Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Friday, 13th January 2023
InTheNews: The latest rail news on Friday, 13th January 2023
Hopes have been raised that a deal can be reached to end the rail strikes following four hours of talks between train firms and the RMT union yesterday.
An article in the Metro says the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents operators, said it was now ‘working towards’ a revised offer after months of industrial action that have caused chaos on the network. There will be further talks in the coming days.
It follows reports that train firms are ready to up their pay offer from eight per cent over two years to ten per cent.
They are also said to be watering down demands for more driver-only-operated trains.
High Speed 2 (HS2) lacks mass public and political support because the project was not “well developed” or “well planned” before it was advanced, according to Infrastructure and Projects Authority chief executive Nick Smallwood.
That’s according to an article in the New Civil Engineer that says while giving evidence to the House of Lords Built Environment Committee, Smallwood was asked about the parliamentary process behind major infrastructure projects.
He said that “well developed, well scoped, well prepared and well planned (projects) get good support, not surprisingly, from (government) departments and also from the public”.
He added that HS2 was the “standout” project where this was not the case.
Major improvements have been carried out on the Bakerloo line and London Overground between London Euston and Watford Junction.
Network Rail engineers worked over seven days in the run up to Christmas to overhaul track and equipment on a 20-mile stretch of railway and upgrade five stations in north London.
North Wembley, South Kenton, Kenton, Headstone Lane and Carpenders Park saw a combination of roof repairs, canopy renovations, guttering clearance, platform resurfacing and the installation of tactile paving to improve safety for blind and partially sighted people.
The Severn Valley Railway has announced that its managing director Helen Smith will leave the organisation in the next few months, to take up another role.
Helen will remain in post for the next few months and will be working closely with the SVR’s chairman Mike Ball and vice chairman Jonathan Dunster to ensure a smooth handover.
The railway says it will release more information as soon as possible.
Photo credit: Network Rail
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