About the author

David Briginshaw

David Briginshaw joined IRJ in 1982 as associate editor, and was appointed editor-in-chief in 2001. He has travelled the world extensively interviewing many of the CEOs and senior managers of the world's railways and transit systems which has given him an in-depth knowledge of the global railway industry. David Briginshaw is currently consulting editor and associate publisher of IRJ.

May 10, 2019 | Infrastructure

Network Rail awards Dawlish sea wall contract

BRTAIN’s infrastructure manager, Network Rail has awarded a contract to Bam Nuttall to construct the first phase of a new sea wall at Dawlish to protect the main line between Exeter and Plymouth and the town from extreme weather, high waves and predicted rising sea levels.

May 10, 2019 | Infrastructure

Rail Baltica awards first Latvian design contract

THE RB Rail joint venture, which is responsible for implementing the Rail Balitca high-speed project linking Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, has announced the winner of the first design and design supervision tender in Latvia.

May 10, 2019 | North America

Via Rail reports growth for fourth consecutive year

CANADA’s national passenger rail operator, Via Rail, reports an increase in ridership and revenue in 2018, marking the fourth consecutive year in which growth in traffic and turnover has been achieved.

May 9, 2019 | Light Rail

Preparations start for Edinburgh tram Newhaven extension

PRELIMINARY works will start on May 20 to prepare for the construction of the 4.7km extension of the Edinburgh tram line from York Place north to Newhaven. This follows approval of the £207m project in March.

May 8, 2019 | Financial

Crossrail: behind schedule, over budget and under pressure

Londoners should have been travelling on the central section of the British capital’s new Elizabeth Line by now, but the £14.8bn Crossrail project is unlikely to open until 2021 and will cost even more than revised estimates. David Briginshaw reports on the project’s difficulties.

May 3, 2019 | Passenger

New Network Rail CEO wants to put customers first

Britain’s infrastructure manager Network Rail is putting more emphasis on the needs of customers following the appointment last year of Andrew Haines as its new CEO. Haines outlined some of his priorities for NR during the recent Acclerate Rail conference in London. David Briginshaw was in the audience.

May 1, 2019 | David Briginshaw

Are we witnessing the last gasps from Britain’s passenger franchising model?

BRITAIN’s unique passenger franchising model, which requires franchisees to either pay an escalating premium or receive a diminishing subsidy during the relative short life of the contract, has been under increasing strain for some time. Margins have become wafer thin or, in some instances, non-existent leaving some operators struggling to survive or, in the case [...]