Railnews Magazine June 2017 Edizione posteriore

THE tragic events at Manchester are inevitably reflected in the June edition of Railnews, and one result of the attack was that armed BTP officers have been deployed on National Rail trains for the first time.

Industrial relations have continued to have a place in the news agenda, the latest development being a truce between Southern and ASLEF, which has agreed to defer its announced overtime ban by two weeks.

Elswhere, campaigners supporting the restoration of the rest of the Borders Railway to Carlisle have produced a new report which summarises their case, work has started in Japan building the body shells for Hitachi Intercity Expresses destined for the East Coast Main Line and GWR electric trains have started running west of Hayes & Harlington for the first time.

There have been other problems in the Manchester area: Metrolink drivers are reported to be facing a ‘nightly ordeal’ from vandals on the Rochdale line, after one tram driver was injured by a large rock.

Back in London, a judicial review has rejected a claim from Heathrow Airport which had been set to cost Transport for London £42 million a year in access charges for Crossrail trains, while Sir Richard Branson is urging ‘disruptive innovators’ to help transform the future of the railway. He is inviting them to enter a new competition which involves Virgin Trains East Coast.

A landmark moment occurred on Chiltern Railways in May, when the final examples of ‘first generation’ diesel units made their farewell runs on the line between Aylesbury and Princes Risborough, and we also have a picture of the footballing musician who has been intriguing onlookers at St Pancras International.

A busy month in many ways, and you can catch up with all the key developments in the June edition of Railnews.