In The News | 13th April 2021 | Latest Rail News

Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Tuesday, 13th April 2021

The latest rail news on Tuesday, 13th April 2021

Rail passengers will be able to avoid overcrowding carriages under plans for technology that provides real-time information about the busiest trains.

An article in The Times says images from on-board CCTV cameras will be analysed by artificial intelligence to count the number of people in each carriage.

The technology is being tested by South Western Railway with the information introduced to the company smartphone app and website in coming months for specific routes.

Rail operator Abellio ScotRail has blamed the impact of the coronavirus lockdown for a £64.5 million black hole in its finances – despite lockdown only coming into force in the final weeks of the current accounting year.

That’s according to The Scotsman that says in its latest financial statement, for the year ending March 31 2020, the Dutch transport giant posted a pre-tax loss of £64.5 million.

Abellio said in its statement lodged with Companies House that lockdown restrictions had had a “significant” impact on its fiscal fortunes.

A leading sight charity has stressed the need for inclusive web design after rail websites switched to black and white to mark Prince Philip’s death, leaving partially sighted people struggling.

An article in The Guardian says Network Rail and National Rail’s websites turned from colour to greyscale as a tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh.

But the article says the gesture backfired after customers highlighted accessibility issues and complained they could no longer use the websites.

In response, National Rail says following feedback it has made changes to make it more accessible, while Network Rail says it has been made aware that it has caused problems so has returned it back to its usual look.

Finally, and the ‘quick acting’ train driver who managed to avoid colliding with a car burning on tracks has been praised by Irish Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon.

The article on Belfast Live says the incident, which took place near Bellerena, closed the line between Coleraine and Derry last night.

It is being investigated by police.

Photo credit: ScotRail

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