Redundancy-hit Hull Trains to resume operations in April
UK: Vowing to ‘build the business back up’ having made around a quarter of its staff redundant, Hull Trains Managing Director Louise Cheeseman announced on March 1 that the open access operator would restart services between London and East Yorkshire from April 12.
Northern to use Payit for faster refunds
UK: In what the operator says is a first for the rail industry, Northern is to use the NatWest’s Payit payment system to issue refunds almost instantly to customers’ bank accounts.
Grand Central plans restart date and Hull Trains to monitor demand
UK: Following the government’s February 22 announcement of a proposed timeline for easing coronavirus lockdown restrictions in England, open access operators Grand Central and Hull Trains have confirmed that they are to remain in ‘hibernation’ for the time being.
ROUK buys Heathrow Connect Class 360 EMUs
UK: Rail Operations (UK) has purchased Heathrow Airport Ltd’s fleet of fleet of five Siemens Class 360/2 electric-multiple units, along with spare parts.
Avanti West Coast introduces ITSO-compliant smartcard
UK: Following a trial, Avanti West Coast has launched its own smartcard scheme. The cards are intended to offer passengers another way to store tickets as part of an industry-wide move to reduce reliance on traditional paper media.
App to support train crew caring for unwell passengers
UK: Northern is trialling the Unwell Passenger app developed by York-based Incremental Solutions to provide on-train staff with step-by-step instructions to help passengers who become ill or are injured.
Lockdown opening for Bow Street station
UK: Trains began calling at the new Bow Street station near Aberystwyth on February 14, without ceremony because of travel restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic.
Pendolinos rebranded as Avanti West Coast embarks on fleet refurbishment programme
UK: Avanti West Coast reports that Phase 1 of its Pendolino relivery programme has been completed, with 51 of the 56 sets now featuring the Avanti West Coast branding on their leading vehicles.
Southern’s first refurbished Electrostar returns to service
UK: Unit 377 430 is the first Electrostar electric multiple-unit to return to service following refurbishment under Govia Thameslink Railway’s fleet modernisation programme.
Wales & Borders rail franchise taken into public ownership
UK: The Welsh Government took Wales & Borders passenger services into public ownership on February 7, insisting that the move which had been announced in October would provide longer-term financial stability to ‘protect services, safeguard jobs and deliver infrastructure improvements in light of the ongoing challenges of coronavirus.’
GWR to make extra stops to serve vaccination centre
UK: Great Western Railway is to stop 17 extra London Paddington – Bedwyn trains a day at Newbury Racecourse from February 8, to help people access a coronavirus vaccination centre there.