Merseyrail’s new ‘powerless’ station at Headbolt Lane opens tomorrow. Running on an extension of the line from the previous Merseyrail terminus at Kirkby, the new trains will be battery powered and so the new line has no third rail. Headbolt Lane, which has cost £80 million, will open with an hourly service to Liverpool Central, but this will be increased gradually to four trains an hour. It is hoped that as the battery trains continue to arrive in Liverpool, Merseyrail services could be extended to Manchester, Wrexham, Warrington, Preston and Runcorn, because the new trains do not need a 750V conductor rail. Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotheram said: ‘As a Kirkby native, I know how long local people have been talking about a station at Headbolt Lane. Thanks to devolution and the power it gives us to shape our own destiny, we’ve turned that talk into reality. ‘We’ve invested £80 million in this fully accessible, state of the art station, and it will be the first to be served by our new battery powered trains. These trains are the first of their kind in the country and will help us to significantly reduce our carbon footprint, paving the way for a cleaner, greener integrated London-style transport network. ‘Headbolt Lane station sets a new standard for public transport in this country, and it’s the very least that our residents deserve. We’re incredibly grateful to local people and passengers on the Kirkby line for their patience and understanding throughout this project. I hope they’ll agree with me that it’s been worth the wait.’ Great Western Railway bought some battery-powered rolling stock from the former company Vivarail in February this year, and is hoping to introduce battery trains on the West Ealing to Greenford branch in west London. However, at the time GWR engineering director Simon Green said: ‘We’ve been working closely with the Vivarail team on this exciting project for some time, and we are delighted we have been able to step in and make sure its important work can continue. ‘There have clearly been some setbacks that mean we will need to review the existing plans and timescales, but we will continue to work with Network Rail and the Department for Transport to get the project back on track.’

Updated 14.44 London Underground strikes which had been set to take place tomorrow and Friday have been called off. The RMT said they had been ‘suspended following significant progress made by RMT negotiators and London Underground Limited representatives’ at ACAS. The union said it had ‘managed to save key jobs, prevent detrimental changes to rosters and secure protection of earnings around grading changes’. However, it warned that although ‘key elements’ had been settled ‘there remains wider negotiations to be had in the job, pensions and working agreements dispute’. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: ‘I congratulate all our members who were prepared to take strike action and our negotiations team for securing this victory in our tube dispute. ‘Without the unity and industrial power of our members, there is no way we would have been able to make the progress we have. ‘We still remain in dispute over outstanding issues around pensions and working agreements and will continue to pursue a negotiated settlement.’ London Underground’s director of customer operations Nick Dent responded: ‘We are pleased that the RMT has withdrawn its planned industrial action this week and that the dispute on our change proposals in stations is now resolved. This is good news for London and we will continue to work closely with our trade unions as we evolve London Underground to ensure we can continue to support the capital in the most effective way.’

The Prime Minister is refusing to say whether HS2 will be built north of Birmingham to Crewe and Manchester, although newspapers overnight are mostly assuming that the axe is about to fall. Rishi Sunak has continued to resist attempts by journalists to find out what will happen. He told BBC Breakfast: ‘I know you want to keep asking, I know there’s lots of speculation, but what I’m going to say is I won’t be forced into a premature decision because it’s good for someone’s TV programme.’ It has also been reported that an emergency cabinet meeting will be held during the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester today, but this has also yet to be confirmed. Many senior Conservatives, including three former Prime Ministers, are opposing the cutback. Various parts of the railway industry are also continuing to criticise the possibility that the ‘network’ could be reduced to a section between west London and Birmingham. The Rail Forum said this morning that it would be ‘a devastating blow for the supply chain and in our opinion will cause significant reputational damage to the UK.’ It continued: ‘HS2 is vital for creating additional capacity for the next 50-plus years (it's not about capacity requirements today), levelling up and providing better connectivity as an integral part of other schemes e.g. Northern Powerhouse Rail, [and] ensuring we have a 21st century long distance, low carbon public transport network.’ Last night Railway Industry Association chief executive Darren Caplan, who is at the conference, said: ‘The Railway Industry Association and our rail business members are getting increasingly concerned about reports that HS2 between Birmingham and Manchester will be scrapped. ‘These companies already have around 30,000 people working on the scheme with a huge amount of construction ongoing and are set to employ even more, together with billions of pounds of investment, on HS2 Phase 2. The uncertainty around all this is potentially devastating to their plans, all of which were developed in good faith.’ With orders for an HS2 fleet now uncertain, Derby City Council has expressed concern about the security of jobs at the Alstom works in the city. It said: ‘The Council has pledged to play its part in supporting the company, and urges Government to work with Alstom, as it attempts to mitigate a major fall off in production as a result in delays in new train orders.’ Labour shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh MP said: ‘This fiasco shows the Conservatives are too divided and too distracted to take this country forward. ’After weeks of chaos and indecision on the biggest infrastructure project in the country, Rishi Sunak’s relaunch is now coming off the rails. ‘This shambolic conference is showcasing precisely why working people cannot afford five more years of the Conservatives.’

The Prime Minister has refused to say whether the HS2 branch between Birmingham, Crewe and Manchester is to be built, after numerous reports suggested that he is poised to scrap Phases 2A and 2B. Mr Sunak remained tight lipped about the fate of the scheme as the Conservative Party conference got under way in Manchester yesterday (Sunday). Rishi Sunak is under increasing pressure in the north of England, after his former levelling-up minister Dehenna Davison was joined by former Conservative chairman Jake Berry in calling for him to ‘crack on’ with the scheme. Mr Berry added that the Manchester leg ‘really matters’ to people in the region. Business secretary Kemi Badenoch has also admitted that international investors are concerned, but Mr Sunak said the UK was not a ‘laughing stock’, as the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has alleged. Mr Khan attended a meeting of Transport for the North last week, when the chair of TfN, former transport secretary Lord McLoughlin, said: ‘Northern leaders spoke with one voice today. We need HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail built in full if we are to realise the full potential of the North and to level up our national economy. Let us not delay.’ The chair of the National Infrastructure Commission Sir John Armitt also told the BBC last week that cancellation would be a ‘tragedy’. He continued: ‘In Birmingham we have already seen the consequences with major investment, 20,000 new jobs predicted and 2,000 new homes predicted. But what we have to do is get a grip on the costs. ‘You look at whether you have done some gold-plating. Railway engineers always want to do the absolute ideal and you have to challenge that and ask whether that is absolutely essential – can we silver-plate this rather than gold-plate it? You might slow it down a bit, that gives you some savings on the alignment.’ Mr Sunak is said to be facing more opposition from other senior Conservatives, including three former Prime Ministers – Boris Johnson, Theresa May and David Cameron – as well as former chancellor George Osborne and West Midlands mayor Andy Street. Meanwhile, levelling up secretary Michael Gove is reported to have promised conference delegates in Manchester that Mr Sunak would say more about HS2 in ‘due course’.

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.

Reports that the Prime Minister is preparing to scrap HS2 Phases 2A and 2B from Birmingham to Crewe and Manchester are igniting more opposition. It has been said that Rishi Sunak wants to save money by cutting HS2 back to a section between west London and Birmingham, but it has been reported that he has opposition even at Cabinet level, where some miinisters say the full line between London and Manchester should still go ahead, in spite of rising costs. The Mayors of the city regions in the north have condemned any further shortening of HS2’s route. Transport for the North has added its voice to the protests and support for HS2 in the region has been confirmed, with TfN saying that both HS2 and NPR need to go ahead, and that any further delay will increase the costs still further. The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan was the guest at a TfN meeting in Leeds, where he backed the call for HS2 to continue, saying: ‘The success of the North is crucial to London’s success.’ The chair of TfN, former transport secretary Lord McLoughlin, added: ‘Northern leaders spoke with one voice today. We need HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail built in full if we are to realise the full potential of the North and to level up our national economy. Let us not delay.’

The railway industry is launching a celebration which will mark 200 years of passenger railways in Britain in 2025. On 27 September 1825 the world’s first passenger train, hauled by George Stephenson’s Locomotion No.1, carried over 400 people along the Stockton & Darlington Railway. The landmark event drew crowds of up to 40,000 people, although in the early years of the S&D steam locomotives then hauled goods trains, and infrequent passenger trains were pulled by horses. Five years later the Liverpool & Manchester Railway opened, as the first railway to be designed exclusively for steam power and also intended to carry passengers from the outset. Now, with two years to go until the bicentenary of the Stockton & Darlington, the rail industry has confirmed it will mark the anniversary and the far-reaching effects of railways and train travel, with a year-long programme called Railway 200. A logo for the celebrations has been unveiled along with a website. The logo symbolises the idea that rail is a continuous line connecting the country, which the organisers said was ‘the fabric woven throughout our history, linking lives, communities and cultures, whilst leading the way towards the future’. Developed by a cross industry partnership, with a focus on inspiring the next generation, Railway 200 will be a national programme starting in January 2025. A wide variety of activities, initiatives and partnerships is being considered, including commemorative items, so that Railway 200 can celebrate rail’s remarkable past, recognise its importance today, and look forward to its future. Plans are also underway for an exhibition train which will travel around the rail network and take Railway 200 to people all over Britain. Developed in partnership with the National Railway Museum and rolling stock leasing company Porterbrook, this train will consist of different exhibitions and interactive elements for young people and their families. Organisations around the country are already planning their own events. Railway 200 invites the rail industry, its partners and custodians of our railway heritage, art and artefacts to consider how they can play their part. Peter Hendy chairs Network Rail and also Railway 200. Lord Hendy said: ‘The world changed forever in 1825 and the 200th anniversary of this first passenger train journey is an historic opportunity to reset the public’s relationship with rail. It is our chance to present the railway as a forward thinking, digital industry and as an attractive career option for young people and for people from many different backgrounds. ‘For Railway 200 to reach its full potential, we must harness the knowledge and efforts of the whole industry, so I hope you will join us in creating a programme of celebrations which will recognise this great British achievement, the first public passenger train in the world, while inspiring a new generation to take our innovative railway far into the future.’ Railway Industry Association chief executive Darren Caplan said: ‘It is hard to overstate the benefits that the railway has brought, and continues to bring, not just to the UK, but also globally, since 1825. Rail networks don’t just keep people connected, they also play a crucial role in spurring economic growth, creating jobs, boosting sustainability, and bringing together local communities.’ Rail Delivery Group chief executive Jacqueline Starr added: ‘The world’s first passenger train changed transport forever, and the anniversary of that journey is a chance for the rail industry to celebrate our history and look to the future. Railway 200 is a chance to show the world that the innovative spirit of 1825 is still very much alive today, with a programme of activities that draws upon the creativity and talent that exists across the railway.’ Meanwhile Railnews launches a new business website tomorrow, and this will play a part in helping to celebrate 200 years of railways.

Senior ministers are reported to be protesting at the prospect of HS2 north of Birmingham being axed by the Prime Minister. The announcement of the cost-cutting measure is said to be likely just days before the Conservative Party conference begins in Manchester on Sunday. The Independent alleges that transport secretary Mark Harper is ‘very unhappy’ about the plan, along with levelling up secretary Michael Gove. If so, they will be agreeing with former chancellor George Osborne and ex-Deputy Prime Minister Lord Heseltine, who have already said cutting Phases 2a and 2b would be a ‘gross act of vandalism’ which would amount to ‘economic self-harm’. Increase in leisure travel prompts longer Sunday trains LNER is strengthening its Sunday services from December, in response to a 30 per cent increase in the number of passengers travelling at the weekend. Three more trains will run, two between Leeds and London and one to and from Doncaster. Eight existing Sunday trains serving Leeds, Harrogate or Lincoln will be formed of nine or 10-car Azuma sets instead of five. Disruption warning on Great Eastern line Weekend train services in Essex and central London will be disrupted from next month until early December, as work continues on the construction of Beaulieu Park station in Chelmsford. Replacement buses will run between Chelmsford and Witham, Shenfield or Shenfield on either Saturdays or Sundays between 8 October and 10 December. There will be a two-day engineering possession with no services running on 28 and 29 October between Shenfield and Witham. In addition, the Elizabeth Line will be closed on Sunday 8 October east of Paddington, on the Shenfield and Abbey Wood routes. More details from Greater Anglia.

Business leaders and many politicians have been rallying to the defence of HS2, as reports continue to allege that the Prime Minister is poised to cancel Phases 2a and 2b, north of Birmingham to Crewe and Manchester. It is said that a decision could be announced before the Conservative Party conference in Manchester, which starts on Sunday. The chair of the National Infrastructure Commission Sir John Armitt told the BBC that cancellation would be a ‘tragedy’. He continued: ‘In Birmingham we have already seen the consequences with major investment, 20,000 new jobs predicted and 2,000 new homes predicted. But what we have to do is get a grip on the costs. ‘You look at whether you have done some gold-plating. Railway engineers always want to do the absolute ideal and you have to challenge that and ask whether that is absolutely essential – can we silver-plate this rather than gold-plate it? You might slow it down a bit, that gives you some savings on the alignment. ‘You have to really have costs as your focus, day in day out where you are constantly challenging and saying how can we make sure we keep costs down and keep within our budget. We owe that to the whole project. There are massive benefits to come from this. The benefits from Birmingham to Manchester are £55 billion, and you are increasing the benefits across the whole of the north west because in fact it will connect in to the improvements that government has announced between Manchester and Leeds, so you have a whole connected railway. ‘You control the costs, you don’t run at the first whiff of gunfire. You buckle down and you address those cost issues and you address them on a daily basis across the whole project. ‘The existing West Coast is the most densely used and heavily used railway in Europe. By freeing up some capacity you’ll get more benefits for freight, which we want to do. We want to get lorries off the roads and we want to increase rail freight. ‘There are massive benefits to the economy by continuing this. If we don’t continue what are we saying to the rest of the world? What are we saying to all those investors who we want to bring into the UK. Here is a country that sets itself ambitions and then runs away when it starts to see some challenges. We have to meet the challenges.’ However defence secretary Grant Shapps, who was transport secretary in Boris Johnson’s government, said that Covid, inflation and the war in Ukraine had badly affected public finances. He maintained that a reponsible government should ask: ‘Does this still stack up for what the country requires, in terms of where it’s spending its resources, and at what time?‘ It is reported that Rishi Sunak is set to consider the decision in a meeting with chancellor Jeremy Hunt this week, before the Conservative conference begins. Mr Shapps also told Sky News: ‘If you don’t stop and reflect after things have changed, that is a foolish approach.’ The HS2 project was launched by the last Labour government. On 14 December 2009, before a major report was published, transport secretary Lord (Andrew) Adonis had said: ‘The potential for high speed rail to regenerate and reinvigorate is now a reality for people in Kent, but the size of Britain's high speed network lags behind that of many of our European neighbours and doesn't connect any of our major cities.’

The Rail Delivery Group is warning that train services in England are set to be seriously disrupted from the end of this month, when the drivers’ union ASLEF stages industrial action in the continuing dispute over pay. Two 24-hour strikes have been called for 30 September and 4 October, and the union will also ban overtime on 29 September and from 2 to 6 October. The walkouts will affect nearly all English operators, and also disrupt cross-border train services in Wales and Scotland. Domestic services in those countries are expected to run as usual. The RDG said it was ’likely that evening services on some lines will be affected on the days before each strike. Morning services on those lines may also be disrupted on 1 and 5 October because much of the rolling stock will not be in the right depots’. ASLEF has rejected an offer which would have given drivers an 8 per cent rise over two years. The RDG added: ‘We want to resolve this dispute and are acutely aware of the damaging impact it's having on our passengers, our people and the long-term sustainability of the industry itself. We apologise to our customers for the unnecessary disruption to their journeys caused by the ASLEF leadership. ‘The offer to ASLEF, which would take average driver salaries from £60,000 to £65,000 for a four-day week, remains on the table, and we are always open to constructive dialogue. However, at a time when industry is losing £10 million a day post-Covid, its leadership must recognise the need to make changes to how the industry is run, to both fund any rise and crucially, so we can give our passengers more reliable train services, particularly on Sundays.’