Tram depot ++ Work has started on the expansion of the West Midlands Metro tram depot at Wednesbury to accommodate a larger fleet. The additional trams are needed because the network is growing. The depot’s capacity will be more than doubled, while maintenance areas and workshops will be modernised and

Overcrowding ++ There were scenes of confusion and crowding at London Bridge during last night’s rush hour, because all trains had been stopped after a trespasser was seen on the line. Passengers complained of panic and long queues for escalators. In a Twitter message, Southeastern managing director Steve Wight said:

Eurostar has warned that Brexit formalities are threatening its business, although it is holding out hopes that a new digital immigration system will simplify the procedure in due course. Chief executive Gwendoline Cazenave said more rigorous border controls, combined with a shortage of security staff and the effects of the pandemic,

Line reopens ++ The railway between Hurst Green and East Grinstead in Surrey is set to reopen this morning, after it had been blocked by a landslip last Thursday. Network Rail engineers and BAM Nuttall have been working continuously to repair the line after a 10 metre stretch of a

Penalty ++ The amount of a penalty fare on trains in England has gone up from £20 to £100 from this morning. The government says more than £200 million is lost through fraudulent travel each year, but critics say faulty ticket machines and long queues at booking offices sometimes tempt

The RMT is considering a ‘best and final’ pay offer, which train operators made last night. It includes increases of five and four per cent for 2022 and 2023 respectively, along with proposals to adapt the railway to allow for ‘significant changes’ in demand. The Rail Delivery Group said staff who are paid below

A plan to improve the railways linking Newquay, St Austell, Truro and Falmouth in Cornwall has won funding of almost £50 million from the government’s Levelling-Up fund. The total cost has been put at £56.8 million, and this will include £2.71 million from the council, with the balance coming from

ASLEF and the RMT have both called new walkouts after talks between the unions and management last week failed. There had been fresh hopes of a settlement, but the two unions have announced further strikes at train operators on 1 and 3 February. ASLEF said it had rejected the latest proposal, although

A major landslip at the weekend has left one of the tracks of the main line from London to Basingstoke hanging in mid-air and another track damaged, after the embankment supporting it collapsed. Network Rail has warned of ‘huge disruption’ for services west of Basingstoke, affecting places like Salisbury and Exeter. The

A wide gap still appears to exist between rail unions and management, which was revealed when both sides gave evidence to the House of Commons Transport Committee. Tim Shoveller, who has been leading the negotiations for Network Rail, said fewer RMT members have been supporting the most recent strikes. ‘The strikes have

Unions and opposition politicians have reacted angrily to the government’s new Bill which gives a minister power to decide on minimum levels of service during rail strikes. Business secretary Grant Shapps promised that there would be consultation with unions before setting out the levels which would legally apply to workers on

Talks between the RMT and the government have not apparently resulted in any progress, and the industrial dispute is understood to be continuing. Before yesterday’s meeting, the RMT claimed that the contracts between the Department for Transport and train operators place control of any dispute in the government’s hands. The

Rail minister Huw Merriman is set to meet rail union leaders today in a new bid to resolve the disputes with the RMT and ASLEF, but the unions have repeated their allegation that the government is blocking a settlement. Transport secretary Mark Harper, has denied this, pointing out that he is

Fares ++ The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has yet to announce how much fares on Transport for London will rise this year, after the government said regulated rail fares in England will rise by 5.9 per cent on 5 March. The Mayor faces a reduction in government funding for

Drivers belonging to ASLEF are striking at 14 English train operators today, and ASLEF leader Mick Whelan is warning that more walkouts are possible unless there is a settlement in the meantime. Train services are also being disrupted this week by two 48-hour RMT strikes, the first of which was on