Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Tuesday, 13th December 2022
InTheNews: The latest rail news on Tuesday, 13th December 2022
Transport secretary Mark Harper has claimed that the “tide was turning” against the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) as the latest rail strike begins.
An article in the Independent says major disruption is expected as the RMT presses ahead with two 48-hour strikes at Network Rail – and 14 train companies – from Tuesday and Friday.
Mr Harper suggested RMT leadership was losing support among rail workers – saying “almost 40 per cent” of the union members voted in favour of an offer to resolve the dispute.
Mick Lynch denied he was losing support saying they have a clear majority for strikes. He also accused the government of “deliberately obstructing” a deal, and added that his union is “ready to make compromises”.
The first of a new £1 billion fleet of trains will enter service in 2023 – three years later than planned, a rail firm has said.
An article on the BBC website says the high-capacity Arterio trains were due to run from December 2019 on South Western Railway (SWR) routes to Reading and Windsor in Berkshire.
SWR previously said the delay was due to the impact of COVID-19. However, there have also been reports of faults.
The rail operator has accepted 24 of 90 trains from manufacturer Alstom.
Scottish Government may not strip outsourcing firm Serco of the £800 million franchise to operate overnight rail passenger services between Scotland and London – two months after indicating it would be nationalised.
An article in The Herald says transport minister Jenny Gilruth has confirmed that it is making an assessment over a direct award of the Caledonian Sleeper service to Serco – two months after saying that it would be stripped of the contract seven years early.
The current 15-year franchise was awarded to the outsourcing company Serco in May 2014, with the 15-year contract coming into effect on March, 2015.
A Freight and Logistics Strategy for the North of England – showcasing the importance of sector as a facilitator for economic growth and ways we can support the move to decarbonising freight – has been launched by Transport for the North (TfN).
Analysis shows that by 2050 the sector could be worth over £30 billion to the North’s economy and employ over half a million people. To see growth in the sector investment is required to address three main areas of constraint across the road, rail and inland waterway networks: network capacity and capability, terminal availability and decarbonisation.
It is the first pan-Northern Freight & Logistics Strategy of this type and complements the Strategic Transport Plan in developing a multimodal freight strategy for the North of England that meets the current and future requirements of the region and the UK economy.
Photo credit: Shutterstock
