FIRST Capital Connect has been awarded a six-month extension to its Thameslink franchise while Britain's Department for Transport (DfT) assesses the bids from five companies for a new larger franchise which is due to start in September.

SIEMENS, together with Britain's Department for Transport (DfT), rolling stock leasing company Cross London Trains (CLT), and current Thameslink franchisee First Capital Connect (FCC), presented the full-scale mock-up of the new Desiro City emu for Thameslink services at London's ExCeL exhibition centre on January 28.

BRITAIN's secretary of state for transport Mr Patrick McLoughlin today unveiled a revised timetable for rail franchises, which sets out how and when contracts will be tendered over the next eight years.

The minutes immediately after a train failure are a crucial period for both the driver and controller as they seek to move the train and its passengers to safety while minimising the impact of the incident on traffic. Keith Barrow looks at a new system developed by British train operating company First Capital Connect which gives controllers the fleet knowledge to make decisions quickly and safely.