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

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The latest rail news on Tuesday, 13th July 2021

Welcome to the railway news round-up. In today’s headlines, the Office of Road and Rail has published its annual rail safety assessments for 2020-21, praising Network Rail for its approach to the coronavirus pandemic, but also calling for more action on drainage, structures and track worker safety.

The regulator’s report states that while Network Rail’s delivery this year has been good overall, it must continue to improve track worker safety, and improve its resilience to climate change, among other findings.

ORR Chief Executive John Larkinson said Network Rail’s challenge to deliver efficiencies requires “relentless focus, particularly as the spending review begins.”  

Face coverings will remain mandatory on public transport in Wales when coronavirus restrictions are eased, the Welsh government has ruled. 

Wearing masks will continue to be a legal requirement in taxis, on trains and buses, in contrast to England, where the Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ruled the requirement will end from July 19th. 

ITV reports that Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford is expected to make a statement on Wednesday setting out further details on the new alert level zero for Wales. 

Hull Trains Managing Director Louise Cheeseman will join Transport for London (TfL) as its new Director of Buses on 02 August. 

Ms Cheeseman joined Hull Trains in 2018 and oversaw the introduction of a new fleet of more environmentally-friendly trains and will lead TfL’s strategy for the decarbonisation of London’s buses as part of her new role. 

She will succeed Claire Mann, who leaves TfL to become Director of First Group franchise South Western Railway (SWR).

Read the full story here: https://news.railbusinessdaily.com/louise-cheeseman-leaves-hull-trains-as-she-is-appointed-director-of-buses-at-tfl/

And finally, a survey from Network Rail has revealed that a third of adults in Anglia would be willing to risk their life to retrieve their mobile phone, purse or wallet from the track despite being fully aware of the dangers.

The survey was taken as part of a new campaign – ‘shattered lives’ – which warns of the life-changing dangers on, and around the railway where making the wrong choice can lead to devastating consequences for trespassers and their friends and family.

Network Rail reports that more than 150 adults have either been seriously injured or lost their lives as a result of trespassing on Britain’s rail network in the last three years.

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