The Grand Railway Collaboration partnership representing six train operators, Network Rail’s Central route, the West Midlands Rail Executive and Transport Focus opened its Collaboration Hub at Birmingham New Street station on October 10, providing members with a dedicated location that can also be used by other industry, community, charity and social groups.
Announcing plans for the December 11 timetable change, South Western Railway said that in the last six months overall passenger numbers have stabilised at around 69% of pre-pandemic levels, with peak travel at only 53%. Performance & Planning Director Steve Tyler said ’this new timetable will broadly maintain current service levels across our network, while delivering more consistent and efficient service for our customers, based on close scrutiny of current travel patterns’.
A planning application has been submitted to Lancashire County Council for the proposed Cottam Parkway station between Preston and Blackpool. The plans have been developed by the county council, working with Preston City Council and Network Rail. if approved, construction would begin next year with funding for from the Department for Transport’s Transforming Cities Fund and the Preston, South Ribble & Lancashire City Deal.
HS2 Ltd has launched a supplier guide setting out its strategic goals and buying objectives, introducing its Tier 1 construction partners with links to their procurement and supply chain teams, and providing guidance on how suppliers can benefit from the project’s pipeline of contract opportunities.
ISS UK & Ireland has announced a new facilities management contract with Northern, having worked with the operator since March 2017. ISS will continue to provide cleaning, mechanical, engineering and building and grounds maintenance services at 477 sites for three years from October 1, with an option for a further two.
RSS Infrastructure has been awarded a Principal Contractors Licence by Network Rail.
Story Scotland has installed footbridges with lifts to provide step-free access to all platforms at Croy and Johnstone stations.
Porterbrook has achieved a top score of 100/100 and been named as the Transport Sector Leader in the annual GRESB assessment of environmental, social and governance data.
RAIB makes recommendations to Network Rail and the Health & Safety Executive in its report into a collision between a train and agricultural equipment at Kisby user-worked crossing in Cambridgeshire on August 19 2021. These seek improvements in the management and assurance processes applied to user-worked crossings, and an additional means of communicating crossing safety information to agricultural workers. RAIB has also written to organisations representing farmers asking that they remind their members of the importance of following correct procedures.