The Reframing of Beeching’s LegacyGARETH DENNIS picks through the pages of Beeching’s infamous Reshaping report to reconsider its legacy.Mar 10, 20233Mar 10, 20233
Why low rail adhesion still presents a high riskThe Salisbury rail crash resulted from slipping wheels, but why is this still a problem on today’s railway, and what can be done about it…Apr 7, 20221Apr 7, 20221
Do earthworks fail if trees are removed?The claim that the removal of trees makes earthwork failure more likely is often made by those opposing tree clearance adjacent to the…Apr 7, 2022Apr 7, 2022
Why aren’t UK hydrogen trains carrying passengers yet?The race to bring a hydrogen train to the UK market has slowed to a crawl for the same reason blocking conventional electrification: a lack…Nov 10, 20212Nov 10, 20212
When it comes to driverless trains, the numbers don’t add upAs part of their latest emergency funding settlement, Transport for London is being pressured into making driverless Tube trains a reality…Nov 10, 20212Nov 10, 20212
The not-so-glamourous origins of standard track gaugeThe source of the now familiar 4 foot 8½ inches dimension is often attributed to Romans, wheel ruts and horse’s bottoms, but the real story…Nov 10, 202112Nov 10, 202112
Scottish Greens “go Forth” with bold vision for rail north of the borderGARETH DENNIS interrogates the Scottish Greens’ new “Rail for All” report to see if it holds up to scrutiny…Mar 17, 2021Mar 17, 2021
Split over HS2 exposes deeper schism within Green PartyCan the party ever move beyond its various legacies and internally competing ideologies?Feb 11, 20211Feb 11, 20211
Published inThe StartupIs Cambridgeshire’s New Metro All It’s Cracked Up to Be?If it isn’t autonomous, and it isn’t a metro system, then what exactly is the Cambridgeshire Autonomous Metro? GARETH DENNIS takes a look…Jan 12, 20214Jan 12, 20214
Has the government just renationalised Britain’s railways?March 2020 will mark the beginning of the end of franchised railway operations in Britain. GARETH DENNIS lays out his thoughts.Dec 31, 20201Dec 31, 20201
“A remarkable achievement”: the environmental case for building HS2GARETH DENNIS debunks the common myths around HS2, repeated by green campaigners and stolen from right-wing libertarians.Dec 31, 20202Dec 31, 20202
The NIC have failed againNew report promises a railway strategy but delivers a recipe for catastropheDec 17, 2020Dec 17, 2020
Managing railway earthworks in a changing climateThe fatal derailment at Stonehaven has put the condition of railway earthworks into sharp focus. GARETH DENNIS looks at how the extremes…Sep 10, 2020Sep 10, 2020
The Great Western: the world’s first high speed railwayGARETH DENNIS takes us on a journey along a line that, perhaps like no other, conjures up pride in those who have worked or travelled on…Jun 30, 20202Jun 30, 20202
Channel Tunnel: The 20th century’s most expensive construction project — but worth every pennyNo list of railway wonders would be complete without including the great marvel of modern civil engineering that is the Channel Tunnel……May 6, 20204May 6, 20204
The Forth Bridge: greatest structure in the world?As its successful application to gain UNESCO world heritage site status so eloquently states, “No bridge is so distinctive from others as…Mar 4, 20202Mar 4, 20202
Reopening the Great Central isn’t an alternative to building High Speed 2The abandonment of the Great Central Main Line meant destroying a nationally strategic piece of infrastructure, but that doesn’t mean…Feb 25, 20201Feb 25, 20201
Is the end already in sight for Britain’s tilting trains?TransPennine Express’s new trains are missing one key feature that is indispensable for other 125mph trains on the West Coast Mainline…Dec 6, 20194Dec 6, 20194
The heat is on… and stress management is the keyWhy does hot weather still pose the same challenges for our railway, and what is being done to improve things?May 22, 2019May 22, 2019
The sparks effect: remembering how and why railway electrification worksGARETH DENNIS investigates why Scotland still has a taste for new wiring projects whilst projects remain on hold south of the border.May 22, 2019May 22, 2019