In The News | 12th January 2023 | Latest Rail News

Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Thursday, 12th January 2023

InTheNews: The latest rail news on Thursday, 12th January 2023

A “renewed offer” will be on the table at crunch talks to avert more rail strikes, Transport Secretary Mark Harper has said.

An article on the AOL website says officials from the Rail Delivery Group, representing train firms, will meet with the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union and Transport Salaried Staffs Association (TSSA) today (Thursday) in a fresh bid to break the deadlock.

Mick Whelan, general secretary of the Aslef train drivers’ union, on Wednesday told the Commons Transport Select Committee there was “zero” chance of a resolution.

But Mr Harper later said that was “unfair” as the situation had “moved on”.

Council leaders have pledged their support for a new railway station near a stadium.

An article on the BBC website says campaigners and stadium bosses have called for the old Ashton Gate station in Bristol to reopen, to help sort the traffic problems on match days.

The discussion comes as the Bristol City Council planning committee approved a new £100 million sporting quarter.

Bristol’s Mayor said the council would look at “potential new stations at St Anne’s, Lockleaze and Ashton Gate”.

Construction of the new Butetown railway station and the redevelopment of Cardiff Bay station gets underway this month. It is part of the biggest upgrade to public transport in the area for a generation.

In the summer of 2022, Transport for Wales (TfW) confirmed plans to build a new two-platform station in the north of Butetown.

The existing Cardiff Bay station will also be enhanced, as well as getting new signage, customer information screens and other improvements. Cardiff Bay station will remain open for passengers while the work is taking place.

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Polystyrene blocks have been used by Network Rail to bridge the gaps between platforms to build a temporary route along the width of Manchester Piccadilly railway station so that mobile elevated working platforms (MEWPs) could reach the roof structure.

Twelve ‘splice plates’ – which join the bottom chords of the steel trusses – are being replaced. They have been specially designed in keeping with the heritage features of the building.

It is part of the strengthening work to the Victorian-built train shed’s gable end which began over Christmas. No trains will be running on Sunday (15 January) as the 25,000-volt overhead lines which usually power trains need to be switched off for engineers to work at height.

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Photo credit: Network Rail

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