Grand Union has begun industry consultation over a proposal to operate five open access services a day between Cardiff and Edinburgh, and separately is looking at rolling stock options for its planned London - Carmarthen and London - Stirling services.
(Permalink) Cardiff Carmarthen Edinburgh Grand Union London Stirling

In terms of convenience, Edinburgh Waverley, with its famous in and out ramps, was pretty much the perfect station for motorists in the post-war era. Connecting the English capital and Perth via Edinburgh Waverley, the first car-sleeper rail services debuted in 1955 and allowed Scots motorists the freedom of taking their car on their holidays while avoiding the gruelling 450-mile drive south.
(Permalink) Birmingham Brockenhurst Carlisle Carmarthen Dover Edinburgh Waverley Fishguard Harbour Fort William Glasgow Inverness Kensington Olympia London Euston Motorail Penzance Perth Plymouth Stirling Stranraer

The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has opened up the Great Western Main Line to competition and enabled a significant increase in rail services between London and South Wales. The rail regulator has approved the introduction of new train services between London, Cardiff and South West Wales from the end of 2024. The services will be operated by a new open access operator, Grand Union Trains, bringing competition to the Great Western route out of Paddington. Passengers travelling between London, Bristol Parkway, Severn Tunnel Junction, Newport, Cardiff, Gowerton, Llanelli and Carmarthen will benefit from an extra five daily return services and greater choice of operator. The decision opens up the Great Western Main Line to competition for the first time, with potential benefits in terms of lower fares, improved service quality and innovation for all passengers using the route. The application, submitted to ORR in June 2022, was disputed by Network Rail due to concerns about capacity on the network. But following careful consideration and analysis, ORR has directed Network Rail to enter into a contract with Grand Union. Grand Union has committed to significant investment in new trains. As an open access train operator, however, it will not get paid subsidies from public funds, unlike current operators along the route.
(Permalink) Bristol Parkway Cardiff Carmarthen Gowerton Grand Union Great Western Railway Main Line Llanelli London Newport ORR Severn Tunnel Junction

Reopening the Aberystwyth-Carmarthen railway would cost significantly less than thought, a report by campaign group Traws Link Cymru has claimed. They claim that the cost of reopening the Aberystwyth to Carmarthen railway could be reduced to around £620 million, 20% less than the Wesh Governments £775m price tag.
(Permalink) Aberystwyth Carmarthen Carmarthen and Cardigan Railway Manchester and Milford Railway