67. Is Virgin Trains making a comeback with a £500m train order to challenge Eurostar?

Is Virgin Trains about to make a comeback in the UK with a £500m train order to operate services through the Channel Tunnel to compete with Eurostar?

Is passenger revenue now on the rise as well as passenger numbers? We review Office of Rail and Road figures and Great British Railways Transition Team analysis of the latest data.

We speak to RAIB Deputy Chief Inspector Andy Lewis about the Strathspey and Talerddig accident reports in a preview to an upcoming full interview.And… the Elizabeth Line reaches 500 million passengers in its first 2.5 years.

In this episode:

(00:00) Intro(00:52) Is Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group close to signing a train deal?(09:25) Passenger numbers and railway revenue on the rise(20:36) RAIB Andy Lewis interview preview(25:44) Bala Lake Railway special preview(31:56) Thanks to Super Thanks and Members(33:10) Railway News Round-Up(33:20) Elizabeth Line reaches 500 million passenger journeys(35:08) Network Rail to replace Clifton Bridge in Cumbria(36:12) HS2 construction update – giant box under A46(37:12) Southeastern announces Class 376 upgrade(38:16) Erdington bridge struck three times in a week(39:43) 50,000 journeys made on the Northumberland Line(41:56) The Quiz(44:23) TransPennine Express launches virtual work experience

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Credits:Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)

Image Credits (unless stated on film / image)

• Image of Eurostart at St Pancras - Pieter Beens / Shutterstock.com
• Drone shot of Clifton Bridge - WCML Crossing the M6 - Network Rail
• Timelapse of A46 bridge box on HS2 at kenilworth - HS2 Ltd
• Artists impression of interior and exterior of Southeasternn 376 - Southeastern
• Still image of Erdington Bridge strike - Network Rail
• Still image of Ashington station - Northumberland Line reopening