Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Friday, 28th January 2022
InTheNews: The latest rail news on Friday, 28th January 2022
Transport for the North (TfN) has said it has “grave concern” about uncertainty which currently surrounds its core funding.
With only weeks of this financial year left, TfN said it is still waiting for confirmation of its funding for the next three years.
As a consequence, political and business leaders across the North are calling on ministers to provide clarity on future funding for TfN. This, they say, will allow it to continue working on vital plans to improve connectivity across the region and help unlock economic potential.
The Newquay branch line has reopened this morning following Network Rail successfully completing a number of upgrades to this popular stretch of railway.
Over the past week, a team of engineers have been working around the clock on the Newquay branch line to remove and replace old rails, sleepers and ballast at Roche and Bowling Green, near Bugle, as part of essential upgrades to the railway in Cornwall.
A total of 870 metres of new track has been laid and 1,300 sleepers and 2,600 tonnes of ballast installed.
A revolutionary building method is being tested which could provide carbon-free power to stations on the HS2 network.
The building method effectively pulls heat up through the foundations of a building and Keltbray, the developer, estimates the technology will harness enough energy to supply up to 80 per cent of a building’s heating and hot water.
The environmentally-friendly innovation takes advantage of a new piling technique, known as HIPER pile, that swaps solid concrete foundation piles for recyclable hollow ones made from a steel industry waste product that reduces the carbon-intensive cement content by up to 70 per cent.
Northern has cause for celebration after refurbishing 100 of its digital trains.
The upgrades were put into the Class 158 trains to ensure customers have a more comfortable journey. They can now enjoy a range of modern features like USB charging sockets at every seat and free Wi-Fi.
Trains will also have new customer information screens and CCTV.
Photo credit: HS2 Ltd
