Subject
Office of Rail and Road
London Travel News has published 15 stories involving Office of Rail and Road, from August 2026 to November 2026. Each one is scored for how well the original reporting stood up, and lists the reports it was written from.
WorldGreat British Railways legislation nears parliamentary approval
The legislation to establish Great British Railways is nearing the end of its parliamentary journey, with a fair chance of receiving royal assent before the winter break. Several train operators are set to be brought under government control.
3 min readTrust 66 · Craft 87 · Hype 35- Tube & Rail · London
Five London Rail Operators Now Publicly Owned
Five train companies serving London have been brought under public control by the Labour Government. While some operators have seen increased cancellations, publicly owned services overall recorded fewer delays and cancellations than private ones in the year to August 2026.
London4 min readTrust 60 · Craft 71 · Hype 40 
Tube & Rail · LondonElizabeth Line, Overground Payouts Rise 89% Amid Heatwave Delays
Millions of delay compensation claims were processed across UK rail networks between April 1 and July 25, with a significant rise in payouts for the Elizabeth Line and London Overground. Extreme heatwaves contributed to temporary speed restrictions and widespread disruption.
London3 min readTrust 42 · Craft 60 · Hype 45
Projects · East LondonStratford International to host new daily international trains after regulator approval
The Office of Rail and Road has cleared Virgin to run up to 20 new daily return services through the Channel Tunnel from October 2023, and the Aslef union has endorsed a proposal for those trains to stop at Stratford International, a move the mayor says could add £1.3 billion to UK tourism.
East London4 min readTrust 56 · Craft 64 · Hype 30- Tube & Rail · London
Virgin plans 20 daily international train services from 2030
Virgin Group plans to launch 20 daily return international train services connecting London with Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam from 2030. The company has ordered 12 new high-speed trains and is exploring a second London stop at Stratford International.
London3 min readTrust 48 · Craft 67 · Hype 41 - Projects · East London
Stratford International rail stop plan advances with new funding application
The Mayor of London has applied for a Business Rate Retention Zone in Stratford to support a new international rail stop. While Eurostar has declined to serve the station, Virgin Trains is considering it as part of its future services. The move could bring significant economic benefits to East London.
East London4 min readTrust 50 · Craft 72 · Hype 55 - Tube & Rail · London
Virgin plans 2030 cross-Channel rail launch
Virgin plans to launch new rail services between London and the continent in 2030, ordering 12 trains from Alstom and securing maintenance facilities at Temple Mills. Track access is confirmed until at least 2040.
London3 min readTrust 30 · Craft 57 · Hype 65 - Tube & Rail · London
Rail regulator rejects new London train services over line pressure
Plans for new direct train services from London to Wrexham and Rochdale have been rejected by the Office of Rail and Road. The regulator cited significant pressure and insufficient space on the west coast main line as reasons for the decision.
London3 min readTrust 40 · Craft 60 · Hype 20 
Tube & Rail · StratfordStratford International eyed for new international train services
Plans for international train services to stop at Stratford International station have received strong backing from Rail Minister Lord Hendy. Virgin Trains is exploring the possibility of including the East London hub in its new routes to continental Europe.
Stratford3 min readTrust 44 · Craft 60 · Hype 45- Tube & Rail · London
Great British Railways considers public ownership of new trains
Great British Railways is exploring public ownership for new trains, a move that could save money compared to the current leasing model. Rail operators spent £2.7 billion on leases last year, with rolling stock companies reporting significant profit margins.
London3 min readTrust 40 · Craft 60 · Hype 20 - World
ORR will need new skills to regulate Lower Thames Crossing, review finds
An independent review released on 3 September 2026 says the Office of Rail and Road must develop new capability and skills to oversee future roads built under a regulated asset base, starting with the Lower Thames Crossing. The regulator will coordinate with the Department for Transport, which has not commented, while a government response is expected later this autumn.
3 min readTrust 60 · Craft 80 · Hype 15 
Tube & Rail · StratfordVirgin Trains to explore Stratford stop for France services
Virgin Trains is considering making Stratford International a stop for its planned new train services to France, Brussels, and Amsterdam. The move is supported by East Ham MP Sir Stephen Timms, who highlighted the commercial and regeneration benefits for east London.
Stratford3 min readTrust 44 · Craft 69 · Hype 41- Tube & Rail · London
Avanti West Coast drivers get 3.6% pay rise
Train drivers working for Avanti West Coast have secured a 3.6% pay increase following an agreement with the Aslef union. The deal also includes enhanced pay for Sunday shifts and a bonus for drivers working a fifth day each week.
London3 min readTrust 48 · Craft 61 · Hype 41 
Tube & Rail · LondonVirgin Trains wins approval for 20 daily London-Paris return services from 2030
Virgin Trains will run up to 20 daily return services between London and Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam from October 2030 after the Office of Rail and Road approved track access. The decision covers a ten-year period, but the company must still secure safety approvals and access to other rail networks before services begin.
London5 min readTrust 74 · Craft 95 · Hype 30
Tube & Rail · LondonVirgin Trains to run London-Paris trains from 2030, ending Eurostar monopoly
Virgin Trains will operate up to 20 daily return services between London St Pancras and Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam from October 2030, following approval by the Office of Rail and Road. The decision ends Eurostar’s 30-year monopoly but requires further safety and network access agreements before services begin.
London5 min readTrust 56 · Craft 95 · Hype 32