Eurostar is changing its three classes of travel from November, when they will become Eurostar Standard, Eurostar Plus and Eurostar Premier.  Passengers in the first two classes will be able to exchange tickets until one hour before departure, and claim a refund until seven days before the journey. Premier Class passengers will be able to claim refunds until two days after the booked departure. It will be the most flexible tariff ever offered by Eurostar, which began in 1994 and merged with Thalys in 2022 to become the Eurostar Group. In spite of the merger two years ago, Thalys has maintained a separate system of classes until now. It was also announced last year that the Thalys brand was being replaced by the Eurostar name, although the continental routes based on Paris which Thalys operated are continuing. Bookings for the new classes opened yesterday for travel from 4 November but the new flexible conditions have started to apply, except in Eurostar Premier. Eurostar chief business development and integration officer Matthieu Quyollet said: “Eurostar is setting new standards for international travel by providing the greatest flexibility, clarity and comfort to customers looking to enjoy Europe in the most sustainable way. The new aftersales policy across all of Eurostar’s travel classes means that all customers can now take advantage of more flexibility and choice than ever before.’

The drivers’ union ASLEF has called new strikes in England early next month. The union said its members will strike at c2c, Greater Anglia, Govia Thameslink Railway, Southeastern, South Western Railway main line and depot drivers, and SWR Island Line on 7 May. On 8 May there will be stoppages at Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway and West Midlands Trains, while on 9 May the stoppages will affect LNER, Northern and TransPennine Express. ASLEF members will also refuse to work non-contractual overtime at most train operators in England from 6 to 11 May. The union’s general secretary Mick Whelan said: ‘Our pay deals at these companies ran out in 2019. Train drivers at these TOCs have not had an increase in salary for five years. That is completely wrong. The employers – and the government – think we are going to give up and run away. They’re wrong. In the words of Tom Petty, we won’t back down.'  The Rail Delivery Group said: ‘This wholly unnecessary strike action called by the ASLEF leadership will sadly disrupt customers and businesses once again, while further damaging the railway at a time when taxpayers are continuing to contribute an extra £54 million a week just to keep services running. ‘We continue to seek a fair agreement with the ASLEF leadership which both rewards our people, gives our customers more reliable services and makes sure the railway isn’t taking more than its fair share from taxpayers.’ Meanwhile, the RMT has rejected a pay offer from Network Rail of 3.5 per cent, pointing to the latest increase in MPs’ salaries of of 5.5 per cent, but ASLEF has called off a London Underground strike which it had planned for 8 May, saying that ‘key issues’ had been ’successfully resolved’.

Trains are running again on the Cumbrian Coast Line between Lancaster and Barrow-in Furness, after a derailment at Grange-over-Sands blocked the track last month. No-one was hurt, but a six coach Northern train had to be removed by crane. A void in the ground was found after the derailment on 22 March, and Network Rail is continuing to work with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch to discover its cause. Engineers removed 400 tonnes of spoil from the embankment and needed almost 84 tonnes of new materials to repair the damage. Network Rail’s North West route director Phil James said: ‘This has been a very complex recovery and repair job. We're continuing to work with the Rail Accident Investigation Branch on the investigation into what caused the derailment, but we're really glad we've been able to work quickly to get the railway fixed.’ Meanwhile, a sinkhole found two days ago on the Airdrie-Bathgate line at Caldercruix is expected to block the railway until 29 April. Network Rail said the repairs are ‘potentially complex’. ScotRail services between Helensburgh Central and Edinburgh are terminating at Airdrie. Replacement buses are connecting Airdrie and Bathgate, calling at all intermediate stations, while a train shuttle is running between Bathgate and Edinburgh.

Derby City Council has revealed a letter from transport secretary Mark Harper which offers new hope for the Alstom works at Litchurch Lane, where ten trains for the Elizabeth Line are now set to be built, after a proposed order for five had been doubled to ten and ‘approved in principle’. It is hoped that the order for about 90 cars, worth at least £200 million, will secure jobs at the site until Derby starts building Alstom’s new Adessia commuter trains, possibly for export as well as domestic operators. Alstom had been considering closing Derby because it had run out of work, where there are 1300 staff as well as many more on contract. Thousands of jobs in supply chain companies were also at risk, endangering Derby’s proud boast that it has the ‘biggest cluster of railway businesses’ in Europe at least, if not the world. Rail minister Huw Merriman wrote to the industry at the end of January, setting out plans for four train orders. One of them, for state-owned Southeastern, could be placed by the end of this year, but that would not have been soon enough to keep Litchurch Lane in business until then. Derby council leader Baggu Shanker said: ‘Alstom can now commit to the site in the short and long term, protecting valuable manufacturing and engineering jobs in our city. I'm especially pleased that Alstom has committed to basing the new global Adessia commuter train platform here in Derby - that's a real win. ‘We will continue to press the Government to complete the deal and commit to keeping this industry alive in the city, especially for the 1300 jobs that are at risk. Without these orders and the promise of future support, we will lose train-making in the UK forever and put almost two centuries of local rail heritage at risk. ‘As a city, we’ll continue to work closely with our partners at Alstom and with the secretary of state to bridge this gap and keep train making in Derby. The Government needs to ensure rail procurement is better planned in the future to avoid this feast and famine approach to train building.’ However, some Alstom workers remain to be convinced. Production manager and Unite rep Darren Spencer told the Guardian: ‘I don’t think we’re there yet: if you read the wording from the government, there’s caveats in there, there’s get out of jail cards. We’re by no means out of the woods yet.’

Updated 11.34Drivers belonging to ASLEF are set to strike for 24 hours tomorrow, reducing East Coast intercity services by an estimated 75 per cent. No LNER trains will be running north of Edinburgh. The union is also staging a ban on overtime and rest day working from today until Sunday. The walkout is unconnected with ASLEF’s pay dispute with English operators, and has been caused by what the union described as LNER’s ‘persistent failure to comply with existing agreements’. ASLEF general secretary Mick Whelan said: ‘Train drivers are fed up with the bad faith shown by this company, probably at the behest of the transport secretary Mark Harper and the rail minister, Huw Merriman, and we are not prepared to put up with being bullied and pushed about by a company that thinks it can break agreements whenever it feels like it. ‘We honour the agreements we make, because we are honourable people. Train companies should do the same.’ Nigel Roebuck, ASLEF’S full-time organiser in the north-east of England, and lead officer for LNER, added: ‘Huw Merriman has been encouraging this company to try to enforce Minimum Service Legislation on the sly – because he has, belatedly, realised that MSLs don’t work, he has been leaning on the company to persuade every driver manager and driver instructor to work on strike days; effectively to provide a minimum service level without invoking the legislation.’ LNER responded: ‘Our priority focus remains on minimising disruption to customers. We continue to encourage ASLEF to work with us to find a way to end this long running dispute.’ Meanwhile, the RMT has rejected a pay offer for its Network Rail members, which would be worth 3.5 per cent. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: ‘Network Rail is once again making an offer that represents a cut in living standards as pay is not keeping up with the rising costs of rent, mortgages, energy, food and other essentials. As a result, RMT is calling for urgent fresh negotiations and a much-improved offer for this year.’ Network Rail said it had put forward an unconditional offer with other benefits that was “fair and represents a significant increase, given current and forecast rates of inflation”’ 

The future of the Alstom plant at Litchurch Lane in Derby is looking more secure, after ‘intensive discussions’ between Alstom Group and the government, but there is still serious concern over the future of the Hitachi plant at Newton Aycliffe in County Durham, which was built a decade ago to supply the new Intercity Express fleets, and where 750 jobs could be at risk. The gap in new train orders is affecting Newton Aycliffe as well as Derby, but the Prime Minster told the Commons yesterday that ‘the Department for Transport and the secretary of state have been actively engaged with companies to ensure that we have a robust supply chain’. The Department for Transport said there had been ‘constructive’ talks with union representatives, and that it remained ‘committed to secure a sustainable future for rail manufacturing at Newton Aycliffe’. Meanwhile Unite the union has urged the government to ‘pull its finger out’, because Unite wants to see more trains built in County Durham for the West Coast Main Line. Hitachi said: ‘The North East skills base and supply chain we have built has delivered social value and levelling-up. Maintaining these benefits is in the national interest. Despite the lack of certainty, we remain committed to working with all stakeholders to find a viable way forward for our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Newton Aycliffe. ‘Preserving regional skills and supply chain will allow us to be competitive in future procurements and support British economic growth.’

The Alstom works in Derby is in line for an order of up to 90 cars for the Elizabeth Line, according to reports. Such an order for more Aventra vehicles would not be a new contract, because an option for enlarging the TfL fleet already exists. Meanwhile, the RMT is calling for an urgent summit to discuss the threat to the Derby works, where closure would mean the loss of thousands of jobs. Some reports today claim that the deal has already been done, while others say only that Alstom is in ‘intense discussions’ with the Department for Transport and Transport for London, and that no contracts have yet been signed but could be concluded next month. Last night transport secretary Mark Harper used social media site X to report ‘a good, constructive meeting with Alstom Group CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge on the future of train manufacturing in the UK’. while Alstom posted that it was ‘now in a period of intense discussions with the UK Government and Transport for London about a potential train order for the Elizabeth Line, given the levels of passenger demand. This could help secure the future of our Derby Litchurch Lane site.’  Alstom had already taken the first steps toward shedding 1300 jobs at Litchchurch Lane alone, and as the uncertainty continued, the RMT called for an ‘urgent summit’ of unions, the rail industry and the government to thrash out a plan to save Alstom in Derby, including the option of nationalisation. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said it was ‘tragic’ that passengers and the climate were in desperate need of modern and reliable trains and skilled workers and capacity were ready to deliver that, but the government and rail industry had not been able to match up the demand and supply of new trains. He continued: ‘The root cause of this failure is the privatisation and break up of a once unified public rail industry into multiple companies, with competing, profit motivated short-term interests which has prevented a lack of coherent planning for the delivery of rolling new trains and infrastructure. ‘This is not new: it is a problem that has plagued the railway supply chain for many years. ‘The consequences of the UK losing its last remaining train manufacturing facility will not only be devastating for jobs and the local community it would be disastrous for passengers as the government will have to rely on imported stock which could be more expensive to build and maintain.’

Landslip and flood damage repaired Trains are running again on two routes after lines were closed because of landslips and floods. The line between Redhill and Tonbridge reopened this morning after Network Rail engineers completed emergency repairs at Bough Beech, near Edenbridge in Kent. Over the last two weeks, they have installed 91 sheet piles, which are 8m sheets of metal, and strengthened the embankment over a 100 metre section. Meanwhile, train services have returned to a branch line in North Wales, after engineers repaired flood damage in the Conwy valley. The line between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog was closed on Tuesday afternoon last week when flooding from the River Conwy washed away ballast near Dolgarrog. Finally, the line between Bradford and Ilkley is expected to reopen at the end of June, after work to repair a landslip restarted at Baildon after a delay caused by what Network Rail described as ‘complex’ issues at the site. Derby council leader describes ’ironic’ rail development Great British Railways has found a temporary headquarters in its future long-term home of Derby, on the Pride Park side of Derby station. However, the leader of the city’s council Baggy Shanker says although he is ‘proud’ his community is welcoming the GBR transition team today, he points to the continuing crisis at the Alstom works, and the fear that thousands of jobs could be lost if it closes. Derby has long celebrated its industrial status as a major ‘rail cluster’, but he added: ’It’s ironic that our biggest part of that rail cluster is facing closure at the time the headquarters opens.’ Dumfries upgrade progress A new £3.6 million footbridge and lifts have been installed at Dumfries, on the Glasgow & South Western line. Network Rail engineers worked through the night between Saturday and Sunday to install the steel structures, using two cranes weighing 500 and 110 tonnes to lift them into position. The footbridge was produced in Annan by M&S Engineering Ltd and work will now continue on completing the project, which should open this summer.

Network Rail has appointed Liam Sumpter as managing director for Network Rail in Scotland on a two-year secondment, following the news that Alex Hynes is joining the Department for Transport, where he is becoming director general rail services, again for two years. Liam starts work on Monday. Meanwhile, Scottish Rail Holdings has announced that ScotRail’s chief operating officer Joanne Maguire has been appointed interim managing director at the operator. She said: ‘Everyone at ScotRail continues to work hard to increase passenger numbers, grow revenue, and deliver value for money for the taxpayer. I am looking forward to continuing to play my part.’ Liam has 22 years of railway experience, having joined Railtrack in 2002, at a time when the failed company’s activities were in the process of being transferred to newly-created Network Rail. He was appointed as area director for the West Midlands & Chilterns in 2013, and then joined Arriva Rail North as regional director for three years, before returning to Network Rail as chief operating officer and most recently route director for Scotland. He said he was ‘delighted’ with his new opportunity. He continued: ‘Working as route director for the past five years has been deeply rewarding. We have a great team here in Scotland, and I am confident that together, we can continue to fulfil our main objective to run a reliable and safe railway. Chief executive Andrew Haines added: ‘As we enter our new five-year funding period, Scotland’s Railway will face many challenges and opportunities and I have every confidence that Liam will continue delivering on our commitments on train service performance, safety, climate action and affordability to the Scottish Government, our partners, customers and our staff. ‘Scotland’s Railway is already showing the rest of the UK the benefits of integrating track and train and I look forward to working with ScotRail, Scottish Rail Holdings and Transport Scotland to strengthen our alliance and deliver an even better service.’ ScotRail chairman and Scottish Rail Holdings chief executive David Lowrie said: ‘Joanne Maguire has been an outstanding leader of ScotRail over the past two years and I am pleased that she has accepted the role of interim managing director. I know she will continue to work with the team to build on our recent successes, including strong passenger growth, customer satisfaction, and punctuality. ‘We remain fully committed to the Alliance Agreement, which has delivered close collaborative working between ScotRail and Network Rail Scotland.’

The RMT has suspended a planned strike on CrossCountry this Saturday, after CrossCountry agreed to hold what the union described as ‘intensive talks’ in a new bid to resolve the dispute. The union said CrossCountry had refused to recognise it at all grades within the company, ‘despite written evidence to the contrary’. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: ‘With our members prepared to take strike action this weekend, CrossCountry management has seen the need to sit down with RMT to find a long-term resolution to this impasse. ‘We have agreed to suspend strike action and take up this opportunity. ‘But our strike mandate remains in place, so we will name new strike dates if that becomes necessary.’ Meanwhile, a further ASLEF walkout is planned on LNER on 20 April, with an overtime ban from 19 to 21 April, in a dispute over bargaining procedures. LNER said it had suspended bookings for 20 April while it assesses the likely effects of the strike on its services.