Strikes
++


Train
operators
are
urging
passengers
to
only
attempt
to
travel
if
they
must
on
the
forthcoming
strike
days
of
5,
7
and
9
November.
The
first
and
third
will
affect
Network
Rail
and
most 
operators,
while
the
strike
on
the
7th
will
involve
Network
Rail
staff
only.
Even
so,
most
lines
will
have
limited
services
at
best
on
that
day
because
the
walkout
will
include
signallers.
Many
routes
will
close
entirely.
Another
strike
on
10
November
will
affect
London
Underground
and
Overground.
Merseyrail
said
it
will
be
will
be
running
a
limited
hourly
service
on
5,
7
and
November.
Its
staff
are
not
striking,
but
the
system
will
be
affected
by
the
absence
of
many
Network
Rail
staff.

New
chair
++


The
chair
of
the
House
of
Commons
Transport
Committee
is
to
be
replaced,
because
the
present
chairman
Huw
Merriman
is
becoming
a
transport
minister.
Rules
of
the
Select
Committees
do
not
allow
members
of
the
government
to
take
part,
as
the
committees
are
intended
exclusively
for
backbenchers
from
all
sides
of
the
house,
although
the
chair
must
be
from
the
ruling
party.
Nominations
are
now
open
and
will
close
at
noon
on
15
November.
If
there
is
only
one
candidate,
the
Speaker
is
likely
to
announce
the
result
that
day. 
If
more
than
one
nomination
is
received,
a
ballot
will
take
place
on
16
November
and
the
Speaker
would
announce
the
results in
the
House
of
Commons later that day.

Finance
director
++


Greater
Anglia
has
appointed
a
new
finance
director.
Michael
Robertson
joins
the
operator
from
its
majority
shareholder
Abellio
Group,
where
he
was
group
financial
controller.
Previously
he
was
ScotRail’s
head
of
finance
after
spending
several
years
with
Grant
Thornton
UK.