Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Monday, 27th November 2023
InTheNews: The latest rail news on Monday, 27th November 2023
HS2 will not reach central London unless the government finds the billions of pounds needed to build the tunnel linking the troubled rail link to Euston, according to the government’s infrastructure chief.
An article in i news says Rishi Sunak insisted HS2 would run from Euston station in central London when he cancelled the Birmingham to Manchester leg of the high speed line last month because of spiralling costs.
But Sir John Armitt, chair of the National Infrastructure Commission which advises the government on major building projects, says developers would not fund the tunnel needed to connect Euston to Old Oak Common. “You’ve still got to dig 4.5 miles of tunnel and that won’t be paid for by the private sector,” he told the Financial Times.
“At the end of the day the government will need to be ready to fund the core civil engineering for the final miles of the project,” he said.
West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) and Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT) have formally started work to deliver a more locally accountable and integrated rail network in the West Midlands.
An article in The Business Magazine says the industry-leading collaboration, which brings the railway and wider-region together, supports the ambitions outlined in the Trailblazer Deeper Devolution Deal which was agreed between West Midlands Combined Authority and Government in March this year.
The partnership will give local leaders even further influence over the railway, ensuring that it meets the needs of West Midlands’ communities and rail customers. It will integrate rail into the wider West Midlands transport network with bus and tram, allowing customers to plan and pay for journeys seamlessly.
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has begun sponsoring the Rail Ombudsman, in line with a commitment in the 2021 Plan for Rail.
An article on the Rail News website says the ORR will now hold the Ombudsman to account for independent and impartial provision of its service.
The Ombudsman is the last of port of call for unhappy passengers who have not reached an agreement with the relevant operator or the applicable passenger watchdog – Transport Focus or London Travelwatch.
A multi-million-pound programme of upgrades to Billingham station has been completed delivering improvements to passengers’ journeys.
A new and improved bridge has been installed, connecting the station’s two platforms, and two state-of-the-art lifts have provided step-free access, improving the passenger experience for the thousands who use the station each year.
As part of the £3.6 million project, the station’s platforms have been rebuilt and a series of car park and access route improvements have also been made, making it the station’s biggest upgrade in its more than 50-year history.
Photo credit: Network Rail
