Green Signals

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Episodes

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Green Signals

Green Signals Productions•greensignals.org

Green Signals is a show about railways - its politics, its economics, its people and history. We turn over the issues of the day and talk to the people making the decisions that affect all our lives. We also dig into many of the amazing events in the history of an industry that spans nearly 200 years. Nigel Harris (former Managing Editor and Events Director of the leading industry and opinion forming magazine RAIL) and Richard Bowker (former Chair & CEO of the Strategic Rail Authority) steer the show to make it sometimes controversial, frequently irreverent - but always topical and relevant.

Episodes

8. Strikes, Skills & Suitcases

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...

Nov 29, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast

7. Lord Peter Hendy: Railway 200 & how the railway made the modern world

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...

Nov 22, 2023•56 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast

6. Why scrapping HS2's 36 miles from Birmingham to Crewe is utter madness!

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 ...

Nov 15, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast

5. How to run a railway in the era of micro-management

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 accep...

Nov 08, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast

4. DfT's Humiliation and the great ticket office U Turn

Some 700,000 respondents objected to the DfT and train companies proposals to close some 1000 ticket offices. Transport Focus rejected all the proposals. The result is a humiliating climbdown and U Turn for the Government. On this week's Green Signals, we welcome THE expert when it comes to Fares & Ticketing Policy, Mark Smith aka the Man in Seat 61. Mark is a career railwayman but he was also head of the Fares & Ticketing team at the DfT. There is literally no-one with more experien...

Nov 01, 2023•55 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast

3. How the West Coast was won 20 years ago....and why it might not work again!

In the light of the decision on HS2, we look at the West Coast Route Modernisation of 1997 - 2009 and discuss how close it came to being binned and how bold decisions got it done. We also consider whether the same environment exists today - and draw some depressing conclusions. Nigel and Richard also launch a new feature on great railway journeys they have made and with surprising selections for their first choices! We also touch briefly on a growing problem in the Heritage Railway sector and as...

Oct 25, 2023•53 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast

2. HS2 - the top 10 myths debunked!

In this episode, Nigel and Richard discuss the top 10 myths about HS2 and explain why so many people have misunderstood what HS2 delivers for the country - and why we are in trouble now that so much of it appears to have been cancelled. There's also a bit about Richard's new role as Hon. President of the Class 40 Preservation Society and why without volunteers, the heritage rail sector in the UK wouldn't exist.

Oct 18, 2023•57 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast

Welcome to Green Signals, a beginners guide to Blackburn & Burnley, and what on earth were the Government thinking cancelling HS2!

Welcome to Green Signals, the essential new railway podcast for anyone interested in railways: what they are for, how they work, and why we need them more than ever. In this Trailer, Nigel and Richard reveal their first meeting on a Virgin Trains press trip to Italy, discuss the relative merits of Blackburn and Burnley and most importantly, consider whether the decision to scrap the northern section of HS2 to Manchester was a really, really bad idea. Or far worse than that.

Oct 10, 2023•21 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast