A renewed war of words has broken out between the RMT and railway managers after the union said that promised proposals to end the six-month dispute had not been forthcoming, ‘without any credible explanation’. The new clash could now be followed by further strikes. The union added that Network Rail has also ‘refused to make any proposals promised at the conclusion of intensive talks last week’. It had suspended strikes on the understanding that new proposals would be made by 17 November. The RMT’s National Executive Committee is meeting  this morning, and the union said it was ‘highly likely’ that more industrial action would be the result. Members voted last week to permit more strikes and other action for up to another six months. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: ‘After a fortnight of talks, the TOCs had committed to making a firm offer in writing for the first time today. They cancelled the meeting at an hour’s notice, and we can sense the hand of the Tory government in this as we believe that they are not allowing an offer to be made. ‘This is on top of Network Rail failing to make a new proposal at the end of last week. Our members have shown their commitment to the dispute and to winning workplace justice in the re-ballot results last week and their union is equally determined to see this dispute through until we get a deal our members can support. ‘Our National Executive Committee will be meeting to consider this. We have been patient and have shown good faith which has not been returned. Therefore, I will be recommending that we set out further phases of sustained industrial action in support of our members. ‘While we will remain available for meaningful negotiations it is now obvious that the other side is unwilling or unable to progress matters appropriately, so our action will be reinstated.’ The Rail Delivery Group did not comment directly about alleged promises, but said: ‘We have made real progress over the last fortnight and for the first time in months we can see the outline of a credible deal. ‘Any strikes will only cause further misery for customers and struggling businesses in the run up to Christmas and beyond. The RMT leadership should now remove any uncertainty around Christmas and commit to protecting everyone’s first festive period post Covid from any strike disruption.’

Drivers’ strike ++ Train operators in England are warning of another day of severe disruption on Saturday, when ASLEF stages a 24-hour strike of drivers at 11 companies. There could also be some disruption on Sunday morning as a result of the previous day‘s strike. The Rail Delivery Group’s director of industry operations Daniel Mann said: ‘The strike by ASLEF brings more uncertainty for passengers and businesses by disrupting their weekend plans.’ Rugby fans who plan to see England v South Africa at Twickenham or Wales v Australia at Cardiff are being advised to check with train operators for travel updates. The operators affected will be Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway, Greater Anglia, LNER, Northern, Southeastern, TransPennine Express, and West Midlands Trains. Bridge repaired ++ Network Rail said a bridge which was badly damaged by a lorry in Rutland on 5 November is set to reopen fully to trains on Wednesday, when passenger services between Leicester and Peterborough will be resumed. The bridge strike at Foster’s Bridge in Ketton closed one line, and freight trains have been worked bi-directionally over the remaining track while engineers rebuilt the other half of the bridge deck. Services between Birmingham and Leicester have been running normally, and an hourly service between Peterborough, Cambridge and Stansted Airport has also continued. The line is one of only two routes for freight traffic between the Midlands and the port of Felixstowe. Network Rail added that the road under the bridge should reopen by 18.00 on Friday. Network Rail told Railnews that when a bridge is damaged by a high vehicle it ‘always looks to recover the entire repair and train delay costs from hauliers’.

The Chancellor has effectively dismissed calls for HS2 to be further cut back or even cancelled in his Autumn Statement. Jeremy Hunt told the Commons that the funding would be available to continue building HS2 to Manchester, East West Rail and the ‘core’ elements of Northern Powerhouse Rail. Transport campaigners have pointed out that he could have saved £16 billion by abandoning several major road schemes. Mr Hunt said: ‘I am not cutting a penny from our capital budgets in the next two years and maintaining them at that level in cash terms for the following three years. ‘This means that although we are not growing our capital budget as planned, it will still increase from £63 billion four years ago to £114 billion next year and £115 billion the year after – and remain at that level. Smart countries build on their long-term commitments rather than discard them. ‘So today I confirm that because of this decision, alongside Sizewell C, we will deliver the core Northern Powerhouse Rail. HS2 to Manchester. East West Rail. The new hospitals programme. And gigabit broadband rollout. All these and more will be funded as promised.’ The Campaign for Better Transport welcomed a further announcement that Vehicle Excise Duty will be charged on electric vehicles from 2025, and also gave a cautious welcome to the news about transport upgrades. Norman Baker from the CBT said: ‘We welcome the Government's renewed commitment to East West Rail, core Northern Powerhouse Rail, and High Speed 2, which will be vital to connecting communities and modernising our sustainable transport network, but we are disappointed that Bradford is to miss out from getting a high-speed stop. The Government could have filled much of the Budget black hole by cancelling a small number of highly damaging road building schemes – it is regrettable that it didn't take the chance to do this.’ According to Transport Action Network, cancelling the Lower Thames Crossing, A303 Stonehenge, A66 Northern Transpennine, A12 Chelmsford to A120 widening and A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet schemes would save £16 billion. Railway Industry Association chief executive Darren Caplan said: ‘Last month we wrote an open letter to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, setting out how rail is not just essential for UK connectivity and levelling-up, but that it is also an important national industry which plays a major role in boosting economic growth in other sectors too. Given this, we said it is essential to push on with rail projects, even given the current difficult economic circumstances. ‘On the face of it, it is therefore welcome that the Chancellor has confirmed that three key rail projects will be built. This isn’t just the right thing to do when it comes to connectivity, but is also in the long-term economic interests of the country and the efforts to decarbonise. ‘Rail suppliers are very clear that clarity and certainty are essential, and so whilst we welcome the government’s announcement we urge the government to simply deliver what it says it is going to deliver. The industry still needs clarity on the details, including on all elements of HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail, and sight of the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline, which still hasn’t been updated in over three years. ‘It is concerning that capital budgets will seemingly not rise as planned after 2024. RIA will of course monitor to see that the rail renewals budget is maintained too, to ensure there is no deterioration in the network. To deliver both transformational major projects for the future and to protect today’s railway, the industry needs the government to commit to a long-term investment package beyond 2024.’ 

Strikes vote ++ The RMT has welcomed a majority vote by its rail industry members to continue strikes for up to another six months. The law had required a new ballot to be held, and the union said the average turnout among the staff of Network Rail and 14 operators had been 70.3 per cent, with 91.7 per cent saying ‘yes’. General secretary Mick Lynch said it was a ‘massive endorsement’ of the union’s plan to ‘win workplace justice through negotiation where possible and industrial action if necessary’. He continued: ‘This union is determined to continue with this campaign until the employers understand that they need to respond to our members' aspirations on job security, pay and working conditions.’ Rail Delivery Group chair Steve Montgomery said: ‘Passengers will be dismayed by this outcome. We recognise the strength of feeling among our people, and call on the RMT leadership to continue to work with us to agree the vital reforms necessary to both afford a fair pay deal, and secure a sustainable future for the railway which is currently taking more than its fair share from the taxpayer. Further counterproductive strike action would only heap more misery in the run up to Christmas, and continue to undermine the viability of an industry we all want to see thrive.’ Committee election ++ MP Iain Stewart has been elected chair of the House of Commons Transport Committee, after the previous holder of the post Huw Merriman had become a transport minister and as a member of the government was no longer qualified to be on the Committee. The other candidates were Jack Brereton, Jackie Doyle-Price, Katherine Fletcher, Chris Loder and Karl McCartney. Mr Stewart, who represents Milton Keynes South, said: ‘I have a real passion for, and experience in, transport issues and I am very much looking forward to working with colleagues on the Committee to complete the existing programme of work and establish fresh inquiries.’ Rail Partners chief executive Andy Bagnall said: ‘We welcome the news of Iain Stewart’s appointment. He brings a wealth of experience as a former member of the Committee and also as parliamentary private secretary, and we wish him well in his tenure. The Committee plays a vital scrutiny role as the railway responds to the challenges it faces.’

The project to rebuild the 18.5km railway to Portishead near Bristol has been given the green light by transport secretary Mark Harper, who has signed a Development Consent Order. In a letter published by National Infrastructure Planning, Mr Harper says he is ‘satisfied that the costs of the scheme have been appropriately assessed’. It has been calculated that the reopened line will serve a catchment area of 50,000 people, forming part of MetroWest Phase 1. There has been a long campaign to reverse the withdrawal of passenger services between Parson Street station in Bristol and Portishead by British Railways in September 1964. North Somerset Council leader Steve Bridger said the announcement was ’the result of over three years’ hard work from our officers and delivery partners, including Womble Bond Dickinson, Ardent, Jacobs and Network Rail. I would like to thank everyone who has put in a tremendous effort to secure the DCO. ‘The local population has quadrupled since the original Portishead rail line closed almost 60 years ago. In reopening this route and stations at Portishead and Pill, we can better connect our communities and businesses to the opportunities offered by continued growth across our region, both now and in the future. ‘With expected journeys of just 23 minutes, the reopened line would also provide a reliable alternative to the A369/M5 Junction 19, unlocking new ways for people to get around more sustainably as we all do our bit to reach Net Zero. ‘As a scheme of vital importance, North Somerset Council and West of England Combined Authority are committed to continuing the work needed to finally make Portishead rail a reality, rising to tackle national challenges where necessary, with an aim of starting construction in 2024.’ Network Rail Wales & Western investment director Francis McGarry said: ‘We warmly welcome the approval of a Development Consent Order which is an important milestone in the reopening of the Portishead line. ‘This line has been long awaited, and we look forward to working with our partners to deliver this major scheme which will play a significant role in supporting sustainable travel in and around Bristol.’ In July North Somerset Council had said that the projected capital cost of the scheme had risen to £152 million, and the granting of the DCO has followed an agreement between local authorities and the Department for Transport to collectively pledge £35.58 million in additional funding to meet the shortfall. This funding and the start of construction will depend on a decision about the project’s Full Business Case in 2024.  

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.

Derailment ++ It is hoped that trains will start running again between Carlisle, Hexham and Skipton early next month, as work to clear the site of the derailment of a cement train near Carlisle continues. Network Rail has revealed that the accident on 19 October damaged 80 metres of track and destroyed 41 metres of a bridge parapet while work has been continuing to remove the overturned wagons, which had been carrying 300 tonnes of powered cement. Network Rail senior programme manager Mark Evans said: ‘A great deal of preparation work has gone into the complex lifting of the wagons, with the main crane now towering above the city.’ Vandalism ++ East Midlands Railway is appealing for help from people who know about ‘reckless acts’ which involve objects being dumped on the line. They have included a microwave oven, a shopping trolley and a bicycle. There was been a total of 10 such incidents over the past year, while bricks and stones have also been thrown at trains on 14 occasions. EMR is the second operator to report incidents of vandalism recently, after Northern said its trains had also been put at risk on many occasions. East Midlands Railway is now installing high-definition CCTV which can be monitored by British Transport Police.

The train drivers’ union ASLEF has called another 24-hour strike at 12 train operating companies on 26 November.  ASLEF general secretary Mick Whelan said: ’We regret that passengers will be inconvenienced for another day. We don’t want to be taking this action. Withdrawing our labour is always a last resort for a trade union. ’We have come to the table, as we always will, in good faith but while the industry continues to make no offer – due to the dodgy deal they signed with the DfT – we have no choice but to take strike action again. ‘They want drivers to take a real terms pay cut. With inflation now well into double figures, train drivers who kept Britain moving through the pandemic are now being expected to work just as hard this year as last year but for less.’ The Rail Delivery Group responded: ‘We are incredibly frustrated. We regret Aslef’s decision, which will cause real disruption to passengers and hit its members’ pay packets. Instead of staging more counterproductive strike action which increases the very real financial challenge the industry is facing, we ask them to work with us to secure both a pay deal and the changes needed it for it to thrive in the long-term and improve reliability across the network.’ Meanwhile, ASLEF members at LNER will be refusing to work any overtime which is not part of a contract from 27 November, in a dispute over the way overtime is arranged. However, ScotRail has reached agreement with the RMT that its pay offer will be put to the union’s members through a referendum. The RMT’s overtime ban and any proposed strikes will be suspended until the outcome of the vote is known. There would be an average pay increase of 7.5 per cent for general grades, which include conductors, ticket examiners and station staff. Salaries for lower paid staff would increase by more than 8.5 per cent.

There are very few trains running on the London Underground today because the RMT is staging a 24-hour strike. Transport for London said it was also not expecting to run any London Overground services on the lines from Liverpool Street to Enfield Town, Cheshunt and Chingford, while both Overground and DLR trains may not be stopping at stations managed by London Underground. Elizabeth Line services did not call at stations between Bond Street and Whitechapel before 07.00 this morning, and will not do so again after 22.30 this evening. There could be some further disruption early tomorrow until services can return to normal. First electrification masts appear on Valley Lines The first masts are being installed on the Valley Lines in South Wales, as electrification gets into its stride. Work has started at Radyr, but the overhead will eventually cover 170km of track to Treherbert, Aberdare, Merthyr, Rhymney and Coryton, as well as the Bay and City Lines. However, Transport for Wales is concerned that local people may not appreciate the new hazards facing trespassers where there are 25kV cables. Sgt Tomos Van Praet from British Transport Police said: ‘With the new electrified lines being installed, it is especially important that parents talk to their children about the dangers of the railway.’

Higher profit ++ FirstGroup has attributed most of its increased group operating profit in the half year to 24 September to higher revenue from open access operations Hull Trains and Lumo, and says its revenue from National Rail management fees is ‘broadly in line with management expectations’. Group adjusted operating profit in the half year was £66.1 million, compared with £51.8 million a year earlier. First declared a dividend of 0.9p, saying ‘we expect higher profit from our open access operations’, although it also warns that ‘the political, economic and industrial relations backdrop and pace of travel volume recovery are challenges’. Travel offer ++ Eurostar and Thalys are making their first combined ticket offer since the two operators were merged in May. Passengers can buy single tickets for £29 or €29 for journeys on both networks, although passengers from London who change trains at Brussels to travel on to German destinations by Thalys will pay the same amount again. The possible travel dates are from 28 November to 2 February 2023. The booking window is short, because it will be open only until 10 November.