Government plans to cut transport spend to fund defence –what could it mean for railways? Kernow Connect – Is the Okehampton to Launceston and Bodminnew railway proposal the most delusional scheme of the year? And DfT explains how GBR will be held to account – but isthe most important question still unanswered? **Link to download the TicketyBoo app: https://myticketyboo.com/app_download/ Link to TicketyBoo website: https://myticketyboo.com/ Use code GREENSIGNALS5 at checkout toget £5 off your fi...
Jun 11, 2026•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 140
Why did the Government block train operators from buying cheaper fuel?! Can HS2 trains be tested on HS1, or not? And… the Jacobite steam train returns! But NOT with Mark 1 carriages. **Link to download the TicketyBoo app Link to TicketyBoo website Use code GREENSIGNALS5 at checkout to get £5 off your first booking** In this episode: (00:00) Intro (00:27) Government blocked fuel hedging? (09:28) Can HS2 trains be tested on HS1? (17:30) HS2 TSC – Euston, rolling stock, WCRM (39:36) Railway News ro...
Jun 04, 2026•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 139
Formed in 1908, WH Davis Ltd. has been based at Langwith Junction near Shirebrook its entire history and is today recognised as the UK’s last remaining independent rail wagon manufacturer.I’ve come to have look around this extraordinary place which remains a standard bearer of world class precision engineering and heavy duty manufacturing supporting the rail sector both home and abroad. Membership: If you want to see even more from Green Signals, including exclusive content, become a member and ...
Jun 02, 2026•24 min
HS2 planned to use a technology that “hasn’t been inventedyet”… Really? GBR’s livery begins rolling out on trains, but what happens next? And now Thameslink is following Avanti West Coast’s exampleand cancelling some summer services. What is going on? ** Find out more about the Emerald Isle Belle here: https://www.belletrains.co.uk/emerald-belle-2027 or by calling 01284 330123 In this episode: (00:00) Intro (00:56) HS2 at the Transport Select Committee (26:56) GBR livery rollout (33:12) Thamesli...
May 28, 2026•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 138
Over 25 years since the UK’s first open access passenger rail service, and the subject still divides opinion. Those for point to services to communities that had been forgotten, competition driving down prices as well as stimulating. Those against point to revenue abstraction not outweighed by the growth and to adding serious performance challenges on an already congested network. One person who has led the charge for Open Access and has been unquestionably successful in the process is Ian Yeowa...
May 27, 2026•28 min
On the morning of Sunday 25 May, the Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander MP boarded the first South Western Railway service to depart London Waterloo. The company’s new Managing Director, Lawrence Bowman, has been steadily working hard since to create an integrated SWR and Network Rail team, responsible for both train operations and infrastructure. As Great British Railways continues to develop and form, Lawrence Bowman finds himself in arguably the hottest of all hotseats. The las...
May 26, 2026•37 min
Artificial Intelligence is no longer science fiction. It’s increasingly science fact. And it’s coming to the railway whether we like it or not. GBRX has created the AI Industry Action Plan to show how Britain’s railway will move from isolated AI pilots to safe, scalable, system-wide adoption. Green Signals went along to the glitzy launch event for the AI Industry Action Plan at the Science Museum, London, at the end of April to see what the fuss was about – and learn more about the plans and tec...
May 22, 2026•22 min
HS2’s ‘Original Sins’. Up to £102bn cost. Slower speeds.Years late. What went wrong? Avanti West Coast prepares to cut 38 daily weekday servicesfor six weeks. Bristol to Oxford direct services are restored! And Artificial Intelligence is coming to the railway fasterthan ever… **Link to download the TicketyBoo app: https://myticketyboo.com/app_download/ Link to TicketyBoo website: https://myticketyboo.com/ Use code GREENSIGNALS5 at checkout toget £5 off your first booking** **Link to buy BR Times...
May 21, 2026•1 hr 11 min•Season 1Ep. 137
There is considerable debate about the causes of, and future predictions for, climate change. But what is not in any doubt is that our weather has become more unpredictable and extreme. The South West of England has always suffered more than most and the railway has always been at the forefront of meeting the challenge. In 2014, a serious breach of the sea wall at Dawlish caused the railway to be closed for 2 months whilst it, and the sea wall, were rebuilt. 2026 provided an opportunity for the ...
May 18, 2026•31 min
Great Western Railway will be nationalised in December… and that much-loved historic green livery will soon disappear HS2’s big ‘reset’ is delayed AGAIN. Or is it? GB Railfreight’s Class 99s take a big leap towards entering service And… an LNER overspeed incident might have been caused by driver distraction. **Link to download the TicketyBoo app: https://myticketyboo.com/app_download/ Link to TicketyBoo website: https://myticketyboo.com/ Use code GREENSIGNALS5 at checkout to get £5 off your firs...
May 14, 2026•59 min•Season 1Ep. 136
It’s not the end of heritage trams in Blackpool! We ask Blackpool Transport what its plans are now that Tramtown has closed… Ending ‘Boom and Bust’ on the railway – the Government responds to Transport Select Committee recommendations once again... but will Richard be as supportive this time? And we celebrate 150 years of the Settle & Carlisle Railway. ** Find out more about the Emerald Isle Belle here: https://www.belletrains.co.uk/emerald-belle-2027 or by calling 01284 330123 ** Book the...
May 07, 2026•58 min•Season 1Ep. 135
Chris Gibb is one of the country’s most respected and experienced railway operators. His storied career includes a period as Chief operating Officer of Virgin Trains. Few people know how to get the most out of operating the West Coast Main Line as much as Chris Gibb. He’s spent time running Scotrail and sitting on the Board of Network Rail. Latterly he’s been the Senior NED on the Board of DFTO. He has seen the railway sector from every possible angle. Chris has long been an advocate for taking ...
May 05, 2026•39 min
It is the railway line that survived against all the odds. It became a high profile cause celebre for campaigners and a political football for railway administrators over a long drawn out period beginning in the 1960s with the publication of Richard Beeching’s infamous report and ending in the late 1980s with a remarkable reprieve. On 1st May 2026, this glorious railway celebrated its 150th anniversary, a celebration that for many years, look seriously in doubt. Green Signals spent a couple of d...
May 03, 2026•31 min
The sacking of an experienced railwayman from DfT Operator…Chris Gibb gives Green Signals an exclusive interview Breaking news that Blackpool’s Tramtown has been closed ‘permanently’ Shock, horror! Richard agrees with the Government on its response to Railways Bill recommendations from the Transport Select Committee And… Bransty Tunnel on the Cumbrian Coast Line. Why have repairs still not started nine months after closure? ** Find out more about the Emerald Isle Belle here: https://www.belletra...
Apr 30, 2026•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 134
Britain has a proud history of advanced railway research. It was British Rail who conceived the hugely successful High Speed Train. The BR Research Centre then came up with the brilliant tilting train design of the Advanced Passenger Train until it was scrapped, only for it to reappear years later, when it was sold back to us by a French Italian consortium in the form of the Pendolino. The Railway Technical Centre in Derby was a global centre of excellence. And then at privatisation, we rather l...
Apr 29, 2026•41 min
Few railway organisations have witnessed as much change in their role and structure over the past 30 years as the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). This, despite being a constant feature of the landscape. And yet the next few years will bring about the biggest changes so far in their role. John Larkinson has been CEO for over 7 years, the culmination of a long and distinguished career in the railway industry. At the end of April 2026, John retires, a pivotal moment for him personally and the indust...
Apr 28, 2026•58 min
A single trespasser on the East Coast Main Line causes 426 trains to be delayed and tens of thousands of passengers to be stranded. So, what happened? Will Leeds ever get its trams? A leaked report raises doubts – and questions – for Chancellor Rachel Reeves and West Yorks Mayor Tracy Brabin And a railwayman of nearly 50 years’ experience is fired from DfT Operator for breaching the civil service ‘selflessness’ clause… but did he? In this episode: (00:00) Intro (00:50) Retford trespass incident ...
Apr 23, 2026•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 133
Network Rail is pivotal to whether GBR is a success or not. The reality will always be that Network Rail, with its resources, people, assets and role drives pretty much whether the railway performs day to day both now and in the future. Jeremy Westlake is the CEO. In taking over from Andrew Haines he stepped out of the relative shadow of Chief Financial Officer role into the full glare of the top job. Does he have what it takes to make the transition? And does he have the vision to take Network ...
Apr 21, 2026•48 min
Jacobite steam train – Has a deal finally been done to fit Central Door Locking? …Or hasn’t it? Mini Switzerland – is Swiss-style integrated transport coming to the UK? We speak to the man behind the vision And Space weather – could the phenomenon that gives us the Northern Lights also disrupt our railway systems? **Link to buy Platform 5’s BR Locomotives & Coaching Stock 2026. Use code GREENSIGNALS5 at checkout to receive an exclusive £5 discount (Valid until 30/06/2026): https://www.platfo...
Apr 16, 2026•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 132
It’s the biggest integrated transport undertaking in the world. So it follows that running it and being accountable for its day-to day operation, is one of the biggest jobs in world transport. For Andy Lord, Commissioner of Transport for London (and Commissioner means Group CEO), it’s clearly a privilege and a job he relishes despite all the challenges it throws up. From the world famous and iconic London Underground, the much-loved red buses, the DLR, the Overground, the Trams, even the cable c...
Apr 14, 2026•51 min
A new Integrated Transport Strategy is launched, but is it all wishy-washy waffle, or a sensible, solid, strategy? We preview an interview with Transport for London Commissioner Andy Lord And, we have news of our very own upcoming event in June! **Green Signals KWVR Jolly booking link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1986536021717aff=oddtdtcreator In this episode: (00:00) Intro (00:41) Integrated Transport Strategy (24:16) Beeching Report debate last week (28:18) Our next Jolly is launched! (32:15)...
Apr 09, 2026•57 min•Season 1Ep. 131
The Beeching Report turns 63… We ask the controversialquestion: Was Beeching unfairly and unreasonably criticised? We learn more about how the Railways Bill will affectScotland and Wales And Richard heads to the West Somerset Railway to celebrateits 50th anniversary In this episode: (00:00) Intro (00:51) Beeching Report turns 63 (15:32) Railways Bill devolved nations MOUs (21:28) 1Timetable interview (39:30) West Somerset Railway 50th anniversary (48:57) Railway news round-up (49:01) Middlesbrou...
Apr 02, 2026•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 130
Oxfordshire is a one of the UK’s regional powerhouse economies. Furthermore, Rail is big business in Oxfordshire. In 2024/25, the estimated total entries and exits at Oxfordshire stations was some 19.6 million, a 17% increase from the previous year. It’s not quite at pre-pandemic levels but the growth is strong. The OxRail 2040 strategy was widely consulted on during September 2025 and now forms the bedrock of Oxfordshire’s Plan for rail. But is it targeted, considered interventions or blue sky ...
Mar 31, 2026•21 min
Are High Speed 2 trains about to get a little bit less ‘high speed’? Glasgow Central reopens and Network Rail make the most of its partial closure to catch up on maintenance And we speak to Liam Johnston MBE from the Railway Mission about their important work **Link to download the TicketyBoo app: https://myticketyboo.com/app_download/ Link to TicketyBoo website: https://myticketyboo.com/ Use code GREENSIGNALS5 at checkout to get £5 off your first booking** In this episode: (00:00) Intro (01:38)...
Mar 26, 2026•1 hr 1 min•Season 1Ep. 129
There’s a revolution underway on the railways in the north, and no, it’s not Northern Powerhouse Rail, but rather something that will provide the bedrock to anything that NPR may become. Its name? The Transpennine route between Manchester, Leeds and York. We don’t hear too much about the Transpennine Route Upgrade outside of the Manchester – Leeds – York corridor although that may be because it’s on time and on budget. But it’s no less impressive for that – at £11 billion, this multiphase projec...
Mar 24, 2026•29 min
The National Audit Office or NAO is an independent parliamentary body. It is the independent public spending watchdog. It audits Central Government Departments, agencies and NDPBs. But it also carries out value for money audits into the administration of public policy. One such value for money audit was into the recently re launched Northern Powerhouse Rail project, something that will be increasingly under the spotlight in coming years. Green Signals spoke recently with Jonny Mood, Director - V...
Mar 23, 2026•20 min
Network North – remember that? A Freedom of Information request reveals more than you might think… We speak to the National Audit Office about its recent report into Northern Powerhouse Rail And we preview an upcoming special feature on the Transpennine Route Upgrade In this episode: (00:00) Intro (00:31) Network North FOI (27:21 )NPR NAO report interview teaser (34:44) TRU video teaser (40:05) Thanks to Supporters (41:52) Railway news round-up (41:54) Camp Hill Line in Birmingham to reopen (42:...
Mar 19, 2026•58 min•Season 1Ep. 128
HS2 has started excavation of the final tunnel bore on the 140-mile railway between central London and the West Midlands – the down tunnel from Old Oak Common station in west London towards Euston – HS2’s terminus. The tunnel boring machine (TBM) is named Karen after Karen Harrison, one of the first female train drivers in the UK, who drove out of Old Oak Common depot. Best of all, Green Signals was aboard to witness the launch of this, the last of 11 TBM’s on the HS2 project. Membership: If you...
Mar 17, 2026•12 min
Select Committees work in both Houses of Parliament. They scrutinise and report on a wide range of activities from the work of Government departments to economics affairs. They run inquiries on specific topics, the outcomes of which are public and many require a response from the government. They are to be taken seriously by all those who are asked to give evidence. The Transport Committee is nominated by the House of Commons to scrutinise the Department for Transport. Its formal remit is to hol...
Mar 17, 2026•52 min
Is the £2bn contract for 54 HS2 trains about to be rewritten? And is it true that HS2 is going to ‘end in a field’, as was reported last week? Plus, we preview some very exciting upcoming videos, including an interview with Chair of the Transport Select Committee RuthCadbury MP, and a Class 66 cab ride on East West Rail. **Link to download the TicketyBoo app: https://myticketyboo.com/app_download/ Link to TicketyBoo website: https://myticketyboo.com/ Use code GREENSIGNALS5 at checkout to get £5 ...
Mar 12, 2026•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 127
