Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Thursday, 2nd February 2023
InTheNews: The latest rail news on Thursday, 2nd February 2023
Network Rail has made a “newly revised” offer to Britain’s biggest rail workers’ union in an attempt to break the deadlock over a long-running dispute about pay, jobs and conditions.
An article in The Guardian says Network Rail, which is responsible for track, signalling and other rail infrastructure in England, Scotland and Wales, said it had added some fresh proposals in the revised offer to the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT).
The union, which represents signallers, maintenance staff and other Network Rail workers, said its executive would consider the details of the offer.
An RMT spokesperson added: “We will now consult members through branch and regional meetings. An update on our next steps will be forthcoming in due course.”
HS2 Ltd says that ‘Florence’ and ‘Cecilia’, the two giant tunnelling machines excavating the high speed rail project’s longest tunnels, have passed the halfway point on their 10 mile journey under the Chilterns.
The enormous 2,000 tonne machines have spent the last 18 months excavating the twin tunnels between the M25 and South Heath in Buckinghamshire that will help protect the environment while improving connections between London, Birmingham and the North.
As well as digging and lining the tunnels, engineers have also completed the excavation of five shafts that will provide ventilation and emergency access near Chalfont St Peter, Chalfont St Giles, Amersham, Little Missenden and Chesham Road.
The Elizabeth line, which stretches from Reading and Heathrow in the west to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east, has now seen more than one hundred million journeys since opening in May 2022.
Transport for London (TfL) data also reveals that ridership on the line is currently above expected levels with around 600,000 journeys made each day, meaning the railway is one of the busiest in the UK and is on track to break even by the end of the 2023/24 financial year.
The data clearly shows the popularity of the capital’s newest transport option and the benefit of investing in transport in London.
A historic railway station in Essex is to be demolished under plans approved by Uttlesford District Council more than 70 years after trains stopped running.
An article on Essex Live says the Felsted railway station, on Station Road, was opened in April 1883 serving the Great Eastern Railway.
The station was on an important line used during the Second World War with thousands of tons of rubble being transported through the station.
Photo credit: HS2 Ltd
