Zonegreen has installed three Points Converters at Ryde St John’s Road depot on the Isle of Wight. These connect directly to existing hand-operated turnouts, enabling them to be automated without the expense of full signalling conversion. The turnouts are controlled by locally-installed key switch panels situated on walkways, reducing the risk of manual handling injuries or slips and falls on uneven ground.
The Railway Heritage Trust has awarded Gorilla Brothers Ltd a £14 516 grant towards converting three rooms at Knaresborough station into a micropub.
VolkerFitzpatrick has appointed WSP to work with architects Chapman Taylor on the design of the £40m Brent Cross West station to on the Thameslink route in north London. Opening is planned for spring 2022.
Young Rail Professionals has launched a new website and online community for its members.
A report undertaken by Transport for Wales has identified four locations for stations which it envisages could be financed under the New Stations Fund 3 for completion by early 2024. These would be at Deeside Parkway on the Borderlands Line, Carno on the Cambrian main line, St Clears in West Wales and Ely Mill on the City Line in Cardiff. Other proposals announced by Minister for Economy & Transport Ken Skates include stations at Greenfield and Magor, and the restoration of passenger services between Gaerwen and Amlwch and to Abertillery.
The Institute of Collaborative Working has recognised BM TRADA as an approved body for ISO 44001 Collaborative Business Relationships accreditation. ‘There has been a real increase in market demand for ISO 44001 in the last two years, with more businesses adopting collaborative business approaches, and demanding it from their supply chain – including a number of high profile projects in the rail and infrastructure sectors’, said BM TRADA Business Development Director Andy Green.
Ticket offices at Greater Anglia’s Diss, Manningtree, Stansted Mountfitchet, Rye House, St Margarets, Thetford and Whittlesford Parkway stations are due to close temporarily for three weeks from June 14, with the operator citing very low sales during the pandemic. Booking offices at another 42 stations will remain open for the morning peaks, with busier ones also open in the afternoon and at weekends. All ticket offices which have been shut as a result of the coronavirus outbreak are expected to reopen from July 5. ‘Our customers have been heeding government advice to avoid public transport’, said Commercial & Customer Service director Martin Moran. ‘We’ve also been asking people who need to use our services to buy their tickets online or via the Greater Anglia app so they can spend less time at the station, which is better for social distancing.’
Previously with SNC-Lavalin, Marianne Kilpatrick has joined transport consultancy Journey4 as Senior Associate. ‘We have a strong track record in delivery within the rail sector over the years, but we believe that the skill set and vision that Marianne has for driving strategy identification, leadership transformation and change management in that sector takes it to a whole new level and will complement the team perfectly’, said director Stuart Pearce on June 10.
Testing and certification company TÜV Süd has launched business assurance service in the UK, providing management system auditing and certification services for more than 40 standards including ISO/TS 22163 (railway quality management), ISO 14001 (environmental management) and ISO 45001 (occupational health & safety).
