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
Apr 2, 2026 • 1h 9min
130. The Beeching Report turns 63. Controversial… But was he right?
The Beeching Report turns 63… We ask the controversialquestion: Was Beeching unfairly and unreasonably criticised?We learn more about how the Railways Bill will affectScotland and WalesAnd Richard heads to the West Somerset Railway to celebrateits 50th anniversaryIn this episode:(00:00) Intro(00:51) Beeching Report turns 63(15:32) Railways Bill devolved nations MOUs(21:28) 1Timetable interview(39:30) West Somerset Railway 50th anniversary(48:57) Railway news round-up(49:01) Middlesbrough station upgrade costs(50:43) Bedlington station opens(52:26) Core Valley Lines are 100% electrified(53:32) 200 staff transfer from DfT to DfTO(55:55) Quantum navigation technologies(57:54) John Smith OBE steps down from GBRf(59:54) Strathspey Railway $3 million donation(01:01:17) The Quiz(01:05:16) TransPennine Express driver runs 190miles for charityMembership: 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-ltdYou can view our legal disclaimer, copyright information and privacy policy here - https://www.greensignals.org/legal/
Mar 31, 2026 • 21min
OxRail 2040. Is rail in Oxfordshire about to be transformed?
Oxfordshire is a one of the UK’s regional powerhouse economies. Furthermore, Rail is big business in Oxfordshire. In 2024/25, the estimated total entries and exits at Oxfordshire stations was some 19.6 million, a 17% increase from the previous year. It’s not quite at pre-pandemic levels but the growth is strong. The OxRail 2040 strategy was widely consulted on during September 2025 and now forms the bedrock of Oxfordshire’s Plan for rail. But is it targeted, considered interventions or blue sky wish list thinking? In February 2026 , Green Signals went to find out more as well as visit the first real manifestation of the plan, the planned reopening of the Cowley branch.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.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-ltdYou can view our legal disclaimer, copyright information and privacy policy here - https://www.greensignals.org/legal/
Mar 26, 2026 • 1h 1min
129. Are High Speed 2 trains going to be a bit less ‘High Speed’?
Liam Johnston MBE, a senior Railway Mission figure recognized for services to the rail industry, discusses pastoral care and welfare for railway staff. He talks about station chaplaincy, frontline support after incidents, and how the Mission adapts to modern railworking. Short, human stories highlight the practical, emotional side of keeping rail staff supported.
Mar 24, 2026 • 29min
Transpennine Route Upgrade – is this rail’s best kept secret?
There’s a revolution underway on the railways in the north, and no, it’s not Northern Powerhouse Rail, but rather something that will provide the bedrock to anything that NPR may become. Its name? The Transpennine route between Manchester, Leeds and York. We don’t hear too much about the Transpennine Route Upgrade outside of the Manchester – Leeds – York corridor although that may be because it’s on time and on budget. But it’s no less impressive for that – at £11 billion, this multiphase project will transform passenger and freight traffic across the Pennines for decades to come. Over the past few months, Green Signals has been following the project and visiting the area to find out more. And what we’ve found is impressive. Really impressive. There’s still more to do and the project team are under no illusion about that but here’s out first major update on the remarkable project that is the Transpennine Route Upgrade. 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/GreenSignalsCredits:Thumbnail image - Transpennine Route UpgradeGreen 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-ltdYou can view our legal disclaimer, copyright information and privacy policy here - https://www.greensignals.org/legal/
Mar 23, 2026 • 20min
Northern Powerhouse Rail – is it good value for money?
The National Audit Office or NAO is an independent parliamentary body. It is the independent public spending watchdog. It audits Central Government Departments, agencies and NDPBs. But it also carries out value for money audits into the administration of public policy. One such value for money audit was into the recently re launched Northern Powerhouse Rail project, something that will be increasingly under the spotlight in coming years. Green Signals spoke recently with Jonny Mood, Director - Value for Money / Performance Audit at the National Audit Office and who oversaw the Northern Powerhouse Rail audit to find out more.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.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-ltdYou can view our legal disclaimer, copyright information and privacy policy here - https://www.greensignals.org/legal/
Mar 19, 2026 • 58min
128. Remember Network North? An FOI request reveals more than you might think…
Network North – remember that? A Freedom of Information request reveals more than you might think…We speak to the National Audit Office about its recent report into Northern Powerhouse RailAnd we preview an upcoming special feature on the Transpennine Route UpgradeIn this episode:(00:00) Intro(00:31) Network North FOI(27:21 )NPR NAO report interview teaser(34:44) TRU video teaser(40:05) Thanks to Supporters(41:52) Railway news round-up(41:54) Camp Hill Line in Birmingham to reopen(42:55) Glasgow Central nearby fire update(44:55) North Yorkshire Moors Railway Bridge 42 update(45:48) Avanti West Coast ‘important’ advertising(48:28) Lumo London-Stirling tickets on sale(49:45) The Quiz(53:43) Abandoned bikes become community support projectMembership: 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-ltdYou can view our legal disclaimer, copyright information and privacy policy here - https://www.greensignals.org/legal/
Mar 17, 2026 • 12min
HS2’s final TBM starts tunnelling to Euston! And we go onboard….
HS2 has started excavation of the final tunnel bore on the 140-mile railway between central London and the West Midlands – the down tunnel from Old Oak Common station in west London towards Euston – HS2’s terminus. The tunnel boring machine (TBM) is named Karen after Karen Harrison, one of the first female train drivers in the UK, who drove out of Old Oak Common depot.Best of all, Green Signals was aboard to witness the launch of this, the last of 11 TBM’s on the HS2 project. 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.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-ltdCredits -Thumbnail background image - HS2 LtdYou can view our legal disclaimer, copyright information and privacy policy here - https://www.greensignals.org/legal/
Mar 17, 2026 • 52min
Holding Government to account - In conversation with Ruth Cadbury MP
Select Committees work in both Houses of Parliament. They scrutinise and report on a wide range of activities from the work of Government departments to economics affairs. They run inquiries on specific topics, the outcomes of which are public and many require a response from the government. They are to be taken seriously by all those who are asked to give evidence.The Transport Committee is nominated by the House of Commons to scrutinise the Department for Transport. Its formal remit is to hold Ministers and Departments to account, and to investigate matters of public concern. Ruth Cadbury MP is Chair of the Transport Select having been elected to the position in September 2024. It falls to her to lead the Committee through the scrutiny of the Railways Bill and the creation of Great British Railways. Green Signals recently met up with Ruth to learn more about the work of the Committee, how challenging it can be some times to hold Ministers and officials to account and her views on the Railways Bill.We started though by asking her how she got into politics in the first place…..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.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-ltdYou can view our legal disclaimer, copyright information and privacy policy here - https://www.greensignals.org/legal/
Mar 12, 2026 • 60min
127. Is the £2bn HS2 train contract about to be rewritten?
Is the £2bn contract for 54 HS2 trains about to be rewritten?And is it true that HS2 is going to ‘end in a field’, as was reported last week?Plus, we preview some very exciting upcoming videos, including an interview with Chair of the Transport Select Committee RuthCadbury MP, and a Class 66 cab ride on East West Rail.**Link to download the TicketyBoo app:https://myticketyboo.com/app_download/ Link to TicketyBoo website:https://myticketyboo.com/ Use code GREENSIGNALS5 at checkout to get £5 off yourfirst booking**In this episode:(00:00) Intro(00:30) HS2 rolling stock order(26:08) Will HS2 ‘end in a field’?(32:30) Ruth Cadbury MP interview teaser(36:29) Thanks to Supporters(38:06) Railway News Round-up(38:09) Glasgow Central station closed after fire(39:49) Gloucester to Hereford branch line restorationproposal(42:47) Labour MP calls for Robin Hood Line extension(43:55) RMT members vote for strike action on the Tube(46:21) WSMR charter train(48:17) Avanti West Coast to run on Settle-Carlisle Line again(50:03) East West Rail cab ride teaser(52:22) The Quiz(55:48) LNER celebrates International Women’s DayMembership: 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 Credits:Thumbnail image - HS2 LtdLinkedIn -https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-signals-productions-ltdYou can view our legal disclaimer, copyright information and privacy policy here - https://www.greensignals.org/legal/
Mar 5, 2026 • 1h 5min
126. New Tube trains for Piccadilly Line are delayed AGAIN!
New Piccadilly Line trains are delayed AGAINNetwork Rail takes control of the Barking Eurohub rail freight terminalAnd we’re shocked to discover that Anytime, Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak fares are to become non-refundable on the day of travel from April 1st.*BELLE TRAINS* Visit https://www.belletrains.co.uk/ or call 01284 330123 to book your luxury steam holiday on the Alpine BelleIn this episode:(00:00) Intro(00:32) Piccadilly Line trains delayed(14:12) Barking Eurohub rail freight terminal(28:38) Great Heck rail crash remembered(30:07) £14bn Welsh rail commitment update(34:40) Refunds removed from tickets(45:40) Thanks to Supporters(47:15) Railway News round-up(47:18) Blackpool Transport new MD(49:28) Tyne Valley Line wants Northumberland Line fares(51:54) Disabled Railcards receive a boost(53:08) Chippenham station upgrades(55:35) Bristol-Portishead line to be restored(57:19) The Quiz(01:01:48) Hydroshunter launch at Severn Valley RailwayMembership: 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-ltdYou can view our legal disclaimer, copyright information and privacy policy here - https://www.greensignals.org/legal/
