An aggregates business that has assembled one of the UK's largest private fleets of Class 60 locomotives is expected to take a significant step towards operating its own rail services by acquiring Europhoenix Rail's train operating company (TOC) licence. Industry sources indicate that DBI Holdings (DBIH) is set to purchase the operational side of Europhoenix Rail (EPR), allowing the company to move from relying on third-party freight operators to running trains under its own

Network Rail and LNER have set out a shared programme of more than 60 initiatives aimed at improving punctuality, reducing delays and delivering more reliable journeys for passengers on the East Coast Main Line. Developed through the East Coast Partnership, the plan brings together infrastructure improvements, operational changes and train performance initiatives under a single coordinated strategy, reflecting the rail industry's move towards greater integration ahead of the

The UK construction sector could be losing as much as £3.8 billion every year because inconsistent and fragmented product information continues to hamper project delivery, according to new research from GS1 UK and Barbour ABI. The report argues that poor-quality product data is creating unnecessary costs across the construction supply chain by increasing delays, rework and administrative effort, while also making it harder for organisations to comply with the requirements of

Capgemini UK has secured a contract worth up to £47.2 million to help National Highways strengthen its IT and operational technology service management capabilities over the next five years. The agreement, initially valued at £35.9 million, commenced in July 2026 and will run until June 2031, with the potential for the overall value to increase during its lifetime. The contract was awarded through an existing public sector procurement framework. Driving service management tra

Oxfordshire County Council has become the first local authority in England to introduce a dual-fuel hydrogen highways maintenance vehicle, marking a significant milestone in the drive to decarbonise road maintenance operations. The new 3.5-tonne maintenance truck, which operates using a combination of hydrogen and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), has entered service with M Group, the council's principal highways contractor, as part of a trial aimed at reducing emissions from

Previously unpublished government documents have revealed that the Government's independent disability advisory body recommended a halt to the installation of new floating bus stops, warning that current designs present safety and accessibility concerns for disabled pedestrians. The documents, released under the Freedom of Information Act, show that the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) repeatedly advised ministers to suspend further installations until ad

Marlborough Highways has been awarded a £150 million highways maintenance contract by West Berkshire Council, securing responsibility for maintaining and improving the authority's road network over the next seven years. The new Highways Term Maintenance Contract will begin on 1 October 2026, with an initial duration of seven years and the option to extend the agreement for a further three years. Under the contract, Marlborough Highways will deliver a comprehensive programme o

Construction and infrastructure contractor Graham has announced a leadership transition after reporting its strongest financial results to date, with annual turnover exceeding £1.2 billion for the first time in the company's history. The privately owned business has appointed Courtney McCormick as its new Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Andrew Bill, who is retiring after more than four decades with the company. McCormick, who has served as Group Chief Financial Officer fo

HS2 has reached a significant construction milestone with the installation of the final precast concrete segment at the Chipping Warden Green Tunnel in Northamptonshire, marking the completion of a key structural phase after earlier engineering challenges delayed the project. The final section is the last of 5,020 reinforced concrete segments that make up the cut-and-cover tunnel, which has been designed to reduce the visual and environmental impact of the high-speed railway

M Group has been appointed to two major infrastructure frameworks at London Gatwick Airport, strengthening a relationship that spans more than 40 years and positioning the business to help deliver a programme of airport improvements over the next five years. The company has secured places on both the airport's Buildings Framework and Civils Framework, which will support the delivery of a broad range of construction, maintenance and infrastructure projects across the airport e

An artificial intelligence-powered railway inspection system used by LNER briefly mistook a snake crossing the tracks for a potential rail defect, providing an unusual example of the technology's cautious approach to identifying infrastructure issues. The incident came to light after LNER Communications Director Stuart Thomas shared an image captured by the Automated Intelligent Video Review (AIVR) system, which had flagged what it believed to be a defect on the railway. Inst

Traffic is beginning to return to a key cross-county route after a new £19.6 million bridge over the River Soar opened on the A6006, replacing a structure that had served the area for more than 90 years. The new 83-metre Zouch Bridge has been built alongside the ageing 1930s crossing, providing a modern connection between Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire that is designed to meet future transport demands while improving resilience on one of the area's principal routes. Altho

Network Rail has been recognised as one of England's leading apprenticeship employers after rising to fourth place in the Department for Education's Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2026 rankings. The infrastructure operator climbed 18 places from 22nd position in 2025, reflecting continued investment in training and workforce development as the rail sector looks to address future skills shortages. Compiled annually by the Department for Education, the rankings recognise orga

East West Rail (EWR) is facing renewed criticism over its preferred southern route into Cambridge, with objections from the University of Cambridge, local campaign groups and residents adding to calls for greater transparency ahead of the project's next major planning milestone. The organisation is preparing to submit a Development Consent Order (DCO) application in 2027 for the section between Cambourne and Hauxton Junction, following the conclusion of its fourth public cons

The legislation to create Great British Railways (GBR) is progressing through Parliament, yet many of the reforms that will ultimately determine whether the new railway succeeds remain undecided. While nationalisation has already delivered some tangible benefits for passengers, the structure, powers and commercial model of Britain's future rail operator are still evolving. One of the less-publicised consequences of bringing rail operations under greater government control has

Open access rail operator Lumo has operated what it says is the UK's highest-capacity domestic intercity passenger train, carrying more than 1,540 customers on a record-breaking return service between Edinburgh and London while showcasing the environmental benefits of rail travel. The special 10-car service, which ran on 4 July, accommodated 772 passengers in each direction between Edinburgh Waverley and London King's Cross, with the train also serving Newcastle along the Eas