Subject
Office of Rail and Road
London Travel News has published 6 stories involving Office of Rail and Road, from August 2026 to September 2026. Each one is scored for how well the original reporting stood up, and lists the reports it was written from.
- 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