In The News: 9th July

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An article dominating the national newspapers is news that the FirstGroup has warned that it may not be able to meet its debts over the next few months and that ‘material uncertainties’ hang over the company after it fell to a third straight annual loss.

In The Times, it writes on the transport group’s details on a catalogue of crisis engulfing it as the cost of readying the sale of its American operators helped push it £299 million into the red in the year to March.

The article says that when asked if FirstGroup was in danger of going bankrupt, its’ chief executive Matthew Gregory said ‘we are not going bust. We have strong liquidity’.

Union chiefs say they are calling on government support to protect proposed job cuts at Eurostar – a move they say would have ‘serious implications’ for the Kent economy.

The article featuring on Kent Online writes that the RMT says it has learned the operator is looking to make 20% cuts in order to ease financial pressures caused by the pandemic.

A spokesman for Eurostar says steps are being taken to protect Eurostar for the long term by reducing costs across the business, and a considered approach is being taken to reduce payroll costs, working closely with trade union partners.

Plans to reopen two railway stations around Leigh have been revealed.

An article in the Manchester Evening News says the proposals could give residents direct access to the rail network for the first time in 50 years.

MP James Grundy has made a submission to the government’s Restoring your Railway Fund for Golbourne and Kenyon Junction stations.

Finally, and North Yorkshire Moors Railway and Severn Valley Railway have revealed their reopening arrangements for Saturday, August 1 – but there’ll be changes as they both get back on track.

An article on Teeside Live says as part of the phased reopening of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, tickets are now available for pre-booked, non-stop, steam hauled services with limited capacity.

Passengers are also requested to wear face coverings while moving around the railway and on the train, although they can be removed while seated in a compartment.

Photo credit: FirstGroup

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