Industrial News

Listen to this article On Thursday 29 May, HS2 revealed the first section of platform to be installed for Britain’s new high-speed railway. In the underground box at HS2’s Old Oak Common station, engineers have begun installing the platform slabs which passengers will use when boarding or alighting high-speed trains in the future. Six platforms…

Listen to this article The iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct in the Scottish Highlands, made famous worldwide by the Harry Potter films, has undergone an extensive, £3.4 million maintenance programme to safeguard its future for generations to come. Network Rail, along with principal contractor AmcoGiffen, assessed the condition of the viaduct. Concrete repairs were carried out across…

Listen to this article HS2 celebrated another construction milestone on 9 May when the 1,600-tonne tunnel boring machine (TBM), Mary Ann, broke through at Washwood Heath, Birmingham, marking the end of her mission to excavate the first bore of what will soon become the longest railway tunnel in the West Midlands. The 125-metre-long machine began…

Listen to this article Engineers at Senceive have developed a rockfall detection system for sites considered vulnerable to blockage or damage caused by falling rocks and debris. While the UK rail network does not generally face the same degree of risk from rockfall as some European routes, for example those in the Alps and Pyrenees,…

Listen to this article Railway asset engineers and their project colleagues currently face a huge challenge to keep the railway safe and reliable, with a budget said to be 25% less than what is required to maintain the current asset condition. All asset types face the same challenge, but geotechnical earthworks face another challenge with…

Listen to this article SPL Powerlines UK (SPL) has just completed a major milestone on the East Kilbride Enhancement project as it prepares to enter into service the latest electrified route in Scotland. Regional Director Lee Pounder took some time out to chat with Rail Engineer about the significant achievements following the completion of the…

Listen to this article Over the past 20 years the railway has adopted many new technologies on modern passenger trains and infrastructure equipment which have provided significant benefits. However, rail freight has seen little new technology. Most freight trains are hauled by a diesel locomotive introduced in the 1990s. Freight wagons, with no electrical supply,…

Listen to this article In 2011, Sir Roy McNulty’s rail value for money study – Realising the potential of rail in Great Britain – concluded that GB rail cost £3 billion per annum more than it should and that a 30% reduction in cost per passenger-kilometre should be achievable. It found that these high costs…

Listen to this article An event in March hosted by Global Centre of Rail Excellence (GCRE) highlighted the projects that have been supported through the Railway Construction programme. The programme competition, which started in 2022, has been funded by the Department for Business and Trade and delivered by Innovate UK, with teams installing their projects…