In The News: 3rd June

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The former head of property at HS2 is calling on the government to offer ‘compensation, vindication and a formal apology’ to whistleblowers who lost their jobs after warning about inaccurate cost estimates.

That’s according to The Times, which features Doug Thornton, who says he was forced out of his job in December 2015, after telling HS2 the true cost of buying land for the section between London and the West Midlands would be £2 billion more than expected.

In response in the article, an official responding on behalf of the HS2 said ‘we do not consider there is merit in revisiting matters that have already been the subject of thorough investigation, or that are the subject of current litigation’.

Bosses have told Transport for London that summer 2021 still remains the target opening date for Crossrail despite the delays caused by Covid-19.

That’s according to an article in Building Magazine, which also says the Bond Street station is expected to be ready for the trial running of trains by the middle of next month.

Several of the papers in Scotland feature the news from yesterday of the multi-million pounds upgrade of Aberdeen station, which is on track to start this year.

Improvements will be made on the ticket office, first class lounge and the quality and variety of its shops and eateries will be ‘significantly enhanced’ according to bosses.

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GB Railfreight has announced this morning a series of investments into its existing facilities and properties in Cambridgeshire.

The company says it is continuing to invest in its site in Peterborough where its state-of-the-art simulators are located.

Earlier this year the company announced a £3million investment in building a new control room, three classrooms, a board room and staff welfare facilities.

Finally, and a ‘foreboding’ rail station underpass in Mirfield has been re-vamped with new lighting to make it more welcoming to visitors.

According to the article in The Telegraph and Argus, Kirklees Council, working in partnership with Network Rail and Grand Central, has incorporated a system that allows the colours of each light to be changed.

The underpass has also been cleaned and upgraded to create what the council has described as ‘a much brighter welcome’ to the area.

Photo credit: ScotRail

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