Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Tuesday, 18th May 2021
The latest rail news on Tuesday, 18th May 2021
Eurostar has announced that it has reached a refinancing agreement with its shareholders and banks.
The refinancing package of £250 million mainly consists of additional equity and loans from a syndicate of banks guaranteed by the shareholders.
The Chief Executive of Eurostar, said: “The refinancing agreement is the key factor enabling us to increase our services as the situation with the pandemic starts to improve.”
Network Rail has completed the biggest improvements to the Midland Main Line since it was built, meaning more seats, faster journeys and more reliable services for passengers travelling between the East Midlands and London.
In the latest stage of the upgrade, teams have carried out vital work to install new overhead line equipment between Bedford and Corby, as well as improvements to station platforms and major work to upgrade bridges on the route – to make way for electrification between London St Pancras International and Corby.
A jury has been sworn in ahead of the three month-long inquest into the deaths of seven people killed in the Croydon tram crash.
An article in The Herald says coroner Sarah Ormond-Walshe held a minute’s silence for the victims on the first day of the inquest at Croydon Town Hall yesterday.
The first evidence in the inquest will be heard today, with the hearing expected to run until August.
A further 51 people were injured when the derailment happened in south London on November 9, 2016.
Finally, Network Rail is advising those planning to travel by train over the Late May Bank Holiday to plan ahead as it prepares to carry out 620 projects to upgrade the railway.
While the majority of the network will be unaffected, some routes will be impacted by the upgrade works taking place.
Andrew Haines, Network Rail’s Chief Executive, said: “While the majority of the network will be open as normal, some routes will be impacted by our upgrade works, so I would urge anyone wanting to travel by train over the bank holiday to plan ahead and check their journey in advance.”
Photo credit: Anna Krasnopeeva / Shutterstock.com
