Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Friday, 23rd June 2023
InTheNews: The latest rail news on Friday, 23rd June 2023
Rail operator TransPennine Express has urged customers across the North to only travel if absolutely necessary today (Friday 23 June).
An article from ITV News said the announcement from the operator follows operational issues which have led to a reduced number of services to some routes throughout the day.
Chris Jackson, Interim Managing Director at TransPennine Express, said: “We know this is frustrating news for our customers, and we are sorry for the impact it will have on people’s plans.”
Customers with tickets who choose not to travel can claim a full refund.
Network Rail has revealed its use of specialist AI software to identify forgotten scrap material left at the side of railway tracks so it can be removed to improve safety and potentially save network funds.
A report from Railway-technology.com said the software, created by One Big Circle, is being trialled by Network Rail’s Southern region on the Wessex route and will likely be rolled out across the country if it is deemed successful.
Using Automated Intelligent Video Review software, the tech will analyse high-definition footage from across the rail network to locate old material that could be reused or recycled, thus clearing it from the track where it could pose a risk to workers.
Senior innovations engineer Wayne Cherry described the technology as holding the potential to be a “real game-changer”, saying: “If we can become safer and more efficient with identifying and removing scrap material, it will not only help our colleagues stay safe but benefit the wider rail industry, passengers and the taxpayer.”
The Devon & Cornwall Railcard has become the first regional railcard in the UK to go digital.
A press release from Great Western Railway said residents in Devon and Cornwall, aged 16 or over, can now purchase the railcard, download it to their phone and use it to save up to a 1/3 on standard class rail fares.
The initiative comes thanks to funding from the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership (DCRP), the Community Rail Partnership for the two counties. GWR said customers will also still be able to buy the railcard from staffed stations in the region.
Finally, today is the day Campaign for Better Transport’s Norman Baker makes an epic coast-to-coast rail journey from Newhaven on the south coast of England to Thurso on the north coast of Scotland.
Setting off at 06:01 from Newhaven Harbour, Norman will travel via Lewes, London, Edinburgh and Inverness, arriving at Thurso – the northernmost town on the island of Great Britain – at 22:20. Campaign for Better Transport will be live-tweeting Norman’s journey from its Twitter account.
Making the journey by car from Newhaven to Thurso emits almost five times as much carbon as travelling by train.
On his taking his journey by train, Norman said: I’m really looking forward to my trip, which is certainly not something I’d say about a 600-mile drive in a car, or slogging to the airport to travel on a cramped plane. For lean, green travel with minimal impact on the environment, rail is the way forward.”
That’s it from today’s round-up. For the latest in rail news visit news.railbusinessdaily.com.
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