Read the May issue online now! This feature-packed issue includes…

The Cheek of it; Chris Cheek reflects on the likely effects of the COVID-19 crisis on the rail industry and what effect this might have on Government reform plans

Laying down the law; The transport sector has been designated as a key industry during the COVID-19 pandemic and needs to keep functioning, but can parties to contracts successfully claim that disruption caused by the pandemic has relieved them of the obligations that they have under those contracts?

Viewpoint; The transport sector has been designated as a key industry during the COVID-19 pandemic and needs to keep functioning, but can parties to contracts successfully claim that disruption caused by the pandemic has relieved them of the obligations that they have under those contracts?

Viewpoint; Nicola Anderson of Withers & Rogers looks at innovation from grassroots through to major infrastructure projects

Women in Rail; Abu Siddeeq, Head of Customer Experience at LNER, Member of the Board of Trustee of Women in Rail and winner of the Women in Rail Inspirational Man of the Year Award 2019 explains his passion for gender balance, diversity and inclusion in UK rail

Prior knowledge; Community can take many forms, and in times of great stress the power of community can be immense, says Lucy Prior MBE

Viewpoint; Matt Lovering, Senior Managing Director at Teneo, explores the industry response to the COVID-19 epidemic

Rail Professional Interview; Sam Sherwood-Hale talks to London TravelWatch’s new Director Emma Gibson about her experience in campaigning, amplifying the voice of London’s transport users, and achieving the Government’s carbon emissions goals

Social Enterprise; Next time your train pulls in at its destination, think of the veterans and people with disabilities who showed it the way thanks to Network Rail’s inclusive supplier

Track and Trackside; Philippe Aretz, Channel Sales Director at Ovarro, the new name for Servelec Technologies, looks at how Remote Telemetry Units (RTU) can help rail operators maintain effi ciency and safety at a time when passenger numbers are increasing

Rail Professional Interview; Sam Sherwood-Hale spoke to Mark Phillips, CEO of RSSB about the independent body’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the advice and toolkits they have to offer, and what the industry as a whole is doing to keep Britain moving

Supply Chain; How can rail businesses build stronger, more responsible supply chains? Pendragon Stuart, a Consultant at international sustainability consultancy Sancroft, explores the key challenges and opportunities for industry leaders

Book Review; Heritage Railway Editor, Robin Jones, reviews Anthony Dawson’s new book which chronicles the journey leading up to the ‘Rocket’

Franchising; Rail franchising is over but what will emerge in response to COVID-19 is still uncertain and up for grabs, planning and transport consultant Steve Chambers explores the possibilities

Trams and local rail; Christina Biggs shares her thoughts on the proposals in the West of England Combined Authority’s JLTP4 plan

Safety and Security; The charity Railway Children is still working hard and finding new ways to support the UK’s most vulnerable children during the coronavirus pandemic, as Head of UK Programmes Gaynor Little explains

High-Speed Rail; When the first length of UK high-speed rail was built all those years ago, it would have been hard to imagine the transformational impact that it has had on Kent and beyond

Environmental Engineering; Sid Grover, Associate Director for Environment, Health and Safety at environmental and engineering consultancy RSK, provides an insight into RSK’s work with the Midland Metro Alliance

Business Profiles; BCRRE Rail Alliance, Boxever, Park Signalling, Fugro, Entrance Matting Systems (EMS) Ltd, Relec Electronics