West Coast Mainline Modernization Programme The modernisation of the West Coast mainline cost £9 billion and was intended to facilitate significant increases in train speeds. There were high hopes for the project at the outset including ambitious plans to run trains at up to 140 mph. The project has undoubtedly delivered significant improvements but it has also…Continue Reading A curious tale of pressure relief shafts and compensation
HS2 and Strategic Environmental Assessment – Again!
You may have thought that the Supreme Court judgment in R (on the application of Buckinghamshire County Council and others) (Appellants) v The Secretary of State for Transport (Respondent) [2014] UKSC 3 (see blog of 22 January 2014) resolved the issue of whether the manner in which the HS2 project is being authorized is compliant with…Continue Reading HS2 and Strategic Environmental Assessment – Again!
The 2014 Storms
Brunel’s famous rail link to West Devon and Cornwall has finally reopened following the severing of the route by the February storms:- http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-26874503 The collapse of the Dawlish sea wall leaving railway lines with sleepers still attached dangling helplessly in mid air, looking for all the world like broken model railway track, provided the most dramatic and…Continue Reading The 2014 Storms
EU Emission limits bite for new freight locomotives
The rail freight sector has grown exponentially over the past twenty years resulting in an unprecedented demand for new motive power. In recent months the major UK rail freight companies have had their cheque books out in a major spending spree. Rail Magazine has summarized the latest purchases of diesel locomotives:- 21 x EMD Class 66s for GBRf. 15 x…Continue Reading EU Emission limits bite for new freight locomotives
Law Commision Report on Level Crossings
The issue of safety at level crossings continues to attract intense media scrutiny due to a number of high profile incidents and a constant stream of ‘near miss’ CCTV footage featured on news items and YouTube. In 2013 there were 10 fatal accidents at level crossings and 10 fatal collisions between trains and road vehicles (see Rail 741,…Continue Reading Law Commision Report on Level Crossings
HS2 and Freedom of Information
On 30 January the Secretary of State for Transport, the Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP, blocked a freedom of information request relating to a Project Assessment Review (PAR) prepared by the Major Projects Authority (MPA) in 2011. The report is of interest to opponents of HS2 in that it is said to be highly critical…Continue Reading HS2 and Freedom of Information
HS2 win in Supreme Court
On the 22nd of January the Supreme Court unanimously rejected appeals brought by opponents to the HS2 project and others who object to the scheme as currently envisaged:- R (on the application of Buckinghamshire County Council and others) (Appellants) v The Secretary of State for Transport (Respondent) [2014] UKSC 3 R (on the application of…Continue Reading HS2 win in Supreme Court
Welcome to Railways and Law
This is a new blog which will bring togther discussion and analysis of the impact of law on the development and operation of the railways in the UK from the Stockton and Darlington to High Speed 2. As you can see there is not much to see at the moment as the blog is under development. However,…Continue Reading Welcome to Railways and Law