In The News | 2nd June 2023 | Latest Rail News

Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Friday, 2nd June 2023

InTheNews: The latest rail news on Friday, 2nd June 2023

More than 20,000 rail workers in England have begun a 24-hour strike that will cancel half of the services on affected lines as part of a long-running dispute with train operators over jobs, pay and conditions.

An article in The Guardian says the stoppage by the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) – the second of three by rail unions to hit the network this week – will affect most operators in England and some cross-border services into Scotland and Wales.

Then on Saturday more than 12,000 members of Aslef, the train drivers’ union, who went on strike on Wednesday, will carry out another day of industrial action that will leave only 40 per cent of services running.

TfL has revealed it wants to buy more Elizabeth line trains to cope with demand from HS2.

An article in the Evening Standard says that under the plans, confirmed in TfL board papers, the Department for Transport is being lobbied to provide funding for more trains on the Elizabeth line to support HS2’s terminus at Old Oak Common.

The station, which is currently being constructed in west London, will have an interchange with the Elizabeth line into central London, piling demand on the service.

The TfL papers state that “given the likelihood of a prolonged period” of Old Oak Common being the final terminus for HS2, it has endorsed buying more trains on the Elizabeth line.

South Western Railway (SWR) and Network Rail have confirmed that Ryde Pier will reopen to trains on Monday 10 July.

The 143-year-old pier, which is undergoing a large programme of heavy maintenance and renewal to give it a further 60 years of life, was due to re-open to Island Line services in June.

London North Eastern Railway (LNER) has introduced a newly named and fully adorned Azuma train in honor of the ongoing Pride celebrations across the UK this summer.

Dubbed ‘Together’, this train is a testament to LNER’s unwavering support for Pride activities along its route and its steadfast commitment to fostering diversity, equality, and inclusion initiatives for its employees, customers, and communities throughout the year.

Click here for more details.

Photo credit: Network Rail

Download article