On 29 June, the Board of the Association of Train Operating Companies announced that it has accepted the resignation of its Chairman, Mike Alexander.
Mr Alexander, who joined the Association in March 2008, has led the re-structuring of ATOC over the last year and has helped Michael Roberts, the Chief Executive, become established in his [...]

Our highways are clogged with traffic. Our airports are choked with increased loads.  We are at the mercy of fluctuating oil prices.  We pump too many greenhouse gases into the air. What we need is a smart transportation system equal to the needs of the 21st century. A system that reduces travel times and increases [...]

The  three Blackfriars terminating platforms (at right) are out of commission as part of the Thameslink rebuilding project. Here new First Capital Connect-liveried Class 377/5 Electrostar No 377502 departs from the southbound through platform on 26 June2009, forming the  11.40 Thameslink service from Bedford to Brighton. By  the end of June Bombardier had delivered eight [...]

The £5.5bn congestion-busting Thameslink upgrade is to get a new programme director. Network Rail announced on 10 June that it was promoting Jim Crawford to take over from Andy Mitchell, who is to take a similar role on the Crossrail project.
Mr Crawford is currently the programme director for the £3.5billionn signalling, power and communications national [...]

Network Rail’s chief executive, Iain Coucher,  announced on 14 May that he would be forgoing any annual bonus this year.
Mr Coucher has informed the company’s remuneration committee that he has taken a personal decision to withdraw from the annual bonus scheme for the year, 2008/9. The incentive scheme focuses achievement on delivering a safe, [...]

On 9 June, the Department for Transport announced that the South Central rail franchise had been awarded to Southern Railways Ltd, a subsidiary of Govia Ltd – the current franchise operator.
The new franchise, which starts on 20 September this year, requires the new operator to introduce longer suburban trains at peak times and more trains [...]

In a further retrenchment measure in the face of adverse economic circumstances, Stagecoach is shutting the press office of its South West Trains subsidiary. Long standing SWT press officer Jane Lee leaves her post at the end of April, after which SWT press relations will be handled by either Stagecoach head office in Perth or [...]