Railnews Magazine July 2021 Back Issue

THE news that the railway will try to narrow the financial gap caused by the pandemic by freezing most pay and recruiting only ‘vital’ staff leads Railnews for July. Steve Montgomery, the managing director of First Rail, says: ‘Like any industry hit by the pandemic we face tough choices,’ but RMT general secretary Mick Lynch, writing in this month’s edition, warns that ‘We will oppose job and pay cuts and do not accept the pay freeze.’

In other news, train cleaners at ScotRail have rejected an RMT call for strikes in a dispute over payments for overtime, new part time tickets for commuters went on sale on 21 June and became valid a week later but their value for money has been criticised, and London Underground passengers may still be required to wear facemasks, even if the general restriction is lifted in England by the government later this month.

Industry innovations have been moving forward. Eversholt Rail has unveiled its new Swift Express Freight train, converted from an ex-British Rail electric unit, while a project to create a shunting engine powered by hydrogen has reached a ‘significant’ milestone, with the removal of the original diesel engine.

Newly restored railways are also in the news. Work has started on restoring a passenger service between Ashington and Newcastle, and the re-opening of the line from Thornton Junction to Levenmouth in Fife on the Scottish east coast is set to go ahead with full-scale electrification and double track.

Another new railway, HS2, has seen construction begin on the ‘super hub’ station in west London, at Old Oak Common. Transport secretary Grant Shapps visited the site on 23 June.

Finally, four Network Rail people received recognition in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

There’s much more in the July edition of Railnews, and it’s out now.