Railnews Magazine May-18 Back Issue

THE Department for Transport’s management of two major franchises has been ‘completely inadequate’ according to a report from the Commons Public Accounts Committee, which leads Railnews for May. In other franchise news, FirstGroup and Trenitalia have withdrawn their bid for the East Midlands contract.

The industrial relations front appeared to be a little calmer, after peace talks were arranged between two operators and the RMT over train staffing disputes, but further walkouts were set to go ahead elsewhere. Planned strikes at CCTV centres in Scotland have also been called off.

The biggest May timetable change for years comes into effect this month, although the extent of the revisions meant that some information was not available to meet industry deadlines, while deadlines had also slipped repeatedly at Kenilworth, whose new station has finally opened.



Electrification has arrived on another section of line in southern Scotland and also between Blackpool North and Preston, while new trains for TransPennine Express should start to enter service this year. There were also celebrations at Bombardier in Derby when the first body in a fleet of 111 Aventra commuter trains for Greater Anglia was lifted on to its bogies.

The controversial plans to merge British Transport Police north of the border with Police Scotland appear to be on hold indefinitely, but MSPs have heard that Scottish BTP officers feel ‘abandoned’.

Our feature discusses a suggestion that the next Great Western franchise could be divided, while Hot Topic asks if all the railway awards ceremonies which take place each year are really justified.

Finally, we have been looking for sunglasses after learning that West Midlands Railway has been busily lighting landmarks in its region orange, to mark its recent launch. For news of all colours, see the new edition of Railnews for May.