New government policy on noise levels in large urban areas could land Network Rail with major bills for sound barriers alongside busy lines. Some line speeds may also have to be reduced at night. full story
General Headlines:
-
Network Rail has unveiled the first section of the new Birmingham New Street Gateway station rather earlier than had been expected.
-
Just one day after the third ScotRail strike by RMT members in a train crew dispute, ScotRail has warned that at least one further strike seems likely over the Easter holidays in three weeks' time. But the operator predicted that it would be ‘business as usual’.
-
Members of the RMT working for ScotRail were striking again on Saturday, in protest at plans to use ticket examiners rather than guards on the Airdrie-Bathgate line when it opens in December. Trains on some rural routes were replaced by buses, but ScotRail said many lines were offering a full service, particularly in the central belt.
-
There has been a widespread welcome for the announcement of a 540km High Speed rail network by the transport secretary Andrew Adonis, but there have been renewed calls for the major Scottish cities to be included in the High Speed plans as soon as possible. ATOC is warning that the plans must make financial sense, and calling for private sector involvement.
-
The transport secretary Lord Adonis has published plans for a 540km High Speed network, linking London with the West and East Midlands, Manchester and Leeds, with High Speed trains continuing 'from the outset to Liverpool, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
