In The News | 20th August 2021 | Latest Rail News

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The latest rail news on Friday, 20th August

A collision between a freight train and tractor on the Ely to Peterborough rail line has resulted in major damage to the line’s track, signalling equipment and level crossing.  

The incident, which happened just after 9am on Thursday morning, saw the derailment of three wagons, causing significant damage leading to the closure of the line.  

Network Rail said it is assisting the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) with their investigation to fully understand the circumstance of the incident, which also resulted in the train and tractor drivers both sustaining minor injuries. It is hoped the line will reopen next week.

Read more at: https://news.railbusinessdaily.com/freight-train-crashes-into-tractor-at-level-crossing-in-cambridgeshire/ 

Hundreds of axed ScotRail trains will not be restored under a planned post-pandemic timetable, the Scotsman reports.  

Proposed changes from next May would see 2,100 weekday trains running compared to 2,400 before the pandemic, one in eight fewer services than in 2019. 

The plans would see taxpayer savings of up to £40 million a year, however Scottish Labour has warned that they could hinder Scotland‘s carbon reduction targets as fewer services result in increased road traffic emissions.  

Scotrail said the timetable will reflect predicted levels of service as well as the need to provide the best value for money for taxpayers.  

Eurostar is adding additional services to its timetable from September, following a growing demand for travel from the UK into mainland Europe.  

August saw the operator double its amount of bookings taken, with trips to Paris proving increasingly popular following the easing of travel restrictions by the UK government.  

Eight daily return services will run from 06 September up to 01 November, five in each direction on the London to Paris route and three in each direction between London and Brussels, with one each way extended to Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

Read the full story at: https://news.railbusinessdaily.com/eurostar-adds-more-high-speed-services-between-the-uk-and-continent/ 

And finally, a missing parrot found at Waterloo station after disappearing for two days has been filmed making tube announcements. 

The two-year old African parrot, named Grey, was found after flying 20 miles away from its home in Tadworth, Surrey. On his return, he has been filmed by his owners making train noises and reciting several tube announcements, including telling the family to ‘keep left’.  

Grey was located at Waterloo station on Thursday by British Transport Police, who found him sat on the shoulder of a rough sleeper. He has since been safely returned to his home in Surrey.  

Photo credit: Network Rail

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