Transport for Wales has opened consultation on Swansea Bay Metro proposals, including a possible new Cockett station, a reopened platform at Swansea, and more frequent services between Swansea, Pembrey & Burry Port, and possibly Ammanford via Neath. Comments are open until 13 December 2026.
Transport for Wales has proposed a Swansea Bay and West Wales Metro with new stations, extra services, a new platform at Swansea, track links and signalling-related enabling works. Phase A and Phase B plans are open for public feedback until 13 December 2026, with funding still to be secured.
UIC reported that GCU Joint Committee members and rail freight experts met in Mainz on 29 October 2026 for a workshop on the future of the GCU, focusing on contract application, governance, organisation and digitalisation. The work will continue into concrete next steps.
Garw Valley Railway in Wales will host a Santa’s Grotto on 5 December, with tickets at £5 per child. Families can meet Santa, receive gifts and refreshments, and see Christmas displays, a miniature train and shed tours.
GWR and Transport for Wales will run extra trains and reservation-only services to Cardiff Central for Wales’ Autumn Rugby Internationals on 7, 14 and 21 November, with queueing and revenue checks in place due to expected crowding.
The Vale of Rheidol Railway has completed its acquisition of the Brecon Mountain Railway in Wales. The two heritage narrow-gauge railways will keep their separate identities and locomotive fleets, while sharing engineering knowledge, maintenance, restoration work and facilities at Aberystwyth.
Llangollen and Corwen Railway is seeking volunteers from North Wales for customer-facing roles during its Christmas Santa Special services. The appeal covers roles such as stewards, greeters, Welsh-speaking volunteers and Santa’s elves, with festive operations starting on 28 November 2026.
Avanti West Coast has released tickets through the new year and is advising customers to book Christmas travel early for the best fares. Peak restrictions will be lifted from 18 December to 3 January. Planned engineering work on the West Coast Main Line includes a five-day closure of Birmingham New Street.
A signalling fault caused by a power issue is disrupting trains on the West of England main line between London Waterloo, Salisbury, Yeovil Junction and Exeter St Davids. Engineers are replacing a cable, with delays, cancellations, diversions and rail replacement buses expected until about 3 pm.
Ground movement near Bentley on the South Western Railway line will require urgent embankment strengthening work from 6 to 8 November, with buses replacing trains between Farnham and Alton and speed restrictions in place before the work starts.
Parsons, with Systra and Egis in the RMTC joint venture, has been awarded project and construction management services for the Riyadh Metro Red Line Extension in Saudi Arabia. The 8.4-km extension will add five stations and connect King Saud University to Diriyah South.
An incident between Crewe and Stafford blocked the line, disrupting trains with cancellations, diversions and delays of 60 minutes or more until about 3pm on 3 November 2026. Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, London Northwestern Railway and Lumo services were affected.
Network Rail has appointed Hawkins\Brown, working with 5th Studio, to lead a masterplan for Oxford station. The plan will assess new entrances, improved onward travel links and capacity upgrades as passenger numbers rise, driven partly by East West Rail and other service increases.
The Polar Express train ride will return to South Devon Railway from 27 November to 23 December, with themed journeys, characters, entertainment, and visits to Father Christmas. Tickets are expected to sell quickly.
Chiltern Railways said it will run over 90% of services on 12 November despite RMT industrial action, with some Birmingham, Stratford-upon-Avon and Leamington Spa services reduced or suspended. The operator also said all East West Rail services will have two staff on board.
Opinion piece argues that ECRL’s high cost, loan burden and limited ridership or cargo capacity make its financial return doubtful, and says its value should be judged by wider economic spillovers rather than operating profits.
Southeastern held its annual Remembrance Service in Dover on 4 November, with veterans, cadets and railway colleagues attending. The operator also reminded veterans, serving personnel and bereaved family members that they can travel to Remembrance services for free.
TRC Synergy said its subsidiary has a 30% interest in a joint venture awarded the RM2.69 billion Penang LRT CMC2 package. The five-year contract covers design and construction of a 5.5km sea-crossing viaduct, a navigation span, an elevated station and related works for the Mutiara Line.
Network Rail will renew more than 4 km of track and carry out maintenance and bridge works on Scotland’s West Highland Line between Helensburgh, Fort William and Mallaig from 6 to 17 November. The work will disrupt services, with replacement buses provided on affected sections.
Track work and tamping at Mossley Hill will affect most train services at Liverpool Lime Street on Sunday, 8 November. Avanti West Coast will divert via Earlestown, while several other operators will terminate short or run amended services. Merseyrail services are unaffected.
British Transport Police released an image and appealed for information after a fight involving three people and weapons at Worthing station in West Sussex on 11 October 2026. Two men, aged 18 and 22, have been arrested and charged.
HS2 reached a tunnel breakthrough at Old Oak Common station, linking the station box to the 8.8-mile West Ruislip tunnel portal. The 360-metre tunnel, excavated with miners rather than TBMs, used sprayed concrete and cast-in-situ lining. HS2 says other major route works are also progressing ahead of plan.
Ports & Rail Week 2026 will be held on 24-25 November 2026 in Durban, South Africa. The event will focus on port and rail infrastructure, intermodal connectivity, green transport, digitalization, AI, automation, PPPs, and safety in African transport corridors.
Batley station in West Yorkshire has been upgraded with a new footbridge and lifts, replacing the subway to provide step-free access as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade. Further works, including waiting shelters and car park reopening, will continue into spring 2027.
SYSTRA, as part of the RMTC joint venture led by Parsons, has been awarded PMCM consultancy for the Riyadh Metro Red Line extension in Saudi Arabia. The project will add 5.4 km, eight stations, mostly underground tunnels, and connect Diriyah to the wider network.