In The News | 31st October 2022 | Latest Rail News

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InTheNews: The latest rail news on Monday, 31st October 2022

Plans for the rail network in West Midlands to undergo a ‘revolution’ have been unveiled, with new stations, reopened lines and more services introduced to London proposed.

An article from the Shropshire Star said transport bosses have unveiled their vision to develop the network up to 2050 with a string of projects being proposed as the sector bounces back from Covid.

Under the plans from the West Midlands Transport Executive, more services would run between London and Shrewsbury, through Wolverhampton, whilst Birmingham to Crewe services will be routed via Walsall by 2026.

More drastic proposals could also see routes between Walsall and Lichfield reopened and a potential for a “rail tunnel” underneath Birmingham city centre to link stations.

The future of HS2 could be at risk, after levelling-up minister Michael Gove warned that “everything will be reviewed” when he was asked about the gap in government funds.

An article from Rail News said Mr Gove named the high-speed project as a possible candidate for savings, describing it as “a significant investment”, but gave no other details.

Some backbenchers have already been calling for HS2 to be abandoned, and Mr Gove told Times Radio that the Government could have some “painful” decisions to make ahead.

Rail companies and Network Rail said action has been taken to try to prevent a repeat of the Salisbury train crash, which took place a year ago today.

An article from ITV said the accident occurred when a South Western Railway train skidded into another train, operated by Great Western Railway, outside the Fisherton Tunnel last October, injuring fourteen people.

The operators and Network Rail said the accident was caused by “low adhesion”, and that more regular and better cleaning of the track is now carried out, with equipment on trains to help stop them sliding on wet leaves.

Finally, a Swiss railway company has set the record for the world’s longest passenger train – at over a mile long train and made up of 100 coaches.

The Rhaetian Railway company ran the train on a journey through the Albula-Bernina route from Preda to Bergün in the Swiss Alps.

An article from the BBC said the record attempt was carried out to raise the awareness of the UNESCO World Heritage route, to help the operator increase fares following the Coronavirus pandemic.

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