Government
funding


could
lead
the
way
to
the
introduction
of
self-charging
battery
trains,
according
to
the
Department
for
Transport.
This
year’s
‘First
of
a
Kind’
competition
has
resulted
in
24
innovators
receiving
grants
of
up
to
£400,000,
as
their
share
of
more
than
£5
million.
Other
technologies
being
developed
include
removing
harmful
emissions
from
train
exhausts.
The
competition
was
run
in
partnership
with
Innovate
UK,
which
is
the
government’s
national
innovation
agency.
Transport
secretary
Mark
Harper
said:
‘The
UK
has
a
long
history
of
leading
the
way
in
railway
innovation
and
the
First
of
a
Kind
competition
is
getting
the
great
brains
of
today
to
create
the
trains
of
tomorrow.
Through
millions
of
pounds
worth
of
government
funding,
we
are
breathing
life
into
ideas
that
will
revolutionise
our
railways
and
make
them
greener
than
ever
before.’ 

Crossing
risks
++


Network
Rail
and
British
Transport
Police
have
issuing
a
safety
warning
following
a
number
of
incidents
involving
young
children
misusing
Toffles
foot
crossing
just
south
ofTopsham,
on
the
Exeter
to
Exmouth
line.
Network
Rail
said
the
‘most
alarming’
of
these
involved
two
young
boys,
thoight
to
be
around
six
years
old,
who
were
playing
on
the
crossing
on
their
bicycles.
One
of
the
boys
got
his
foot
stuck
in
the
line,
and
a
passing
adult
was
able
to
free
him
in
time
to
save
him
from
an
approaching
train,
but
not
before
the
driver
had
made
an
emergency
brake
application.
Four
trains
pass
over
the
crossing
every
hour,
and
there
have
been
several
other
near
misses
when
pedestrians
did
not
pay
attention
before
walking
across
the
single
line.
Network
Rail
will
be
installing
gates
at
the
crossing
so
that
people
cannot
wander
unthinkingly
into
danger.

Restrictions
scrapped
++


Normal
train
services
have
been
restored
between
Salisbury
and
Exeter
St
David’s,
after
the
clay
formation
under
the
track
had
shrunk
in
the
dry
summer
weather,
making
the
line
uneven.
Speed
restrictions
had
to
be
imposed
until
engineers
could
restore
the
track,
helped
by
cooler
conditions
and
regular
rain.
South
Western
Trains
celebrated 
the
return
of
normal
services
yesterday
by
offering
free
£5
vouchers
for
passengers
to
use
at
most
catering
outlets
along
the
line,
which
will
be
valid
until
23
November.