Green Signals
Green Signals Productions
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 27, 2025 • 57min
73. Railway structures: Has Network Rail got a grip?
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) threatens Network Rail with possible enforcement action under the Health & Safety at Work Act. Could there be growing safety concerns with some of our railway structures?We look at the reaction to the government’s Railways Bill consultation on GBR and hear from the Rail Freight Group’s Director General, Maggie Simpson.There are strong words from the Heritage Railway Association’s CEO Steve Oates about the state of leadership and governance with some of the country’s heritage railways.In this episode:(00:00) Intro(00:56) ORR and Network Rail assets(07:15) Railways Bill consultation reaction(14:33) Freight’s reaction to consultation(26:05) Avanti West Coast and the Beattock landslip(32:22) Heritage Railway Association interview(37:29) Thanks to Supporters and Members(39:17) Railway News Round-Up(36:25) 1000th HS2 freight train(40:40) Class 395 Javelin recovery(43:41) East Midlands Railway vandalism(45:05) Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline(46:39) Class 465 Networker painted in Network South Eastcolours(47:44) Green Signals merch store!(49:27) The Quiz(54:03) Northern conductor praised for helping motherMembership: 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/joinPatreon -https://www.patreon.com/GreenSignalsGreen Signals: Website -http://www.greensignals.orgMerchandise - http://greensignals.etsy.comNewsletter -http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-listFollow: X (Twitter) -https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltdInstagram -https://instagram.com/greensignallersCredits:Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)Image Credits (unless stated on images):Letter from ORR to Network Rail re Management of Railway Structure - ORRRail Freight Group Press release - RFGExtract of Devolution White Paper - HMG11000 HS2 freight train at Quainton Road - images courtesy of GB RailfreightEMR vandalism - Images Courtesy of EMR (East Midlands Railway)
Feb 20, 2025 • 58min
72. Has the government finally got something right?! Railways Bill Consultation analysis
The government publishes ‘Delivering a railway fit forBritain’s future’. It’s the clearest indication yet of the government’sintentions for the future structure of GBR.In the most dramatic change of all, GBR will allocate accessto the network – and the ORR is downgraded to an appeals body. It marks the endof the 1993 Railways Act vision of access and access charges determined by anindependent regulator. In future, it’s GBR’s railway.In this episode:(00:00) Intro(00:58) Railways Bill Consultation(40:25) Thanks to Supporters, Super Thanks and Members(42:38) Railway News Round Up(42:43) Chiltern fare dodger offended 736 times(43:56) Network Rail fined over Margam deaths(46:07) National Railway Museum £15m Government investment(47:03) ORR writes to Network Rail about structureexaminations backlog(48:45) Tina the wheel lathe(50:27) Last limestone train(51:40) The Quiz(54:33) Flying Scotsman 2025 datesMembership: 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/joinPatreon -https://www.patreon.com/GreenSignalsGreen Signals: Website -http://www.greensignals.org Newsletter -http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-listFollow: X (Twitter) -https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram -https://instagram.com/greensignallersCredits:Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)Images Credits (unless stated on images)Thumbnail - Railway Track - Matthew Nichol / Shutterstock.comDfT Press Release on consultation for great British Railways - DfTStatement to the House of Commons by Alistair Darling MP 15th July 20024 - H of CommonsTina the Wheel Lathe - Courtesy of Northern Trains
Feb 18, 2025 • 38min
HS2: What will it be like for passengers? West Coast Partnership Development interview
Amongst all the HS2 construction updates, one important thing has been missing. What is HS2 actually going to be like for passengers? When will we see HS2 trains running? What will the customer experience be like? What has the cancellation of Phase 2a meant for plans to transform rail travel on the West Coast? All these questions and many more are the domain of West Coast Partnership Development Managing Director Shamit Gaiger – an expert in transformational change and a passionate advocate for great customer experience.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/joinPatreon -https://www.patreon.com/GreenSignalsGreen Signals: Website -http://www.greensignals.org Newsletter -http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-listFollow: X (Twitter) -https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram -https://instagram.com/greensignallersCredits:Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)
Feb 17, 2025 • 16min
How to celebrate Railway 200 in 2025
2025 is a big year for the railway. It’s the 200thanniversary of the Stockton & Darlington railway, which is generally considered the world’s first commercial railway venture.Celebrations are getting underway, so Stef had a chat withEmma Robertson and Anthony Coulls to find out what’s being planned. Emma is the Railway 200 Programme Manager for GBRTT and Anthony is Senior Curator for Rail Transport and Technology at the National Railway 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/joinPatreon -https://www.patreon.com/GreenSignalsGreen Signals: Website -http://www.greensignals.org Newsletter -http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-listFollow: X (Twitter) -https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram -https://instagram.com/greensignallersCredits:Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)Image Credits: Courtesy of Science Museum group / National Railway Museum unless stated
Feb 13, 2025 • 1h 4min
71. Is a Virgin Trains comeback on the West Coast Main Line about to be crushed?
Is a Virgin Trains comeback on the West Coast Main Lineabout to be crushed?And the Department for Transport strongly objects to a swarm of other open access applications in a letter to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) setting out its concerns.And… Richard samples Transport for Wales’ Premier Dining…In this episode:(00:00) Intro(00:50) Virgin Trains comeback to be crushed?(25:47) Shamit Gaiger West Coast Partnership Developmentpreview(31:27) RIA/RBD news(35:04) Railway 200 update(37:14) Transport for Wales Premier Dining(45:08) Thanks to Super Thanks and Members(46:47) Railway News Round-Up(46:51) Wabtec plans to close Doncaster site(48:39) Transport for London economic benefits(49:28) Car crashes onto railway at Salford(50:40) Network Rail trials departure board changes at King’sCross(52:56) Hydrogen powered Class 08 shunter unveiled at SevernValley Railway(55:45) The Quiz(59:55) Heritage Railway Association Annual AwardsMembership: 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/joinPatreon -https://www.patreon.com/GreenSignalsGreen Signals: Website -http://www.greensignals.org Newsletter -http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-listFollow: X (Twitter) -https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram -https://instagram.com/greensignallersCredits:Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)Image Credits (Unless stated on Images):Image of Class 390 Pendolino Virgin Trains at Liverpool Lime Street (Caron Badkin / Shutterstock.com)
Feb 6, 2025 • 1h 1min
70. HS2’s incredible 4.5k tonne deck slide at Small Dean & semaphore signals in Shrewsbury
An HS2 construction update this week with the completion of an incredible 4,500 tonne deck slide for a viaduct at Small Dean in BuckinghamshireRichard takes a trip to see the wonderful semaphore signals and manual signalboxes at ShrewsburyAnd… We find out all about hotly anticipated The Greatest Gathering at Alstom’s Derby Litchurch Lane to celebrate Railway 200In this episode:(00:00) Intro(01:28) HS2’s Small Dean deck slide(21:45) The Greatest Gathering launch(27:16) Shrewsbury semaphore signals(42:23) Reflections on Rachel Reeves’ speech(45:52) Thanks to Super Thanks and Members(47:24) Railway News Round Up(47:28) Cardiff Parkway new station plans(48:22) End of Britain’s longest timetabled train journey?(51:50) RSSB climate change scenarios(52:47) Severn Valley Railway landslip update(55:06) The Quiz(58:04) Northern engineering apprenticeshipsMembership: 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/joinPatreon - https://www.patreon.com/GreenSignalsGreen Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-listFollow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallersCredits:Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)Image Credits (unless stated on the images):Footage of Greatest gathering Launch - Courtesy of Alstom
Jan 30, 2025 • 1h 5min
69. Chancellor Rachel Reeves and the speech of eternal ‘rubbish’
Has Chancellor Rachel Reeves given the economy the growth serum it needs, or is she on a planet looking increasingly like it’s far, far away?Great British Railways could have the ‘scale and impact’ of the NHS. Seriously?!And the Transport Select Committee grills the Chair of Shadow GBR and the Rail Minister on progress setting up the new organisation – and we ask - have they made any?!In this episode:(00:00) Intro(00:55) Rachel Reeves speech on economic growth(14:17) GBR to have ‘scale and impact of NHS’?(21:44) What progress on creating Great British Railways?(50:06) Thanks to Super Thanks and Members(51:30) Railway News Round-Up(51:34) Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham’s plans for Bee Network(52:53) Colour blind train drivers(54:02) Darlington station upgrade(55:11) Manchester Oxford Road consultation(56:53) The Quiz(01:01:22) National Trust greener travel free cuppaSubscribe: If you liked this video, please give it a thumbs up. Better still, hit that subscribe button. It supports the channel and means you'll be notified whenever we publish something new. 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/joinPatreon - https://www.patreon.com/GreenSignalsGreen Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-listFollow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallersCredits:Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)Image CreditsWinslow Station on East West Rail - East West RailFootage of Lord Peter Hendy and Laura Shoaf CBE at Transport Select Committee on 22nd January 2025 - Parliamentlive.tvStill of image of Michael O'Leary - Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock.comScreengrab of HM Treasury Press Release re Growth (delivered at Siemens Healthineers, Oxfordshire, 29th January 2025
Jan 28, 2025 • 44min
“Government has made a BIG mistake” Rail Partners CEO Andy Bagnall interview
Rail Partners is a trade body that was set up to promote and focus on the interests of the private sector train operators, both passenger and freight, on the railway. But it has become a casualty of the Labour government’s approach to railways and the increasing drive towards nationalisation of operators.Rail Partners announced recently that from March 2025 they will wind up their operations. They have been quite fierce critics of the approach being adopted that instead of combining the best of both worlds, public and private, seems rather ideologically wedded to one approach - a state-owned railway.Richard speaks to CEO Andy Bagnall in this revealing interview, and it’s fair to say that whilst he was measured and courteous, he did not hold back.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/joinPatreon - https://www.patreon.com/GreenSignalsGreen Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-listFollow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallersCredits:Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)
Jan 23, 2025 • 56min
68. Forget trains, roads are the way forward! Wait… what?!
Forget trains, roads are the way forward – or that seems to be the message from the National Infrastructure Commission’s Chairman Sir John Armitt CBE at a recent Transport Select Committee session.… Not helped by news reports that Chancellor Rachel Reeves is considering scaling back rail spending. Big time.And we starting investigating what’s going on with planned upgrades on the West Coast Main Line and the Trilink project.In this episode:(00:00) Intro(00:35) Sir John Armitt at the Transport Select Committee(19:15) Rachel Reeves news reports(25:00) West Coast Main Line upgrades(32:47) Rail Partners, Andy Bagnall interview clip(35:23) RMT’s Mick Lynch to retire(39:41) Thanks to Super Thanks and Members(40:53) Railway News Round-Up(40:55) Bridge strike technology(42:12) A303 tunnel alternatives(43:52) Northern looking for 450 new trains(44:50) RAIB report into Stratford fatality(47:32) Contactless ticketing roll-out in the South East(48:07) First Rail open access report(50:19) The Quiz(53:18) Southern engineer has art sent to the moonMembership: 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/joinPatreon - https://www.patreon.com/GreenSignalsGreen Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-listFollow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallersCredits:Photos & video - NASA, Southern Railway, Parliament.tv,Telerail, Network Rail, RAIB, Edward FeePresenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)Image Credits (unless stated on Image itself):Rocket launch of Edward Fee's Digital Art - NASAEdward Fee's Digital Art - Edward FeeImages of Edward Fee - Southern RailwayScreengrab of of Connecting South West England - Greengauge / Transport Action NetworkBridge Strikes at Grantham and graphic of bridge strike monitoring tech - Network Rail
Jan 21, 2025 • 39min
The new £5M railway being built in Wales – Bala Lake Railway extension (Snowdonia)
A brand new railway is being built in Wales. They have theland. They have the planning permission. Some of the ballast is even laid. All they need is the rest of the money to finish it and they can reconnect a railway with its town. The Bala Lake Railway (home of the beautiful Quarry Hunslets) on the banks of the glorious Bala Lake in Snowdonia is raising the money to take the railway from its current terminus on the outskirts of Bala, where there are no facilities to a brand new station in the heart of town. This is the story of the railway and the transformational Red Dragon Project.In this episode:(00:00) Intro to the railway(04:25) Quarry Hunslets and into the workshop(10:36) History of the line(12:23) General Manager David Jones on the railway's prospects(15:23) Julian Birley and the Red Dragon Project(19:34) Walking the route of the new railway(26:43) The local community(31:37) What next for the project?(32:58) Footplate ride on Alice back to Llanuwchllyn(36:43) Wrapping up an amazing visitMembership: 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/joinPatreon - https://www.patreon.com/GreenSignalsGreen Signals: Website - http://www.greensignals.org Newsletter - http://www.greensignals.org/#mailing-listFollow: X (Twitter) - https://twitter.com/greensignallers LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltd Instagram - https://instagram.com/greensignallersCredits:Presenters - Nigel Harris (@railnigel on X) & Richard Bowker CBE (@SRichardBowker). General Manager: Stef Foster (@stefatrail)Image Credits (unless stated on the film / image)Still image of Dinorwic Quarry - Beardy Josh / Shutterstock.comMap of the Barmouth - Ruabon line - Stef FosterActive map of the Bala Lake extension - Google Maps / Stef Foster
