The first bore of the 5·8 km Bromford Tunnel linking Water Orton with Washwood Heath was broken through by HS2 contractor Balfour Beatty Vinci on May 9. The second bore is expected to be completed later this year. The tunnel passes under the Park Hall Nature Reserve, M6 motorway and the meandering River Tame which is crossed four times with headspace as low as 5 m.
‘Significant’ modifications are being made to the main engineering shed at Toton depot where DB Cargo UK and Siemens Mobility are to install ETCS on Class 66 locomotives. Four lanes have been set aside to accommodate fitment work, with the heating system removed from the roof to accommodate new cranes. New tracks in the north end yard will accommodate a second load bank where locomotive engines are tested, and a fully automated wash plant will replace manual operations in the main engineering shed. Nine of DB’s Class 66 locomotives are to be fitted with ETCS by March 2026.
Preparations are underway for the raising and renovation of Crawshaw Woods Bridge between Cross Gates and Garforth, east of Leeds, which dates from 1830-34 and is believed to be the earliest cast-iron railway bridge over an operational railway anywhere in the world. The cast-iron girders, deck, parapets and original iron railings will be removed for off-site repair and renovation, then reinstated approximately 1·5 m higher to create enough room for the 25 kV 50 Hz electrification as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade.
The Unite union reports that 83% of its members at ScotRail backed a 3·6% wage offer backdated to April. In the second year starting in April 2026, the pay increase will amount to the greater of 3% or the January RPI. Maternity pay is increasing to 13 weeks full pay, up from half, and adoption pay is rising to 13 weeks half pay, up from statutory pay. Enhancements to paternity leave and pay have been secured with a third more time off and an increase in paid leave from two-week statutory pay to three weeks full pay. Apprentice pay will also increase 5% to the Scottish Living Wage of £12·60. Unite represents over 300 Scotrail general workers including rolling stock engineering grades.
LNER has moved its Customer Solutions Centre from Gosforth to central Newcastle. The 130 staff in the customer services team receive more than 1 million emails and 260 000 calls per year.
South Western Railway has awarded Mitie a three-year contract covering engineering maintenance and repairs for over 200 stations and a further 10 depots, building on its existing intelligence-led security contract with the operator.
