The Rail Delivery Group has launched Great British Journeys, a series of videos on the National Rail YouTube channel providing drivers’ eye views of routes in Scotland, Wales, Devon and East Anglia. ‘We want these rarely seen views of stunning Great British journeys, shot direct from the driver’s cab, to inspire people to get back on track and enjoy the best of Britain’, said RDG Chief Executive Officer Jacqueline Starr.
Northern has introduced online booking for groups of 10 or more people. Its group travel team will respond to enquiries within two working days and make all the arrangements required. Group bookers will get a discount of up to 20% off standard fares.
BWB Consulting has appointed Joseph Infante as its Chair of Rail, tasked with developing BWB’s rail business in the UK and overseas.
LNER has appointed Claire Ansley as People & Customer Experience Director. She was previously Customer Experience Director for four years.
The TBMs operated by Align JV that are boring High Speed 2’s Chiltern tunnel have reached the Chalfont St Peter ventilation shaft, 2·9 km from the south portal. The 78 m deep shaft is the first of five that will provide ventilation and emergency access to the 16 km long twin tunnels, the longest on HS2. The shaft will be covered by a headhouse designed to resemble local farm buildings.
The City & Guilds Group rail apprenticeship training course provider Intertrain has been given a ‘good’ rating by Ofsted in its latest inspection.
Govia Thameslink Railway has appointed Samantha Facey as its Health, Safety & Security Director. She was previously interim Head of Safety & Health.
Bicycles abandoned at stations on Southeastern’s network are once again being donated to YMCA West Kent for overhaul and sale, after the scheme introduced three years ago closed down during the pandemic.
SLC Rail has appointed Andy Barker, Chief Operating Officer for Europe & India at AECOM, and Russell Jackson, Global Transit Director at AECOM, to its board of directors, following AECOM’s acquisition of a minority stake in SLC Rail.
A bronze-coloured frieze depicting athletes in action has been installed on the front of the redeveloped Perry Barr station. The £30·9 million project to rebuild the station is due to be completed in time for this summer’s Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Serco has appointed Joel Sainsbury as its Director, Rail Technical Services, based in Derby. He previously served as Head of the Engineering Team.
Derby City Council has formally launched its campaign to host the headquarters of Great British Railways.
The leaders of the main political groups on Cheshire East Council have released a joint statement pledging their support for Crewe’s bid to host the headquarters of Great British Railways.
c2c has launched an information service providing passengers with personalised journey updates, including real-time information about disruptions, alternative travel routes and business alerts, delivered via Messenger and WhatsApp.
Responding to the National Infrastructure Commission’s progress review of the government’s National Infrastructure Strategy, Darren Caplan, Chief Executive of the Railway Industry Association said the NIC ‘is right to highlight the need for long term planning and clear funding commitments in rail, both of which are essential in building confidence in the supply sector and allowing it to deliver cost effectively, to time and to budget. Whilst the Integrated Rail Plan has offered more certainty to the rail industry, there is still further work to be done. In particular, the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline is still yet to be published, almost 900 days since the government promised to. If the rail industry is going to have the clarity of future work the NIC mentions, it is vital the RNEP is published urgently.’