Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Tuesday, 18th October 2022
InTheNews: The latest rail news on Tuesday, 18th October 2022
Rail workers in the RMT union are voting on whether to continue strike action for a further six months.
An article on the BBC website says the ballot closes on 15 November and is part of an ongoing dispute over pay, job security and working conditions.
RMT members at 15 train companies and Network Rail have taken part in eight nationwide strike days since June. No more are currently scheduled.
Network Rail is preparing to make a revised offer to unions.
The Chancellor has suggested that Northern Powerhouse Rail may not be delivered in full, as he tore up Liz Truss’ spending pledges and tax cuts.
An article in the Yorkshire Post says Jeremy Hunt, in his first working day in the job following the sacking of Kwasi Kwarteng, reversed the Prime Minister’s economic vision during a statement in Parliament.
When asked whether infrastructure projects such as Northern Powerhouse Rail, a key campaign pledge of the Prime Minister, could be scaled back, Mr Hunt said that all options were in play in his attempt to balance the books.
Commuters are facing rush hour rail chaos this morning with trains from Edinburgh stuck at Haymarket Depot due to a signalling fault.
An article in the Daily Record says ScotRail are unable to get any trains out of the depot, causing services from the capital to be limited.
The signalling fault is causing major disruption on the Edinburgh to Glasgow line, as well as services to Fife, Dunblane, and further north to Aberdeen and Inverness.
Major works have begun in Hartlepool, as construction of the station’s new second platform takes shape.
Piling has started on the first phase of the £12 million scheme, which will see a total revamp of the station.
A total of 64 piles will be driven seven to ten meters into the ground, in order to support creation of 16 canopies for the new platform.
The existing platform 2 will also be extended by 20 meters to house the new footbridge and lift, and workers have already spent 108 hours demolishing platform three, removing 1,500 tonnes of material.
Photo credit: Tees Valley Combined Authority
