Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Friday, 16th April 2021
The latest rail news on Friday, 16th April 2021
Ministers and rail chiefs are putting the finishing touches to a new system of flexible rail season tickets designed to entice commuters back to city centres as they split their time between home and the office.
That’s according to The Daily Telegraph that says concerns over costs mean the discounts on offer will be much less generous than for traditional season tickets, with mandarins attempting to spare the taxpayer from further expense after handing over £10 billion in subsidies to keep services running.
The paper says that under the plan, rail firms will roll out French-style “carnet tickets”, which will allow passengers to complete five return journeys in any single month at a discount of 15 per cent to peak fares.
The roll out of the flexible season tickets is expected to coincide with the Government relaxing its message to work from home, scheduled for June 21.
RSSB has welcomed moves by the French government to restrict short-haul domestic flights in favour of rail, to eliminate carbon on environmental grounds.
The measure will restrict the use of short-haul flights within France where the same journey can be made in rail in under 2.5 hours.
RSSB says the move shows how rail can be activated to play a bigger role in the decarbonised transport system the UK needs.
Work has started on the construction of a new railway station at Marsh Barton in Exeter.
The station, which will feature two platforms, will be located near the Energy from Waste plant on the eastern edge of Marsh Barton.
Devon County Council has designed the station working closely with Network Rail and Great Western Railway.
Finally, and the 1897-built Trojan is due to return to steam next month, becoming the oldest working Great Western Railway locomotive.
It is due to return to service on the 1st of May at Didcot Railway Centre and will be in action throughout the May Bank Holiday weekend.
Head of Visitor Experience and Marketing, Graham Hukins says it will be a very special day – it is almost 10 years since she was last in action and the overhaul has cost over £200,000.
Photo credit: Harry Jones
