Railnews Magazine August 2023 Back Issue

The number of responses to the proposals to close most ticket offices in England has soared to at least 315,000. The controversial plans are being widely opposed, and the consultation has been extended to 1 September.

Rail strikes continued in England as industrial disputes remain unresolved, and there’s more discouraging news for HS2, because most of the project has been given a ‘red’ rating by the Infrastructure Projects Authority. The chief executive of HS2 Ltd Mark Thurston has also announced that he is leaving the company.

New trains and stations have been launched. A train in the delayed Alstom Class 701 ‘Arterio’ fleet appeared at London Waterloo on the day that the station’s 175th anniversary was celebrated, while two new stations welcomed passengers. Trains began calling at Thanet Parkway in Kent on 31 July, and at Portway Park & Ride in Bristol on 1 August.

In other news, a report is warning that British train-building centres could run out of work unless new orders are placed, Derby City Council welcomed the GBR Transition Team to a meeting in GBR’s future headquarters city, Network Rail Scotland has published a £4.2 billion, five-year plan, Oxford station was closed for nine days from 29 July for more upgrades, regulations allowing agency staff to be used during rail strikes have been banned by the High Court, and fines for health and safety breaches have been levied following the fatal Croydon tram crash.

Finally, London Underground passengers were surprised when their Jubilee Line train arrived at Charing Cross rather than Westminster. An error by staff had meant that they were taken along a section which now only used for empty train movements. They were the first fare-paying passengers to arrive at Charing Cross since it was closed in 1999.

Railnews for August is out now.