Episode 67

Is Virgin Trains making a comeback with a £500m train order to challenge Eurostar?

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Episode Overview

Is Virgin Trains about to make a comeback in the UK with a £500m train order to operate services through the Channel Tunnel to compete with Eurostar?

Is passenger revenue now on the rise as well as passenger numbers? We review Office of Rail and Road figures and Great British Railways Transition Team analysis of the latest data.

We speak to RAIB Deputy Chief Inspector Andy Lewis about the Strathspey and Talerddig accident reports in a preview to an upcoming full interview.

And… the Elizabeth Line reaches 500 million passengers in its first 2.5 years.

In this episode:

00:00 Intro
00:52 Is Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group close to signing a train deal?
09:25 Passenger numbers and railway revenue on the rise
20:36 RAIB Andy Lewis interview preview
25:44 Bala Lake Railway special preview
31:56 Thanks to Super Thanks and Members
33:10 Railway News Round-Up
33:20 Elizabeth Line reaches 500 million passenger journeys
35:08 Network Rail to replace Clifton Bridge in Cumbria
36:12 HS2 construction update – giant box under A46
37:12 Southeastern announces Class 376 upgrade
38:16 Erdington bridge struck three times in a week
39:43 50,000 journeys made on the Northumberland Line
41:56 The Quiz
44:23 TransPennine Express launches virtual work experience