Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Monday, 18th March 2024.
InTheNews: The latest rail news on Monday, 18th March 2024
An electric train has travelled for the first time between Manchester Victoria and Stalybridge, as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU).
Engineers have been testing the new electrification equipment installed along the route as part of the multi-billion-pound upgrade to the line between Manchester and York, via Huddersfield and Leeds.
The successful test train run follows work completed by TRU last year, which included the installation of overhead line electrification (OLE) between Manchester Victoria, Stalybridge and Guide Bridge stations, the replacement of track to allow faster speeds, 25 new signals for closer spacing of trains and a higher-speed railway junction at Stalybridge.
Scotland’s four main rail unions, the STUC and environmental groups have joined forces to call for peak fares to be scrapped following a pilot.
An article on Yahoo News says the Scottish Government announced last year that all train fares on publicly-owned ScotRail will be the same regardless of the time of day, with a trial starting in October initially due to end in the spring.
The pilot was extended to end on June 28, but Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop has now been urged to make the move permanent.
Transport Scotland said the Government will “carefully consider” the impact of the pilot after it ends.
LeShuttle Freight has announced a milestone as its 35 millionth truck crossed the Channel aboard its shuttle on Wednesday (13th March 2024).
The 35 millionth truck belongs to Ontime Capitrans, one of Spain’s largest transporters of temperature-controlled goods throughout Europe.
Since 1994, more than 750 million tonnes of goods have been transported via the tunnel aboard one of the 15 Truck Shuttles.
A Railway Mission chaplain has officiated the UK’s first wedding to be held entirely on board a train.
Charity chaplain John Roe blessed sweethearts Leah Anderson and Vince Smith on the special Great Western Railway (GWR) Pullman Dining train travelling at 125mph between London Paddington and Swansea.
The couple were joined by 14 guests for the memorable ceremony which was followed by a drinks reception and three-course meal prepared by the specialist dining crew.
