Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Monday, 21st February 2022
InTheNews: The latest rail news on Monday, 21st February 2022
A huge chunk of the London Overground is suspended as strong winds batter the capital’s transport network.
An article in the Metro says Transport for London confirmed there is no service between Stratford and Richmond, Stratford and Clapham Junction, Romford and Upminster, Sydenham and West Croydon due to storm damage.
Storm Franklin, the third named storm to hit the UK in a week, is wreaking havoc on rush hour this morning.
National Rail has asked people to ‘avoid travel if possible’ as train services are paralysed by high winds.
Several rail services are still not back to full working order because of downed trees and other debris blocking lines.
Severe flooding has also closed parts of the railway across Yorkshire. There has been flooding in Rotherham, Doncaster, Kirkstall, Mirfield and parts of the Calder Valley line between Leeds and Manchester.
Passenger are strongly advised to check their journeys before they travel, and for some routes, not travel at all.
In other news, HS2 Ltd paid almost 1,000 invoices late last year, worth a total of £19.27 million to its supply chain.
An article on New Civil Engineer say figures they’ve obtained via a freedom of information request show that in the 12 months from 1 January to 31 December 2021, the company paid 956 invoices late – 8 per cent of its total invoices paid.
According to HS2 Ltd there are a range of reasons why late payments occur. The company said they can be caused by a delay from either HS2 Ltd or the supply chain.
A HS2 spokesperson said: “Last year, 92 per cent of payments were made within 30 days, and on average we paid for goods and services within 17 days. Bill payment beyond the 30 days can be for a variety of reasons beyond HS2 Ltd’s control.”
Great Western Railway (GWR) has signed a deal with manufacturer Vivarail to trial new battery-charging technology on its network, paving the way for battery-only trains to run in regular passenger service in the future.
The trial, supported by Network Rail, will take place on the Greenford branch line later this year and test Vivarail’s trackside fast-charging equipment in an operational setting for the first time.
Network Rail’s Regional Managing Director for Wales and Western, Michelle Handforth, said: “We are really excited for this new battery-powered trial to start and it highlights our commitment to providing a more environmentally-friendly way to travel.”
Photo credit: Network Rail
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