In The News | 19th August 2022 | Latest Rail News

Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Friday, 19th August 2022

InTheNews: The latest rail news on Friday, 19th August 2022

Grant Shapps has told union bosses to “get out of the way” and allow members to vote on newly proposed pay deals.

The article on Sky News says it comes as fresh strikes take place on London Underground and the capital’s bus system, while national rail is set for more disruption on Saturday.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan says he is concerned the government is “almost deliberately provoking” the action in the capital – which is over proposed changes to pensions.

Mr Khan told Sky News the conditions were attached to a funding deal for Transport for London (TfL) – but the RMT union says TfL failed to give their members assurances they would not be negatively affected.

The national strikes are related to pay rises and proposed modernisation changes.

Plans for a light railway in Coventry have moved closer after more than £115 million was awarded to city transport projects.

The article on the BBC website says the money will go towards schemes that increase cycling, walking and usage of public transport.

A “large chunk” will be spent on the planned light rail system where battery-operated, driverless vehicles would shuttle visitors around.

The government funding will be discussed by cabinet on 30 August before a vote on 6 September.

Scottish Government Transport Minister Jenny Gilruth visited the site of the first new feeder station to be commissioned as part of a £120 million investment to boost the electricity supply into the railway network.

The Ferguslie feeder station, which will connect to the network in October, was installed near Paisley supports the existing infrastructure as well as providing the additional electric power needed to support future decarbonisation of Scotland’s railway.

The investment will see six new feeder stations at strategic locations across the network and a further nine sites upgraded to increase the resilience and reliability of the infrastructure for the operation of electrically powered passenger and freight traffic.

Click here for more details.

MP Tim Farron has called for an immediate investigation after passengers were locked in Oxenholme station.

An article on the Westmorland Gazette says the passengers were left locked in the station following the arrival of the delayed Avanti West Coast service from London Euston last night.

An Avanti West Coast spokesperson told Rail Business Daily that they are looking into the circumstances of what happened, and they thanked the Network Rail team onsite for their swift action in getting the customers out of the station safely.

Photo credit: Network Rail

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