Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Friday, 17th March 2023
InTheNews: The latest rail news on Friday, 17th March 2023
More than 8,800 people are already working to build High Speed Two out of Birmingham and Solihull, while local businesses have won contracts worth £1.7 billion so far, it was revealed today.
An article on the Birmingham Mail website says the extent of the jobs and skills impact is a critical reminder of how vital the project is to the city and region, said mayor Andy Street.
The welcome news comes against a backdrop of uncertainty and delay, as it emerged the service will operate for its first years as a shuttle service between Curzon Street and the edge of London, with the next phase of work up to Crewe and into the heart of the capital both mothballed for two years.
Virgin Media O2 has become the last of the UK’s four main mobile phone companies to offer its customers access to the expanding network of super-fast 4G connectivity on the Tube.
An article in the Evening Standard says 4G services are being installed across the London Underground for Transport for London by BAI Communications. Last December, EE and Vodafone customers were the first to benefit, followed by Three earlier this year.
On Friday Virgin said its Virgin Mobile and O2 customers would also be able to connect to 4G, which allows users to stream live TV and films, make calls and send emails and text messages while Underground.
Network Rail’s chief union negotiator Tim Shoveller is leaving the infrastructure owner to take up a new task in the freight sector.
An article on the Rail News website says he will become chief executive officer at Freightliner’s owner, the European division of US firm Genesee & Wyoming Inc., later this year.
He said: “My priority is to lead the team to optimise the core business for our customers and to drive growth in new markets in the UK and Europe.”
The Isle of Wight Steam Railway, Ffestiniog Railway, and Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway were among the big winners at the heritage rail sectors ‘Oscars’.
Heritage railways and tramways across the UK celebrated their successes at the HRA Annual Dinner and Awards in Birmingham.
Nearly 200 of Britain’s leading organisations came together to highlight best practice in everything from income generation to waggon restoration over 12 award categories.
Photo credit: Heritage Railway Association
