Dear Community Rail Network member, 
 
I am writing to let you all know that, with heavy heart, I will be leaving Community Rail Network at the end of June, after nine and a half years in post. 
 
I am so proud of everything we have achieved together over the years, and the incredibly impactful and influential place that the community rail movement has landed in, thanks to the efforts and passion of everyone involved. I know that community rail, and Community Rail Network, has a brilliant future ahead. 
 
However, the time is right for me to move on to pastures new and fresh challenges. I am moving on to become chief executive of the Institute for Social Value, taking an array of enriching experience that I’ve gained influencing a more socially minded and beneficial railway, and growing a national membership organisation. I do hope we will stay in touch and that there will be opportunities to work together again in the future.

continues

Two trains collide head-on in Denmark, leaving five critically hurt


The trains collided head-on between the towns of Hillerød and Kagerup about 40km (25 miles) north-west of the capital

Two trains have collided head-on on a level crossing north west of Copenhagen, leaving five people critically hurt and 12 others with minor injuries, medical officials say.

The trains were travelling early on Thursday on a line linking the towns of Hillerød and Kagerup in the North Zealand area of north-east Denmark, with a total of 38 people on board, according to police.

Tim Ole Simonsen of the Greater Copenhagen fire department was unable to say what led to the crash but told Danish TV that all the injured had been taken to hospital by air or by ambulance.

Local mayor Trine Egetved said she was deeply shaken by the accident.

Public broadcaster DR showed images of two yellow and grey trains, both with visible damage to the front, facing each other in a wooded area.

Officials said the trains collided at 06:29 local time (05:29 BST) on Thursday and fire and rescue teams were alerted immediately.

Egetved, who is mayor of the Gribskov municipality, said those with critical injuries had been flown to the National Hospital in Copenhagen.

"The local track is used by many Gribskov residents, workers and students," she wrote on Facebook.



Denmark's Accident Investigation Board arrived at the scene during the morning and Inspector Morten Pedersen of North Zealand police said they would be working together to find out what had happened.

Pedersen told reporters it was far too early to know the cause of the crash.

Rail accidents are rare in Denmark and one expert suggested one of the train drivers had ended up on the wrong line by over-riding a stop signal as the train left a local station. The Gribskov line is not thought to have been updated with an automated safety system.

Trine Egetved told public broadcaster DR that it was shocking that two trains could collide head-on "and we must ensure it never happens again".

The crash happened around 40km (25 miles) north of the capital Copenhagen.

At least 12 other people have minor injuries, according to the Greater Copenhagen Fire Department.

The crash prompted a massive emergency response for what police described as a major incident.

Photos from the scene show the front ends of the trains smashed together, with both remaining upright on the tracks.

The two local trains collided on a train line linking the towns of Hillerod and Kagerup, police said.

"It is two ‌local trains that have collided head-on," a spokesperson for the emergency rescue services told Reuters.

"There are injuries among the ⁠passengers. Everyone is out ​of the trains, so no ​one is trapped," ⁠the spokesperson added. "Large resources ​have been dispatched to the scene."



The injured have been transported away from the scene in ambulances and helicopters, the fire department said.

Classic evidence of a rail fare system so complex ... that it can't really cope

I’d second that. 

I successfully appealed an initial decision to refuse compensation on Groupsave tickets as it was suggested my delay could have been reduced had I caught a Cross Country service.  I went back to them pointing out Groupsave is not valid on those services and promptly received the correct refund.

22:31 Swindon to Westbury due 23:12

22:31 Swindon to Westbury due 23:12 is being delayed at Swindon.
This is due to the train departing late to maintain customer connections.

Ideal conditions to see peak of Lyrid meteor shower in UK



With lots of clear skies over the coming nights there is a good chance of seeing the Lyrid meteor shower.

While it has been ongoing since the 16 April, the peak is expected on Wednesday night.

Expect to see around 10 to 15 meteors an hour with surges of activity that could bring up to 100 an hour.

The Lyrid meteor shower is an annual event as a result of the Earth passing through dust left behind Comet Thatcher.

Cable theft costs passengers 213 hours in delays


Trains between Doncaster and Sheffield have been hit by 50 incidents of cable theft in the past five years

Cable thefts on railway lines between Doncaster and Sheffield have delayed passengers by more than 213 hours in the past year, figures show.

Passengers on services between the two South Yorkshire cities, which also passes through Rotherham, often see services cancelled or severely delayed as a result of the thefts.

Network Rail is publicly funded, meaning each theft is an additional cost to the taxpayer to repair.

The company said thefts had rise in line with an increase in copper prices, and that it was "working closely" with British Transport Police to catch and prosecute offenders.

According to figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, there had been 50 incidents of railway cable theft between Doncaster and Sheffield in the last five years, including 16 in 2025/26 alone.

The total delay in the 12 months to February 2026, linked directly to cable thefts, reached 12,809 minutes – or roughly 213.5 hours, the Local Democracy Service reports.

A Network Rail spokesperson said in 2025 alone, crime incidents on the North and East route cost the company over £1.3 million.

It said it was employing a range of strategies to catch offenders, including the use of drones and security cameras, and by forensically marking assets.

As long as you also ensure that you post a map of both stops locations ...

Angry bus passengers were "left stranded and made late for work or college" after Stagecoach failed to put up new bus timetables in some areas of Swindon.

Some had important journeys delayed or interrupted due to the bus schedule issue.

Stagecoach delayed putting the new timetables for revised number 7 services on stops around town, including Flint Hill in Toothill.

Cllr Sean Wilson, representing Lydiard and Freshbrook, said on Monday: "Once again Stagecoach have let down their passengers by not posting their new schedules on bus stops and shelters around Swindon.

“The same issue happened two years ago which reveals a lack of planning.

“People have been left stranded and made late for work or college as a result."

Train wi-fi upgrades will 'transform' businesses


The government said £12m of its £57m investment in rail wi-fi nationally would be on services in the west and south west of England and Wales

Having reliable and high-speed wi-fi on trains could be "transformative" for businesses, an expert on rural branch lines in Cornwall says.

A UK-first pilot scheme for faster internet connections on trains, using technology originally developed for Formula 1 cars, was launched on Great Western Railway (GWR) services in the South West in November 2025.

The government said it would invest £57m in rail wi-fi nationally as part of its scheme Project Reach, with £12m of that being spent in the west and south west of England and Wales.

Deputy editor of Modern Railways magazine Andy Bowes-Roden said businesses currently faced a "time penalty" due to "patchy" internet connections on trains. "Getting anywhere up-country takes a long time and, while you can do some work with the existing internet system, it relies on mobile phone data, and that can be very patchy in plenty of areas of Cornwall and beyond where there's not a signal," Bowes-Roden said.


Deputy editor of Modern Railways magazine Andy Bowes-Roden said having fast and reliable wi-fi on trains would be a "game changer" for Cornwall

"Having high-speed reliable broadband on the trains effectively eliminates almost all of that time penalty for businesses because you can do all of the things you can do in an office." He said for him personally, having fast connectivity on the train would be a "game changer".

The government said Project Reach was a multi-year scheme, with the first installation of mobile infrastructure expected to begin in 2026 and be fully rolled out by 2028. It said: "The project's innovative commercial model brings together public and private sector investment and infrastructure and is expected to save taxpayers around £300m while creating a high-performing digital connectivity backbone for businesses, supporting the UK's digital ambitions."

Bowes-Roden said instead of the government viewing it as an investment in rail network, it would be a "clearer case" if its focus was on businesses. "It hits so many of the government's objectives in terms of regional growth, regional inequality and boosting businesses," he said. "For a relatively small investment from government, the returns look like they'll be absolutely fantastic."

A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said it continued to work with transport bosses and GWR to assess the success of the pilot scheme and how wi-fi could be improved on the network. "We understand connectivity on trains can be patchy, which is why we're working to harness cutting-edge satellite technology to ensure passengers can enjoy fast, reliable internet on our mainline trains," they added. "Great British Railways will deliver a railway fit for the 21st Century, with more comfortable and convenient trains for passengers."

Cumbria Nature Festival mixed up with event for nudists


Red squirrels can be seen at several sites in Cumbria

Wildlife enthusiasts are urging visitors to "dress appropriately" after a mix-up saw their event for naturalists confused with one aimed at nudists.

Cumbria Nature Festival issued what it called an important clarification and offered a refund to anyone who had "booked in error".

The event is being staged from 8-10 May at a site in Workington and will feature a range of guest speakers and activities for all ages.

Sam Griffin, a member of the organising committee, said the announcement followed a "misunderstanding" and that "we haven't ultimately had to refund anyone so we're hopeful our offering has been sufficient to retain their interest, despite imposing a dress code".

In a Facebook post, the event said: "After a recent enquiry we need to clarify - Cumbria Nature Festival is primarily aimed at NATURALISTS… not NATURISTS. Whilst we aim to be as inclusive as possible, and certainly do not judge anyone, we are aiming the event at wildlife enthusiasts. Please do dress appropriately."

(BBC article continues)