New trains on the Ebbw Vale line

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New trains on the Ebbw Vale line

Brand new trains have been launched on the Ebbw Vale line offering customers a more comfortable and reliable experience.

Built in Newport, the Class 197 trains have started to enter service on mainline routes around Wales and the Borders.

They will run between Ebbw Vale and Cardiff Central, as well as Newport, following the introduction of brand-new services on the line earlier this year.

The Cabinet Secretary for North Wales and Transport, Ken Skates said: “This is great news. These trains are modern and comfortable and provide a much-improved experience for passengers. This is another positive step for rail services in Wales.”

The trains are part of an £800 million investment in new trains to transform rail travel that is currently being delivered by Transport for Wales, replacing trains that were between 30 and 40 years old.

Marie Daly, chief customer and culture officer at Transport for Wales said: “Earlier this year we were able to launch brand new services to Newport from Ebbw Vale thanks to a £70 million public investment in the stations, track and signalling, and these new trains are the next important step to help boost the economy and to encourage people to make more sustainable journeys.

“I’m delighted that our Ebbw Vale customers will be benefiting from our brand-new trains. The trains are comfortable, and offer greater capacity for our customers.”

Assembled at the CAF train factory in Llanwern, Newport, there will be 77 of the class 197 trains operating throughout Wales and along its border routes, forming the backbone of the mainline fleet.

The trains will be able to run up to a maximum of four carriages on the Ebbw Vale line.

January marked the introduction of the new Newport services, almost doubling the number of trains operating on the line with two trains running per hour, one to/from Cardiff and one to/from Newport.

While the transition is ongoing, customers may still see some of the older trains in operation however these will gradually be phased out over the coming years.

The Class 197s will start operating down to Pembroke Dock later this year and on the Cambrian line in 2025.

Image credit: TfW

Northern releases annual fare dodging statistics

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Northern releases annual fare dodging statistics

Northern says 97% of its passengers are ‘with us’ when it comes to tackling the issue of fare dodgers on its network as it released the annual figures from its Debt Recovery and Prosecutions Unit.

The train operator says ticketless travel accounted for as little as 3% of journeys on its network during the last twelve months (1 Apr 2023 to 31 March 2024) – the lowest on record.

However, during the same period, Northern still had to investigate 57,302 reports of attempted fare evasion, issue 41,922 Penalty Fare Notices, and attend 172 court sittings – activity which ultimately helped recover £3.97 million of lost revenue for the taxpayer.

Mark Powles, commercial and customer director, said: “The reality is that fare dodgers expect the taxpayer to pick up the tab for their journey – and that’s just not on.

“The rail industry receives a great deal of public subsidy and we have a responsibility to do everything we can to reduce that figure – starting by ensuring everyone pays their way.

“Clearly, with almost 97% of people boarding our trains doing the right thing and buying a ticket for their journey, they are with us on this issue.”

In January, Northern reported a 20% drop in the number of penalty fares issued in the first year since the government increased the fine for those travelling without a ticket to £100. That 20% reduction is maintained into a second year with the figures released today.

Ticket checks carried out by conductors on-board its trains and the growing use of physical ticket gatelines at major stations have reassured customers that Northern takes fare evasion seriously.

Commenting on the wider benefits of tackling fare evasion, Mark added: “In cases of persistent fare evasion, there is often an element of anti-social behaviour to deal with too.

“By tackling the root cause and keeping those responsible for that behaviour off our trains we can create a safer environment for our customers.”

Image credit: Northern

PB Design announces new managing director and senior leadership team

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PB Design announces new managing director and senior leadership team

PB Design, a leading provider of industrial standby power solutions, has announced key changes to its senior leadership team.

Effective 1 April, Scott Edsall, the company’s former strategy & technical director, has taken on the role of Managing Director. With nearly seven years of experience at PB Design, Edsall has been instrumental in shaping the company’s future strategy, particularly in developing its new modular industrial product line and innovative EV Charging solutions. In his new role, Edsall will lead the team in expanding PB Design’s focus on net zero technologies, addressing pressing global climate challenges.

Mark Crocker, who successfully led PB Design through employee ownership for a decade, stepped down from his position as managing director on 1 April to enjoy an early retirement. Crocker will remain with the business in a Board-level role, providing support and guidance to the new leadership team.

PB Design also welcomed two new members to its senior leadership team. Scott Commons, who has been with the company since 2007, has been appointed as operations manager. Commons brings extensive experience in driving continuous improvement and operational efficiency, having previously served as the company’s QHSE manager & continuous improvement champion.

Sandy Mace joined the senior leadership team as technical manager. With a strong background in technical project management and a keen eye for innovation, Mace will play a crucial role in shaping PB Design’s technical strategy and driving the business forward.

“With these new additions joining Neil Howlett (sales and marketing) and Zach Campbell (finance), we have a senior leadership team that brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our delivery of innovation and continued success,” said Edsall. “Their collective expertise enables us to capitalise on emerging opportunities and deliver on our business growth strategy.”

Image credit: PB Design

CPC transfers ownership to EOT

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CPC transfers ownership to EOT


CPC Project Services LLP (CPC) is pleased to announce that it has transferred ownership to its employees, through an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), to become CPC Project Services Ltd.

Over the past 12-18 months the shareholders of CPC have considered a number of options regarding the future ownership of the business and how best to prepare for its next stage of growth. The transfer of business structure to an EOT means that CPC will be owned by each and every one of its employees, enabling them to share in the future success of the business, as well as having a greater say in how it is run.

This is an exciting opportunity for both CPC and its employees, and will also be in the best interests of CPC’s clients, as it will provide ongoing continuity of services and longevity of CPC’s business and brand in the marketplace.

The EOT will mark the beginning of a new chapter for CPC and will pave the way for its next stage of growth, and one step closer to realising its vision: to be recognised as the best independent project and cost management consultancy in the UK.

Steve Mole will continue to lead CPC, alongside the current Board of Partners. The Board is, and will remain, responsible for managing the day-to-day operations and business interests of CPC. The EOT will be governed by a Board of Trustees, who will be responsible for ensuring the success of the Trust for the benefit of CPC’s employees.

Steve Mole, CEO, CPC Project Services Ltd, said “I am thrilled to be able to announce CPC’s transition to an Employee Ownership Trust. We’ve been working for many months to ensure that this change in business structure is in the best interests of our employees and clients, as well cementing CPC’s long-term strategic commitment to remain an independent and agile project and cost management consultancy.

Image credit: CPC

Railway reopened one month after Grange-over-Sands derailment

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Railway reopened one month after Grange-over-Sands derailment

One month on, services are running again on the Furness line between Lancaster and Barrow-in-Furness.

Network Rail engineers have been working around the clock to restore the railway at Grange-over-Sands after a Northern train left the tracks.

A void in the ground was found about 150 metres away from the derailed train.

More than 8,100 hours of work has taken place to get the railway restored so trains can run again.

Engineers removed 400 tonnes of spoil from the embankments, and installed almost 84 tonnes of new materials to repair the damage at the location.

Phil James, Network Rail’s North West route director, said: “I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we worked tirelessly to get the railway back up and running after it was severely damaged by the void and train derailment.

“This has been a very complex recovery and repair job. We’re continuing to work with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch on the investigation into what caused the derailment, but we’re really glad we’ve been able to work quickly to get the railway fixed.

“I’m pleased that the line is open again for passengers on the busy Furness line.”

Network Rail have been working closely with train operator, Northern, to keep passengers on the move during the closure.

Craig Harrop, regional director for Northern in the North West, said: “We’d like to thank our customers for their patience while these important repairs to the rail infrastructure have been carried out by Network Rail. We’re very pleased to be able to resume rail services on the Furness Line and re-connect our customers with the rest of our network.”

Network Rail is working with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) to identify the cause of the void and derailment.

Image credit: Network Rail

Great Central Railway reveals new design for next phase of ‘reunification’ project

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Great Central Railway reveals new design for next phase of ‘reunification’ project

The Great Central Railway is preparing to submit a planning application for it’s ambitious Reunification scheme. A new image has been released of the urban viaduct section, which will carry the line linking the two separate halves of the Great Central Railway back together.

The project will create an eighteen-mile heritage line stretching from the north of Leicester to the south of Nottingham, centred on Loughborough.

General Manager of the Great Central Railway Malcolm Holmes said, “We’ll be submitting our planning application in a matter of weeks, so we want to tell people about our plans. The new image shows a train running on the proposed viaduct. Originally we had expected to build an embankment around 300 metres long but the space we have available would have made that quite complex. Our new plan needs 100 metres of embankment, then 200 metres of viaduct. It should be slightly cheaper and simpler to construct.”

This section of railway will also include two steel bridge spans, one to carry the railway across a culvert, the other to take it over Railway Terrace road in Loughborough. The full designs will be included in the planning application along with the necessary reports.

Malcolm continued, “After we have submitted our planning application we’ll need to spend around half a million pounds taking the design documents and turning them into construction and engineering blueprints. Those documents are essential – as is planning consent – before we can build again. While we have £2 million already raised for the project, we want to protect as much of that fund as possible for actual building work. Our new appeal for half a million pounds is to fund the vital next steps and get this epic project ‘shovel ready.’ The more money we raise, the sooner we can build again and the more we can achieve.”

Originally opened in 1899, the Great Central was a fast Victorian Main Line to London. It was closed in the 1960s by British Railways. Two sections have survived but five hundred metres of track between them was also removed.

Restoring the missing section has been underway since 2017. One new bridge has been built, one replaced and a third completely refurbished. Supported by local, national and international well wishers, millions of pounds have been raised to fund the work.

The Great Central has also confirmed the two bridge decks secured for the scheme in 2012 are no longer needed.

“The bridge decks were kindly donated by Network Rail when they were removed from Reading station. They were absolutely instrumental in getting the whole Reunification project started,” concluded Malcolm.

“However with our design changes they would require expensive modification to fit with our plans so with regret we have decided they will be disposed of in due course. Instead the two steel bridge spans required for the Reunification line are more than likely to be brand new structures.”

Image credit: Great Central Railway/Andy Hayward

Grand Central Rail set for move to modern York office hub

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Grand Central Rail set for move to modern York office hub


A high-quality complex of modern office suites situated in the historic city of York is close to achieving full occupancy after Grand Central Rail announced it would be relocating to the premises.

Set within York’s famous medieval walls, the 23,091 sq. ft Grade-II listed building at 20 George Hudson Street is home to the likes of First Bus, Jacobs, RotaCloud, and Simpson Associates.

Grand Central is due to complete its move from Northern House at the start of May, taking up a 2,740 sq. ft second-floor suite with open-plan accommodation, two part-glazed meeting rooms, fitted kitchen and staff areas plus comfort cooling and heating.

The train operator runs direct rail routes between the North East, West Yorkshire and London, with six return services a day between York and the capital.

Chris Brandon, head of business development at Grand Central, said: “Grand Central is pleased to be relocating its York head office to 20 George Hudson Street in York.

“We have been based in York since we began operations and the move to George Hudson Street allows us to retain our city centre location, with great local and national transport links whilst better reflecting our current office space requirements.”

Formerly the home of York City Council, the building has been extensively refurbished, retaining many of the original features such as exposed brick walls and steelwork, complemented by modern toilets and kitchen facilities.

Chris Winn, property asset manager at Boultbee Brooks said: “In Grand Central, we are delighted to welcome yet another major business name to our modern office facility at 20 George Hudson Street.

“Its location in the heart of historic York really does make this a special place to work, with ideal transport connections, high-spec office solutions and also the opportunity for additional on-site car parking to be provided.

Image credit: Boultbee-Brooks

Nexus unveils new training tool for Metro level crossing safety awareness

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Nexus unveils new training tool for Metro level crossing safety awareness

A new and interactive training tool is being used to promote level crossing safety on the Tyne and Wear Metro.

Nexus, the public body which runs Metro, has installed a mocked-up Metro level crossing at the SafetyWorks teaching centre in Newcastle. It recreates the red stop lights and warning tones and will be used to educate thousands of children about the dangers of misusing them.

The mock-up is a new part of an immersive Metro safety training facility, which includes a Metro station called West Fifteen, tracks, ticket machines, platforms, and a life-sized front end of a Metro train.

Safety Works, which is based in the west end of Newcastle, is a multi-agency training facility which is used by the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, Northumbria Police, Nexus, and the local authorities to conduct safety awareness days for young people.

Courses, which are tailored for school visits, students and young offenders, include everything from road and railway safety, to fire prevention and criminal justice.

Deborah Rodenby, Youth Liaison Officer at Nexus, said: “Our new Metro level crossing mock-up is an engaging and interactive tool to get the safety message across to young people in a more effective way.
“It offers a visual experience which helps children understand the need to stop, look and listen at Metro crossings, just like they are taught to do when they are crossing the road.

“We’ve wanted to make our level crossing safety course more immersive for a while and it’s important to have this new feature at our dedicated Metro training area at SafetyWorks.

“I get to see thousands of children every year to promote railway safety. It’s amazing how a lot of them don’t know what a level crossing is, and many don’t understand the dangers if they misuse them.

“I can use the mock up to show them exactly what the crossing does, and what to look out for when it activates. It’s vital when crossing over on foot to be alert and always pay attention. We also show them the risks of being distracted by mobile phones or headphone use.

“Any training tool which is interactive increases the chances of the key messages getting through to the young people. It makes the exercises fun and they enjoy themselves as well as learning how to be safe.”
The focus of SafetyWorks lies in teaching pupils about various forms of health and safety, and there are a number of different day trips that schools can get involved with.

SafetyWorks prides itself on creating an interactive, informative day out. The classes are scenario-based, meaning children are immersed in realistic situations throughout their visit to learn about potential problems, how they arise and how to combat them directly.

All classes are held in a life-sized ‘safety town’, so the resources that the students interact with are the physical areas around them.

There are five road level crossings on the Metro network which are used by cars and pedestrians – Callerton Parkway, Bank Foot, Kingston Park, Fawdon, and Howdon. There are also two level crossings on the Sunderland line, which is owned and managed by Network Rail, at Tile Sheds and at East Boldon.

Metro has three different foot crossings located at Woolsington near Newcastle, Hebburn South Drive in South Tyneside, and South Wellfield in Noth Tyneside near West Monkseaton.

Image credit: Nexus

GB Railfreight launches new service connecting Southampton to Hams Hall

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GB Railfreight launches new service connecting Southampton to Hams Hall

GB Railfreight (GBRf), has started a new intermodal service connecting Southampton to Hams Hall Rail Freight Terminal in the West Midlands. This is the first time that GBRf has run an intermodal service from the UK’s second-largest deep sea port to the West Midlands.

GBRf will be running five trains a week from Southampton to Hams Hall with a further option to connect Southampton with Mossend International Rail Freight Terminal in Scotland, with final mile delivery available at both terminals. For this service, GBRf is using its new high-density FEA-G intermodal wagons, which will increase the volume of cargo that can be transported on each journey.

The new train is part of DP World’s trial Modal Shift incentivisation programme for cargo owners to use rail within 140 miles of The Port of Southampton. It is hoped that the scheme will reduce 30,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year and remove thousands of lorries from the road network.

Schemes like this will help the UK Government achieve its long-term freight growth target, to increase rail freight by at least 75% by 2050 and GBRf to run c.80 intermodal services a day by 2025.

Julie Garn, head of intermodal at GBRf said: “This new service from Southampton to Hams Hall has been made possible by DP World’s Modal Shift programme and the new investment made at Solent Rail Terminal. Flagship initiatives like this help harness the benefits of rail freight allowing Britain’s supply chains to move goods more sustainably, efficiently and reliably.”

John Bailey, managing director – Intermodal at Maritime Transport added: ‘We are delighted to see GB Railfreight taking full advantage of Hams Hall’s strategic position on the logistics map with the introduction of this new service, connecting a major UK port with an important gateway to the West Midlands. Shifting freight to rail and reducing carbon emissions is a key part of our environmental strategy and this service paves the way for regional businesses to actively join us in this effort.”

Image credit: GBRf

Petards Rail boosts team with new appointment

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Petards Rail boosts team with new appointment

Intelligent train technology provider Petards Rail has appointed Calvin Fahey to the role of procurement manager.

Calvin is Level 3 Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) certified and brings with him almost a decade’s worth of experience within procurement-related roles.

In his role at Petards Rail, Calvin will spearhead the company’s procurement team and processes, ensuring the timely and cost-effective acquisition of materials and services.

Petards Rail designs and delivers train technology to help companies within the rail industry maximise passenger safety, optimise train performance and meet ever increasing passenger and industry demands.

Its technology includes forward facing and rear facing cameras, track debris cameras, an on-train camera/monitor system, Automatic Selective Door Operation, interior cameras and pantograph surveillance cameras. In addition, the company offers supporting services and a back-office software, eyeTrain Connect.

Speaking of his appointment, Calvin said: “I am thrilled to join Petards Rail as procurement manager. The company’s commitment to customer service and developing high-calibre intelligent rail solutions, made it an easy decision.

“I enjoy using data to inform continuous improvement, be it cost reductions, optimising supplier relationships or implementing more efficient procurement processes. I am looking forward to applying this in my role at Petards Rail and contributing to the success of a dynamic company.”

Victoria Hodge, general manager of Petards Rail, said: “I am delighted to announce the addition of Calvin to the Petards Rail team. His wealth of expertise and dedication to quality and continuous improvement align perfectly with our company values.

“It is an exciting time for Petards Rail marked by our recent win at the SPOTLIGHT awards and the launch of our new lifesaving technology. It is great to have Calvin on this journey with us.”

Image credit: Petards Rail

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