Latest Policy News
Keep up to date on the national and international policies impacting the rail industry.
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ORR Calls for Better Communication in Rail Passenger Assistance
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has called on operators to improve communication and enhance support for passengers needing assistance.
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UK: DfT Lowers Minimum Train Driver Age Requirement to 18
The Department for Transport has officially lowered the minimum age requirement to become a train driver in the UK by three years.
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Free VIA Rail Travel for Children and Youths Under Canada Strong Pass
Children and young people will be able to travel for free on VIA Rail this summer as part of the government’s new Canada Strong Pass.
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California High-Speed Rail Outlines Sustainability Initiatives
The California High-Speed Rail Authority has presented key developments in its approach to sustainable infrastructure.
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Research Highlights Barriers for Digitally Excluded Public Transport Users
London TravelWatch has identified challenges for passengers who are digitally excluded when travelling on public transport in London.
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Real-Time Performance Data Displayed at UK Rail Stations
Performance data for over 1,700 rail stations is now being displayed publicly, indicating the punctuality and reliability of train services.
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Great British Railways: New Rail Watchdog to Oversee Industry Reform
The UK Government has announced plans for a reform of the railway system, introducing a new passenger watchdog to oversee service standards.
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Greater Manchester Reveals Plans to Integrate Rail into Bee Network
In Greater Manchester, Mayor Andy Burnham has unveiled a phased plan to integrate rail services and stations into the Bee Network by 2028.
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Germany: Deutschland-Ticket Cost Increases to €58
From the start of 2025, the Deutschland-Ticket, Germany's flagship public transportation pass, has increased in price to 58 EUR per month.
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UK Government Launches Review on Rail Fare Enforcement
The UK Transport Secretary has tasked the ORR with conducting a review of how train operators address fare evasion.
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UK Budget: HS2 to Extend from Old Oak Common to Euston
As part of the Autumn Budget announcement, the UK Chancellor has confirmed that HS2's connection from Old Oak Common to Euston will go ahead…
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Early Boarding Aims to Reduce Congestion at London Euston Station
Network Rail has introduced an early boarding trial that aims to alleviate congestion at London Euston station.
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UK Government Confirms: No Money to Build an Effective HS2
The Labour government has announced in no uncertain terms that there will be no funding build an effective HS2.
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UK: RSSB Published Refreshed Rail Health and Safety Strategy
The Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) has unveiled an updated Rail Health and Safety Strategy for the UK.
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ORR Publishes Track Access Dashboard for UK Rail Network
ORR has published a track access dashboard to hold the industry accountable for the efficient use of the UK's rail network.
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UK: High Speed Rail Group Publishes 'Exploiting the Potential' Report
The High Speed Rail Group's new report provides recommendations for the UK government to maximise the potential of high-speed rail.
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AECOM Publishes New High-Speed Rail Research
AECOM has published a new report outlining the best practices for the successful delivery of high-speed rail systems.
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UK DfT Publishes Draft Rail Reform Bill
The UK's Department for Transportation (DfT) has published the Draft Rail Reform Bill as part of its vision for the future of rail.
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Transport for London Launches Equity in Motion Plan
The Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL) have published a plan to make London transport fairer, more accessible and more inclusive…
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EU Publishes Harmonised TSI Standards to Improve Cross-Border Rail Services
The European Commission has published its 2023 Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI) package for cross-border rail services.
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TfL and TOL Fined £14 Million for Sandilands Tram Derailment
Transport for London (TfL) and Tram Operations Limited (TOL) have been fined following the Sandilands Tram derailment in November 2016.
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ORR Tells Rail Industry: Improve Reliability of Passenger Assistance
The ORR has told the British rail industry that it needs to improve the reliability of passenger assistance for disabled passengers.
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ORR Instructs Network Rail to Clear Backlog on Examining Structures
ORR has written to Network Rail to express concerns about its backlog in examining the condition of railway structures.
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Single-Leg Pricing to Provide Simpler Fares across LNER Network
LNER is introducing simpler and more flexible fares across its network as part of its mission to transform the UK's ticketing system.