Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Friday, 6th October 2023
InTheNews: The latest rail news on Friday, 6th October 2023
The Labour Party ‘can’t commit’ to building HS2 to Manchester in full despite wanting to, leader Sir Keir Starmer has said.
An article on the Manchester Evening News website says HS2’s northern leg would not be revived under a Labour government, he signalled, although Tony Blair-era figures have urged him to be less cautious.
Sir Keir said he was unable to promise to reverse Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s announcement to scrap HS2 from the West Midlands to Manchester, citing the Government selling land and cancelling contracts, but said he was in talks with leaders across the North on providing better ‘connectivity’.
Sticking with the HS2 story and the government has u-turned on its pledge to reopen a disused rail line less than 24 hours after it was announced as part of Rishi Sunak’s “Network North”.
An article on the ITV new website says the Leamside Line, which runs from Pelaw in Gateshead to Tursdale in County Durham, was included in initial announcements about the ‘Network North’ programme, however, all references to the line have been removed, with roads minister Richard Holden confirming the government was simply “committed to looking into” the project instead.
Bristol Live says plans to spend money on Bristol’s mass transit ‘underground’ project, have also been removed from its announcement.
However Somerset Live says plans for Wellington railway station will be funded to delivery, and Coventry Live reports on double capacity for those travelling on train between Leicester and Birmingham.
Transport for Greater Manchester are developing plans that would see a rail link between Heywood, Rochdale and Oldham using tram-train technology.
An article on the Manchester Evening News website says Bury’s new transport plans contain some major developments and, with £68 million to roll out the plans already secured, council leaders will approve the strategy at a meeting later this week.
VTG Rail UK, and Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems (UK), have announced the network trial of the UK’s FIRST digital freight wagon.
The VTG iWagon is set to revolutionise freight performance on rail by introducing new and significant safety capabilities, creating operational efficiencies and increasing availability.
The iWagon is capable of powering future technologies using VTG Connect as the gateway, incorporating 12 digital innovations on initial launch.
Photo credit: VTG Rail UK
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