Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Friday, 20th May 2022
InTheNews: The latest rail news on Friday, 20th May 2022
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has published new data showing that Britain continues to have one of the safest railways in Europe.
ORR’s analysis found Britain ranks first for ‘whole society’ safety risk, which combines the overall average number of fatalities and serious injuries across five risk categories for passenger, employee, level crossing user, trespasser, and other risks.
For passenger safety risk, ORR reports that Britain ranks eighth overall but performs favourably compared to other European countries against similarly large railway networks. While for employee safety risk, Britain is third when compared with other European countries.
The First Minister has urged ScotRail bosses and union leaders to “get round the table and negotiate” in good faith.
That’s according to an article on the Edinburgh Evening News that says it comes as ScotRail’s service delivery director David Simpson said a new temporary timetable could be in place for weeks.
ScotRail, which was nationalised last month, is cutting 700 services from Monday in response to a driver shortage caused by a disagreement with the union Aslef, which has seen some drivers decline to work overtime or on rest days.
It is just 20 months since full construction works began on first phase of the project, and HS2 is well on track to reach its target of 2,000 apprenticeships.
923 apprentices have now benefitted from HS2’s investment in their career development, as the project strives to create a talent pool that will drive forward the UK’s major infrastructure projects of the future and leave a lasting skills legacy.
Furthermore, more than 2,000 new jobs have been added to the HS2 workforce, reflecting the rapid momentum on the project during the new calendar year, with civils construction works underway at more than 300 sites between the West Midlands and London, and the Bill submitted to Parliament to extend the high speed network north to Manchester.
The redevelopment of Middlesbrough’s railway station has taken another huge step forward this week as preparation work began on the second phase of the scheme.
Scaffolding is now being erected to revitalise the disused and dilapidated undercroft at the station which will begin in days, ahead of the installation of a new steel frame to create a modern new entrance and revamped ticket hall building.
Photo credit: HS2 Ltd
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