Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Thursday, 25th April 2024.
InTheNews: The latest rail news on Thursday, 25th April 2024
Labour has pledged to renationalise the railways if it is elected, adding that the move would represent “the biggest overhaul of our railways in a generation.”
An article from The Guardian said that Labour would fully nationalise the rail network within five years of coming to power, and had vowed to “guarantee the cheapest fares”.
As one of its first significant acts in Government, the party would bring passenger rail into national ownership under new body Great British Railways.
RAIB has published a report into a near miss near Nottingham, according to BBC News.
The incident involved a freight train driver, who was almost hit by a passenger service after his train was stopped by signallers due to a fault.
The driver stood “directly in the path” of a passenger service leaving Nottingham after getting out to examine the train, which was carrying petroleum products.
BBC News reported that the passenger train sounded its horn and braked, enabling the driver to move to safety.
RAIB said that the incident demonstrated “the importance of following correct safety critical communication protocols”.
Network Rail confirmed that it would review the report’s findings “to prevent these kind of incidents occurring again in the future”.
Six fire engines have responded to a fire on a railway track near Gravesend, according to Kent Online.
The blaze, which was reportedly caused by vandals, took an hour to extinguish. Electricity cables were damaged, and services from London to Gravesend were suspended for the evening. No casualties were reported.
A Thameslink Rail spokesperson commented: “We can confirm that this was an act of vandalism that caused damage to feeder cables.”
And finally, LNER has launched new onboard menus for first-class passengers.
The menus feature produce from food and drink suppliers across its almost thousand-mile route.
Passengers can choose from a range of hot and cold dishes, including American-style pancakes, ‘Homity Pie’, and oven roasted cod, boulangère potatoes and green beans.
Richard Judge, Head of Customer Experience at LNER, said: “We are always excited when we get to
launch a new menu and we believe this is one of our best and most extensive yet.”
