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Green Signals
Green Signals episodes
- 160. What’s going on with Bradford’s ‘new’ station?
Is the news that Bradford Interchange will be the site of a new city station “absolutely massive” as Mayor Tracy Brabin claims – or no announcement at all?
The clock is ticking to make a decision on a new test track facility in South Wales. Is time running out? And…
We hear about how a software solution is helping people make more accessible journeys.
** Order books from Transport Treasury Publishing here: https://ttpublishing.co.uk/
** Order Traintrackr LED map boards here: https://www.traintrackr.co.uk/
Use code GS12 to receive an exclusive 12% discount on your Traintrackr order
In this episode:
(00:00) Intro
(00:43) Bradford’s new railway station
(11:55) GCRE interview
(29:51) Railway News round-up
(29:53) Storm Boelo
(31:07) ORR Passenger Rail Usage data
(33:08) New role for LNER MD David Horne
(33:42) Dudley tram line setback
(35:49) SELRAP petition
(37:20) Irlam station wins award
(38:55) Northumberland Line passenger numbers
(41:15) Transreport interview
(52:30) Heritage News round-up
(52:33) Bewdley SVR trial complete
(53:08) WCR uses Mk 1s with CDL
(54:35) Vale of Berkeley Railway festive trains
(55:24) The Quiz
(59:56) Keadby Canal Signalman retires
Credits: Thumbnail image - West Yorkshire Combined Authority
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Follow: X (Twitter) -https://twitter.com/greensignallers
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Supporters:
Platinum Supporter - Siemens Mobility
Important notes:
You can view our legal disclaimer, copyright information and privacy policy here - https://www.greensignals.org/legal/
1 hr 2 min - We visit a massive German Train Factory – Alstom’s Hennigsdorf facility near Berlin
On a recent trip to Berlin to attend the InnoTrans 2026 railway trade show, we had the opportunity to tour Alstom’s massive Hennigsdorf facility to the north west of Berlin.
Whilst there, we saw the Avelia Stream Nordic EMU and new S Bahn stock for Hamburg and Munich, with the Munich stock being equipped for remote operation. We travelled on it whilst it was being driven from InnoTrans over 20km away!
And to travel to and from the factory, we had our very own Coradia Continental Battery Electric Multiple Unit.
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Supporters:
Platinum Supporter - Siemens Mobility
Important notes:
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16 min - Siemens Mobility – The company building London’s new Tube Trains! [Sponsored Content]
Siemens Mobility is one of the world’s leading providers of rail systems bringing together rolling stock, rail infrastructure, rail services, and software solutions.
In the UK, 3 manufacturing facilities and over 30 sites employ more than 5,500 people who amongst other things design, deliver and maintain digital signalling and electrification systems for the East Coast Main Line and TransPennine routes, digital signalling and information systems for the Elizabeth line, digital main line trains for Thameslink and brand new tube trains for London’s Piccadilly line.
Siemens Mobility UK & Ireland is led by Joint CEOs Aglaja Schneider and Rob Morris. I met up with them at Innotrans 2026 in Berlin, on board one of the stars of the show, a 2024 Piccadilly Line Tube Train to find out more about their current projects, their views on the state of the rail sector and most importantly perhaps, the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead as Britain’s railway undergoes its biggest change in a generation.
This is sponsored content.
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Follow: X (Twitter) -https://twitter.com/greensignallers
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Supporters:
Platinum Supporter - Siemens Mobility
Important notes:
You can view our legal disclaimer, copyright information and privacy policy here - https://www.greensignals.org/legal/
28 min - 159. GBR’s New HQ in Derby… and New Chairman are announced
Sir John Kingman is the new Chair of GBR
GBR’s new HQ in Derby is announced. Are things finallyhappening?
And we hear from Dr Julia Buckley, MP for Shrewsbury aboutwhat she thinks of the ORR’s decision to reject an open access application
**Enter the Traingift giveaway to be in with a chance ofwinning one of two £50 Traingift vouchers: https://www.traingift.com/en/greensignals/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=referral
In this episode:
(00:00) Intro
(01:30) Sir John Kingman is new GBR Chair
(09:30) GBR’s New HQ
(13:04) Dr Julia Buckley interview
(35:06) Railway News round-up
(35:10) Alstom agreement for Class 720s
(35:44) East Midlands Railways told to improve
(38:51) Transport & Environment international servicespoll
(40:08) CAF Class 197s on the Cambrian
(41:04) Railway Mission Chaplain dies
(42:01) SWR catering survey
(43:57) ScotRail Adopt a Station
(44:56) Newport bridge bash
(47:00) Green Signals news
(51:12) Heritage News round-up
(51:16) Bala £850k grant
(52:41) West Somerset Railway chairman dies
(53:56) The Quiz
(01:00:35) Steam train delights young footballers
Credits:
Thumbnail image - Department for Transport
Membership: If you want to see even more from Green Signals, including exclusive content, become a member and support the channel further too.
YouTube -https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals/join
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Green Signals:
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Merchandise - http://greensignals.etsy.com
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Follow: X (Twitter) -https://twitter.com/greensignallers
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Supporters:
Platinum Supporter - Siemens Mobility
Important notes:
You can view our legal disclaimer, copyright information and privacy policy here - https://www.greensignals.org/legal/
1 hr 3 min - 158. Is Open Access finished? ORR rejects ALL applications for new West Coast Main Line services
Is Open Access finished? We ask the question as ORR rejects ALL applications for new West Coast Main Line services
Is London-style ticketing the answer everywhere, or has technology moved on?
And Richard divides opinion on rolling stock financing. Again.
In this episode:
(00:00) Intro
(00:35) Is Open Access finished?
(14:56) Is London-style ticketing the answer everywhere?
(31:36) Rolling stock financing
(40:19) Railway News round-up
(40:22) Virgin new trains image
(42:31) CrossCountry extra Voyagers
(43:22) Class 350/2s to be refurbished for Northern
(44:18) Retail Code of Practice for ticketing
(45:16) 400k Cambridge South passengers
(46:19) Grand Central withdraws Grimsby plans
(47:17) Hereford Transport Hub nears completion
(48:21) Thanks to Supporters
(49:34) The Railway Ball
(51:37) Heritage News round-up
(51:40) RAIB report on Bluebell Railway incident
(54:18) Severn Valley Raise the Roof update
(55:40) Wensleydale Pacer unveiled in Northern Spirit
(56:14) The Quiz
(59:19) Lumo’s new beer ‘Brewmo’
Credits:
Thumbnail image - Lumo
Membership: If you want to see even more from Green Signals, including exclusive content, become a member and support the channel further too.
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Important notes:
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1 hr 3 min - “Rock deals in Hope” – Exclusive interview with Rock Group Founder, Mark Swindell
Few issues polarise opinion quite so much in the rail industry (and amongst those who follow what goes on in the industry) as the pros and cons of rolling stock leasing.
One of the challenges is to understand exactly what people mean by rolling stock leasing though, because the model has changed so much in the 30 or so years since the practice burst on the scene as part of rail privatisation.
One of the relatively new entrants in the market is Rock Rail, founded in 2014 and part of the Rock Group founded and led by Mark Swindell. They see themselves very much as a disruptor – and they’ve been successful too, winning major orders such as SWR’s Class 701 Arterio’s, much of the highly successful Greater Anglia fleet and most recently, the high-profile order from TransPennine Express for their new fleet of Alstom Adessia Stream Battery Electric Multiple Units.
Green Signals had the chance to sit down with Mark Swindell recently to ask for his views on GBR’s Rolling Stock and Infrastructure strategy, the speech by Heidi Alexander at the recent Labour Party conference, and his general outlook for the future.
It’s fair to say that what he said may well come as a surprise to many…….
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Important notes:
You can view our legal disclaimer, copyright information and privacy policy here - https://www.greensignals.org/legal/
51 min - Trains to Europe: Are lower fares and more trains coming?
For thirty years, High Speed services between London, Paris and Brussels have been in the hands of single operator – Eurostar. Things may be about to change. On 13th August 2026, the ORR announced the pre-approval of Virgin Train’s Track Access Agreement for High Speed 1. Other operators are keen to join them.
Not before time some would say. The rest of Europe is liberalising access to its high-speed network at an accelerating pace and the benefits have been dramatic. In Spain, prices between Madrid and Barcelona have fallen 44%. Between Madrid and Malaga, 52%. Across available routes, 85% of travellers now choose train over plane on corridors where both air and rail are viable. It’s a similar story in Italy and France.
Trainline, Europe’s leading independent train and coachticket booking platform recently commissioned a report to look at the benefits of increased competition on high speed rail routes and to put some figures on the outcomes. And on Thursday 16th September 2026, their report entitled “Competition Delivers: What Europe’s high-speed lines reveal about the future of the Channel route” was published.
To mark the occasion, a special event was held at London St Pancras station hosted jointly by Trainline and London St. Pancras High Speed.
Read the report here.
Credits:
Thumbnail image - Virgin
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1 hr 3 min - 157. Are trains now to be owned by the Government? New Rolling Stock Strategy suggests they might
Are trains now going to be owned by the Government? The new Rolling Stock and Infrastructure Strategy suggests they might…
Discontinuous electrification – a cost-effective answer to wires? Or short-term gain for long term pain?
And RAIB releases their interim report into June’s fatal collision at Elstow.
In this episode:
(00:00) Intro
(00:34) Rolling Stock and Infrastructure Strategy
(19:34) Discontinuous electrification
(30:32) Elstow collision interim report
(38:17) Railway News round-up
(38:20) RMT votes for strike action over EWR
(40:08) ASLEF rejects CrossCountry pay offer
(42:23) New ORR CEO
(43:09) TfW Class 398 Tram Train problems
(44:37) Level boarding for Elizabeth Line
(45:50) West Yorkshire mass transit taskforce
(47:25) Did bedbugs infest Southeastern trains?
(50:11) Thanks to supporters
(51:14) Heritage News round-up
(51:18) Heritage Rail 75th anniversary train
(52:40) Gartell Light Railway to close
(53:42) Wycrail model railway exhibition returns
(54:31) Class 91 guided tours
(55:43) King Edward I on the mainline
(56:28) The Quiz
(01:00:31) Ten Best railway stations pubs
Credits:
Thumbnail image - Department for Transport
Membership: If you want to see even more from Green Signals, including exclusive content, become a member and support the channel further too.
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Important notes:
You can view our legal disclaimer, copyright information and privacy policy here - https://www.greensignals.org/legal/
1 hr 4 min - Vale of Rheidol – The Little Line in the Hills. With Tim Dunn
The Vale of Rheidol railway that runs between Aberystwyth and Devil’s Bridge in Mid Wales is unique. It survived the end of British Rail steam in 1968 and was only sold to a private Trust in 1989. It has been run ever since as a profitable, commercial railway with no volunteers, just paid staff. For those who work here, this is their job. Their livelihood. Yet this is no Disney attraction. This is a proper railway, showcasing the best possible mix of sensitive and accurate heritage and preservation with cutting edge commercial acumen and income generation.
I spent 2 days on the railway in August 2026. Together with railway historian, TV personality and now Head of Collection Development at the Vale of Rheidol, Tim Dunn, we explored the famous Collection X of Peter Rampton, the museum and the workshops. I met with Llŷr Ap Iolo, CEO of the railway and travelled the entirety of the line.
It may be a little different, but it’s a wonderful railway. Truly one of the Great Little Railways of Wales.
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Important notes:
You can view our legal disclaimer, copyright information and privacy policy here - https://www.greensignals.org/legal/
36 min - Reopening the branch line to Portishead. We get to see the work underway!
The Portishead branch closed to passenger services in 1964. The campaign to reopen it began almost immediately.
Over the intervening years, there have many false dawns but finally, after decades of lobbying, the dream is about to become reality.
Work is now well underway to reopen the railway and in September 2026, Green Signals was invited for a special visit to see the works underway first hand at Pill station, Portbury Junction and on the disused branch to Portishead itself.
Membership: If you want to see even more from Green Signals, including exclusive content, become a member and support the channel further too.
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Green Signals:
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Important notes:
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15 min
About Green Signals
From the publisher's feed
Green Signals is a show about railways - its politics, its economics, its people and history. We turn over the issues of the day and talk to the people making the decisions that affect all our lives.…
We also dig into many of the amazing events in the history of an industry that spans nearly 200 years. Nigel Harris (former Managing Editor and Events Director of the leading industry and opinion forming magazine RAIL) and Richard Bowker (former Chair & CEO of the Strategic Rail Authority) steer the show to make it sometimes controversial, frequently irreverent - but always topical and relevant.
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