Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Friday, 12th March 2021
The latest rail news on Friday, 12th March 2021
Penalties for dodging rail fares in England and Wales could be doubled.
An article in the i paper says the Department for Transport said penalty fares are “no longer fulfilling their deterrent function” at £20.
It referenced Transport for London’s scheme, which is an £80 penalty reduced to £40 if paid within 21 days.
The government has confirmed a £137 million investment to deliver more capacity and improve connectivity between Sheffield and Manchester.
The Hope Valley scheme aims to remove bottlenecks and improve performance by creating places for faster passenger services to overtake slower freight trains.
Work is expected to begin in 2022 and will be completed in 2023.
Go-Ahead has angered trade unions after indicating that it may start paying dividends this year, despite receiving emergency taxpayer support during the pandemic.
An article in The Times says the prospect of a resumption in pay-outs to private investors came as the company admitted that it had halted its expansion plans in Germany.
Go-Ahead operates the Southeastern, Thameslink and Southern rail commuter routes.
Finally, and a total of 140 million rail journeys were made in Great Britain in October, November and December 2020 and season ticket usage by passengers increased by 23-per-cent of pre-COVID levels.
That is according to official statistics by the Office of Rail and Road which show a steady rise in passenger numbers since quarter 1 – between April and June 2020 – when only 35 million passenger journeys in Great Britain were made.
Photo credit: Office of Rail and Road
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