More than 40,000 workers to vote over biggest rail strike in history April 20, 2022 More than 40,000 workers are set to vote whether to go on strike in what could be the biggest rail industrial action in history. The National Union of Rail Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) cited Network Rail’s planned cuts as the reason behind the ballot, which will take place between 26 April and 24 May. [...]
‘Great British Rail Sale’ lambasted as website crashes April 19, 2022 The UK Government’s decision to sell one million train tickets at half price was lambasted today for excluding millions of commuters. Launched today, the “Great British Rail Sale” aims to help struggling Brits travel amid a cost-of-living squeeze but it only applied to advance fares or off-peak tickets for companies who don’t offer an advance. [...]
Government announces half-price rail fares to help with living costs squeeze April 19, 2022 The UK Government is set to slash rail fares by 50 per cent to help struggling Brits with the cost of living squeeze. Transport secretary Grant Shapps announced more than one million train tickets will be reduced to help Britons afford trips across the UK and boost domestic tourism. The scheme is run on a [...]
Union calls on Avanti West Coast to withdraw see-through uniforms following staff complaints April 13, 2022 The union RMT today called on Avanti West Coast to withdraw its new uniforms after staff complained about them being see-through. “We have received a large number of complaints from members on the West Coast Mainline who have been issued with these flimsy new blouses and shirts by Avanti which are basically transparent,” said RMT’s [...]
UK invests £7.6m in rail innovation competition April 12, 2022 The UK Government announced today it will invest £7.6m in rail innovation competition First of a Kind. A joint venture between the Department for Transport (DfT) innovation agency Innovate UK, the competition aims to find new ways to innovate the railway sector, focusing especially on decarbonisation solutions. This year, First of a Kind will focus [...]
Exclusive: Four in five people expect to travel for work amid sector post-pandemic bounce back April 6, 2022 Around 80 per cent of people expect to travel for work this year as the sector bounces back post-Covid. According to a research by high speed rail operator HS1, 66 per cent of respondents said they would prefer taking the train over a plane for business for sustainability reasons, while figures increase to 77 per [...]
Going Dutch: ALL train services in The Netherlands come to a halt due to technical ‘error’ April 4, 2022 All train services across the Netherlands are currently not running due to ‘technical problems’, national rail operator NS late last night. Apart from zero trains running, travel information can not be displayed at stations and all loud speakers at all large stations are down as well. Travellers are urged to find alternative modes of transport, [...]
Govia Thameslink avoids nationalisation plans despite £23.5m Southeastern fine March 21, 2022 Railway operator Govia Thameslink is expected to avoid nationalisation plans even though its subsidiary Southeastern was slapped with a £23.5m fine. A joint venture between the Go-Ahead Group and French public transport company Keolis, Govia is reportedly being awarded a “national rail contract”, which will allow it continue operations. Whitehall sources told the Telegraph an [...]
Rail workers stage umpteenth strike this weekend over pay and conditions March 11, 2022 Rail workers have announced the latest round of strikes for this weekend. Members of the National Union of Rail Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) working as cleaners and train conductors on several operators on the West Coast mainline and across London and the south east voted in favour of industrial action over salaries and rosters. [...]
Investigation finds errors in Carillion’s drain caused Stonehaven crash March 10, 2022 Errors in the Carillion-built drainage system caused the 2020 Stonehaven rail crash, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said today. According to the investigation, design differences and the way the system was built meant that it was unable to sustain the amount of rail falling on the morning of 12 August 2020 in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. [...]