Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Monday, 28th November 2022
InTheNews: The latest rail news on Monday, 28th November 2022
Striking rail workers need to accept reforms to see their pay increase, the transport secretary has said.
RMT union members are holding a series of strikes over the festive period while trying to negotiate more money to match rising inflation.
In the article on the BBC website But Mark Harper said workplace reforms were the only way to “free up” funding to do this.
The RMT called on Mr Harper to “facilitate” negotiations on a new pay deal between the union and rail bosses.
Speaking on the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show, Mr Harper said: “It is the reforms that free up the savings that then unlock the ability for the companies to make an offer to the trade unions on pay.”
Rail services operating across the North will “collapse into utter chaos” unless ministers fix the issue of driver shortages within days, industry leaders have warned.
An article on the inews website says Jim O’Neill, a former Treasury minister, and Juergen Maier, the ex-CEO of Siemens UK, have written to Transport Secretary Mark Harper urging him to get a grip of the crisis amid fears it could become worse than the Northern rail timetable fiasco in 2018.
Train passengers using Avanti West Coast between London and Glasgow and commuters using TransPennine Express have been forced to endure months of rail misery due to an ongoing dispute over driver working hours.
Two new lifts are set to be installed in the subway at Warwick Railway Station.
An article on the Stratford Observer says they are part of a multi-million pound investment by Network Rail which will provide step-free access for passengers using platforms 1 and 2 for the first time.
Work will start in January and is expected to be complete by the end of the year.
South Western Railway (SWR) has become the UK’s second train operator to achieve accreditation of the British Transport Police’s Safeguarding in Rail scheme, recognising the need to support the most vulnerable members of society on the railway.
In securing the accreditation, SWR set out its approach to:
- Promoting the wellbeing of vulnerable people in need of help and support;
- Reducing and preventing the likelihood of harm where possible;
- Mitigating the impact and effects of harm;
- Training colleagues in ways to spot vulnerable people.
Central elements of the programme include clear policies, accountable leadership and a dedicated and ongoing programme of training for all colleagues.
Photo credit: South Western Railway
