What’s in store for ’24?
AS this is the first issue of the new year, it is traditional to look ahead to what we can expect to see happen over the coming months – but this year seems to be one of the most difficult to read in quite some time. Perhaps the biggest cause for uncertainty is the looming general election, which has to take place before the end of January 2025, but is widely predicted for either spring or late autumn. As this issue went to press, the ruling Conservative party was trailing Labour in the polls by a wide margin, with political pundits therefore expecting there will be a change in Government after 14 years. What this will mean for our railways, however, is still very much unknown: The Conservatives in recent years cannot be described as wholly ‘prorail’, but then again details of what Labour would do instead are thin on the ground. Meanwhile, the major reorganisation that would create ‘Great British Railways’ has stalled awaiting legislation to be presented to Parliament, and it feels like the political will needed to get this through is ebbing away fast. Below these ‘top level’ issues, there is a myriad of other problems to resolve on the everyday railway, such as how to square rising passenger numbers with new or fairly new stock being either withdrawn (such as TransPennine Express’s ‘Nova 3’ trains) or marooned in sidings (like South Western Railway’s Class 701 EMUs); or the growing number of weatherrelated infrastructure failures and maintenance backlog; or how HS2’s new trains will be accommodated on an already busy West Coast Main Line north of Lichfield now that the highspeed line to Manchester has been cancelled. Away from the main line, however, things are looking brighter for the heritage movement – as illustrated in our fascinating interview with Severn Valley Railway boss Gus Dunster this month about how he is turning round the fortunes of this premier league line. This work has led to Gus being nominated for The RM-sponsored prize at the forthcoming HRA Awards, but the list of HRA nominees (page 12) highlights an excellent range of successful heritage projects over the past year. The awards dinner will be held in Brighton on February 10, and tickets are open to members and nonmembers alike – so see the HRA’s website at www.hra.uk.com if you fancy coming along to this always excellent event.