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FRESH talks aimed at ending the rail disputes were taking place as this edition of Railnews went to press, and we also report the determined opposition being voiced by the unions to the new Bill which sets out minimum service levels during strikes. Also just before press time there was a major landslip on the South Western Main Line near Hook station in Hampshire, which left one line hanging in the air. Network Rail’s efforts to make the railway more resilient are continuing, with work to strengthen six cuttings and embankments in Kent set for next month. The government has announced a new contract for the Arriva-owned operator CrossCountry, which is set to start in October and run for at least four years. In other business news, regulated National Rail fares will rise in March, but by less than the rate of inflation, while a Transport Focus survey suggests that rail passengers are more concerned about the level of fares than anything else. Several railway people, including two British Transport Police officers, have been named on King Charles III’s first New Year Honours list, and Transport for London has launched a year of celebrations after the 160th birthday of London Underground fell on 10 January. Trains started running between Paddington and Farringdon in 1863. A depot in Manchester intended for Eurostars in the 1990s which has only been used occasionally ever since has had a makeover, and is getting a new lease of life with Northern. Railnews also sadly records that the industry is mourning engineer Adrian Shooter, who died last month at the age of 74. To end on a happier note, staff from Northern and British Transport Police brought some seasonal cheer to the young patients at Leeds Children’s Hospital. The January edition of Railnews is out now.