Railnews Magazine June 2020 Back Issue

THE easing of lockdown and the pressures on transport systems make the lead in Railnews for June, along with a last-minute rescue for Transport for London from the government which is worth up to £1.9 billion. Meanwhile, Transport for London increased the frequency of services from the middle of May, and Network Rail has warned that more use of footpath crossings could pose new risks unless people also take more care when they are out.

In other news, campaigning group Greengauge 21 is urging the government to improve railways in the north of England soon, and not to wait until HS2 arrives, while an updated report from the Commons Public Accounts Committee says the HS2 programme has ‘gone badly off-course’. A bold plan costed at £2.7 billion for the area around the HS2 hub at Toton in the East Midlands has been published.

The new London transport commissioner has been named as Andy Byford, and he will join Transport for London on 29 June.

Barmouth viaduct, whose timbers almost became a victim of a marine worm, is to have the biggest upgrade in its history at a cost of £25 million. Still with infrastructure news, Network Rail has published proposals for the last section of the £80 million project to improve protection for the Great Western line at Dawlish. However, some local people are still unhappy.

Plans to build a station at Moseley on the Camp Hill line in Birmingham have been submitted. If they are approved, it will be the third station on the restored route. Another new station appears to be doing well: the third birthday of Cambridge North station was celebrated on 21 May.

In Guest Opinion TSSA general secretary Manuel Cortes, writing exclusively for Railnews, says both the unions and HS2 are vital for the future.