This year is shaping up to be an exhilarating period for rail travel across the United Kingdom, with new stations, trains contributing to renewable energy, and upgraded carriages on the horizon. At a time when air travel has never been more unpredictable, passengers planning journeys around the country have much to look forward to. From wind turbines installed next to tracks to a brand new £250 million train station, significant changes are underway. Here is a comprehensive look at all the train upgrades expected this year.
Train-Powered Wind Turbines
LNER has joined forces with clean energy specialists Treeva to install three wind turbines adjacent to a railway track. These turbines capture energy generated by the turbulent airflow created by passing trains and convert it into electricity to power various devices. The turbines have been positioned alongside the East Coast Main Line at Hitachi Rail's Craigentinny depot, marking the first installation of their kind next to a UK railway track. A single turbine can power a third of a small station's lighting needs, four CCTV cameras, or two passenger information screens. Anjali Devadasan, CEO and co-founder of Treeva, explained that the company aims to 'transform the way transport infrastructure is powered.' She added, 'By capturing the airflow of passing trains to generate energy, we can turn unused land into a meaningful source of clean power and enable sustainable systems that pay for themselves within months. We're excited and optimistic about this next step in our work with LNER and the wider rail industry, and we look forward to seeing the turbine results and exploring future opportunities.'
New £250 Million Train Station
A brand new train station, Cambridge South, is scheduled to open on June 28, backed by £250 million of government funding. It will become the first Great British Railways-branded station in the country. The station is expected to be busy, with 1.8 million passengers per year and nine trains running every hour to Cambridge city centre. Offering direct links to the city’s Biomedical Campus, trains will also run to London, Birmingham, Stansted Airport, and an international rail service via St Pancras. Rail Minister Lord Peter Hendy stated, 'Backed by £250 million government investment, Cambridge South will open up access to jobs, homes and world-class facilities for people across the region, boosting the growth of the Biomedical Campus as one of the most important engines of growth in the country. As the first new Great British Railways-branded station, the opening is an important milestone for our railways and a sign of the real change public ownership will deliver. Faster connections supporting economic growth, thousands more jobs and homes and a railway that works for the communities it serves.'
Another New Train Station
Okehampton Interchange is a new station being built on the Dartmoor Line, between Okehampton and Exeter. Expected to open over the summer, it will become Great Western Railway's 200th station. Located just two minutes from the A30, it will complement the existing Okehampton station, which will remain open. The hub aims to reduce road traffic in the area and promote sustainable travel. Facilities will include cycle parking and electric car charging points, and buses will also call at the station.
More Budget Train Journeys
Budget train provider Lumo is launching a new service along the West Coast Main Line, with bargain ticket prices. Routes between Stirling and London Euston start from just £29.90. Travelling from London to Preston costs £23.90, and Preston to Stirling is priced from an astonishing £14.90. The service will also call at Milton Keynes, Nuneaton, Crewe, Carlisle, Lockerbie, Motherwell, Whifflet, Greenfaulds, and Larbert.
New £400 Million Fleet of Trains
East Midlands Railway's new Aurora train fleet, introduced in December, will continue to be rolled out throughout 2026. These trains operate on journeys between Sheffield, Nottingham, and London on the EMR Intercity route. The Aurora uses more efficient technology, cutting carbon emissions by up to 66 per cent when in electric mode. The £400 million fleet of 33 trains provides 24 per cent more seats and 19 per cent more legroom compared to the Meridian trains it replaces.
New Tube Carriages
London's Piccadilly Line has been undergoing a £3.4 billion investment programme since 2024. The renovations include a new fleet of 94 state-of-the-art trains, the first of which arrived in London in October 2024. Transport for London plans to launch the fleet between December 2026 and June 2027. The carriages will feature air conditioning for the first time on a deep Tube train, as well as wider all-double doorways.
