In The News: 25th August

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South Western Railway has unveiled Arterio as the name for the new £1 billion train fleet set to transform travel across South West London, Surrey and Berkshire.

Unveiled by SWR’s Managing Director Mark Hopwood during a special event at the Wimbledon depot, the name Arterio reflects the suburban network’s importance to the nation’s capital.

The first train is expected to be introduced later this on the Reading line, with a total of 750 new carriages to be introduced over the following two years.

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Passengers will be told how busy their train is before it arrives under plans to boost confidence in public transport.

An article in The Times says Southeastern has become the first train company in the country to give passengers colour-coded information before they travel, allowing them to see if a train has empty seats and whether social distancing is possible.

The company says that the ‘Seatfinder’ service would be on its website and at stations this week and on the company’s app next month.

The colour-coded scale ranges from green to red, with dark green showing carriages with many free seats and two-metre social distancing possible.

The railway between Crewe and Chester has reopened to passengers after a nine-day closure to reconstruct a major road bridge.

The £5.7 million Great North Rail Project investment involves the complete renewal of ‘Boulderstones bridge’ which takes the A530 Middlewich Road over the railway.

Middlewich road will remain closed until October this year whilst the finishing touches to the bridge are completed.

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Finally, Avanti West Coast has today launched the UK’s first fully wrapped Pride train entirely staffed by an LGBTQ+ crew for its first official service.

After Covid-19 forced the cancellation of Pride events across the country, which Avanti West Coast had planned to support, the intercity rail operator has completely wrapped one of its iconic Pendolinos with the Pride flag.

Train manager Paul Austin said being part of the UK’s first all LGBTQ+ crew is a sign of the steps we’re taking towards a more inclusive, diverse and equal society and that he is so proud to be involved.

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Photo credit: Avanti West Coast

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