Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Tuesday, 23rd March 2021
The latest rail news on Tuesday, 23rd March 2021
Most of Britain’s railway must be converted to electric power to clean up the network and end the dependence on diesel, according to MPs.
An article in The Times says about a report published today in which the Commons transport select committee calls for a rolling 30-year programme of electrification towards cutting carbon dioxide emissions to “net zero” by 2050.
The committee is also highly critical of Britain’s “patchy” record on converting lines to electric power.
Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak will hold crunch talks over the future of Britain’s railways next week after delaying publication of the biggest review of the train network since privatisation.
An article in The Daily Telegraph says plans to publish a rail blueprint before May’s local elections have been shelved with the Treasury at loggerheads with the Department for Transport over how to fund reforms.
A “root and branch” review, overseen by Royal Mail chairman Keith Williams and commissioned by former transport secretary Chris Grayling in September 2018, will not be published until May at the earliest, according to sources.
Transport for London has accepted the Government’s offer to extend its bailout by seven weeks despite calling for a long-term deal.
The article in the Evening Standard says a £1.8 billion funding package agreed in November 2020 to keep services running was due to expire next week.
Finally, and Network Rail is the first organisation in the country to sign a ground-breaking agreement designed to enable works whilst improving the natural habitat of the great crested newt.
In an industry first, Network Rail has been granted a new licence from Natural England which will ensure that any newt habitat impacted by teams working on the Midland Main Line Upgrade is compensated for by new habitat creation.
The scheme is being carried out in collaboration with NatureSpace Partnership – an organisation dedicated to working with conservationists, industry and developers to understand, grow and protect the great crested newt’s habitat.
Photo credit: Network Rail
