In The News: 23rd July

In The News – click here to listen to the latest news on Thursday, 23rd July 2020

In The News today…

People across the North rightly expect action, progress and ambition, and this government is determined to accelerate improvements as billions are invested to level up the region’s infrastructure.

That’s the message from Transport Secretary Grant Shapps as the Government announces £589 million to kickstart work on the Transpennine mainline between Leeds, Huddersfield and Manchester.

A new Northern Transport Acceleration Council has also been established, dedicated to accelerating vital infrastructure projects and better connecting communities across the North’s towns and cities.

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Britain’s private rail companies stand to make almost £500 million in profits over the next year despite continuous disruptions caused by the virus crisis, a union has claimed.

That’s according to an article in the i paper today which says Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union said its research suggested the Government would give hundreds of millions of pounds to train companies under its Emergency Measures Agreements.

The RMT says now more than ever we need every penny of public money invested in building a safe, affordable, accessible railway.

A spokesman for the Rail Delivery Group says private sector train operators working with the public sector are best placed to help drive the recovery from coronavirus.

A ground-breaking bid for transport devolution in the South East of England has been submitted to government by a partnership of the region’s local authorities and business leaders.

The proposal from Transport for the South East is designed to power-up the region’s economic recovery from the effects of Covid-19 and accelerate investment in sustainable transport as part of a thirty-year transport strategy.

Chair Councillor Keith Glazier says the strategy sets out how investment in a more sustainable transport network will help the economy recover and grow, delivering a green transport revolution.

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Finally, and two train companies are to spend £1 million converting electric locomotives to hydrogen as the railways aim to eradicate diesel by 2040.

The article in The Times says Alstom, which builds trains, and Eversholt Rail, which owns rolling stock, will start work on the class 321 trains in Widnes in a programme that will create 200 jobs.

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Photo credit: Transport for the South East

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