UK news – Page 3
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Rail Business UKONS reviews sector classification of Train Operating Companies
UK: The Office for National Statistics is assessing whether the government’s Emergency Measures Agreements mean Train Operating Companies’ debts should be included on the national balance sheet. The result of the review of the sector classification of TOCs will be announced as soon as possible, ONS ...
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News
Eurostar looks to cut costs with reduced hours and part-time working
EUROPE: Eurostar is looking to reduce its payroll costs through the introduction of reduced hours and more part-time working ‘wherever possible throughout 2021’, in a move which the cross-Channel high speed operator said was intended to protect jobs at a time when ‘the impact of Covid-19 has ...
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Rail Business UK
UK railway news round-up
HS2 contractor Skanska Costain Strabag JV has awarded 3Squared a three-year contract to supply its RailSmart software to provide visibility of its complex freight supply chain, with live performance, cost management information and operational control data in real-time. This will include bespoke enhancements for ...
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News
Agreements signed to allow direct Amsterdam – London trains
EUROPE: Eurostar is set to launch direct services between Amsterdam and London later this year, following the signing on July 7 of four-country agreements covering the legal and security arrangements. A date for the start of through services has not yet been finalised, the high speed ...
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Rail Business UK
Franchise support to be extended by 18 months
UK: The government is preparing for a further 18 months of financial support for passenger train operators once the existing Emergency Measures Agreements expire on September 20, industry insiders have confirmed. A formal decision is expected to be announced by Secretary of State for Transport Grant ...
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Urban news
Emergency support for Glasgow Subway and Edinburgh Trams
UK: The Scottish Government is to provide up to £9m of emergency funding for the Glasgow Subway and Edinburgh Trams to help mitigate the financial impact of the drop in ridership as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The emergency measures announced on July 7 will ...
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Rail Business UK
Snowdon Mountain Railway takes delivery of diesel-battery locomotives
UK: The Snowdon Mountain Railway has taken delivery of two 800 mm gauge diesel-battery hybrid Abt rack locomotives ordered last year from Clayton Equipment, which specialises in the production of bespoke designs for specialist railway, metro, mining and tunnelling applications. Thanks to the hybrid drive, ...
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Urban news
Blackpool trams to resume as UK light rail operators reflect government guidance
UK: Blackpool’s trams are to begin operating once more from July 19, having been suspended since March 29 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Operator Blackpool Transport said the resumption of services on the 16 km route was intended to ‘support the town’s economy and provide an ...
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Rail Business UK
Battery traction agreement signed as Hitachi sees market for more than 400 trains in the UK
UK: Hitachi Rail and battery company Hyperdrive Innovation have signed a memorandum of understanding for the joint development of a battery pack suitable for powering trains, and a roadmap towards a manufacturing agreement which would cover any future orders. The battery packs ...
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Rail Business UK
Welding gantry supplied to Bombardier Transportation’s Derby factory
UK: KM Tools has supplied Bombardier Transportation’s Derby factory with a custom welding gantry for the production of rolling stock bodyshells. Bombardier required a new gantry that closely matched the ones already operational, so KM Tools reverse engineered a new machine to the required specification and ...
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Rail Business UK
Nine factors to consider when designing future stations
UK: Design Council has published ThinkStation , a report which was commissioned by Network Rail to provide a framework for the future design of ‘local’ stations. These are defined as Network Rail categories D, E and F, the smaller stations which make up around 80% of the ...
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Rail Business UK
SNCF catenary design adopted as HS2 begins electrification procurement
UK: HS2 Ltd has launched the process to procure overhead line equipment for the high speed railway now under construction between London and the West Midlands. The project delivery company announced on July 2 that it was seeking to award two railway systems contracts in a ...
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Rail Business UK
UK railway news round-up
Horden station on the Durham Coast line was opened on June 29. It is initially being served by one train per hour each way, calling at all stations between Newcastle and Middlesbrough. The £10·55m project was led by Durham County Council and Network Rail, supported by ...
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Rail Business UK
Crowdsourcing train loadings to support social distancing
Trainline UK: Independent ticket retailer Trainline has launched a function on its app which is designed to help passengers alert other people if they find that it is not possible to socially distance in particular areas of specific trains. Passengers using the ...
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Rail Business UK
‘Now is the right moment to act’ Grand Central says as it announces restart date
UK: ‘We’ve tracked our path forward, we believe now is the right moment to act, for our passengers, our staff and for the business’, Grand Central Managing Director Richard McClean told Rail Business UK on July 1 when the company announced plans for a ‘measured’ restart ...
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Rail Business UK
Rail regulator proposes changes to delay compensation process
UK: The Office of Rail Road has begun consultation on a proposed licence condition which would require train operators to follow a new code of practice for delay compensation payments. This would include requirements to provide passengers with clear information about compensation entitlements both ...
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Rail Business UK
Newhaven freight revival as Marine station to close
Source: DB Cargo UK UK: A formal proposal to close the redundant but still nominally open Newhaven Marine station has been approved by the Department for Transport following a public consultation. The line will remain open to serve a newly-developed freight terminal at the East Quay ...
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Rail Business UK
Restoring pre-Covid service ‘could take two years’ as TOCs face logistical hurdles
UK: Government aspirations for a significant ramping up of passenger services towards pre-coronavirus levels are unlikely to be achieved, with train operating companies warning of staff shortages and a lack of clarity over capacity leading to an increasingly confusing situation.
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Rail Business UK
Roof refurbishment kick starts modernisation at Bristol Temple Meads
UK: Network Rail has appointed Taziker as principal contractor to refurbish the station roof at Bristol Temple Meads, the first step in a phased modernisation of the city’s principal passenger hub. The £24m contract announced on June 26 will see Taziker reglaze the roof and canopies ...
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Rail Business UK
TOC owning groups consider exit strategies as Shapps outlines reform thinking
UK: Several owning groups holding passenger franchises are understood to be considering their future in the light of emerging government thinking about future industry structures and concession models.
