In The News | 19th May 2023 | Latest Rail News

Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Friday, 19th May 2023

InTheNews: The latest rail news on Friday, 19th May 2023

Plans to fix the UK’s rail system may be watered down as legislation to give vital powers to the body driving the changes risks being delayed.

An article in The Telegraph says Great British Railways, set up by Boris Johnson, will not be part of the King’s Speech and will not be given the legislative powers it needs to sign off contracts and set fares, The Times reported.

The plan was introduced by Grant Shapps, the former transport secretary, with the intention of fixing the fragmented nature of the railways.

RMT members working for 14 train companies will stage a fresh strike on 2 June in their long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions, the union announced.

The article on the Sky News website says the strike will see 20,000 staff in catering, stations and working as train managers take action, affecting train services throughout the country.

Thousands of passengers will face disruption including those planning to go to the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley and the Epsom Derby on 3 June.

The RMT said it found the Rail Delivery Group’s (RDG) previous offer and associated conditions “unacceptable”.

NSAR has introduced its new service Skills Match offering comprehensive support for rail industry employers seeking to recruit apprentices.

Skills Match was created to help solve the severe shortfall of workers urgently required across the rail industry and introduce new talent and skills needed to modernise the industry.

The rail industry has a low apprenticeship recruitment rate comparative to other industries. Around 2,500 apprentices join the sector each year, NSAR estimates that the UK’s rail industry requires at least 5,000 new apprentices per year to meet demand for its current work pipeline and to replace the sector’s aging workforce.

Click here for more details.

Historic England has given £252,000 towards the repair and restoration of a railway goods shed in Darlington, thought to be the oldest surviving one in the UK.

Built almost two centuries ago in 1833, the Grade II-listed goods shed formed part of the Stockton & Darlington Railway and was designed by its chief engineer Thomas Storey.

The building was the main point for handling goods such as agricultural produce at the Stockton & Darlington Railway and was doubled in size with an extension in 1839-40 to meet increasing commercial demand. At the same time, a clocktower was added to the roof.

Click here for more details.

Photo credit: Historic England

Download article