ORR in the spotlight as rail costs, timetables, and safety regulation grind on—watchdog of Network Rail and Highways funding, keeping Britain moving.
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 Jacobite steam train derailed at Mallaig while repositioning for its Fort William return, forcing seven hours of line closure and replacements by rail buses. The locomotive was re-railed, with operations resuming the following day; regulator decisions over safety exemptions are pending.