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Freightliner and Mendip Rail have collaborated to improve the performance of stone trains from the Mendip quarries in England. By implementing a new timetable in December 2023, they have achieved a significant improvement in punctuality. This was achieved through various optimizations, such as using pairs of locomotives to increase power and reduce journey times. The project involved collaboration with the University of Hull and other operators to develop revised train planning rules and address timetable conflicts. The success of this initiative has led Freightliner to consider implementing similar improvements for other freight flows. [Extracted from the article]

This article explores the difficulties faced by the London North Eastern Railway (LNER) in implementing its timetable due to regulatory constraints. It discusses the impact of privatization and the separation of track and train responsibilities on the railway system. The article also mentions the lack of industry control over access to the rail network and the need for a reevaluation of the regulatory structure. It emphasizes the ongoing influence of the regulatory structure introduced in 1994 and the role of the Office of Rail and Road in allocating access rights. The article concludes by mentioning the potential for improvement if the Labour Party's version of Great British Railways is implemented. Additionally, the article touches on the failure of the Virgin Trains East Coast (VTEC) franchise and the challenges faced in implementing the December 2024 timetable on the East Coast Main Line (ECML). It highlights the uncertainty surrounding infrastructure enhancements and the impact of the Hendy Review on the delivery of these enhancements. The financial difficulties faced by VTEC are also mentioned. Overall, the article sheds light on the challenges of privatization and the importance of the railway system determining its own future. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses upcoming changes to train timetables for various railway operators in the UK. Some of the changes include faster journey times between Norwich and London, the reintroduction of a four-trains-per-hour service between Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness, and additional services on certain routes. Other operators, such as Great Western Railway, Chiltern Railways, Southeastern, Govia Thameslink Railway, Great Northern, and South Western Railway, also have minor changes to their timetables. These changes aim to improve spacing between services, increase capacity, and provide better connections for passengers. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the challenges with the East Coast mainline timetable and proposes a more coordinated approach based on the Swiss model. The current timetable has been deemed suboptimal due to the fragmented nature of the rail system and the lack of coordination between operators. The article argues for a national network under a single brand, with standardized timetables and improved connectivity. The Swiss model, which emphasizes coordination and consensus-seeking, is presented as a potential solution. [Extracted from the article]

A task force has been established to address timetable challenges on the East Coast Main Line (ECML). The task force, led by Network Rail Non-Executive Director Rob Brighouse, aims to resolve issues with the new ECML timetable, particularly regarding conflicts with freight paths. The headline change proposed is for LNER to introduce a third service each hour between London and Newcastle, allowing for faster Edinburgh services. Additionally, LNER has submitted applications to increase the number of services on the ECML and introduce services to off-route destinations. The implementation of the new timetable is expected to be confirmed in July 2024. [Extracted from the article]

76 Modern Railways May 2021 www.keymodernrailways.com West Devon is set for an early Christmas present if Network Rail's plans remain on course, reports JAMES ABBOTT T he Withered Arm is about to regain some movement. The Okehampton line separates from the Barnstaple branch at Crediton, with the former LSWR main line in effect becoming two separate lines - the old down line to Okehampton and the old up to Barnstaple. Network Rail has always had ownership of the first three miles of the Okehampton line, from Crediton to Coleford Junction (a place nowadays, rather than a physical junction), where the Barnstaple and Okehampton lines part company. [Extracted from the article]

44 Modern Railways May 2021 www.keymodernrailways.com Pan Up Ian Walmsley LINES OF DUTY LINES OF DUTY The BBC's Line of Duty has thrown a spotlight on the little-known activity of the British Transport Police's anti-corruption unit, AC-25 (Kilburn Village) DC Steve Armlock eases into Superintendent T ed Hastings' office. ARMLOCK: Superintendent T ed Hastings, you know, Irish guy. (Armlock raises one eyebrow) HASTINGS: Aye, pot, kettle eh? ARMLOCK: Probably not ideal to sit in the window with "Copper" written on your cup then. [Extracted from the article]

With data on the track layouts and signalling, the minimum feasible intervals between trains on the route are found by processing the speed: distance data for a train's run. Train crew costs relate to train-hours in the timetable, but other movement costs such as traction energy and maintenance are driven by vehicle-miles. At Birmingham Interchange, trains in the northbound direction are diverging onto separate routes, which is easy enough, but creating free paths for stopping trains converging with through trains after the station needs careful planning. 56 Modern Railways April 2021 www.keymodernrailways.com HS2 BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE WILLIAM BARTER uses experience from HS2 to show how the techniques of timetable planning support development of a major project, and how timetabling practices need to evolve to reflect high-speed operations I n a major project, it is never too soon to start timetable planning. [Extracted from the article]

W ould you, as a franchise owner, on a 1.5% margin in what is, in effect, a tightly controlled management contract, fancy taking on the unions while trying to meet revenue targets in a post-pandemic dystopia? This suggests that, in terms of business and leisure travel by rail, nothing much will change before June, confirmed by the Department for Transport's ban on promoting rail travel before 26 June. Immediately after the original lockdown in March 2020, revenue bimbled along at around the 10%, mark, with the DfT Emergency Measures Agreements (EMAs) covering the difference between costs and revenue. Informed Sources Roger Ford 28 Modern Railways April 2021 www.keymodernrailways.com n No date for removal of domestic travel restrictions n No change on social distancing and WFH before June n No promotion of rail travel before June A morning spent going through the UK Government's "roadmap out of lockdown" produced this summary (Table 2). [Extracted from the article]