Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Wednesday, 10th August 2022
InTheNews: The latest rail news on Wednesday, 10th August 2022
Leaders in Greater Manchester and London mayor Sadiq Khan have criticised Avanti West Coast over cuts to a number of services to the capital branding the decision “completely unacceptable”.
An article on The Business Desk says that in a letter to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, leader of Manchester City Council, Bev Craig, and Sadiq Khan have urged the train operator to restore a full timetable saying the cuts were a “national outrage”.
Avanti West Coast, which runs services between Manchester Piccadilly and London Euston, says it slashed its timetable to just one service an hour and suspended ticket sales on Monday due to “unofficial strike action” by drivers.
Union Aslef says there is no unofficial action by drivers at Avanti West Coast and told the i newspaper that the company needs to start recruiting enough drivers to deliver the services it promises passengers it will run.
In another stride towards a greener, more sustainable railway for Britain, Network Rail has signed an agreement with EDF Renewables UK which will see enough solar energy to power 20,000 homes used in offices, depots and railway stations across the country.
The contract will mean 49.9 MW of renewable energy capacity is available – and will cover around 15 per cent of Network Rail’s annual consumption of non-traction energy – provided from EDF Renewables UK’s Bloy’s Grove solar farm between Swainsthorpe and Mulbarton in Norfolk, which received planning consent in June this year.
Forgotten toilets at Bristol Temple Meads have been renovated and reopened after last being used some three decades ago.
According to Network Rail, the men’s toilets on platforms 10 and 12 at the station were last used in the early 1990s before being sealed during building work.
An article on Bristol Live says then, in 2019, they were rediscovered while improvements to the station were being carried out.
A complex restoration was required to bring them back to public use due to their dilapidated condition and the station’s status as a Grade I-listed building. Now the toilets have been converted into a facility for women.
At more remote stations, some passengers still have to flag down trains with their hand to get them to stop — now, newly installed technology will seek to make this a thing of the past.
Network Rail says the first “request-stop” kiosk on the Far North Line will go on trial at Scotscalder station from next Monday (15 August).
This will be the first of eight set to be rolled out along the Highland route. The idea is that passengers can access the next planned service electronically, rather than having to wave the train down.
Photo credit: Network Rail
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