Merseyrail said it will run a ‘limited’ train service during the forthcoming RMT strikes on 13-14 and 16-17 December. The Merseyrail network will be affected by the lack of Network Rail signallers and maintenance staff on strike days, and so frequencies will be reduced and no trains will run in the evenings. Merseyrail has also warned that its services are likely to be affected when staff stage another walkout between 24 and 27 December.

Fire disrupted trains at Wolverhampton

Train services were disrupted by a warehouse fire close to the railway at Wolverhampton which broke out on Monday night. Network Rail was forced to close the line, because the main wall of the gutted warehouse building had become unstable and was at risk of collapsing on to the track nearby. Services were suspended on the Stour Valley line between Wolverhampton, Sandwell & Dudley and Birmingham New Street, and six Stour Valley stations were closed. Rail replacement buses were provided, and the train service has now been restored.

Classic Electrostars are refurbished

Govia Thameslink Railway has completed a modernisation programme of 75 Class 377/4 Electrostar units which run on its Southern Railway routes. New features include information screens and at-seat charging and power points, as well as modern engineering equipment to improve reliability. The upgrade has been carried out by GTR staff at Selhurst depot. The fleet was built by Bombardier in Derby about 20 years ago to replace slam-door stock, and the oldest of the class have run almost four million kilometres since then.