Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Thursday, 30th March 2023
InTheNews: The latest rail news on Thursday, 30th March 2023
ScotRail has been paid more than £6.5 million in compensation for strike disruption which forced the cancellation of 40,000 trains.
An article on the Glasgow Evening Times paper says the payments were made by track owner Network Rail after members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) staged a series of 19 days of stoppages between June and January.
The pay and conditions dispute did not involve Scottish Government-owned ScotRail staff but the train operator was only able to run a fraction of its normal services because signallers employed by Network Rail were among those who took part in the walkouts.
The newly-appointed managing director of Avanti West Coast has claimed the under-fire train operating company has ‘turned a corner’ after months of delays, cancellations and passenger frustration.
An article in the Manchester Evening News says Andy Mellors, who assumed the role last Monday, issued a public apology and said he would be personally ‘touring the network’ to meet frontline staff in Greater Manchester and beyond.
Speaking in Manchester at a board meeting of Transport Focus, an independent watchdog for transport users, Mr Mellors said train cancellations it was responsible for have been ‘driven down over consecutive periods’ – a fact he said showed a ‘significant improvement’ from the ‘double digit’ cancellations hitting passengers at the turn of the year.
He also revealed ‘unprecedented levels of recruitment’ into the company and, referencing a recent drive to attract potential new drivers, said more than 1,300 applications were received from women.
Heritage railways have been issued with safety advice after a passenger suffered “a serious injury” leaving a train in Leicestershire in January.
An article on the BBC website says the passenger lost their footing while alighting at Loughborough Central station on the Great Central Railway.
An investigation by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) found plans “may not be in place to mitigate the risks” involved with some vehicles.
Great Central Railway said it was reviewing platform arrangements.
Tegan Badham had only seen Anthony Smith once before – when he heroically dragged her from an oncoming Tube train after she slipped on to a live track.
An article on the BBC website says while being electrocuted by 630 volts, Tegan was “saved from death” by her £40 rubber boots and the man who reached off the platform to pull her to safety.
Seconds later the London Underground train ran into the station. As Tegan received help, Anthony left.
Now after an online appeal, Tegan, 22, has been reunited with her “lifesaver”.
Photo credit: ScotRail
