Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Wednesday, 3rd March 2021
The latest rail news on Wednesday, 3rd March 2021
Rishi Sunak has been urged to use the Budget to invest in a rail line to reap an economic windfall.
An article in the i paper says civic and business leaders are calling on the Chancellor to back improvements for the East Coast Main Line after research suggested that these could promote £11 billion of economic benefits.
Meanwhile the Railway Industry Association has called on the Government to put rail at the heart of the UK’s recovery from coronavirus.
Its three main recommendations for the Chancellor includes recognising the importance of rail in the long term, publishing the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline, and standing by commitments to deliver major upgrades and publish long-term industry plans.
The Chancellor is due to deliver the Budget speech at 12.30.
Network Rail has announced that Michelle Handforth, has been appointed as the new managing director for the Wales & Western region.
Michelle, currently the chief executive of Aberdeen Harbour Board, will join Wales & Western in the summer.
On her appointment she says, ‘I look forward to working with colleagues and industry partners to welcome passengers back to the railway by providing the best possible service’.
Finally, and HS2 Ltd has launched a competition for local residents and schools to help find a name for the tunnel boring machine that will start excavating under Long Itchington Wood in Warwickshire this summer.
Following tradition, tunnel boring machines are always named after women, and HS2 is asking people in the county to help choose a name based on their female role models – whether famous people or unsung heroines.
Suggestions will be shortlisted in May and three finalists put to a national public vote, before a winner is announced in the summer.
Photo credit: Network Rail
0113 2082620
info@railbusinessdaily.com
15 Mariner Court, Wakefield WF4 3FL
