Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Friday, 11th November 2022
InTheNews: The latest rail news on Friday, 11th November 2022
The new rail minister addressed the RIA Annual Conference in London yesterday and said cutting project costs is essential to accelerating Britain’s electrification programme.
An article from the International Rail Journal said Huw Merriman warned the conference audience that tough decisions lay ahead for the industry, given the poor state of government finances, and that the level of support provided during and after the pandemic is “unsustainable”. He said rail must “demonstrate value for money, decarbonise and attract new customers.”
Mr Merriman, who is the third rail minister to be appointed in as many months stressed that the new DfT ministerial team under Secretary of State Mark Harper, was made up of policy experts who were now ready to get to work to support a growing, sustainable railway.
East Midlands Railways is urging members of the public to help tackle dangerous behaviour on its network, after a series of incidents in the past 12 months caused delays and damage.
Incidents have included a microwave thrown on the tracks near Sunny Hill in Derby, a shopping trolley on a line near Leicester station and a bicycle placed on the tracks near Kettering station.
Bricks, stones and rocks were also thrown at the operator’s trains 14 times throughout the year – smashing windows and potentially endangering lives of customers and railway staff.
Lucy Gallacher, the operator’s emergency planning manager said the reckless acts must stop, adding that customers can play their part by reporting incidents to the British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40.
Barking and Dagenham Council has said it is in talks with Transport for London (TfL) about plans to build another new London Overground station in Barking.
An article from the Barking & Dagenham Post said the council has revealed it is working with TfL to make a case for a new train station at Castle Green, which is located in Renwick Road and would sit between Barking and Barking Riverside stations.
The plans also include 4,000 new homes complete with schools, jobs and green space by placing part of the A13 inside a tunnel.The council is in talks with the Greater London Authority and the Government and said it will announce key decisions, along with funding, early next year.
Finally, Leamington Spa Station is offering people the chance to own one of eight large murals that used to be displayed in the station’s underpass.
An article from the BBC said the 8ft artworks were on show for more than a decade but were replaced in July this year as part of the Commonwealth Games station improvements.
Residents or business owners will not have to pay for the murals but will have to be able to collect them, Warwickshire District Council said. People have until 17:00 on 25 November to register their interest via the council’s website.
Image credit: Rail Industry Association
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