Railnews Magazine May 2023 Back Issue

Negotiations between train operators and two rail unions have broken down again, and both the RMT and ASLEF have called more 24-hour strikes. In a separate dispute, the RMT launched another London Underground strike ballot on 25 April.

Problems have continued between Didcot Parkway and Oxford, because Nuneham Viaduct will remain closed for repairs until June.

Normal service has been restored on SWR diesel services after fuel was contaminated, operators were preparing for extra passengers during the Coronation weekend, trains are set to return to Ryde Pier Head in time for the summer but buses are set to continue replacing trains on the Bedford-Bletchley line until the autumn, and passengers who plead no volts in their phones are facing penalty fares on EMR.

In infrastructure news, direct weekday services between Glasgow Central and Carlisle returned in April, Network Rail completed upgrades worth £14.5 million over the early May holiday, and services are being reduced on the Midland Main Line so that track in two tunnels can be renewed.

Financial matters have also been making the headlines: HS2 Ltd has admitted the cost of a new central London station at Euston was not known until 2022, Day Travelcards may be abolished by Transport for London to increase revenue, and when we went to press we said the future of FirstGroup’s Transpennine Express was in the balance. Our report was justified, because that National Rail Contract is now ending on 28 May.

A ceremony has been held to honour TfL staff who lost their lives to Covid.

Finally, there is an unusual problem in north east England, because Tyne and Wear Metro passengers are complaining that their trains can be too hot – which is not perhaps the most welcome news at this time of year.

Railnews for May is out now.