The West Coast Main Line:

Squeezing the most out of the West Coast Virgin Trains COO Chris Gibb suggests how to improve West Coast operations

London Midland franchise extended

Two more years for West Coast operator Britaina's premier freight artery

Paul Shannon reviews freight operations on the West Coast main line

Bletchley brought into line Signalling at this Buckinghamshire hub has been renewed

News:

News Front - Network Rail's Strategic Business Plan; new trains for Southern; SWT plans new rolling stock order; Mail Rail to be a tourist attraction?

Rail Freight - Highland Spring bottled water trial; increased track access charges for coal

Infrastructure News - Golden Valley redoubling; BAM Nuttall's Borders contract

Informed Sources - The Brown Review; TOC efficiency; the Rail Technical Strategy; plus GW wiring running late

Europe View - Keith Fender presents a round-up of news from across the Channel

Features:

A year lopped off Reading project  - Lateral thinking on the blockade programme is shortening the timescale

Communication breakdown - Ian Walmsley (with a little help from Robert Plant) looks at passenger information

Starting from scratch in Afghanistan - Richard Brown tells the RSA about new rail services in the Asian country

Regulars:

Welcome - LU150 steam runs

Railtalk - The Brown Review

Blood and Custard - A sideways look at railway life

Forum - Readers comment on topical issues around the railway today

Trackwatch - Our monthly look at changes on the national network

Moving Wheels - Rolling stock news

In Business - Latest happenings in industry

People - Recent appointments

Classified ads - The small ads that matter

Alan Williams - Alan casts an eye over the Brown Review

Crossrail update - Some stunning new aerial images