In The News | 7th July 2021 | Latest Rail News

Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Wednesday, 7th July 2021

The latest rail news on Wednesday, 7th July 2021

The Department for Transport (DfT) “has neither the necessary urgency nor appreciates the scale of the challenge ahead” about the future of rail says today’s report from the Public Accounts Committee.

The committee has repeatedly highlighted how passengers are too often an afterthought in major rail projects.

The aftermath of COVID and the end of franchising offer options to deliver better services for passengers in a way that meets new travel demands, but the DfT now faces “an extremely challenging and uncertain environment in which to implement its proposed reforms”.

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A business case considering the re-opening of the railway between the existing Island Line and Newport has been submitted to the Department for Transport by the Isle of Wight Council.

The authority, supported by Island MP Bob Seely, is seeking government support from the ‘Restoring Your Railway’ programme to further develop the case for reinstating some of the Islands’ lost rail links.

The project will aim to reinstate the disused rail line between the Island Line and Newport, via Blackwater, providing a frequent, fast and reliable railway service from Ryde Pier Head to the Island’s county town.

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Hashtags like #railphotography and #railwayshoot have escalated dramatically in recent years ― with more than 1M uses on trend-setting apps like Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok.

The dangerous craze has contributed to a rise in illegal access to level crossings in Wales ― with 433 serious incidents recorded since the beginning of the pandemic.

The figure was announced today by Transport for Wales, Network Rail and British Transport Police (BTP) ― alongside a stark warning for Welsh residents and visitors alike to stay away from the tracks or risk potentially fatal consequences.

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Rail Forum Midlands (RFM) has launched its third SME Challenge as part of the Rail Supply Group’s Rail Sector Deal Midlands Pilots.

The SME Challenges are designed to provide opportunities for SMEs to work collaboratively to develop and offer solutions to real needs identified by different clients across the industry.

The third challenge will focus on Depot Digitalisation and Sustainability for DB Cargo who have major depots in Crewe, Stoke and Toton.

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