News

The rail industry is calling on the UK’s brightest minds to help shape the future of transport, inviting creators, problem-solvers and disruptors from every corner of the country to help improve sustainability, safety and accessibility across Britain’s rail network. 

Train operators in public ownership are marking World Hearing Day (Tuesday 3 March) by highlighting initiatives that have improved the travel experience for deaf, hard‑of‑hearing and British Sign Language (BSL)‑using passengers.

A new Head of Integrated Data Strategy has been appointed to work across Greater Anglia and GBRX. The cross-cutting role will bring together fragmented data sets and make them usable so operators can deliver more improvements for their customers. 

Train operators in public ownership say the roll-out of body-worn camera (BWC) kits has become vital to increasing safety, deterring anti-social behaviour and supporting legal investigations into incidents on the rail network.

2026 looks set to be a landmark year for the rail industry as the journey towards Great British Railways accelerates - and the seven train operators already in public ownership are leading the charge, with a range bold plans for the year ahead.

A promising initial trial to deliver medical packages on passenger services is planned to be extended and expanded.

Following publication of the government’s Accessibility Roadmap last week, train operators in public ownership are highlighting how they are already turning that vision into reality.

South Eastern Railway are deploying the ‘Sand Rover’ 4x4 for the first time on their network to keep vital aviation fuel moving.

SWR are working closely with Network Rail on passenger trains fitted with reactive sand and water applicators.

Meanwhile, Northern are trialling new technology that fires dry ice pellets at leaves to freeze and blast them off the tracks,

LNER, Northern, TransPennine Express and Southeastern all provide ‘Friendly Wi-Fi’ networks

Network Rail are also signed up to the shared safety standard that blocks access to inappropriate content

The Friendly Wi-Fi stamp provides passengers, families and parents with confidence that only safe internet can be accessed while on-board and at stations.

Publicly-owned train operators serving West Yorkshire are working with West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Network Rail on a trial to improve the travel experience for residents who have a blind person’s travel pass.

Publicly-owned train operators will collaborate more and share best practice on products and services to improve accessibility on the railway.