NETWORK RAIL
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Class 195 unveiled – future plans revealed
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By Tony Miles NORTHERN has formally unveiled the first two trains in its new £500million fleet which it says “will set new standards for customers using local rail in the north of England”. The sets were unveiled by Northern managing director David Brown and Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry at Edge Hill depot, Liverpool, in…
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Transport group criticises hikes in access charges
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Logistics lobby group the Freight Transport Association (FTA) has criticised what it believes are the ‘mixed signals’ being received by the rail freight sector from the Government and the Office of Rail and Road. While there is good news for rail in the confirmation of increased funding for Network Rail’s next Control Period in 2019-24,…
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Last levers in the Calder Valley
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FOUR heritage Network Rail signalboxes were abolished at the end of their signallers’ shifts on October 20, in the final phase of the West Yorkshire Resignalling Scheme, reports Richard Horner. The scheme is part of the Great North Rail Project, with the first phase, completed in January, leading to the closure of post-war Huddersfield and…
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Breakwater repairs to protect Dawlish sea wall route
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WORK is underway at Dawlish in Devon to repair four breakwaters which help to protect the west of England main line from the force of waves. The work is being undertaken with the help of ‘world-leading engineers’ in coastal, tunnel, cliff and railway engineering, and is expected to take six months. Expert engineering teams from…
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Public feedback forces NR to change Bescot sleeper plant plans
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NETWORK Rail has significantly altered its plans for a new sleeper factory at Bescot Yard following feedback from local residents, councillors and MPs. Residents raised concerns during consultation on the original plans over the proximity of the factory to houses backing on to the yard site, its visual impact, and increased traffic on local roads.…
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Network Rail consults on ‘Croydon Bottleneck’
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NETWORK Rail’s proposed solutions to reduce congestion in and around Croydon were opened to public consultation in November. The Croydon area is reported to be the busiest and most congested part of Britain’s rail network, with 30% more passengers and trains passing through it each day than London Euston and King’s Cross stations combined. Punctuality…
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Railways mark the Armistice centenary
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TRAIN operators, Network Rail and many others held events in the lead-up to the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War and Remembrance Day on November 11. Some trains were specially named, notably GWR, with its unveiling of IET No. 800306 giving the names of all 2,545 men who worked for the GWR…
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New tech for NR to increase efficiency and cut costs
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NETWORK Rail is planning to spend up to 0.5% of its annual turnover, around £245million, on new technology and practices to increase efficiency and reduce costs. According to Jon Shaw, NR chief engineer and acting group director for safety, technology and engineering, the move could save the company around £1.4bn a year by allowing it…
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‘1-in-7’ drivers wouldn’t wait for level crossing barriers
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NEW research from Network Rail reveals an alarming one-in-seven drivers claim they wouldn’t wait for barriers or gates to open at a level crossing before driving their vehicle over. In the last five years, six people have died in vehicles at level crossings, and many others have been injured. NR reports it currently averages 46…
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Derby remodelling completed on time
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INDUSTRY leaders are hailing the 79-day Derby blockade as a great success after the remodelled station was handed back on schedule on October 8. In the early hours of the morning, Network Rail and its contractors removed the final pieces of equipment and machinery from the lines to the north of Derby station, allowing East…