Railnews Magazine September 2024 Back Issue

The likelihood of a settlement of the long-running ASLEF pay dispute leads Railnews for September. A separate series of strikes on LNER has also been suspended, after ASLEF described the latest talks as ‘constructive’.

The first step to encourage rail freight since the July election has been taken by Network Rail, which will scrap track access charges for the first six months of a new freight flow.

East West Rail between Bicester and Bletchley was being transferred to Network Rail at the end of August, after rebuilding the line was completed, while main line tests of Hitachi’s intercity battery train began, also during the last week of August.

There was trouble at London King’s Cross after a Paralympian who missed her booked assistance had to ‘crawl off’ a train. LNER apologised and is investigating.

Trouble, too, on the Heart of Wales Line between Llanwrtyd and Shrewsbury, which was blocked by a derailment, and also in north west England and north Wales, where fallen trees and floods disrupted trains.

Still in Wales, transport secretary Ken Skates has confirmed plans to upgrade the North Wales Main Line, and tests on the East Coast Main Line have been completed as part of preparations for ETCS. An electric multiple unit and a locomotive have been fitted with the necessary digital equipment.

A union is claiming that staff on Edinburgh Trams are being ‘forced’ into going on strike, and in news from British Transport Police four teenagers have been sentenced to a total of more than 77 years for attempted murder at a station.

There was good news for Alstom in Derby, which has won a second order worth £60 million.

Finally, the British athletes who competed at the Olympics received a heroes’ welcome at St Pancras.

All this, and more, in Railnews for September.