Grant Shapps: ‘Absolutely no doubt’ rail passengers will return
3 years, 9 months ago

Grant Shapps: ‘Absolutely no doubt’ rail passengers will return

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Despite the continuing slump in rail passenger numbers – and a taxpayer subsidy of £1m per hour to run largely empty trains – the transport secretary says he has “absolutely no doubt” the railway will bounce back. Grant Shapps told a Policy Exchange event: “As our country prospers and our economy grows, so too will our transport system.” The latest transport usage figures from the Department for Transport show that passenger numbers remain in the low 40s as a percentage of pre-pandemic figures. But the transport secretary told The Independent his aim was to ensure “Increasingly our railways are just the way to travel: more comfortable, more on time, more reliable and a better experience all round”.

Independent Rail  passengers  absolutely  transport  independent  calders  told  doubt  travel  grant  rail  email  return  numbers  simon  shapps  sign

History of this topic

How can Britain’s railways be improved for commuters? Join The Independent Debate
2 weeks, 6 days ago

How can Britain’s railways be improved for commuters? Join The Independent Debate

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Rail fares in Britain are among the highest in Europe, and with a 4.6 per cent …

Police hunt man who caused £550k worth of train delays after climbing onto tracks
1 month ago

Police hunt man who caused £550k worth of train delays after climbing onto tracks

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Police are trying to track down a railway trespasser who caused severe train disruption and cost …

Northern’s plans to improve rail services slammed as ‘unacceptable’ and ‘vague’
4 months ago

Northern’s plans to improve rail services slammed as ‘unacceptable’ and ‘vague’

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Proposals to improve rail services in the north have been slammed by regional politicians for being …

Review into rail fare-dodging enforcement after ‘egregious’ prosecutions
4 months, 1 week ago

Review into rail fare-dodging enforcement after ‘egregious’ prosecutions

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. In her first appearance before the Transport Select Committee, Louise Haigh said: “We have seen egregious examples of fare prosecutions …

Record number of train delays caused by extreme weather revealed by Network Rail figures
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Record number of train delays caused by extreme weather revealed by Network Rail figures

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Extreme weather conditions in the UK caused record railway delays last year as floods, gales and …

Train drivers to get pay rise as union accepts ScotRail pay offer
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Train drivers to get pay rise as union accepts ScotRail pay offer

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Train drivers have voted to accept the latest pay offer from ScotRail after weeks of reduced …

Train drivers’ strike over? Now fix the real problems with the railway
7 months ago

Train drivers’ strike over? Now fix the real problems with the railway

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan was right when he told me almost a year ago that …

Train drivers talks to resume in bid to break two-year deadlock
8 months ago

Train drivers talks to resume in bid to break two-year deadlock

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Negotiators from the train drivers’ union, Aslef, are to meet the Department for Transport on Tuesday …

Train drivers to stage more strikes amid long-running pay dispute
1 year ago

Train drivers to stage more strikes amid long-running pay dispute

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. London Waterloo during Aslef’s previous strike in January 2024 Aslef have said that train drivers have not had a pay …

Trainline app problems hit rail journeys during rush hours
1 year, 3 months ago

Trainline app problems hit rail journeys during rush hours

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Rail travellers in the UK faced problems with their journeys this morning after ticketing platform Trainline …

Minister admits rail reform legislation ‘unlikely’ before general election
1 year, 4 months ago

Minister admits rail reform legislation ‘unlikely’ before general election

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Transport secretary Mark Harper said it is “unlikely” that legislation to overhaul Britain’s railways will be …

ScotRail to bring in off-peak tickets around the clock in six-month trial
1 year, 6 months ago

ScotRail to bring in off-peak tickets around the clock in six-month trial

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Peak fares are to be abolished for the winter by ScotRail, with the operator hoping to …

Rail bosses spend £10,000 a week on flights – because it’s cheaper than trains
1 year, 7 months ago

Rail bosses spend £10,000 a week on flights – because it’s cheaper than trains

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Mike Childs, from Friends of the Earth, told The Sun: …

Rail strikes could be over as RMT union ‘considers’ improved offer from train firms
1 year, 11 months ago

Rail strikes could be over as RMT union ‘considers’ improved offer from train firms

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Months of strike disruption on the railways could be approaching an end after the main rail …

Why you should buy your train tickets before 5 March
2 years, 1 month ago

Why you should buy your train tickets before 5 March

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Rail fares are set to go up on 5 March and current train tikcet prices will …

Government seeking to ‘destroy the railway’ says train drivers’ union boss
2 years, 2 months ago

Government seeking to ‘destroy the railway’ says train drivers’ union boss

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy As the latest strike by train drivers begins, the leader of their trade union, Aslef, has …

Network Rail tells travellers to avoid trains until January 9
2 years, 2 months ago

Network Rail tells travellers to avoid trains until January 9

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Network Rail has warned travellers to avoid trains until 9 January as thousands of Britons scramble …

Not a way to run a railway: the lunacy of trains in the UK
2 years, 3 months ago

Not a way to run a railway: the lunacy of trains in the UK

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Simon Calder, also known as The Man Who Pays His Way, has been writing about travel …

Train strikes December latest: Britain grinds to a standstill as rail passengers warned not to travel
2 years, 3 months ago

Train strikes December latest: Britain grinds to a standstill as rail passengers warned not to travel

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Passengers across Britain are being warned not to travel by train today unless absolutely necessary, as …

Government accused of prolonging rail workers dispute
2 years, 5 months ago

Government accused of prolonging rail workers dispute

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Our members are fully committed to the industrial action …

UK-wide train strikes announced for two dates in September
2 years, 6 months ago

UK-wide train strikes announced for two dates in September

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Over 40,000 RMT members from Network Rail and 14 train operating companies will take to picket lines, “effectively shutting down …

One million £1 train tickets available as Northern launches flash sale
2 years, 6 months ago

One million £1 train tickets available as Northern launches flash sale

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Rail operator Northern has launched a flash sale, promising a million £1 tickets for journeys across …

Tube strike: London Underground walkout announced for 19 August
2 years, 7 months ago

Tube strike: London Underground walkout announced for 19 August

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy On the eve of the fourth national rail strike this summer by members of the RMT, …

Rail strike will go ahead on Thursday as RMT accuses Grant Shapps of ‘wrecking’ negotiations
2 years, 9 months ago

Rail strike will go ahead on Thursday as RMT accuses Grant Shapps of ‘wrecking’ negotiations

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Millions of rail …

Grant Shapps must find ‘political willing’ to end rail dispute – Jenny Gilruth
2 years, 9 months ago

Grant Shapps must find ‘political willing’ to end rail dispute – Jenny Gilruth

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Grant Shapps has been urged …

Train strikes UK: What the papers say about the biggest walkout in 30 years
2 years, 9 months ago

Train strikes UK: What the papers say about the biggest walkout in 30 years

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The front pages are again dominated by Britain’s “biggest rail …

Train fans could win £10k to become ‘Chief Environment Officers’ and promote UK rail travel
2 years, 11 months ago

Train fans could win £10k to become ‘Chief Environment Officers’ and promote UK rail travel

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Coinciding with Earth Day, the UK’s rail industry has launched a search for three ‘chief environment …

Grant Shapps promises to ‘set Britons free’ with easing of travel rules
3 years, 1 month ago

Grant Shapps promises to ‘set Britons free’ with easing of travel rules

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The transport secretary has made a bold claim about eased travel rules, promising “normality not witnessed …

‘An act of political spinelessness’: industry reacts to government’s rail plans
3 years, 4 months ago

‘An act of political spinelessness’: industry reacts to government’s rail plans

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Nigel Harris, managing editor of Rail magazine, told The Independent: “It’s dishonest, it won’t do what is claimed and will …

98% of pilots do not have faith in Grant Shapps’ support for travel and aviation sector
3 years, 6 months ago

98% of pilots do not have faith in Grant Shapps’ support for travel and aviation sector

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A new survey published by the British Airline Pilots Association reveals that 98 per cent of …

Simon Calder’s ‘Ask me Anything’: the Independent’s Travel Correspondent will answer your questions live
3 years, 9 months ago

Simon Calder’s ‘Ask me Anything’: the Independent’s Travel Correspondent will answer your questions live

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. It set back hopes that the international travel industry, which tentatively restarted just three weeks ago, would be able to …

‘Government’s plan: to stop people being able to travel,’ says top Tory
3 years, 11 months ago

‘Government’s plan: to stop people being able to travel,’ says top Tory

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Living on thin air for over a year,” was how Mark Tanzer, chief executive of Abta, the travel association, described …

Weekend rail closures could disappear this summer
4 years ago

Weekend rail closures could disappear this summer

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Sir Peter Hendy, chairman of Network Rail, told the National Rail Recovery Conference 2021 that the coronavirus pandemic will transform …

Great Western Railway Christmas trains likely to be cancelled after coronavirus outbreak
4 years, 3 months ago

Great Western Railway Christmas trains likely to be cancelled after coronavirus outbreak

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The government’s Christmas transport adviser, Sir Peter Hendy, told the Commons transport committee that customers looking to book trains to …

Rail passengers over Christmas should ‘look at alternatives,’ says transport secretary
4 years, 3 months ago

Rail passengers over Christmas should ‘look at alternatives,’ says transport secretary

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy After The Independent revealed the pressure that the so-called “Christmas Ease” lifting of lockdown will place …

How the government will squander £50m on empty trains this weekend
4 years, 4 months ago

How the government will squander £50m on empty trains this weekend

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. As you may not know, the government is paying Avanti West Coast to run 150 trains connecting Manchester Piccadilly and …

‘This is fraud’: fury at government decision not to extend railcard validity
4 years, 5 months ago

‘This is fraud’: fury at government decision not to extend railcard validity

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A leading rail expert has described the government’s decision not to compensate railcard holders for the …

Record number of trains arrive on time during coronavirus pandemic
4 years, 6 months ago

Record number of trains arrive on time during coronavirus pandemic

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Some 86.4 per cent of stops were made within a minute of their scheduled arrival time between April and June, …

Rail services restore 90 per cent of services as schools and office workers return
4 years, 6 months ago

Rail services restore 90 per cent of services as schools and office workers return

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Rail Delivery Group CEO Jacqueline Starr says operators “want people to feel confident taking the train.” She said: "Rail companies …

As the ghost trains rumble on, it’s time to bring the railways back to life
4 years, 8 months ago

As the ghost trains rumble on, it’s time to bring the railways back to life

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Can you travel another way,” barks a massive billboard at what is normally Europe’s busiest rail station, London Waterloo. The …

Coronavirus: Hull Trains becomes the first UK rail operator to suspend all services
4 years, 11 months ago

Coronavirus: Hull Trains becomes the first UK rail operator to suspend all services

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Hull Trains has become the first UK rail operator to suspend all services amid the coronavirus …

Coronavirus: UK rail franchising system suspended and ‘may never return to present form’
4 years, 11 months ago

Coronavirus: UK rail franchising system suspended and ‘may never return to present form’

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The rail franchising system has been suspended because of the coronavirus crisis – and may never …

London Waterloo delays: Rush-hour disruption caused by train arriving early
5 years, 9 months ago

London Waterloo delays: Rush-hour disruption caused by train arriving early

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Commuters at Britain’s busiest railway station faced rush-hour disruption caused by a train arriving early. The …

Virgin Trains promises UK's 'most advanced' railway service between London and Liverpool
5 years, 9 months ago

Virgin Trains promises UK's 'most advanced' railway service between London and Liverpool

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The DfT said: “They submitted non-compliant bids.” A compliant bid involved assuming some liability for staff pensions, something Virgin Trains …

Train travel 'much more' popular when passengers can book though their smartphone
6 years, 4 months ago

Train travel 'much more' popular when passengers can book though their smartphone

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A leading railway industry figure has claimed that the ability to buy tickets on a mobile …

Labour conference: Politicians and media stranded in Liverpool as west coast main line trains stop running
6 years, 5 months ago

Labour conference: Politicians and media stranded in Liverpool as west coast main line trains stop running

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Politicians and members of the media face a long and difficult journey from the Labour Party …

UK railways: Theresa May 'considering major review of future of network' as anger at disruption grows
6 years, 6 months ago

UK railways: Theresa May 'considering major review of future of network' as anger at disruption grows

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Theresa May is considering commissioning a major review of the …

Govia Thameslink and Northern Rail abandon timetable changes following travel chaos
6 years, 8 months ago

Govia Thameslink and Northern Rail abandon timetable changes following travel chaos

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Rail timetable changes proposed for December are to be discarded in an effort to avoid a …

Rail chaos for commuters on first working day of huge train timetable changes
6 years, 10 months ago

Rail chaos for commuters on first working day of huge train timetable changes

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The key change is that trains from across the southeast will be funnelled through a central core between London Blackfriars …

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