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CLondoner92
@clondoner92.bsky.social
1.4K followers 530 following 6.6K posts
A writer for my website & ⦵ #London #Transport #TFL, #ElectricVehicle #EV & #Hydrogen enthusiast.
Public Transport is the veins of the economy 🚏🚌🚐🚋🚃🚄🚇
Views are my own
https://clondoner92.blogspot.com/
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clondoner92.bsky.social
I'd say that the Network SouthEast livery looks more neater.
Two colour photographs of British electric multiple unit (EMU) trains are shown: the top image, labelled Class 313, features train number 313001 in blue, red, and white livery standing at a platform, and the bottom image, labelled Class 315, features train number 315823 in similar livery on tracks, both pictured under overhead electrical wires. Illustration comparing the front ends of two British electric trains: the top image is a Class 319, and the bottom image is a Class 442.
December 9, 2025 at 11:20 AM
clondoner92.bsky.social
The GBR app is set to become the one-stop shop for UK rail. It will replace all train operator websites, enabling passengers to check times, plan journeys, and buy tickets across the entire network without booking fees. The app also streamlines booking Passenger Assist.
A close-up digital image of a smartphone screen showing the new Great British Railways (GBR) application icon. The icon features a stylised red and blue triangular design above the GBR logo and text, which is white with two horizontal red lines representing train tracks. To the left, white text under the heading "The Application" describes its function: "A new GBR application will eventually become a one-stop shop to check train times, request support and book tickets. Making sure each interaction along the passenger journey is consistent. The new application and website will replace train operator websites and will run alongside and in competition with third-party retailers so standards are continually driven up." A person wearing headphones holds a smartphone, shown in a close-up, in a brick-wall setting. The screen displays the Great British Railways (GBR) application interface. The top of the screen shows the GBR logo and branding. The main section allows the user to "Plan your journey" with input fields for 'From', 'To', 'Single/Return', 'Date', and 'Passengers'. A red 'Search' button is visible below. Further down the screen, a Travel alerts section is shown, and a menu bar at the bottom offers options including 'Favourites', 'Plan & Buy', 'My Tickets', and 'Updates'. A small text notice at the bottom of the image states: "The image shown is for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of the final product." A CGI visualisation of a Great British Railways (GBR) train in the new blue, red, and white livery, shown travelling along a track in a countryside setting under a blue sky. The train's design features the red, white, and blue colours prominently, with the GBR logo clearly visible on the side of the power carriage. The lower section of the image has a solid red overlay containing white text. The GBR logo, a stylised train with tracks, is displayed next to the letters "GBR". Below this, the tagline reads: "One railway, owned by you." The image also includes a contact number for "Media queries: 0300 7777 878."
December 9, 2025 at 10:58 AM
clondoner92.bsky.social
The new Union Flag-inspired livery (blue, red, and white) for both inter-city and commuter trains. This angular design signifies the planned move towards GBR becoming the single, modern public body managing the UK's rail network.
bsky.app/profile/did:...
A graphic showing two Great British Railways (GBR) train designs: a long distance, inter-city train and a local or regional, commuter train. Both feature the GBR livery in blue, red, and white, inspired by the Union flag. CGI rendering of a modern InterCity Express Programme (IEP) train running on tracks, painted in the Great British Railways (GBR) livery of dark blue, red, and white. A detailed in-game render shows two modern high-speed trains in Great British Railways livery standing at a station platform. The trains feature a dark blue, red, and white colour scheme with the double-arrow symbol and “GBR” branding. The scene is set during daylight, with overhead electrification equipment, station signage, and surrounding brick buildings visible in the background. A sign on the platform reads “Grantham,” confirming the location.
December 9, 2025 at 10:58 AM
clondoner92.bsky.social
Featuring the iconic double arrow and Rail Alphabet font, uses navy, white, and red to evoke the Union flag, signifying GBR as the new, integrated public body for Britain's rail network.
A graphic detailing the Great British Railways (GBR) logo. It shows the primary logo, featuring the red double arrow symbol next to "GBR" in navy blue, and two secondary versions which replace "GBR" with "Great British Railways" (one using two lines of text, one using a single line of text). The accompanying text describes the logo's elements, colours (navy, white, and red from the Union flag), and its in-house design process. A close-up photograph of a white signpost, typical of a railway station, featuring the Great British Railways logo. The sign displays the red double-arrow symbol next to “Great British Railways” written in navy blue, set against a bright blue sky and green foliage.
December 9, 2025 at 10:58 AM
clondoner92.bsky.social
Excerpts from the Great British Railways (GBR) Media Kit on branding.
Courtesy of the Department for Transport.
A woman is using a smartphone and earbuds in a transport environment. The image features a large white "GBR" logo next to a double-arrow symbol. The background is framed by diagonal sections of blue and red. The bottom left corner includes the text "Media Kit - Dec 2025". A slide titled "About Great British Railways" in large white text. The slide has a red background with a diagonal blue section at the bottom right. The main body of the text, also in white, describes the purpose of Great British Railways (GBR), focusing on reforming a fragmented system, building a simpler, more unified railway, and sweeping away decades of frustration. The text concludes by stating that the visual identity of GBR is an important step of unifying how they tell this story. This slide, titled "The Story", presents a timeline outlining key legislative and operational milestones for Great British Railways (GBR) against a dark blue background. It highlights the passage of The Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Act in November 2024, the transfer of SWR services to public ownership in May 2025 (along with a photo showing interim "GBR coming soon" signage), the introduction of the Railways Bill in November 2025, and a rail fare freeze later that month, leading up to GBR being operational in 2027. A separate section summarizes the current situation, noting 1.7 billion rail passenger journeys and that 50% of passenger services are currently under public ownership.
December 9, 2025 at 10:58 AM
clondoner92.bsky.social
Video brand showreel of Great British Railways, along with a train livery demonstration on Train Sim World 6, courtesy of Dovetail Games and the Department for Transport.

And yes, it does remind me very much of Network SouthEast from the 1980s and 1990s. 🟥🟦⬜️
December 9, 2025 at 10:14 AM
clondoner92.bsky.social
Great British Railways is unveiled with new branding, a ticketing app, and frozen fares. The Railways Bill aims to unify 17 organisations under public ownership, creating a simpler, more reliable, and passenger-focused railway across Britain.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
A Great British Railways train with red, white, and blue livery travels on electrified tracks through a rural area under a blue sky.
December 8, 2025 at 10:38 PM
clondoner92.bsky.social
A throwback to year 2008, Transport for London consulted on replacing bendy buses on routes 38, 507 and 521. Views were mixed; double-deck buses were planned for 38, single-deck buses for 507 and 521, with minor timetable and ticketing changes.
web.archive.org/web/20120515...
A document titled "Routes 38/N38, 507 and 521: summary of responses to consultation." The text introduces the document, outlines proposed changes (converting articulated 'bendy' buses to shorter double-deck and single-deck buses on routes 507, 521, and 38/N38), and lists 22 of the 53 stakeholders who responded to the consultation carried out in September and October 2008. A section of a consultation summary report detailing stakeholder responses to a bus route proposal. Positive responses cited improved road safety and reduced fraud, while negative feedback focused on reduced accessibility and increased congestion. The text notes that the majority of stakeholders opposed replacing bendy buses and that responses from London boroughs raised concerns about infrastructure strain. London TravelWatch's response regarding the advantages of bendy buses is also mentioned. Document titled "Routes 38, 507 and 521: responses to issues raised in consultation," discussing plans to convert Route 38 from articulated to double-deck buses and Routes 507/521 to shorter single-deck buses, including tables showing the new scheduled frequencies (buses per hour) and peak capacity comparisons. A table, labelled Table 3: costs, shows the Contract Cost (£pa) for three options—"As awarded," "New articulated vehicles," and "Existing articulated vehicles"—across three bus routes (38/N38, 507, and 521) and a combined total, revealing that the "As awarded" contracts total £21,133,043, while converting to "Existing articulated vehicles" is the cheapest overall option at £17,783,227.
December 8, 2025 at 8:51 PM
clondoner92.bsky.social
In the UK, LRT was known as London Regional Transport, which operated from 1984 to 2000. It was the predecessor of Transport for London and was overseen by the Secretary of State for Transport.
A black and white drawing shows a flag with the initials "LRT" in bold, thick letters. The letters are made up of diagonal black lines, giving a wavy, almost 3D effect, suggesting movement. The flag is flying from a flagpole and has a distinct wavy outline. Overlaid on the bottom right are large, heavy text captions, which read: "FLYING THE FLAG FOR" in a grey box, and "NEW LOOK – p4/5" below the box. London Regional Transport's new family image. The article features a large, bold headline that reads "New Image for London Transport." Below the headline, there is a smaller image of the new London Transport logo, which is a red circle with a blue bar across it. The article then goes on to discuss the reasons for the new image, the design process, and the public's reaction to it. Clipping from London Regional Transport (LRT) News (No. 339 - May 15 1987) The image is a newspaper article titled "London Transport - and the roundel - makes a comeback." The article discusses the return of the London Transport roundel as a symbol of the company. The article also mentions the change from London Regional Transport to London Transport. London Transport News clipping from No. 382 - June 15 1990. London Transport brand name with their red roundel which lasted till year 2000 when Transport for London took over the responsibility.
December 8, 2025 at 7:45 PM
clondoner92.bsky.social
Warsaw, Poland has ordered 120 Solaris articulated buses to modernise its fleet, with deliveries from 2026 and an option for 100 more. The low-floor vehicles will have CCTV, air-conditioning, solar panels and alcolocks. Solaris already supplies 1,750 buses.
www.solarisbus.com/en/press/sol...
A long, articulated yellow and red Solaris Urbino 18 electric bus drives on a road with a grassy bank to its left, set against a backdrop of a historic building complex with red tiled roofs. An articulated, yellow and red Solaris Urbino 18 electric bus is parked on a street next to a modern building with large glass panels and turquoise cladding.
December 8, 2025 at 6:21 PM
clondoner92.bsky.social
TfL is promoting licensed London transport-themed gifts, from toys, art prints and puzzles to fashion accessories and homeware. Sold online and in shops worldwide, all products support the network, with revenue reinvested to help keep London moving.
tfl-newsroom.prgloo.com/news/looking...
A Christmas gift guide for her featuring five products inspired by Transport for London (TfL) and London landmarks: a purple Pom Pom London bag, a CASETiFY phone case with the London Underground map, an Ahmad Tea London tea caddy, Kew Gardens seed balls in a decorative tin, and a red tartan Signare tote bag with a 'Hop on a bus' roundel design. TfL Image A Christmas Gift Guide for Him featuring five Transport for London (TfL) themed items against a snowy background. The gifts are: a CASETiFY Oyster cardholder stand on a phone case; The Happy Puzzle Co. Birmingham/West Midlands Tube map jigsaw puzzle; The London Sock Exchange Tube sock gift set with three pairs; The Art Group Underground poster reading "IT IS WARMER DOWN BELOW"; and a Unimillion light box featuring two 'Mind the Gap' roundels. TfL Image A Christmas gift guide image for children featuring five London transport-themed gifts: a BRIO London Underground play set, a red double-decker bus night light by The London Toy Company, a Rapport London Underground duvet set, a Rex London umbrella with a bus pattern, and a 'Mind The Gap' card game by Gibsons Games. The background is white with scattered gold star illustrations. TfL Image A photograph of the 'Brain Train Game' by The Happy Puzzle Company and London Underground. The game features a small red toy train on a clear plastic track piece forming a central square, surrounded by four other irregularly shaped track pieces showing London landmarks like 'Royal Albert Hall' and 'Bank of England'. The game box, which features the Underground logo and states "40 Puzzles 4 - 84+", is visible in the top right corner. TfL Image
December 8, 2025 at 3:28 PM
clondoner92.bsky.social
Transport for London says its consultation report shows support and concerns over closing Capital Call. The service will run until 31 August 2026 with full budgets, before closing as users are helped to shift to Taxicard, Dial-a-Ride and mentoring.
haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/capital-call...
Table of the top five most frequently raised issues regarding the proposed closure of the Capital Call assisted transport service, alongside the service's response. The key issue is "General concern or opposition to the closure of Capital Call." The response cites two pressing reasons for closure: the high investment cost detracts from alternative assisted travel services across London, and significant improvements to the Taxicard service make Capital Call redundant. The decision is to close the service from summer 2026. Table on page 2 addressing concerns about the Capital Call assisted transport service closure. Key concerns and responses are: Reliability – Taxicard performance (95.8% trip completion) is strong and similar to Capital Call (94.57%), as the same drivers are used. Independence/Isolation – Remaining services and budget reallocation (since only 17% of active users fully used their allocation) will mitigate these risks. Impact on Disabled People – All Assisted Transport Services (ATS) serve those with restricted mobility, and the closure impacts a small user group (336 active users in 2024/25). A two-section table and a text section on 'Next Steps' from a consultation document. The table addresses the 'Concern that Taxicard is unreliable', stating Taxicard completed over 95.82 percent of scheduled trips in 2024/25, which was marginally more reliable than Capital Call's 94.57 percent completion rate in the same period. The 1.1 Next Steps section outlines three decisions: Keep the Capital Call service running until 31 August 2026; Make sure members can continue to use their full annual budget (up to £200) until 31 August 2026; Close the service to members on 1 September 2026. A section of a consultation report titled "Table 12 - list of top ten issues raised by respondents" and "3.7 Stakeholder responses." The table lists 10 concerns about the closure of Capital Call, including general opposition (77 respondents), concern about losing reliable service (62), negative impact on independence/socialising (57), and the unreliability of Taxicard (42). Below the table, a list of eight stakeholders who responded to the consultation is shown, including Leonie Cooper, London Assembly Member, and the London Transport Committee.
December 7, 2025 at 1:29 PM
clondoner92.bsky.social
Transport for London has published interim guidance on shared use bus boarders, outlining how these cycling-focused layouts should be assessed and designed. It reports mixed user views, highlights safety and accessibility concerns, and says further monitoring will inform future designs.
A document section titled '1 Introduction' discusses the Mayor's Transport Strategy to improve London's cycle network. It highlights road danger as a key barrier to cycling and introduces the Shared Use Bus Boarder (SUBB) as an alternative layout for separating cycle traffic from motor traffic past a bus stop, citing recent research showing high preference for SUBBs over cycling in the carriageway. A table titled "Table 1 – SUBB cycle flow and hour boarders and alighter flow considerations" shows four scenarios to determine suitability. The columns are: Scenario, Peak hour boarders and alighters, Peak hour one-way cycle flows, and Suitability? Scenarios 1 and 3 are marked "Yes*". Scenario 2 is marked "Yes* - if passenger flow goes into 'High' category (>450 per hour), not suitable". Scenario 4 is marked "No**". Footnotes indicate conditions for "Yes*" and "No**" regarding design context and alternative design. A diagram titled "Figure 1 – Recommended components of a with-flow SUBB" illustrates a segregated cycle track (coloured red/orange) adjacent to a main road. The cycle track is separated from the adjacent footway by a buffer strip containing a bus shelter (cantilever type) and bollards, and from the traffic lane by road markings, where a bus stop is situated with a 'Bus Stop' marking. Key dimensions and features are labelled, including recommended bus lane width (2.5m - 3.0m), recommended track width (1.5m - 2.5m), and absolute minimum clearances (1.0m and 1.5m). Details on cycle track flushness with the footway, cycle symbol markings location, contrasting colour requirement, tramline paving, road hump triangle markings, and a 1:20 gradient ramp are also shown. A page titled "5 Next steps" from an interim guidance note, detailing further monitoring by Transport for London and London boroughs on bus stop bypasses (SUBBs). The four required next steps are: verifying investment decisions via a robust understanding of SUBB impacts; comparing actual user interactions with predicted behaviours; understanding user attitudes and behaviours towards the bus stop area and cycling scheme; and addressing core impacts on mobility and visually impaired user groups, aligning with TfL's equality duty. This will inform future scheme development and training.
December 6, 2025 at 4:00 PM
clondoner92.bsky.social
Orbit Clipper, the UK’s first fully electric ferry, has launched on the Thames, linking Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf. The zero-emissions vessel carries 150 passengers, 100 bikes, and aims to boost sustainable London transport.
www.thamesclippers.com/news/orbit-c...
A modern, fully electric catamaran ferry, the "Orbit Clipper," operated by Uber Boat by Thames Clippers, cruises on the water. The boat is white and black, with green accents and text stating "100% Electric." The water is grey and slightly choppy, reflecting the light.
December 5, 2025 at 5:08 PM
clondoner92.bsky.social
Transport for London Freedom of Information release:
TfL says it holds no livery drawings for the Volvo BZL Electric buses on route 277 but adds that upcoming deliveries will follow the design standards shown in the attached drawings.
tfl.gov.uk/corporate/tr...
A technical drawing of a red double-decker bus, an MCV D113 RLF for London TFL, dated 29/07/2024, showing four views: front, rear, and both side elevations. The body is a solid "Red London" colour with a "Roof Red London" roof, and the non-painted elements (windows and front grille details) are shown in bright blue and black. A high-quality 3D render of a modern, red double-decker bus, seen from the front three-quarter angle. The bus has a sleek, red body with large, dark tinted windows, prominent LED daytime running lights, and a Volvo badge on the lower front panel, set against a plain white background.
December 5, 2025 at 5:01 PM
clondoner92.bsky.social
Highlights of the consultation report for routes 287 and 687:
Transport for London found mixed views on re-routing the 287 and 687, with support for safer access and smoother trips but concerns about isolation, A13 access and effects on vulnerable residents.
haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/bus-routes-2...
Bus Routes 287/687 Consultation Results: Infographic showing a mixed response to proposed changes (2 June - 13 July 2025). 37% thought changes would have a positive impact, while 57% thought they would have a negative impact. 405 responses received. Concerns included isolation for some residents and negative impacts on vulnerable groups. This infographic provides an update on a bus scheme consultation, highlighting that the outreach efforts included 10,722 customer emails, 7,820 letters to local residents and businesses, and 91 bus stop posters. Following the feedback, the proposed scheme is proceeding, with highway works to enable the re-routing of the 287 and 687 bus routes beginning in early 2026 by Barking and Dagenham Council, and the new routes are expected to launch in spring/summer 2026. Text extract from a document section titled '3.7 Stakeholder responses' and '3.8 Petitions and campaigns'. It lists stakeholder categories (Local authorities & statutory bodies, Transport and road user groups, Businesses, employers and venues) and notes a campaign organised by an anonymous person calling for widespread use of 'new' Routemaster buses, which received 123 responses. Two posts on X (formerly Twitter) about proposed changes to bus routes 287 and 687 in Barking and Dagenham. The first, from Bc Fixat, announces the changes and links to more information. The second, from CLondoner92, details the proposed re-routing to avoid part of the A13 and mentions the consultation deadline is 13 July 2025, including a map image of the route area.
December 5, 2025 at 3:16 PM
clondoner92.bsky.social
The Mayor has announced a £1.6bn upgrade for the Liverpool City Region, adding new rail stations, rapid transit, smart ticketing and better roads, cycling and bus links to boost regeneration, connect communities and support thousands of new homes.
www.liverpoolcityregion-ca.gov.uk/news/new-rai...
A collage showing a yellow-and-black regional train, a modern rapid transit vehicle, a smart ticketing reader in use, and a double-decker bus in the same yellow livery in Liverpool.
December 5, 2025 at 10:43 AM
clondoner92.bsky.social
The UK government is providing £3 billion in long-term bus funding, giving councils flexibility to cut fares, add routes and improve reliability, with extra support for franchising and the £3 fare cap to help make services more affordable and dependable.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Two yellow double-decker buses stand at a wet bus station on a rainy day. One bus displays route 84 to Uppermill, while the other shows route 59 to Manchester via Cheetham Hill. Passengers and shelters are visible in the background.
December 5, 2025 at 9:15 AM
clondoner92.bsky.social
Transport for London Freedom of Information release:
TfL listed the least-used bus routes in early 2025, led by 685, 651 and 649, with 347, 969 and 399 also low. Several 600-series school routes featured, some later withdrawn. Figures cover recorded boardings only.
tfl.gov.uk/corporate/tr...
This image shows a table titled "Least-used bus routes January to October 2025 (inclusive)." It lists 20 bus routes in London with the lowest recorded boardings for this period. The table has three columns: Route, Recorded boardings, and Notes. Route numbers range from 347 to 969, including several 600-series routes associated with schools. Recorded boardings vary from 245 on route 685 to 7,569 on route 661. Notes indicate some routes were withdrawn, such as route 347 on 18 January and routes 605 and 673 following the 2024/25 school year. The data highlights low passenger numbers on specific routes during this timeframe.
December 4, 2025 at 1:54 PM
clondoner92.bsky.social
Transport for London Freedom of Information release:
TfL issued the London Underground Ticketing & Revenue Update 155, covering cyber attack impacts, delayed fares changes, Project Oval progress, ticket-scanning trials, gateline upgrades and updated travel notices.
tfl.gov.uk/corporate/tr...
A screenshot of the "TRU News" newsletter's cover, titled "WE'RE BACK!". It features an article about the return of the Ticketing & Revenue Update publication after a long break, mentioning team changes and prioritising essential functions. There's an article about the team moving premises in May 2025. The newsletter includes a logo for the 'Ticketing & Revenue Team' and an illustration of a team moving their office contents with a trolley. A screenshot of the "TRU News" newsletter, page 4 of 14, discussing a cyber attack and IT issues, fare revisions, and the end of JCB card acceptance. The cyber attack in October caused photo card issues and limited IT access until early December 2024. Fare revisions, including increased Visitor Oyster card fees from £5 to £7, were mostly implemented on Sunday 02 March 2025 and Sunday 08 June 2025. A further revision is scheduled for Sunday 07 December 2025. Finally, the article explains that Barclaycard stopped processing POM bankcard transactions for JCB cards, leading the TRU to no longer accept them, although volumes were very low. A document titled "REVENUE PROJECTS - BARCODE TICKET SCANNER" detailing a trial for a barcode ticket scanning system at UK rail stations. It mentions collaboration between National Rail (NR), TfL, and Team Technologies. The page features images of a ticket scanner device, a ticket inspection screen showing an 'INVALID' ticket, and a pie chart illustrating the volume of scans by station, with Farringdon dominating at 84%. The text discusses the need for the system due to incompatibility between NR and LU/TfL ticketing systems and the successful trial volume exceeding 100,000 scans by September's end. A document titled "REVENUE PROJECTS - BARCODE SCANNER TRIAL (Continued)" and "WAG SOFTWARE UPGRADES." The main section, "SO WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?", discusses the successful barcode ticket scanner trial and the continuation of the scheme at six stations: Farringdon (2 devices), Finsbury Park (2), Kentish Town (2), Moorgate (2), Old Street (2), and Stratford (2). It mentions ongoing discussions about the scope of the trial and future enforcement against fare evasion. The document highlights that the long-term objective is to integrate barcode scanning equipment into gate lines. A key challenge is fully integrating the barcode reader into the gate software, as the current Revenue Collection Contract (RCC) is being retendered. The lower section, "WAG SOFTWARE UPGRADES," discusses software deployment across all WAG (Wide Aisle Gate) machines starting September 1, 2024, following a contract breach discovery. Images include a red "REVENUE CONTROL" logo and a thumbnail of a "BARCODE TICKET READER BRIEFING PACK".
December 4, 2025 at 1:43 PM
clondoner92.bsky.social
London Liverpool Street remains Britain’s busiest station with 98m entries and exits, driven by strong Elizabeth line demand. Elton and Orston was the quietest with 68. Birmingham New Street topped usage outside London, followed by Manchester Piccadilly and Leeds, which both saw steady growth.
This is a document titled "Estimates of station usage April 2024 to March 2025" from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), dated 4 December 2025. It summarises the annual statistical release, noting 1.73 billion passenger rail journeys were made. Table 1.1 lists the top five most used stations by entries and exits: London Liverpool Street (98.0 million), London Waterloo, London Paddington, Tottenham Court Road, and London Bridge. The least used stations mentioned are Elton and Orston in Nottinghamshire (68 entries and exits). This document excerpt, 2. Station entries and exits, from the ORR's "Estimates of station usage April 2024 to March 2025" report, highlights the most used stations. Figure 2.1 is a horizontal bar chart showing the ten most used stations in Great Britain by entries and exits, with London Liverpool Street topping the list at 98.0 million. The next busiest stations are London Waterloo (70.4 million), London Paddington (69.9 million), and Tottenham Court Road (68.1 million). The text notes that nine of the top ten stations are in London. A bar chart titled "Birmingham New Street was the most used station outside of London, April 2024 to March 2025" shows the top ten most used railway stations outside London. Birmingham New Street is highest with 36.6 million entries and exits, followed by Manchester Piccadilly (27.4m) and Leeds (27.3m). Other stations include Glasgow Central (25.3m), Edinburgh (22.8m), and Gatwick Airport (21.2m). The chart also mentions the Elizabeth line and its busiest stations in the accompanying text. A bar chart titled "Six of the ten busiest flows were on routes only served by the Elizabeth line" shows the top ten busiest flows between pairs of railway stations in Great Britain, April 2024 to March 2025. The busiest flow was Tottenham Court Road and London Liverpool Street with 8.7m journeys, followed by London Paddington and Tottenham Court Road (7.2m), and Bond Street and Tottenham Court Road (6.8m). Six of the top ten flows are on Elizabeth line routes.
December 4, 2025 at 12:03 PM
clondoner92.bsky.social
Mayor @andyburnham.bsky.social unveils Greater Manchester’s 30-year rail vision to double passengers, add new stations, simplify fares, and integrate local rail with the Bee Network, supporting 75,000 homes and boosting £90bn in regional economic growth.
news.tfgm.com/press-releas...
A schematic map of the Greater Manchester rail network. Dark lines represent rail lines connecting numerous stations like Manchester Piccadilly, Victoria, Oxford Road, and Salford Central. Thicker lines show key routes with annual passenger figures, such as 350k to/from Birmingham University and 1m to/from Liverpool Street. Yellow lines indicate Metrolink routes. A sidebar highlights key statistics: 3rd highest number of weekly weekday arrivals in the UK, 40 freight trains daily, 2/3 rail demand from Greater Manchester, 40m annual passenger trips to Manchester's central stations, 200 stations, 8 Metrolink lines, and 74m annual passenger entries/exits. A graphic detailing the "2050" vision for the Greater Manchester rail network. A central schematic map is surrounded by five hexagonal sections outlining strategic goals: Improving services across a growing network (15 minute or better frequencies); Quality stations to support growth (up to 75,000 homes delivered adjacent to the network); A seamless, safe, and accessible customer experience (at least 95% passenger satisfaction); and Strengthening our connections across the North, the UK, and internationally (doubling intercity trips by rail). The right-hand side describes the resulting benefits under three pillars: Creating Opportunities (e.g., social mobility, reliable services), Transforming Everyday Places (e.g., life, welcoming stations, supporting local centres), and Fuelling Long-Term Growth (e.g., supporting local businesses, delivering cleaner freight, reliable utilities). A page titled "Executive Summary: On the right track for growth: A 2050 Vision for the future of rail in Greater Manchester." The text discusses Greater Manchester's economic growth and productivity, the role of rail, and the constraints from the current network on passengers and businesses. It states that limited investment has led to delays and cancellations. The vision is underpinned by four pillars to unlock the outcomes: Expanding and improving services across a growing network (creating new high-frequency rail and Metrolink services, improving reliability, creating a carbon-neutral network); Ensuring quality stations and supporting growth in the heart of our communities (Bee Net work quality stations, making all stations accessible, enabling new developments); A seamless, safe, and accessible customer experience (modernising trains, next-generation ticketing, uniting the Bee Network experience); and Strengthening our connections beyond Greater Manchester, across the UK, and overseas (reducing intercity journey time, improving connections to global gateways, unlocking rail freight capacity). A page titled "Delivering our growth led Rail Vision" outlines the necessity for new working methods to realise the ambitious 2050 Vision, aiming to support the growth and prosperity of Greater Manchester, the Northern and UK economies. The diagram highlights shared challenges and aspirations between Greater Manchester and Rail Industry Partners. Greater Manchester's aspirations include increasing fare box revenue, maximising rail investment for regeneration, planning and delivering major capital investments efficiently, and realising environmental benefits of rail freight. Rail Industry Partners aspire to grow passenger numbers, integrate rail better with other transport modes like the Bee Network, secure investment in specific schemes, and operate rail services cost-effectively while improving passenger experience.
December 3, 2025 at 10:54 PM
clondoner92.bsky.social
The Inspiration exhibition train will be at London Paddington from 8–13 December. Free tickets showcase railway history, engineering challenges, careers, and innovations, part of Railway 200, after attracting 45,000 visitors on its UK tour.
news.gwr.com/news/all-abo...
A long, modern passenger train at a large railway station with a curved glass and metal roof. The train’s carriages feature a colourful design with the word ‘TOGETHER’ prominently displayed across several carriages. The platform is empty and the station’s architecture includes decorative ironwork and large windows. Photo by Jack Boskett Interior of a train carriage exhibition for "Railway 200," featuring large red graphics and a red interactive kiosk. Photo by Jack Boskett
December 3, 2025 at 1:08 PM
clondoner92.bsky.social
Contactless PAYG launches at 30 South-East stations on 14 December, but rollout at Stansted and Southend airports is delayed to summer 2026 after system faults, leaving passengers reliant on traditional tickets and highlighting technical challenges.
media.raildeliverygroup.com/news/pay-as-...
Table listing National Rail stations where pay as you go contactless payment will go live on 14 December. The table is divided into four columns by train operators: Chiltern (9 stations), Great Northern (7 stations), Southern (11 stations), and Thameslink (3 stations). Each column lists the stations under the respective operator, including examples such as Aylesbury and Wendover for Chiltern, Baldock and Stevenage for Great Northern, Ashtead and Reigate for Southern, and Harlington and Luton for Thameslink. Above the table is a note stating that from 7 December, some fares for journeys into London travel zones 1 to 9 will change in preparation for contactless pay as you go, with price impacts starting from 14 December.
December 3, 2025 at 12:50 PM
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Transport for London has introduced self-reporting lift (elevator) technology across a third of its network, giving faster real-time updates for step-free access users and enabling quicker repairs, as part of wider accessibility improvements.
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A person in a wheelchair, seen from the back, is facing a lift car and reaching for the control panel to select a floor. They are wearing a blue and white striped long-sleeve shirt. A black rucksack is attached to the back of the wheelchair, with a blue water bottle in a side pocket. The lift display shows "−2" in yellow-green lights. The lift panel has an OTIS logo and an arrow pointing up on the main button. Photo by TfL
December 3, 2025 at 10:52 AM