IN FOCUS: TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT:

POSITIVE ABOUT PEOPLE - Crossrail chairman Terry Morgan gives his views
NORTHAMPTON RAIL ACADEMY - The new national training hub in focus
TELECOMS TRAINING - A visit to Linbrooke's dedicated facility
RECRUITING RAILWAY PEOPLE - A possible strategy to meet the sector's needs
IRO LAUNCHES ONLINE COURSES - A new innovation from the institution

NEWS:

NEWS FRONT - West Coast main line closed due to storm damage; c2c to bring in extra carriages; Bakerloo extension backed; one year of Virgin's direct Shrewsbury service
RAIL FREIGHT - Go-ahead for East Midlands freight interchange; ORR investigation into deep sea container market
INFRASTRUCTURE NEWS - NR's Christmas works programme in focus; Farnworth tunnel reopens; LU updates civil engineering fleet
INFORMED SOURCES - The smart ticketing story; Alstom's plans for new factory; HS2's impact on next West Coast franchise
EUROPE VIEW - Keith Fender presents a round-up of news from across the Channel

FEATURES:

100 NOT OUT - SWT KEEPS ON GROWING - As it marks 20 years of operation, South West Trains is looking forward
ST PANCRAS - SERVING THE CUSTOMER - HS1 - Wendy Spinks outlines the company's approach at the landmark London station
MERSEYRAIL - NEW MD MARKS HIS MARK - Future plans for Liverpool's suburban railway
THE QUEST FOR SPEED - Theo Steel suggests some possible linespeed improvements
WHY IS RAIL RIDERSHIP RISING? - Attitudes to travel examined in a new report
EXPANDING THE NETWORK - The case for reopening closed routes

REGULARS:

WELCOME - An introduction from the Editor
RAILTALK - Modern Railways' editorial view
PAN UP - A shortage of shelter; a different take on ridership statistics
BLOOD AND CUSTARD - Our diary column
FORUM - Readers comment on topical issues around the railway today
MOVING WHEELS - Rolling stock news
TRACKWATCH - Our monthly look at changes on the national network
PEOPLE - Recent appointments
IN BUSINESS AND SMALL ADS - Latest happenings in industry
BETWEEN THE LINES - Passenger trends examined
CROSSRAIL UPDATE - An update on fit-out of London's new railway
ALAN WILLIAMS - Our pundit questions the lack of Boxing Day services