Caulmert’s Structural & Civil Engineering Team is working with Morgan Sindall to design and install lifts, raised walkways, a replacement footbridge and ticket office building modifications at Hunts Cross and St Michaels stations. ‘Our earlier work on the outline GRIP 4 designs for the scheme means we have a thorough understanding of the stations and Merseytravel’s vision to improve access for all’, said Caulmert’s Head of Rail, Peter Dawson.
ADComms is to act as main contractor for the rail works associated with Cellnex UK’s 25-year contract to improve telecoms coverage along the London Bridge/Victoria to Brighton route. ADComms will deploy towers, base station equipment rooms, high-capacity fibre and bespoke radio equipment.
Following an easing of coronavirus restrictions, ScotRail has announced that it will restart on-train ticket checks from April 26, and increase services from May 1. ‘Customers are being reminded to buy tickets in advance of travel via the ScotRail app, website, or station facilities’, said of Customer Operations Phil Campbell. ‘It is a requirement to hold a valid ticket before boarding a train, and we will be increasing the frequency of our checks to make sure customers are playing their part.’
Rail Freight Group has appointed Phil Smart as Assistant Policy Manager, working with Director-General Maggie Simpson to engage with regional and national government and supporting RFG members in disseminating complex transport strategy. ‘With the growing emphasis on decarbonisation, there is an increasing role for rail freight in the UK supply chains and a greater need for local and national policies to support this objective’, he explained.
Ecological consultancy Whitcher Wildlife Ltd has been advising Network Rail about the presence of a pair of peregrine falcons nesting on the Britannia Bridge across the Menai Strait. Refurbishment work on the central tower has been paused until the young peregrines have fledged.
Ann-Marie Morrison has joined Costain as Network Rail client director. Sue Kershaw, Managing Director of Transportation at Costain said Morrison was ‘accomplished at mobilising diverse teams behind a common goal to maximise impact throughout the life cycle of a project, from navigating the consents for the A14 to taking a leadership role in the Euston station redevelopment team and maximising the social value of the London 2012 Olympics.’
Great Western Railway is to operate replacement bus services between St Erth and St Ives from June 7 to 14 inclusive, to allow Devon & Cornwall Police and the security services to set up secure zones around locations involved in the G7 summit.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has appointed Sir Jon Thompson as a non-executive director representing the government’s interests on the HS2 Ltd board. He is currently Chief Executive of the Financial Reporting Council and was previously Permanent Secretary at both the Ministry of Defence and HM Revenue & Customs. The process to appoint a new Chair of HS2 Ltd is underway after Allan Cook confirmed his intention to leave the company this summer.
Mal Drury-Rose has been appointed as Assistant Director for Rail at Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, with responsibility for the strategic leadership of the delivery of the organisation’s 30-year Long Term Rail Strategy. He began his railway career at 17 as a guard and has held senior positions with Virgin Trains, First Great Western, National Express, and the Rail Delivery Group; he was Head of Rail at the Welsh Government for 10 years.
Ben Hamer joined Systra on April 12 as Director of Operations, High Speed Rail. ‘It’s an incredibly exciting time to be joining Systra’, he said, noting that ‘HS2’s Old Oak Common station is commencing its construction phase and the Main Works Civils North project is approaching the peak of detailed design’.
