Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Monday, 20th March 2023
InTheNews: The latest rail news on Monday, 20th March 2023
The Government has penned an extension to its current arrangements with West Coast Main Line operator, West Coast Partnership, despite mounting anger from business and passenger groups over its poor service.
The rail group, run by transport giant First Group and which includes the Avanti West Coast franchise, has been granted permission to continue providing rail services until October 15 this year.
The original agreement was due to expire at the end of this month.
First Group said today the extension will operate broadly under the same terms and conditions as the current agreement.
A new train operator hopes to win approval within months for new Stirling-London services using a brand new fleet with more spacious interiors.
An article on the Scotsman says Grand Union (GU) pledged to offer passengers first class-style 2+1 reclining seats in standard class rather than the traditional two seats either side of the aisle on the trains.
If its application to the Office of Rail and Road regulator (ORR) is successful, they would run from 2025 via the west coast main line, which current cross-Border operator Avanti West Coast uses for Glasgow/Edinburgh to London services.
Track work on the Levenmouth Rail Link has passed the half-way point.
Completion of the latest phase of track installation marks a significant milestone on the Scottish Government-funded project with the first three miles of rail now in place from Thornton Junction – now extending more than half-way to Leven.
Since the start of work on the line, the track bed has been dug out with 30,000 tonnes of spoil removed. The ground has been waterproofed and approximately 37,000 tonnes of new stone ballast laid.
A small dog was found hiding underneath a train which was travelling from Dartford to Victoria in London.
An article on the ITV website says Southeastern tweeted to let passengers know that trains were unable to move whilst Network Rail Response teams tried to rescue the dog.
The small dog was rescued by the team and its owner was contacted.
Photo credit: Network Rail
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