UK rail and road regulator
The government has disclosed a new price range for HS2 at up to £102.7bn (2026 prices) and confirms first services will be delayed to 2036–2039, with full completion possibly by 2043. Top speeds are being reduced and automatic operation may be dropped to cut costs; Lovegrove’s critical report is among the influencing reviews.
A person has been killed on the Edinburgh–Glasgow line near Croy, triggering widespread disruption during the morning peak. About 40 trains are cancelled or delayed as emergency services respond; some services are diverted via Cumbernauld and Falkirk Grahamston. The line remains affected with delays expected to continue into the morning.
A Southern service derailed near Lewes in East Sussex, injuring several passengers and prompting a major response. A follow-up derailment near Wickford in Essex has compounded disruptions, with RAIB investigating both incidents and networks warning of continuing travel disruption.
The Office of Rail and Road has approved Virgin Trains to operate up to 20 daily return services through the Channel Tunnel from 1 October 2030 to 31 December 2040, joining Eurostar on a route long monopolised by the French operator SNCF. Regulators say more work remains, including stock, safety approvals and cross-border access.