The
rail
unions
have
called
for
an
emergency
summit
so
that
stakeholders
can
discuss
the
implications
of
axeing
HS2
north
of
Birmingham,
but
the
Prime
Minister
is
continuing
to
avoid
answering
direct
questions
about
the
fate
of
Phases
2A
and
2B
between
Birmingham
and
Manchester,
saying
only
that
his
government
is
making
sure
that
‘we
get
value
for
money’.
Speculation
is
continuing
that
Rishi
Sunak
is
poised
to
reveal
that
the
sections
to
Crewe
and
Manchester
will
be
axed.
This
has
been
accompanied
by
warnings
from
Chancellor
Jeremy
Hunt
that
tax
cuts
are
unlikely
this
year.
In
response
to
criticism
of
the
effects
of
scrapping
HS2
beyond
Birmingham,
the
Prime
Minister
told
the
BBC
that
Leeds
is
being
‘treated
like
London’.
He
continued:
‘London
has
always
got
this
multi-year
settlement
so
they
can
plan
how
to
invest
in
their
area.
That’s
now
happening
to
cities
across
the
North.’
The
Conservative
Party
conference
starts
in
Manchester
on
Sunday.

Rail
Delivery
Group
warns
of
more
strike
disruption

The
Rail
Delivery
Group
is
warning
that
strikes
by
ASLEF
drivers
tomorrow
and
on
Wednesday
of
next
week
will
restrict
train
services
in
England,
which
at
best
will
run
only
between
07.30
and
18.30.
It
added
that
some
operators
will
have
no
services
at
all.
An
overtime
ban
by
ASLEF
is
also
affecting
services
between
today
and
6
October,
and
it
is
likely
that
evening
services
on
some
lines
will
be
affected
on
the
days
before
each
strike.
Morning
services
may
also
be
disrupted
on
1
and
5
October
because
many
trains
will
be
out
of
position.
The
RDG
added:
‘We
want
to
resolve
this
dispute
and
are
acutely
aware
of
the
damaging
impact
it’s
having
on
our
passengers.’
ASLEF
said:
‘Train
drivers
haven’t
had
a
pay
increase
since
2019.
We
are
seeking
a
fair
pay
deal
for
our
members
who
have
been
experiencing
real
terms
pay
cuts
whilst
private
operators
and
rolling
stock
companies
have
continued
to
pay
out
dividends
to
their
shareholders,
extracting
profits
from
the
railways.’
London
Underground
also
faces
strikes
on
4
and
6
October,
in
the
continuing
dispute
between
the
RMT
and
Transport
for
London
over
job
security.
TfL
has
warned
of
‘severe
disruption’
on
both
strike
days,
and
said
problems
could
continue
into
the
following
mornings.

Ebbw
Vale
upgrade
reaches
final
stage

Buses
will
replace
trains
on
the
Ebbw
Vale
line
in
south
Wales
tomorrow
and
on
Sunday,
as
work
on
a
£70
million
upgrade
enters
its
final
stage.
Track
will
be
laid
at
Newbridge
station
and
Cross
Keys
over
the
weekend.
The
line
will
also
be
closed
from
15
November
to
3
December,
to
allow
the
project
to
be
completed.
Transport
for
Wales
trains
will
start
running
from
Ebbw
Vale
Town
to
Newport
in
December,
in
addition
to
the
existing
services
to
Cardiff
Central.