Railnews Magazine March 2019 Back Issue

RAILNEWS for March reports that major changes could be on the way, after Keith Williams gave some hints about the early conclusions as his inquiry continues. Railnews analyses what he said, while Andrew Haines has unveiled his new structure for ‘operations-led’ Network Rail. In an exclusive article, he explains why.

The Commons Public Accounts Committee has been looking ahead, and it forecasts that passengers have ‘another difficult year’ ahead. It also said that in 2018 the Department for Transport ‘did not ensure that those responsible for the railway were clear about their roles and were working together effectively’.

The Rail Delivery Group has outlined radical changes to the way fares are calculated, and has sent its conclusions to Keith Williams for his consideration. In Hot Topic, Railnews asks if these changes would work.

There was better news on the industrial front, because more walkouts planned by the RMT on Northern and South Western Railway were suspended after breakthroughs at talks.

A documentary has claimed that the scrapping of HS2 is under ‘active consideration’ by ministers, while electric trains started running between Manchester and Preston on 11 February.

More funding worth up to £80 million has been announced to build a higher sea wall next to the railway at Dawlish in south Devon. In other news, the Campaign for Better Transport has identified 224 railways as potential candidates for being reopened, the Mayor of London has admitted that no date can be given ‘with confidence’ for the opening of Crossrail and punctuality is continuing to worsen, according to the Office of Rail and Road.

Finally, at least Greater Anglia passengers will be well-informed about problems, because one conductor is now using social media to tweet updates to people on his train.

All this and much more is in Railnews for March.