic Business Plans. ORR consultation until 6 March.
~ Following on from financial framework for PR18 open letter update in December 2017, after January 2017 consultation, ORR seeks views in early-March 2018 on ‘minded to’ decisions on financial framework issues; consultation closed 27 April.
~ ORR consults on its draft determination for CP6 from 12 June to 31 August 2018. Response from Network Rail, and from the DfT on 23 August.
~ ORR published its final determinations on Network Rail's Strategic Business Plans for Control Period 6 (2019-24) on 31 October for England & Wales and for Scotland.
~ ORR publishes 'Managing Change' Policy on 16 November 2018.
~ ORR consults on Implementing infrastructure cost charges for open access operators. See Future for Open Access.
~ ORR consults on draft Guidance on the Economic Equilibrium Test (for open access operators).
~ Network Rail decides by 7 February 2019 whether to accept or reject ORR's Final Determination for CP6. More info: Network Rail confirms 'green light' for next 5-year funding package and spending plan.
~ ORR has until March 2019 to publish Network Rail’s revised network licence following completion of statutory consultation, confirms and publishes enforcement policy for CP6, and publishes final version of document ‘Enhancements in control period 6: Roles and responsibilities’.
~ ORR has until 15 March 2019 to issue ‘review implementation notices’, confirming that the review will be implemented on 1 April 2019.
~ Network Rail's Delivery Plan for Control Period 6 (2019-24) must be published by 31 March 2019.
~ Control Period 6 (2019-24) started. Changes to train operators’ access contracts, including new access charges, and Network Rail’s network licence, took effect from 1 April 2019.
~ More info: Periodic Review 2018 (PR18) timetable and process - V2.0, October 2018.

Publications

2020

March

31 March 2020. Tuesday. Regional rail usage for 2018/19 published. More info: ORR.

July

Train Operating Company Key Statistics 2019-20. More info: TOCs


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

November

5 November 2020. Thursday. Rail Emissions 2019-20 published. More info: ORR

December

1 December 2020. Tuesday. Estimates of station usage for 2019/20 published. More info: ORR

3 December 2020. Thursday. Passenger rail performance Q2 2020/21 (July-September) published - PPM, CaSL, FDM. More info: ORR

10 December 2020. Thursday. Passenger rail usage Q2 2020/21 (July-September) published - Passenger train KM, Passenger KM, journeys, revenue. More info: ORR

17 December 2020. Thursday. Freight rail usage and performance Q2 2020/21 (July-September) published - freight moved, freight lifted, normalised freight delay. More info: ORR

2021

January

14 January 2021. Thursday. Disabled Persons Railcard (DPRC) and assisted journeys data for 26 July-17 October 2020 (Periods 5-7) published.

February

18 February 2021. Thursday. Passenger rail performance Q3 2020/21 (October-December) published - PPM, CaSL, FDM. More info: ORR

25 February 2021. Thursday. Regional rail usage 2019-20 published. More info: ORR.

March

4 March 2021. Thursday. Freight rail usage and performance Q3 2020/21 (October-December) published - freight moved, freight lifted, normalised freight delay. More info: ORR

11 March 2021. Thursday. Passenger rail usage Q3 2020/21 (October-December) published - Passenger train KM, Passenger KM, journeys, revenue. More info: ORR

May

20 May 2021. Thursday. Passenger rail performance Q4 2020/21 (January-March) published - PPM, CaSL, FDM. More info: ORR

27 May 2021. Thursday. Freight rail usage and performance Q4 2020/21 (January-March) published - freight moved, freight lifted, normalised freight delay. More info: ORR

June

3 June 2021. Thursday. Passenger rail usage Q4 2020/21 (January-March) published - Passenger train KM, Passenger KM, journeys, revenue. More info: ORR

July

TBC - Train Operating Company Key Statistics 2020-21 published. More info: TOCs

August

19 August 2021. Thursday. Rail Emissions 2020-21 published. More info: ORR

Route improvement works

Major improvement works in 2021, 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. Enjoy the highlights; buy the book.
~ 21 July 2018 onwards - station rebuild at Glasgow Queen Street (which marked its 177th birthday in February 2019) with changed entry and exit arrangements. Fit for a Queen Street, thanks to local artist. Demolition work complete. December 2018 Big lift! February 2019 sneak-peak! Then and now - with VIDEO. In April 2019, new platforms on track. Early-June rebranding of station as Glasgow 'Green' Street. Late-June confirmation of platform extensions open in July 2019. Services amended as platform extensions commissioned. Meanwhile, adding a touch of glass! Successful commissioning of platforms 2 and 3 - WATCH VIDEO, 4 and 5 will now follow from mid-September to mid-October. Step inside the redeveloped station. September 2019's First Glass finish. Two years' transformation at Queen Street - with VIDEO! In February 2020, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! (with video). Two weeks' essential works in June. In October three years of transformation enters final phase - VIDEO!
~ mid-November 2020 until early-June 2021 - East Coast Upgrade means significant periods of disruption for all services to/from London King’s Cross.
~ 20 February-14 March, 20/21 March, 17/18, 24/25 April - services suspended between Hythe and Walton-on-the Naze.
~ 26-28 February, 1 March-22 April, 23, 24-25 April, 26 April-3 June, 4, 5/6 June - amendments to all services to/from London King’s Cross.
~ 27/28 February, 6/7, 13/14 March, 20/21 March, 17/18, 24/25 April, 5/6 June - services suspended between Thorpe-le-Soken and Clacton-on-Sea.
~ 6-12 March - services suspended between Staines and Windsor & Eton Riverside to prepare for major signalling upgrade.
~ 24/25 July, 31 July/1 August, 14-22 August - Arun Valley line services altered and suspended, particularly affecting Horsham. For updates sign up here.

Various

2019

December

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

2021

March

3 March 2021. Wednesday. Budget 2021.

May

6 May 2021. Thursday. UK local elections.


16 May 2021. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

November

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

December

12 December 2021. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

2022

May

5 May 2022. Thursday. UK local elections.


15 May 2022. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

December

11 December 2022. Sunday. National rail timetable change.


11 December 2022. Sunday. Services planned to start between Gospel Oak and Barking Riverside.

2023

May

4 May 2023. Thursday. UK local elections.


21 May 2023. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

December

10 December 2023. Sunday. National rail timetable change.


10 December 2023. Sunday. East West Rail services due to start between Bedford and Oxford (and possibly Reading).

2024

April

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

May

2 May 2024. Thursday. UK local elections.


19 May 2024. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

December

8 December 2024. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

2025

May

1 May 2025. Thursday. UK local elections.


18 May 2025. Sunday. National rail timetable change.


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

December

14 December 2025. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

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.


12 December 2027. Sunday. East West Rail services due to start between Bedford and Oxford.

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.

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).

2032

May

6 May 2032. Thursday. UK local elections.


16 May 2032. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

December

12 December 2032. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

2033

May

5 May 2033. Thursday. UK local elections.


15 May 2033. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

December

11 December 2033. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

2034

April

1 April 2034. Control Period 9 (2034-39) starts.

May

4 May 2034. Thursday. UK local elections.


21 May 2034. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

December

10 December 2034. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

2035

3 May 2035. Thursday. UK local elections.


20 May 2035. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

December

9 December 2035. Sunday. National rail timetable change.


9 December 2035. Sunday. Full HS2 services start between London Euston, Old Oak Common and
~ Birmingham Curzon Street (3tph, of which 2tph also via Birmingham Interchange)
~ 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 Manchester Airport (3tph, of which 1tph also via Birmingham Interchange)
~ Edinburgh Waverley (via Edinburgh Haymarket) and Glasgow Central via Preston and Carlisle (2tph, of which 1tph via Birmingham Interchange, and 2tph dividing northbound/joining southbound at Crewe)
~ Macclesfield via Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent (1tph)
~ Manchester Airport via Stoke-on-Trent (3tph, of which 1tph also via Birmingham Interchange, 1tph to Crewe dividing northbound/joining southbound at Stoke-on-Trent)
~ Newcastle via York (2tph, of which 1tph also via Darlington)
~ York and Sheffield (1tph, dividing northbound/joining southbound at East Midlands Hub).

9 December 2035. Sunday. Full HS2 services start between Birmingham Curzon Street and
~ Manchester Piccadilly via Manchester Airport (2tph)
~ Edinburgh Waverley (via Edinburgh Haymarket) and Glasgow Central (via Lockerbie and Motherwell) via Wigan North Western, Preston, Lancaster, and Carlisle (1tph, in alternating hours also via Oxenholme and Penrith and for each Scottish city)
~ Leeds via East Midlands Hub (2tph)
~ Newcastle via East Midlands Hub, York, Darlington, and Durham (1tph)