Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Monday, 11th July 2022
InTheNews: The latest rail news on Monday, 11th July 2022
The national rail dispute will reach a critical juncture today with the results of ballots for industrial action by drivers at eight train companies, as talks resume with the biggest rail union to head off more strikes.
The article on the Guardian says, the votes, called by Aslef, could lead to action with even more impact than during last month’s strikes by 40,000 RMT workers – when the absence in particular of signallers stopped most services in the UK – particularly if it coincides with action by Network Rail managers, whose ballot by the TSSA will also be announced today.
A strike by Aslef drivers would halt services at the affected train companies – Chiltern, GWR, LNER, London Overground, Northern, Southeastern, TransPennine and West Midlands – while action by the smaller TSSA union could deprive the rail network of contingency staff to keep services running during a wider strike at Network Rail.
Talks will resume today between train companies, Network Rail and the RMT, which paused discussions last week for its annual general meeting, in which the union’s leader, Mick Lynch, vowed to keep up “the fight of our generation”.
The first new stop on the London Overground since 2005 will open on 18 July, its operator has confirmed.
The article on the BBC website says Transport for London (TfL) said an extension of the Gospel Oak to Barking line will provide a rail connection to the new Barking Riverside development.
Network Rail will close the line for engineering works on 23 and 24 July, but once that work is complete, four trains will run every hour.
Plans to create a new railway station, eco business park and improved walking and cycling routes in Cheadle have been given the green light after funding was approved.
An article on Insider Media Limited says The Cheadle Town Board has secured £13.9 million of the Government’s Towns Fund for three “transformational” projects in Cheadle.
Top of the list is the approval of funding for the rail station. The station will be complemented by a strategic north-south cycling and walking route that will link Cheadle to its High Street and the proposed station.
High-speed mobile connectivity on the Tube has taken another major step forward today, with Vodafone and Virgin Media O2 joining BAI Communications’ (BAI) network, Sadiq Khan the Mayor of London has confirmed.
People using four mobile network operators – Three, EE, Vodafone and Virgin Media O2– will be able to access high-speed 4G and 5G-ready mobile connectivity across the Tube, including within the tunnels.
Photo credit: Transport for London
