Green Signals podcast

Green Signals

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.

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.

 

#157

Running trains on the West Coast: Interview with Avanti West Coast MD Andy Mellors

Andy Mellors is a career railwayman with a successful careerin railway engineering and oth... more

21 Oct 2025

37 MINS

37:54

21 Oct 2025


#156

106. 50% of Rail journeys now nationalised

Greater Anglia is renationalised… and the Transport Secretary makes some curious comments ... more

16 Oct 2025

49 MINS

49:01

16 Oct 2025


#155

105. £1m fine for GWR over droplight window death – what happened?

Great Western Railway is fined £1 million over a fatal droplight window incident in 2018 –... more

09 Oct 2025

46 MINS

46:14

09 Oct 2025


#154

104. Nature vs Railways – have we got the balance with biodiversity wrong?

Railways and vegetation, bats, dormice – and biodiversity in general – don’t always mix we... more

02 Oct 2025

1 HR 09 MINS

1:09:22

02 Oct 2025


#153

103. Northern Powerhouse Rail – The new HS2 for politicians to argue about?

Northern Powerhouse Rail – has it become the new HS2 for politicians to argue about? We ch... more

25 Sep 2025

1 HR 02 MINS

1:02:18

25 Sep 2025


#152

Ellie Burrows: In the hot seat for the biggest East Coast timetable change in a decade!

Imagine being responsible for the East Coast Main Line, or the Midland Main Line, or the w... more

23 Sep 2025

29 MINS

29:29

23 Sep 2025


#151

Settle & Carlisle Railway Diversions On Test – and we’re on Board!

In the days of British Rail and Virgin Trains, the iconic and spectacular Settle & Carlisl... more

22 Sep 2025

17 MINS

17:16

22 Sep 2025


#150

102. HS2’s ‘Green Tunnels’ – Great idea or huge waste of money?

We visit TWO of HS2’s ‘green tunnels’ and discuss whether they’re a great idea or a huge w... more

18 Sep 2025

1 HR 04 MINS

1:04:16

18 Sep 2025


#149

Why Are UK Train Tickets SO Expensive?

Why are train tickets in the UK so expensive? In this short explainer video, we cover the ... more

17 Sep 2025

10 MINS

10:53

17 Sep 2025


#148

NEW Tyne and Wear Metro Class 555s - inside Stadler's £70m depot

The Tyne and Wear Metro has a fascinating story that very nearly didn’t happen. We take a... more

16 Sep 2025

15 MINS

15:10

16 Sep 2025


#147

101. East Coast Main Line Timetable - Are fewer stops a good thing?!

East Coast Main Line December timetable changes – are fewer stops a good thing? We find ou... more

11 Sep 2025

1 HR 05 MINS

1:05:24

11 Sep 2025


#146

100. Scotland scraps peak rail fares. Is England next?

Scotland scraps peak rail fares. Is England next? Network Rail releases its supplier spend... more

04 Sep 2025

59 MINS

59:41

04 Sep 2025


#145

99. Eurostar: The full (mind-blowing!) guide to Channel Tunnel competition

Eurostar competitors submit detailed plans to the Regulator. We ask - has anyone made a co... more

28 Aug 2025

1 HR 01 MINS

1:01:45

28 Aug 2025


#144

South Eastern Railway – Track and Train reunited at last: Interview with Steve White

The Government believes that by uniting track and train together, performance on the railw... more

26 Aug 2025

38 MINS

38:02

26 Aug 2025


#143

98. ASLEF claims victory for train drivers over toilets… but is it a victory?

ASLEF hails a victory for drivers over access to toilets. But is it really a victory? Netw... more

21 Aug 2025

44 MINS

44:11

21 Aug 2025


#142

97. The Brighton Belle - take a tour inside! And Chiltern Railways NEW trains - or not?

The Brighton Belle – We visit the iconic train that will soon return to the main line Chil... more

14 Aug 2025

56 MINS

56:49

14 Aug 2025


#141

96. Inside Yorkshire’s £250m train factory: Goole Rail Village

Following on from our recent Piccadilly Line Tube Trainvideo, this week we go behind the s... more

07 Aug 2025

1 HR 02 MINS

1:02:40

07 Aug 2025