Green Signals
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.
Latest episodes
Dec 26, 2024 • 1h 12min
A Life in Transport: Buses, trains and trams - Roger Bowker
Richard Bowker is in conversation with his father Roger Bowker, a legendary transport industry professional who spent 62 years in the bus industry working for Eastern National, Oldham Corporation, SELNEC, Greater Manchester Transport, Rossendale Transport, Eastbourne Buses, London Transport and Stagecoach Group.
A pioneer with the industry, Roger Bowker’s passion for excellence in service whilst at the same time delivering a profitable business means he is highly respected amongst his peers. His passion for transport began with railways though and in this video, he discusses the influence that his father (who also worked on the railways during the Second World War) had on him.
We hear about 10000 and 10001, the Coronation Scot, Clan class locos on the West Coast Main Line, rides on the Keswick line as well as the Coniston and Lake Side branches. We also hear about tram and trolleybuses. Everything is covered!
This is a wonderful trip down memory lane but where all the memories and messages are as relevant to public transport today as they were in the 1950s and 1960s.
In this episode:
(00:00) Intro
(00:30) Influence of Bob Bowker, Father
(01:12) A reserved occupation during the War
(06:12) 10000 & 10001
(08:02) A Coronation class Pacific at Perth
(10:27) Trips to London and London trams
(13:20) Moving to Barrow
(16:37) Barrow railway scene in the 1950s
(18:52) Ration Books
(19:40) Freight trains to Barrow
(23:11) Shipyard station and Sunday school outings
(25:27) The Coniston branch
(26:30) The Lake Side branch
(29:55) First ride on a Derby Lightweight DMU
(34:12) Family runabout tickets
(36:04) Morecambe
(36:38) Liverpool and the Overhead Railway
(40:11) The Cockermouth, Keswick and Penrith line
(42:50) Gricing on Clan class locos on the West Coast Main Line
(44:42) Water troughs
(45:43) A love for Buses
(51:00) Training as a schedule clerk at Eastern National
(55:32) The Virgin bid for East Coast
(56:50) East London Buses, Stagecoach and Souter Investments
(1:00:30) Greater Manchester Museum of Transport
(1:06:00) The Last Bradford trolleybus
(1:07:07) The Midland Pullman
(1:08:54) A passion for trolleybuses
(1:10:20) Final thoughts
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YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GreenSignals/join
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Green Signals:
Website - http://www.greensignals.org
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)
Dec 19, 2024 • 35min
64. Northumberland Line opens! & Bowker dissects Rail Minister's TSC performance
The Northumberland Line opens to passengers from Newcastle to Ashington after 60 years.
The Isle of Wight’s Island Line major engineering reaches the halfway point.
And… Rail Minister Lord Hendy makes his first appearance at the Transport Select Committee.
Bit of a different episode this week with Nigel in the UK and Richard in Abu Dhabi! So a shorter show, but still full of the all the latest railway news to keep you in the loop before the festive season gets underway.
In this episode:
(00:00) Intro
(01:42) Northumberland Line opens
(04:37) Rail Minister Lord Hendy at the Transport Select Committee
(17:29) Thanks to Super Thanks and New Members
(18:50) Island Line major milestone
(27:25) Railway News Round Up
(27:29) Chancellor Rachel Reeves on HS2 Phase 2
(28:14) Lorry crashes onto the railway near Gretna
(28:49) Bus crashes into railway bridge in Glasgow
(29:30) Elizabeth Line worker dies following attack
(30:19) Yarm Viaduct strengthening work nearly complete
(31:45) The Quiz
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
Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/GreenSignals
Green Signals:
Website - http://www.greensignals.org
Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list
Follow:
X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd
Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers
Credits:
Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)
Dec 12, 2024 • 1h 4min
63. £500m Hitachi Rail new trains deal for Lumo – but is it in conflict with renationalisation?
A £500 million Hitachi Rail train deal for Lumo & Hull Trains. But is this in direct conflict with the Labour Government’s railway renationalisation plans? We speak to First Rail Managing Director Steve Montgomery to find out more about the deal and discuss what it means for the future of open access.
Blackpool Trams announces suspension of Heritage Trams
And we round up the latest railway stats for passenger journeys, rail freight, performance and more from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR’s) latest Rail Statistics Compendium
In this episode:
(00:00) Intro
(00:48) £500m new train deal
(33:04) ORR Rail Statistics Compendium
(43:29) Blackpool Trams suspends Heritage Tram Tours
(47:04) Thanks to Super Thanks and Members
(49:07) Railway News Round-Up
(49:11) HS2 construction update at Delta Junction
(50:22) Euston station five-point plan update
(51:29) Level crossing misuse in Rye, East Sussex
(54:14) Storm Darragh railway disruption
(56:50) Northumberland Line due to open
(57:56) The Quiz
(01:01:14) Railway 200 – longest-serving railway family
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
Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/GreenSignals
Green Signals:
Website - http://www.greensignals.org
Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list
Follow:
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LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd
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Credits:
Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)
Dec 10, 2024 • 26min
GO-OP: Can a community cooperative run a railway?
Open Access railway operation is a divisive topic. Whilst there have been undoubted success stories with major communities such as Hull and Bradford previously sidelined by the big operators suddenly being reconnected with through services to London, there have been challenges. How much do Open Access services abstract from existing operators, and can they really claim to be operated entirely at the risk of the open access operator, free from public subsidy?
GO-OP rail is a new type of Open Access operator who may just provide an alternative. It’s local, very community based and with a co-operative ownership model that means it is there to serve passengers and workers. It’s all very laudable but it is credible?
Richard went to Taunton to meet GO-OP Chair Alex Lawrie and Vice Chair David Northey to find out.
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
Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/GreenSignals
Green Signals:
Website - http://www.greensignals.org
Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list
Follow:
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LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd
Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers
Credits:
Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)
Dec 5, 2024 • 58min
62. Heritage railways face ‘existential threat’ & New Transport Secretary takes the helm
Heritage railways face an existential threat as Autumn
Budget tax changes will cost some more than £200,000 a year! We speak to Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway General Manager and Acting Chair of the Heritage
Railway Association Paul Lewin to find out just how challenging things have become for steam and heritage railways.
Heidi Alexander becomes the new Transport Secretary
following the shock resignation of Louise Haigh
The Public Ownership Bill to nationalise Britain’s railways
receives Royal Assent
And Richard finds out more about Britain’s latest open
access operator Go-Op
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
Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/GreenSignals
Green Signals:
Website - http://www.greensignals.org
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)
Nov 29, 2024 • 18min
Shock as Transport Secretary Louise Haigh resigns. More chaos for the railway?
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has stunned her colleagues, the DFT and everyone in the railway by announcing her shock resignation just hours after a story broke regarding a Magistrates’ discharge almost 10 years ago.
Her decision to go quickly rather than try and ride out the storm has thrown the rail industry into yet another period of uncertainty, right at the moment that it looked like a clear plan for the way forward was emerging.
Nigel and Richard discuss the challenges facing the industry in the immediate aftermath of the news and what may lie ahead for pace of the promised reforms.
UPDATE: Almost as soon as we had recorded the show, it was announced that Heidi Alexander, previously Minister for Courts and Social Justice, has been appointed as Secretary of State for Transport. She has also previously been Deputy Mayor of London for Transport from 2018 and departed her role in 2022 to prepare for a return to Parliament which she did at the 2024 General Election. She is the MP for Swindon South.
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
Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/GreenSignals
Green Signals:
Website - http://www.greensignals.org
Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list
Follow:
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LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd
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Credits:
Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)
Nov 28, 2024 • 1h 4min
61. Storm Bert rail disruption & Network Rail and SWR tackle leaf fall
Storm Bert wreaks havoc across the railway with heavy flooding and high winds causing major disruption for trains. Richard visits Northampton station, which experienced major flooding when the River Nene burst its banks. Here’s just a snapshot of some of the problems:
Great Western Railway was running very limited services at the start of the week and advising people not to travel.
Greater Anglia stopped running from Liverpool Street to Stansted Airport and Cambridge, along with other routes.
The River Nene burst its banks at Northampton, causing severe disruption to London Northwestern and Avanti West Coast.
Transport for Wales had widespread disruption across their network.
Northern Rail services were cancelled on some routes because of heavy flooding.
West Midlands Railway ran fewer trains.
And ScotRail had to put some travel restrictions in place too.
A new Network Rail and South Western Railway initiative is tackling leaf fall and wheel slip on the network.
Plus… the Young Railway Photographer of the Year competition opens for entries.
In this episode:
(00:00) Intro
(00:45) Storm Bert rail disruption
(12:04) Network Rail and South Western Railway leaf fall initiative
(27:43) Railway Benefit Fund
(38:00) Thanks to Super Thanks and Members
(39:42) Railway News Round Up
(39:44) Bridge strike statistics
(42:06) Northern trains strike 97 objects in a year
(43:37) Most used stations in Britain
(47:22) Jacobite steam train - West Coast Railways customer service
(49:43) Young Railway Photographer of the Year
(58:57) The Quiz
(01:01:36) Colne Valley Viaduct wins an award
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
Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/GreenSignals
Green Signals:
Website - http://www.greensignals.org
Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list
Follow:
X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd
Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers
Credits:
Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)
Nov 26, 2024 • 33min
Naming a locomotive: The story of GB Railfreight 66312 Nigel Harris
Have you ever wondered what goes into make a locomotive naming happen? Well, this is the story… following the process to name GB Railfreight 66312 Nigel Harris on November 4. From choosing the location, to negotiating timetable changes, casting the nameplate, moving the locomotive, to the final naming ceremony, we discover the logistical challenges behind a nameplate finally appearing on an engine.
In this episode:
(00:00) Intro
(01:33) Planning a locomotive naming
(07:29) Timetabling
(15:43) Choosing a location for the naming ceremony
(17:57) Casting the locomotive nameplate
(21:28) Naming day
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
Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/GreenSignals
Green Signals:
Website - http://www.greensignals.org
Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list
Follow:
X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd
Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers
Credits:
Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)
Nov 21, 2024 • 1h 16min
60. Great British Railways: Will it really take 2 years to create? & Northern performance plan
Great British Railways - Will it really take 2 years to create? We discuss Secretary of State for Transport Louise Haigh’s appearance at the Transport Select Committee and her comments on the creation of GBR.
Is Northern Rail performance about to improve, or is there still a long road ahead? A deal is done on Rest Day Working for conductors, but many challenges remain.
£26bn – that’s what rail’s value to the economy, environment and society has been valued at in a new report from the Rail Delivery Group – we find out how it could be worth so much more…
In this episode:
(00:00) Intro
(01:05) Great British Railways and Louise Haigh at the TSC
(27:40) Northern Rail cancellations latest
(41:53) Rail Delivery Group report Beyond the Tracks: Rail’s contribution to the UK
(54:11) Clip from upcoming story of a locomotive naming video
(57:33) Follow up on the HS2 ‘bat shed’ story
(1:01:18) Thanks to Super Thanks and Members
(1:02:44) Railway News Round-Up
(1:02:49) Go-Op trains granted open access rights
(1:04:16) The Britannic Explorer launches
(1:06:22) Alstom’s X’trapolis train unveiled for Dublin DART+ fleet
(01:07:33) GTS Rail Operations new Elizabeth Line operator
(01:08:05) First Stadler Class 756 FLIRT tri-mode for South Wales Metro
(01:09:40) The Quiz
(01:13:02) Bure Valley Railway new Clayton Equipment battery electric locomotive
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
Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/GreenSignals
Green Signals:
Website - http://www.greensignals.org
Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list
Follow:
X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd
Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers
Credits:
Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)
Nov 19, 2024 • 41min
EXCLUSIVE: Behind the scenes at the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway!
We take a behind the scenes tour of the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway to chat to WyvernRail Plc Chairman Neil Ferguson-Lee about how the railway is doing in the current climate of heritage railways that are struggling. We find out about the challenges of running a heritage railway and what it takes to make it work. And we learn about this wonderful little railway, while on a journey from Wirksworth to Duffield.
In this episode:
(00:00) Intro
(03:30) Interview with Neil Ferguson-Lee, Chairman WyvernRail Plc
(09:35) Interview with Steve Orchard, Secretary & Treasurer, EVR Association
(15:13) Interview with Donna Taylor, Business Development Officer
(19:28) Interview with Peter Binks, Personnel Director, WyvernRail Plc
(21:55) Interview with Sam Weaver, Catering Manager, EVR
(24:56) Interview with Tom Tait, Head of Publicity, EVR
(27:10) In the workshop with volunteers Michael and Hugh
(29:44) Neil Ferguson-Lee discusses the challenges for heritage railways
(34:39) Tom Tait on the fantastic railway shop and museum
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
Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/GreenSignals
Green Signals:
Website - http://www.greensignals.org
Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-list
Follow:
X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd
Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallers
Credits:
Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)
