Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Friday, 5th August 2022
InTheNews: The latest rail news on Friday, 5th August 2022
Rail workers in Scotland have rejected a 5 per cent pay offer in a move that could result in further strike action.
An article on the BBC website says members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) voted against the ScotRail deal by 60 per cent to 40 per cent.
It is similar to a deal accepted by Aslef members in July, ending a dispute where 700 services were cancelled for almost two months.
Transport Scotland said the result was disappointing, describing the offer as “fair and affordable”.
Greater Manchester Leaders have this week called for an urgent rethink of plans to bring HS2 to Manchester, warning that the wrong solution could damage the prospects of the whole North of England for generations to come.
Authorities will submit formal petitions to government raising the key changes they believe are vital for HS2 – and Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) – to be a success for the North.
Leaders say they are determined to get the best from the high-speed network for future generations and have called for changes including an underground station at Manchester Piccadilly rather than the government’s proposed overground solution.
Council officers agreed this week to release an additional budget of £640,000 to “progress the Scarborough Station Gateway phase one public realm works”.
An article on The Scarborough News says the decision will increase the approved budget to £1.1 million, which will be funded from the already accepted £6.68 million Towns Fund Grant allocated towards the project.
The project, aimed at redeveloping Scarborough Railway Station, will focus on structural improvements and bringing disused parts of the historic building back into use as a station hotel and food and drink units.
South Western Railway (SWR) has embarked on a trial of new, cutting-edge technology which enables people with sight loss to navigate train stations with greater ease.
The train company is trialling the myEyes app, which uses Near Field Technology, the same technology that allows contactless payment by mobile phone, to provide audio directions.
These directions guide customers from the station entrance to the SWR Assisted Boarding Points on platforms, where they can get help to board their train with as little as 10 minutes notice.
Photo credit: South Western Railway
