Best HS2 Podcasts (2026)

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Structural collapse, and what to do about it | #Railnatter 289 37:54

Play Pause

5d ago37:54

37:54

We've reached the end of 2025! It's been an extremely difficult year across the board, with some points of light dotted around for nourishment, but I wanted to end with some hope. Also with a bridge collapsing on my head. Support #Railnatter at https://patreon.com/garethdennis. Merch at https://merch.railnatter.uk. Join in the discussion at https:/…

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What bits of railway are being built over Christmas? | #Railnatter 288 18:15

15d ago18:15

18:15

Merry Christmas! Raise a glass to all the folk out there this holiday season prodding, building and generally messing about with railways in the freezing cold. It's a brief, last minute news filler episode really - and we'll cover a few things including West Yorkshire mass transit delays, two Slovak trains playing chicken on the same track and negg…

1
4/5 Britain's creaking transport infrastructure, plus retrospective on '25 and predictions for '26 47:03

15d ago47:03

47:03

In our final (and seasonal) episode for 2025, Christian and Mark Walker look back on the year's transport highlights [1:58]. Christian explores with Dr Steve Denton FREng, Vice President at the Royal Academy of Engineering, the report 'Reviving Our Aged Infrastructure' published by the National Engineering Policy Centre [16:10]. After a look ahead …

1
'Mr Hornby' - Simon Kohler's memories, Manchester Model Railway Society, Scottish Mainline Adventure, Stockton & Darlington Locomotion No 1 Railway 200, Southern Rail Driver Embraces Christmas! 1:19:01

22d ago1:19:01

1:19:01

Send us a text In this episode, Mr Hornby himself, Simon Kohler chats to Alasdair about his new book 'My life at Hornby' and his career at the model manufacturer. Alasdair travel to Manchester to visit an exhibition put on by one of the most senior railway modelling societies in the world and young rail enthusiast Cynan Hughes reports from a grassr…

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Why diversity and inclusion policies aren't enough | #Railnatter 287 54:12

21d ago54:12

54:12

This week I'm delighted to say that we are joined by Poggy Murray Whitham joining us to talk about moving from the technical to the human side of engineering, abuse, threats, hate - and how to overcome them by thinking about psychological safety as rigorously as we think about physical safety. Last time we spoke was in "my" tent at Rail Live, so I'…

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The definitive verdict on Great British Railways’ new look - with JenOnTheMove | #Railnatter 286 58:56

1M ago58:56

58:56

They did it! Or rather, they did... something! The "new" identity of Great British Railways was released yesterday to noises resembling moisture purped through polyester. Alas, it wasn't the wondrous fanfare this ailing government were expecting, but it also isn't a total disaster. Plus it's a whoops all news episode - and who better to join than l…

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The one with David Edwards (Ericsson) 1:07:18

28d ago1:07:18

1:07:18

Episode 43: David Edwards — Cracking the Code on Strategic Workforce Planning David Edwards has spent decades transforming strategic workforce planning from organisational afterthought into boardroom priority. Currently Head of Workforce Planning at Ericsson and founder of consultancy Dark Artistry, he's built SWP functions inside global enterprise…

1
Queensbury Tunnel Campaign in Yorkshire, Tanat's Steam Monorail and Young Railway Enthusiasts Report on Collection X & the Railway 200 'Inspiration Train' plus a Network Rail renewal in Sussex 1:06:12

1M ago1:06:12

1:06:12

Send us a text Welcome to this episode of Making Tracks Podcast with Alasdair Stewart and Sharon Gregory. In many episodes you will have heard us welcoming opportunities for young railway enthusiasts...so we thought we should practice what we preach and in this episode we welcome two teenage guest presenters. Rail enthusiasts , George Woodward and …

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4/4 Budget unbundled plus where next for walking, wheeling and cycling? 50:20

1M ago50:20

50:20

Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker discuss the full range of transport-related items in the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget statement issued on 26 November 2025 [1:38]. With the UK Department for Transport consulting on England's walking, wheeling and cycling strategy, Christian explores with leading writer in the field Laura Laker whet…

1
The Secret To Fixing York's Traffic Problems | #Railnatter 285 36:39

1M ago36:39

36:39

York is broken - traffic is knackered and the city, with its wonderful medieval core and rivers, barely reaches a fraction of its potential as a result. It turns out there's a fix though - and it involves LEARNING FROM OTHER PLACES! Shock/horror/etc. Support #Railnatter at https://patreon.com/garethdennis. Merch at https://merch.railnatter.uk. Join…

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Melbourne’s trains - with Chris Brownbill | #Railnatter 284 31:18

1M ago31:18

31:18

Chris Brownbill (https://railmaps.com.au/) has taken over! With Melbourne's Metro Tunnel - their Crossrail - opening this weekend, it is as good a time as any to get to know Melbourne's public transport that bit better... Support #Railnatter at https://patreon.com/garethdennis. Merch at https://merch.railnatter.uk. Join in the discussion at https:/…

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The rail reunion ⁠– Coventry Leicester and Nottingham 26:15

2M ago26:15

26:15

In this episode, Paul talks to Rail Programme Manager, Andy Clark, about all things Coventry, Leicester, Nottingham. They discuss the need for a direct rail link between the three cities, with a peek behind the curtains into "the business case that writes itself." For more information on the scheme, click here. Midlands Connect is the Sub-national …

1
The PWI has to change its name | #Railnatter 283 42:19

2M ago42:19

42:19

It's time for the PWI (the Permanent Way Institution) - my beloved professional institution, the best of the lot, and one I'm immensely proud of - to change its name. And you can make it happen. Find out more at: https://www.thepwi.org/about/our-next-chapter Support #Railnatter at https://patreon.com/garethdennis. Merch at https://merch.railnatter.…

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The one with Tony Holly (Magnit) 1:05:32

2M ago1:05:32

1:05:32

Tony Holly, Senior Director at Magnet's Strategic Advisory Team, joins the podcast to reveal the massive blind spot in most organisations' talent intelligence: contingent labour. Tony's team touches 600,000–800,000 contingent workers every single week across 600+ Fortune 500 clients. Despite this enormous scale, contingent workforce data remains la…

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4/3 Great British Railways Bill analysed plus cycling for deprived communities 36:57

2M ago36:57

36:57

With the UK Government publishing its much anticipated Railways Bill, Christian and co-presenter Mark Walker analyse what the legislation says about Labour's intentions for industry reforms and anticipate where controversy will flourish [1:10]. Christian meets Olympic and World championship legend Chris Boardman CBE at the launch of a pamphlet prom…

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The man who destroyed Britain's buses | #Railnatter 282 51:46

2M ago51:46

51:46

We need a laugh (?) so this week we are going through a report written by Professor John Hibbs for the IEA (the bad one) nearly twenty years ago, and twenty years after Britain's buses were deregulated outside of London and proceeded to be completely decimated, where they weren't engaging in outright urban combat. In its pages, we see why he and th…

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Everything you need to know about the Railways Bill | #Railnatter 281 45:27

2M ago45:27

45:27

Yesterday, the UK Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander deposited the Railways Bill in the House of Commons. Does this actually mean anything? Not yet, not least as quite a lot of important stuff about the future of Britain's railways isn't in this document at all, but it does help clarify the direction of travel, if not the destination.…

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4/2 Wales transport transformation plus autonomous vehicles update 48:38

2M ago48:38

48:38

Christian speaks to Transport for Wales Chief Executive Officer James Price about the transformation of rail services across the nation currently underway, with particular focus on the South Wales Metro [1:30]. With possible UK autonomous vehicle trials in the news, Christian visits the Smart Mobility Living Lab and hears about its work from Beata …

1
A tale of two railway museums: Utrecht and York, the East Lancashire Railway Gala, English narrow gauge in Kent and a Dutch preserved line. 1:05:38

2M ago1:05:38

1:05:38

Send us a text In this episode we’ll be visiting two national railway museums, in Utrecht and York, a gala event at the East Lancashire railway, and riding on standard and narrow gauge heritage lines, the Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway, run entirely by volunteers in Kent, and the STAR museum railway in the Netherlands, and along the way, dis…

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The real reason HS2 died | #Railnatter 280 50:49

2M ago50:49

50:49

Back in June the Stewart Review suggested a series of reasons why Britain's embryonic domestic high speed railway line was tripping over its shoelaces. Today, we dig into that report, with the usual useful context on its author and its subject matter. Support #Railnatter at https://patreon.com/garethdennis. Merch at https://merch.railnatter.uk. Joi…

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British airports that have got to go | #Railnatter 279 49:50

3M ago49:50

49:50

You've been asking for this one for a long time - YES, the airports episode is finally here! Which of the UK's 32 mainland airports (including on the island of Ireland) deserve to survive into the 2040s, and which must CLOSE? Tune in to find out! Support #Railnatter at https://patreon.com/garethdennis. Merch at https://merch.railnatter.uk. Join in …

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S1E13 - 'Monday Morning 7.45am' REMASTERED 28:18

3M ago28:18

28:18

To celebrate 10 years since the show began, we're releasing remastered versions of season 1. Revelations, announcements, endings - this episode has it all! It's the final chapter of 'Belinda Blinked 1'. Belinda enjoys one more session with The Duchess but will she make it to work for 9am? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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S1E12 - 'The Duchess Comes Clean' REMASTERED 27:10

3M ago27:10

27:10

To celebrate 10 years since the show began, we're releasing remastered versions of season 1. It's the return of The Duchess in the penultimate chapter of 'Belinda Blinked 1'. What is she coming clean about? Will we find out? Will it make sense? Does it matter? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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S1E11 - 'The Night Receptionist' REMASTERED 28:18

3M ago28:18

28:18

To celebrate 10 years since the show began, we're releasing remastered versions of season 1. Belinda is still wide awake at The Horse and Jockey as the youngish man from reception brings her some extra special room service... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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The city that’s choking itself to death | #Railnatter 278 52:37

3M ago52:37

52:37

A city I love and have travelled to many times for a decade now - Belgrade is a melting pot of culture, art and architecture, food and fun. And yet it is being poisoned by corruption, greed and car dominance. The result is a dying city - and a warning to the UK, given our cities are taking exactly the same trajectory. (don't worry about the hallelu…

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4/1 Is Northern Powerhouse Rail the wrong choice? Plus saving the Queensbury Tunnel 56:21

3M ago56:21

56:21

Our launch episode for Season 4 includes interviews with Andrew Gilligan on why he believes the money sought for Northern Powerhouse Rail could be better invested in other railway enhancements for the North of England [3:02] and with Graeme Bickerdike who is campaigning to save the disused Queensbury rail tunnel in Yorkshire as a cycling commuter a…

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S1E10 - 'Sunday Night 11.55pm' REMASTERED 31:15

3M ago31:15

31:15

To celebrate 10 years since the show began, we're releasing remastered versions of season 1. Belinda and Peter continue their awkward dalliance in the lobby of 'The Horse and Jockey' in full view of the CCTV. And Peter reveals a shocking twist... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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S1E9 - 'The Horse and Jockey' REMASTERED 27:55

3M ago27:55

27:55

To celebrate 10 years since the show began, we're releasing remastered versions of season 1. In what is becoming the longest day of her life, Belinda returns to The Horse and Jockey for dinner followed by a second dalliance with Peter Rouse... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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S1E8 - 'The Chalet' REMASTERED 31:19

3M ago31:19

31:19

To celebrate 10 years since the show began, we're releasing remastered versions of season 1. As Belinda's day at the company party continues, the mysterious Duchess takes her to a nearby chalet where things get very racy... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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S1E7 - 'The Tombola' REMASTERED 33:56

3M ago33:56

33:56

To celebrate 10 years since the show began, we're releasing remastered versions of season 1. Belinda is finally free from the maze and takes part in a charity tombola. But, as always, it's more than meets the eye. The prizes are much more racy... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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S1E6 - 'The Third Client Peter Rouse' REMASTERED 30:12

3M ago30:12

30:12

To celebrate 10 years since the show began, we're releasing remastered versions of season 1. Belinda spends time with one more client in the medium sized maze. They seem to be getting on well - could this be love? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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S1E5 - 'The Second Client Jim Stirling' REMASTERED 30:24

3M ago30:24

30:24

To celebrate 10 years since the show began, we're releasing remastered versions of season 1. This time, Belinda is still in the maze and gets a little more (or should that be less?) than she bargained for with potential BIG American client, Jim Stirling... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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S1E4 - 'The Maze / The First Client' REMASTERED 29:27

3M ago29:27

29:27

To celebrate 10 years since the show began, we're releasing remastered versions of season 1. It's two chapters for the price of one! Belinda puts on her tennis gear (without bra or thong) as Tony leads her to a "medium-sized garden maze" to meet some prospective business clients. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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How British Rail gave us the USA’s newest high speed train | #Railnatter 277 39:57

3M ago39:57

39:57

Following a wee hiatus from host knackeredness syndrome, we're back! And we're returning to our roots by talking all about British Rail's Advanced Passenger Train, and the corporate nonsense that took APT's tilting technology via about a dozen legal entities to slap it straight into the replacement Acela fleet this year! We also answer the question…

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S1E3 - 'The Regional Sales Meeting' REMASTERED 28:20

3M ago28:20

28:20

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S1E2 - 'The Leather Room' REMASTERED 27:01

3M ago27:01

27:01

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S1E1 - 'The Job Interview' REMASTERED 28:54

3M ago28:54

28:54

To celebrate 10 years since the show began, we're releasing remastered versions of season 1. In this very first episode, we meet our heroine, Belinda Blumenthal, as she interviews for the job of her dreams - worldwide sales director of a pots and pans company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…