Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Monday, 8th February 2021
The latest rail news on Monday, 8th February 2021
The Welsh Government has taken the Wales and Borders rail franchise into public ownership to protect services, safeguard jobs, and deliver infrastructure improvements in light of the ongoing challenges of coronavirus.
As of 7th February Transport for Wales is now operating the Wales and Borders rail services under a subsidiary, ‘Transport for Wales Rail LTD’.
The move, which was announced in October 2020, comes in the face of a significant reduction in passenger numbers. It is intended to provide for longer term financial stability, necessary to secure plans for infrastructure improvements and deliver future improvements for passengers.
Network Rail has completed one its biggest track investments in Cornwall in decades.
Over the past five weeks, the £3 million works has seen track renewed on the St Ives Bay line between Carbis Bay and St Ives.
The railway line reopened today following the successful completion of work to lay around 1.5 miles of new track and install 3,600 new sleepers and over 400 tonnes of new ballast.
Today marks 1 years and 111 days since the last date the Government gave an update on its list of upgrade projects in the Rail Network Enhancement Pipeline.
That is according to the Railway Industry Association that is today calling on the Government to publish an update so that railway businesses have the visibility to plan for the future.
Chief Executive Darren Caplan says this is not about budget, but simply a call for clarity on future work, whatever that thinking is.
Finally, and NPX has been successfully awarded a 10-year framework with Highways England for the Historical Railways Estate Examination contract.
Starting April 2021, NPX will commence works in the East Region covering sites from Durham and Yorkshire, through to East and West Midlands. NPX will deliver asset examination services on a cyclical basis to hundreds of disused rail bridges and tunnels that form part of the Historical Railway Estate.
On behalf of the Department for Transport, Highways England are responsible for this fascinating estate which includes circa 3,800 assets and 74 listed structures.
Photo credit: NPX
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