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

1 October 2021. Friday. Close of ScotRail's Fit for the future consultation on their May 2022 timetable.


3 October 2021. Sunday. Close of Greater Manchester Combined Authority's consultation on Places for everyone.


8 October 2021. Friday. Close of West Sussex County Council's consultation on the draft Transport Plan 2022-36.


8 October 2021. Friday. Close of Oxfordshire Plan 2050 consultation (commencing 30 July) on Spatial Growth Options (including scale and broad locations of growth), including specifically a call for strategic location ideas.

8 October 2021. Friday. Close of Lincolnshire County Council's consultation on Grantham Transport Strategy.


12 October 2021. Tuesday. Close of Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government's consultation on Creating a vision for the Oxford-Cambridge Arc - priorities for the Oxford-Cambridge Arc Spatial Framework.


24 October 2021. Sunday. Close of Surrey County Council's consultation on the Surrey Transport Plan - LTP4.


1 December 2021. Wednesday. Close of Gatwick Airport Limited's consultation on its Northern Runway.

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.

February 2021

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

May

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 7 planning

Rail infrastructure investment planning for 2024-29, Control Period 7.
Office of Rail & Road's 2023 Periodic Review (PR23) for Control Period 7 (CP7) 2024-29 starts with consultation on Review of the Schedule 8 train performance regime.

Publications

2020

July

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

September

29 September 2021. Thursday. Rail safety statistics 2019/20 published. More info: ORR

December

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

2021

February

25 February 2021. Thursday. Regional rail usage 2019-20 published. 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

1 July 2021. Thursday. Disabled Persons Railcard (DPRC) and assisted journeys data for 19 January-31 March 2021 (Periods 11-13) published. More info: ORR and ORR

29 July 2021. Thursday. Train Operating Company Key Statistics 2020-21 published. More info: TOCs

August

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

September

16 September 2021. Thursday. Passenger rail performance Q1 2021/22 (April-June) published - PPM, CaSL, FDM. More info: ORR

23 September 2021. Thursday. Freight rail usage and performance Q1 2021/22 (April-June) published - freight moved, freight lifted, normalised freight delay. More info: ORR

30 September 2021. Thursday. Rail safety statistics 2020/21 published. More info: ORR

October

7 October 2021. Thursday. Passenger rail usage Q1 2021/22 (April-June) published - Passenger train KM, Passenger KM, journeys, revenue. More info: ORR

November

4 November 2021. Thursday. Disabled Persons Railcard (DPRC) and assisted journeys data for periods 1-4 published. More info: ORR and ORR

December

9 December 2021. Thursday. Passenger rail performance Q2 2021/22 (July-September) published - PPM, CaSL, FDM. More info: ORR

14 December 2021. Tuesday. Freight rail usage and performance Q2 2021/22 (July-September) published - freight moved, freight lifted, normalised freight delay. More info: ORR

16 December 2021. Thursday. Passenger rail usage Q2 2021/22 (July-September) published - Passenger train KM, Passenger KM, journeys, revenue. 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 2020 three years of transformation enters final phase - VIDEO! On 17 February 2021: Happy Birthday!
~ 17 May-6 November 2021 - new platform works mean London Waterloo-Shepperton trains not stopping at Upper Halliford, Surrey.
~ 22 August-10 October - weekend services suspended around Twickenham for track improvement works.
~ 18 September-1 October - services suspended and amended west of Brighton for Hove cutting stabilisation works and as revised.
~ 25/26 September - services suspended between Crewe and Chester for flood prevention works.
~ 25/26 September - services suspended between Cleethorpes and Doncaster for initial works to replace level crossing with step-free footbridge in Cleethorpes.
~ 25/26 September, 2/3, 9/10, 16/17, 23/24 October - services suspended north of Newcastle-upon-Tyne for track renewals at Manors station.
~ 25/26 September, 2, 9/10, 16/17, 31 October, 6/7, 20/21 November - services suspended between Colchester and Chelmsford for major track improvement works.
~ 26 September, 3, 10 October - services amended pre-midday to and from Leeds station for track improvement works.
~ 26 September, 3, 10, 17, 23/24 October - services suspended between Peterborough and Ely for Manea bridges timber replacement works.
~ 2/3 October - services suspended and amended for works between Finsbury Park and Moorgate; more weekends added.
~ 3 October - Arun Valley line services altered and suspended, particularly affecting Horsham. Additional work along the line with additional funding announced. For updates sign up here.
~ 16/17 October, 27/28 November, 25 December-2 January - Services suspended between London Victoria and East Croydon for major resignalling project.
~ 23-29 October - services suspended between Hastings and Tunbridge Wells for land-slip resilience works.
~ 1-5 November - services suspended between Southampton and Bournemouth for major improvement works between Totton and Bournemouth.
~ 19-27 February 2022 - services suspended for line closure to allow Network Rail to replace 1980s track at Copyhold junction (near Haywards Heath), and between Burgess Hill and Lewes; new underpass to provide safe access under the railway at Hassocks will also be built.

Various

2019

December

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

2021

September

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

December

12 December 2021. Sunday. National rail timetable change.


12 December 2021. Sunday. Start of regular Exeter-Okehampton services on The Dartmoor Line.

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

2022

May

5 May 2022. Thursday. UK local elections.


15 May 2022. Sunday. National rail timetable change.


15 May 2022. Sunday. Potential start of Elizabeth line services between Paddington Low Level and Abbey Wood.

December

11 December 2022. Sunday. National rail timetable change.


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


11 December 2022. Sunday. Potential start of Elizabeth line services between Reading / Heathrow Airport and Abbey Wood / Shenfield.

2023

May

4 May 2023. Thursday. UK local elections.


21 May 2023. Sunday. National rail timetable change.


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

December

10 December 2023. Sunday. National rail timetable change.


10 December 2023. Sunday. Northumberland Line passenger services due to start.

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.


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

2025

May

1 May 2025. Thursday. UK local elections.


18 May 2025. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

December

14 December 2025. Sunday. National rail timetable change.


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

2026

May

7 May 2026. Thursday. UK local elections.


17 May 2026. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

December

13 December 2026. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

2027

May

6 May 2027. Thursday. UK local elections.


16 May 2027. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

December

12 December 2027. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

2028

May

4 May 2028. Thursday. UK local elections.


21 May 2028. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

December

10 December 2028. Sunday. National rail timetable change.


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

2029

April

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

May

3 May 2029. Thursday. UK local elections.


20 May 2029. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

December

9 December 2029. Sunday. National rail timetable change.


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

2030

May

2 May 2030. Thursday. UK local elections.


19 May 2030. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

December

8 December 2030. Sunday. National rail timetable change.


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

2031

May

1 May 2031. Thursday. UK local elections.


18 May 2031. Sunday. National rail timetable change.

December

14 December 2031. Sunday. National rail timetable change.


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

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)