Green Signals

By Green Signals ProductionsNews News Commentary

Green Signals episodes

May 02, 2024 31. Top 5 Rail 'Nationalisation' Myths Busted!
Our Top 5 myths of rail ‘nationalisation’ based on the reaction to Labour’s plans for the railway if it wins the next General Election. We discuss what’s been said in the media and by others and debunk some of the myths that are starting to take root as a result.

Rail Minister Huw Merriman was our most recent Big Interview guest we reflect on what he said and whether we agreed with him on everything from HS2, to train strikes, rail freight, decarbonisation, rolling stock and more.

And Richard gets excited about a very special train that’s going to be running in June for the Railway Benefit Fund.
Green Signals:
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Credits:
Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)
59 min
April 30, 2024 The Big Interview - Rail Minister Huw Merriman: We ask him the questions you are all asking!
We meet Rail Minister Huw Merriman in his private office at the Department for Transport to ask as many of the big questions people have about our railways as we could.
We cover:
HS2 - the decision to cancel the line to Manchester, the facts about the project's rising costs, and whether Network North is a genuine alternative.
Train strikes - we ask "surely it's time that everybody started talking to each other?"
Fares and train tickets
Rail Reform and the creation of Great British Railways - will anything really happen before the next General Election?
And... Rail freight, new trains and decarbonisation
These are the rail issues everyone is talking about - and in this interview, we tackle them all. Head on.
Green Signals:
Website - http://www.greensignals.org
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Credits:
Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)
1 hr 8 min
April 26, 2024 30. TRAINS vs PLANES – which is cheaper, greener & faster?
Trains vs planes – why taking the train can be up to 80%
cheaper than flying and 17 times greener, according to new research published by the Rail Delivery Group. We examine the findings in detail… and discover some surprising facts along the way.

Rail ‘fat cats’ earn big bonuses, while passengers face
worse performance… but is that really true? According to the Daily Mirror it is, but we don’t agree.

We have a bit of an update on the Jacobite steam train and its return to service, but many questions still remain unanswered.

Is the heritage railway sector in crisis? We discuss our
recent experience having fun with steam trains on the fantastic Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway’s ‘Snowdonian’ and some of the conversations we had about the fate of the heritage railway sector more widely.
And… it’s Railway Family Week and you can get involved!
Green Signals:
Website - http://www.greensignals.org
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Credits:
Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)
45 min
April 25, 2024 Labour’s Plan to Fix Britain’s Railways – key points & first impressions
Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has announced Labour’s Plan to Fix Britain’s Railways (Getting Britain Moving) – Richard and Nigel give their first impressions of the plan and pull out the key points in this special Breaking News Special episode.
We answer:
Will it work?
Is it ‘unfunded and pointless’, as suggested by the Government?
What could it mean for rail fares and ticketing?
What could it mean for rail freight?
Green Signals:
Website - http://www.greensignals.org
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals
Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list
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Credits:
Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)
31 min
April 23, 2024 The Big Interview – The Inside Story: Government and Railways – Sir Philip Rutnam
The inner workings of the Department for Transport and Government finances are revealed in this fascinating interview with former Permanent Secretary of both the Department for Transport and the Home Office, Sir Philip
Rutnam.
Having spent his career as a senior civil servant,
including in roles within the Treasury, there is no one better to tell the inside story of the Government’s relationship with railways.
Green Signals:
Website - http://www.greensignals.org
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Credits:
Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)
1 hr 6 min
April 18, 2024 29. Time for British Rail 2.0? & Jacobite steam train fails
The Jacobite steam train fails on its first run of the season from Fort William to Mallaig, stopping near Glenfinnan viaduct… and it had Mk 1 carriages on the train.
Alstom Derby and the Government are on the verge of doing a deal over a train order for the Elizabeth line – an order that could save the UK train manufacturing facility.
Is the East Coast Main Line timetable change heading towards a repeat of the 2018 Thameslink and Northern timetable fiascos?...
Leading Richard to ask whether the answer to this and the other challenges facing the industry is a British Rail 2.0. He then shares his own six-point plan for his version of British Rail 2.0.
The Railway Industry Association (RIA)) launches a plan to deliver a lower cost, higher performing net zero railway by 2050.
And Northern Rail uses classical music to curb anti-social behaviour. Yes, really!
Green Signals:
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Credits:
Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)
58 min
April 12, 2024 28. Jacobite steam train stand-off & last chance to save Alstom Derby
The latest updates on both the Jacobite steam train stand-off with ORR and the campaign to save Alstom Derby’s UK train manufacturing facility.
We’re not beyond the point of no return to save Alstom’s Derby Litchurch Lane train building facility but government MUST act now or we will lose it. We analyse our exclusive interview with Alstom Managing Director of UK and Ireland Nick Crossfield, which you can also watch here: https://youtu.be/aRLaioz1ZB8
The Jacobite Steam Train dispute between West Coast Railway Company and the rail regulator ORR heats up yet again as the operator gets MPs involved. Meanwhile affected tourist businesses criticise WCRC for not complying.
But, there’s good news on the Hope Valley Line as upgrades to Dore & Totley station are completed.
Green Signals:
Website - http://www.greensignals.org
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals
Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list
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Credits:
Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)
57 min
April 09, 2024 The Big Interview - Alstom Derby one minute to midnight - MD Nick Crossfield
Nick Crossfield, Managing Director of Alstom's UK and Ireland business discusses the background to the desperate situation at the Alstom Derby UK manufacturing train building factory, where closure through lack of orders is a real possibility. It would have devastating consequences for the men and women who work there and on the UK's credibility in global rail vehicle manufacturing.
We discuss how in December last year, Secretary of State Mark Harper committed that a package which included around 90 additional Aventra carriages that could be used to provide much needed extra capacity on London's booming Elizabeth line would be signed, sealed and delivered by the end of January 2024. But that deadline came and went.
We also hear how if the UK government makes the decision to order those extra carriages, Alstom will invest yet more in Derby, with the result that Derby becomes the centre of excellence for Alstom's new electric commuter train worldwide. An export story to be proud of.
This is a story of government and civil service bureaucracy, procrastination and world-class dithering. At stake, around 15 ,000 jobs in the factory as well as the local and regional supply chain. Nick explains how it's still possible to save the factory. But for Derby, it's one minute to midnight.
Green Signals:
Website - http://www.greensignals.org
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals
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Credits:
Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)
33 min
April 04, 2024 27. TRAINS: the end for UK manufacturing? Alstom begins Derby factory mothballing
Are 147 years of UK manufacturing of trains about to come to an end in Derby as Alstom begins the process of mothballing its facility there?
The Jacobite steam train dispute between West Coast Railway Company and the Office of Rail and Road rumbles on.
Is Labour about to do a u-turn on bringing the railways back into public ownership? Leading to a somewhat spicy debate between Nigel and Richard about the potential costs of rail nationalisation…
And a new £17.5 million rail terminal opens at Southampton docks.
Green Signals:
Website - http://www.greensignals.org
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals
Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list
Follow:
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Credits:
Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)
50 min
March 28, 2024 26. Jacobite steam train ‘Hogwarts Express’ cancelled & Mayors unveil HS2 alternative
West Coast Railway Company stops sales of Jacobite steam train tickets – the famous Harry Potter Hogwarts Express route across Glenfinnan Viaduct, amid another battle with the ORR over central door locking.

Mayors Andy Street and Andy Burnham unveil their alternative to HS2… but is it a viable alternative?

ASLEF announces more train strikes.

And… good news on train passenger numbers! Rail journeys are up 20%!
Green Signals:
Website - http://www.greensignals.org
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals
Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list
Follow:
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Credits:
Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)
59 min

About Green Signals

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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.…