AI booking tool shows that travel demand from disabled passengers is higher than thought
UK: Software developer Transreport says that the market for travel by disabled and older people is higher than had previously been thought, as until now data has reflected ease of access to the booking system rather than the underlying demand.
East Midlands Railway expands Secret Fare discounts
UK: East Midlands Railway has expanded the Secret Fare scheme operated in partnership with Seatfrog, which offers savings of up to 50% in exchange for being flexible with departure times.
ScotRail confirms Class 222 leasing deal to enable withdrawal of HSTs
UK: ScotRail has confirmed a deal to lease 22 five-car Bombardier Transportation Class 222 inter-city DMUs from Beacon to enable the replacement of its ageing High Speed Train fleet.
Light at the end of the tunnel in HS2’s Euston saga
UK: The launch of a second TBM to drive from Old Oak Common towards Euston offers renewed hope that High Speed 2 will eventually reach its long-planned London terminus. Chris Howe reports.
Trenitalia secures depot site to house French and cross-Channel Frecciarossa fleets
EUROPE: Trenitalia has reached an agreement for a depot in Paris which would be the base for trainsets used on routes in France and for planned services through the Channel Tunnel to London.
Railcard validation to be trialled
UK: A scheme to check that Railcards are being used properly is to be trialled this year, the Department for Transport has announced.
Consolidated Delay Repay service to include third-party rail ticket retailers
UK: Passengers will in future be able to claim compensation for late trains directly through the third-party retailers who sold their ticket, the Department for Transport has confirmed.
Satellites help provide high-level estimates to lower railway electrification costs
UK: Electrification technology specialist Furrer+Frey has developed the Lineform.AI tool which uses data from an array of datasets as well as Airbus satellites to produce options for electrification with high-level cost estimates as well as embodied carbon data.
Keele University to provide CIRO’s Railway Operations Management programme
UK: Keele University is to develop and deliver the Chartered Institution of Railway Operators' Railway Operations Management programme, which includes the Certificate, Diploma and BSc in Railway Operations Management.
