Members
of
the
RMT
are
being
asked
to
vote
on
whether
to
continue
industrial
action
on
the
railways
between
now
and
April.
The
ballot
closes
on
15
November.
The
RMT
has
already
staged
several
strikes
of
staff
at
Network
Rail
and
most
train
operators
in
its
dispute
over
pay
and
conditions.
Network
Rail
is
reported
to
be
making
a
revised
offer,
but
no
details
have
been
published
yet. 

New
transport
secretary
to
be
questioned
by
MPs

New
transport
secretary
Anne-Marie
Trevelyan
is
to
face
questions
for
the
first
time
from
the
Commons
Transport
Select
Committee
at
09.30
tomorrow.
Among
the
topics
expected
to
be
raised
are
the
controversial
proposal
to
require
a
minimum
level
of
staff
to
stay
on
duty
during
strikes
and
the
current
policy
on
Northern
Powerhouse
Rail.
She
is
also
likely
to
be
asked
about
plans
to
modernise
the
railways.

First
of
new
fleet
runs
on
West
Midlands
Railway

The
first
of
a
fleet
of
new
Class
196
diesel
units
built
by
CAF
carried
passengers
on
West
Midlands
Railway
from
Shrewsbury
to
Birmingham
New
Street
yesterday.
The
unit
was
named
‘Charles
Darwin’
by
the
High
Sheriff
of
Shropshire
Selina
Graham
last
week.
WMR
said
its
new
fleet
of
26
trains
will
have
25
per
cent
more
capacity
than
the
units
it
will
replace.
The
trains
include
‘intelligent’
air
conditioning,
plug
and
USB
chargers
at
every
seat
and
more
luggage
space.