In The News: 26th March

Click here to listen to the latest news on Thursday, 26th March 2020

We start with the news that work on some of Britain’s biggest infrastructure projects were halted or scaled back, including HS2 and Crossrail, to stop the spread of COVID-19.

The Times features the story saying it has left thousands of construction workers in limbo over their pay after new government restrictions took effect.

About 5,000 people are working on the Crossrail programme in total.

Rail chiefs have issued an appeal for retired signal workers to come back to work to help keep the network open.

John Halsall, Network Rail’s managing director for the Southern region, said without sufficient signallers ‘there will be no way we can keep the whole network open’.

Successful emergency work to secure a landslip hit section of the rail line between Salisbury and Romsey will see the line on target to reopen for key workers and freight three days ahead of schedule.

The section of line closed on February 18th after the embankment slipped, leaving the track unsupported over around 20 metres causing the track to dip.

Engineers have worked 24/7 to secure the line and prepare it to reopen – which included the installation of 250 metres of 13-metre deep steel sheets to prevent future landslips.

Finally and the winning entry has been chosen in a competition to design a £16.5 million new Central Hall at the National Railway Museum in York.

The York Press reports that the UK-based Feilden Fowles’ scheme – selected from a shortlist of five designs – is for a ‘rotunda’ building to be constructed which would link up the two existing sides of the museum.

You can view the design and full article by clicking here.

Photo credit: Network Rail

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