In The News: 23rd April

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Train operators have been told they may need to increase their timetables by as early as the 11th of May, it has been claimed, prompting speculation that the lockdown could be partially lifted.

That’s according to an article in The Daily Telegraph which says the RMT said it has received information suggesting that ministers have told companies to be ready to boost the number of services by either the 11th or 18th of May.

However, speaking at the Government’s daily coronavirus news briefing, the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said such an increase in railway use is not a timetable being considered by the Government.

The search has started for contractors to design, deliver and maintain almost 300 state-of-the-art lifts and escalators for HS2’s four major new stations.

Approximately 168 lifts and 128 escalators will be installed across the project in London and Birmingham. Placed end to end, the escalators would stretch more than 3km.

The contract – worth up to £465m – is divided into two separate packages for lifts and escalators, with the winners appointed to frameworks.

More details can be found here.

The York Central Partnership has submitted a planning application for the first phase of infrastructure works to unlock the York Central site and allow development to start.

The partnership, made up of Network Rail, Homes England, City of York Council and supported by the National Railway Museum, is developing proposals to regenerate the 45 hectare site.

This planning application would create the necessary access to the site, so that it can be unlocked to provide homes, employment opportunities, a new park and other facilities.

Finally and a stonemason from Fife saved a man’s life on the railway lines in Perthshire when he pushed a car from the tracks before it was hit by an oncoming train.

That’s according to an article in the Dundee Courier that has spoken to Harry Marshall who was one of two people to push the car off the tracks.

Photo credit: HS2 Ltd

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