In The News | 11th April 2023

Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Tuesday, 11th April 2023

InTheNews: The latest rail news on Tuesday, 11th April 2023 The first electric trains on the Transpennine Route Upgrade are in sight as industry leaders have hailed the latest upgrade work at Stalybridge station. Engineers worked around the clock over 26-days to complete their largest phase of work to date, including a full junction remodelling, installing over 2km of new track and 23 new signals, upgrading 13 crossovers and fitting new overhead line equipment for future electrification.

Advertisement Rail Minister Huw Merriman said the works would “support economic growth, connect communities and deliver faster, greener and more reliable services across the region”. Read the full story here.[1]

A section of the unique track system being developed for the Coventry Very Light Rail scheme has been installed at Coventry City Council’s Whitley Depot, with its performance set to be measured under extreme conditions. An article from British Trams Online said vibration sensors that take measurements 10 times a second have been installed in the track, while weight-in-motion sensors will weigh vehicles while they move across the track. The data is set to be collected and fed into a digital twin computer model which will allow Coventry City Council’s innovation partners, WMG at the University of Warwick, to evaluate the performance of the track over time.

Amey Rail Ltd has been fined GBP533,000 by the Office of Rail and Road after a railway worker was electrocuted. An article from Construction News reported how Alllister Hunt, a self-employed senior linesman, was hurt after touching live wiring during remedial snagging work to overhead lines 2.5 miles from Paddington station. He suffered 55 per cent burns as well as hearing and eyesight damage.

The Office of Rail and Road found Amey had no effective system in place to ensure that works were carried out safely and the firm pleaded guilty to an offence under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. Finally, almost 400 Easter treats have been donated for unwell children by Greater Anglia customers and staff. The donations were given to nurses and care staff who work on the children’s ward and paediatric emergency department at Harlow’s Princess Alexandra Hospital on Wednesday, 5 April.

The donation scheme, which first started in 2020, is the work of Michael King, who works as a relief ticket office clerk at Sawbridgeworth and Stansted Mountfitchet stations.

Activity kits comprising puzzle and colouring books, along with colouring pencils and pens, were also gifted for young patients at the hospital.

Read the full story here.[2]

Download article[3]

References

1. ^ Read the full story here. (news.railbusinessdaily.com)
2. ^ full story here. (news.railbusinessdaily.com)
3. ^ Download article (news.railbusinessdaily.com)