Pay disputes ++ The transport secretary Mark Harper has warned that railway industry reforms are essential if pay is to be increased, and that he has no ‘bottomless pit of taxpayers' money to throw at this problem’. Among the reforms being called for are changes to working practices at Network Rail and the rumoured closure of many ticket offices. Speaking on the BBC, Mr Harper said: ‘It is the reforms that free up the savings that then unlock the ability for the companies to make an offer to the trade unions on pay. Both of those things have to happen in parallel.’ Train operators in England are no longer independent franchises but tightly-bound contractors, and any changes to pay will need government approval. Mr Harper has said he has ‘a role in the process’ but that he would not be doing detailed negotiations, although there had been ‘quite a lot of progress’. He was speaking as the RMT prepares to stage two pairs of 48-hour strikes in December and January. During an interview on Sky TV, Mr Harper added: ‘We want to try and give all the workers in the public sector who work very hard decent pay rises, but they can’t be inflation-busting pay rises.’ ‘Chaos’ warning ++ Train services in the north of England are close to collapsing into ‘utter chaos’ within a few weeks, according to members of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership. They are calling on transport secretary Mark Harper to take action, because they say the present problems are ‘wreaking havoc’. The government has said it is investing billions in the region’s transport, but services provided by TransPennine Express, Northern and Avanti West Coast are continuing to be unreliable, although improvements have been predicted when the timetables change next month. Juergen Maier, who is a vice chair of the Partnership and and a former Siemens UK chief executive, said the government had failed to ‘use only the levers it can pull’.

General grades members of the RMT at ScotRail have voted to accept an improved pay offer. The union had recommended that its members accept the deal when it was put to a vote, which closed yesterday. The new terms only apply to ScotRail employees and are not applicable to Network Rail staff in Scotland who are still set to strike in December and January. ScotRail’s head of customer operations Phil Campbell said: ‘We are delighted that RMT members have voted to accept this pay offer. We worked hard to put forward an offer which recognises the hard work of staff, as well as the financial challenges faced by the railway as we recover from the pandemic.’ The offer includes an increase in minimum flat rate pay to £10.50 an hour as well an increase from £500 to £750 for acceptance of technology, consolidated into basic pay, on top of a 5 per cent basic increase. There are other benefits, including a 10 per cent increase in the Sunday Working Allowance. Meanwhile, RMT general secretary Mick Lynch described a meeting yesterday with transport secretary Mark Harper as ‘positive’, but Mr Harper said that although he had a ‘role in the process’ he would not be involved in detailed negotiations. ASLEF drivers set to walk out tomorrow Members of ASLEF are set to stage a 24-hour strike at 11 train operating companies tomorrow, as the union’s dispute over pay continues. 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 action again.’ The Rail Delivery Group has warned that the strike will cause ‘severe disruption’ on many lines. The operators involved are Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Great Western Railway, Greater Anglia, LNER, Northern, Southeastern, TransPennine Express and West Midlands Trains. Some operators will not be running any services at all. However, an ASLEF walkout which had been called on London Overground tomorrow has been suspended, after Overground operator Arriva Rail London had made a new pay offer which has been put to members in a ballot. Chancellor visits HS2 station site HS2 CEO Mark Thurston welcomed chancellor of the exchequer Jeremy Hunt and West Midlands Mayor Andy Street to HS2’s interchange station construction site in Solihull yesterday. The Chancellor’s visit followed last week’s Autumn Statement in which he committed to investment in infrastructure and to continue building HS2 to Manchester as well as East West Rail and ‘core’ elements of Northern Powerhouse Rail. Mark Thurston took his guests on a tour of the site to see progress, meet site engineers and apprentices, and to hear how HS2 is already improving the Midlands economy.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch is expected to meet recently-appointed transport secretary Mark Harper today, just after the union called four more 48-hour strikes in December and January. ASLEF is also staging a 24-hour drivers’ strike on Saturday. Mr Lynch has repeatedly accused the government of placing a ‘dead hand’ on the talks between the union, Network Rail and the train operators which are aimed at reaching a settlement in the long-running dispute over pay and conditions.. Earlier this week he said: ‘The employers are in disarray and saying different things to different people, sometimes at the same time. This whole process has become a farce that only the new secretary of state can resolve.’ Speaking to the BBC in Scotland, the RMT’s assistant general secretary John Leach said: ‘Let’s hope that the third secretary of state down in England in less than six months has got something better to say than Grant Shapps and Anne-Marie Trevelyan before him and actually puts his shoulder behind the wheel and gets a deal moving.’ Meanwhile, the MP for Buckingham Greg Smith has told the Daily Telegraph that he is urging the transport secretary to cancel Network Rail’s engineering works over Christmas because of the disruptive effect of the latest RMT strikes. He was quoted as saying: ‘The new rail strike dates are particularly disruptive to our economy during a delicate financial environment when traders and hospitality desperately need a good festive period.   ‘On top of militant union action, the last thing rail passengers need is the endless disruption from engineering works.’ Mr Smith also opposes HS2, and has called for the project to be abandoned because of the financial crisis. In spite of this, the Chancellor dismissed calls for HS2 to be further cut back or even cancelled in his Autumn Statement last Friday. Jeremy Hunt told the Commons that funding would be available to continue building HS2 to Manchester as well as East West Rail and the ‘core’ elements of Northern Powerhouse Rail. 

The RMT is to stage more National Rail strikes in December and January, after talks between the union and management had failed to produce a new offer. The walkouts by 40,000 staff have been called in pairs of 48-hour strikes separated by one day in each case, when disruption is also likely. They will affect 14 train operators and Network Rail on 13-14 and 16-17 December, and on 3-4 and 6-7 January. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: ‘This latest round of strikes will show how important our members are to the running of this country and will send a clear message that we want a good deal on job security, pay and conditions for our people. ‘We have been reasonable, but it is impossible to find a negotiated settlement when the dead hand of government is presiding over these talks. ‘The employers are in disarray and saying different things to different people, sometimes at the same time. This whole process has become a farce that only the new secretary of state can resolve. When I meet him later this week, I will deliver that message. ‘In the meantime, our message to the public is we are sorry to inconvenience you, but we urge you to direct your anger and frustration at the government and railway employers during this latest phase of action.’ The Rail Delivery Group responded by saying: ‘We made real progress over the last fortnight of talks and for the first time in months we can see the outline of a credible deal. ‘Further strikes, especially in the run up to Christmas, will disrupt the first normal festive season our passengers have been able to look forward to since the Covid pandemic, taking even more money out of the pockets of railway staff, and will cause huge damage to the hospitality and retail sectors dependent on this time of the year for their businesses. We owe it to them to stay round the table. ‘Industrial action has already cost the industry millions in lost revenue, is stalling its post-pandemic recovery, and threatening its long-term sustainability. ‘We are asking the RMT to stay at the negotiating table, work with us towards a fair deal and end a dispute that is harming passengers, the industry, and their members.’ Meanwhile many trains will be cancelled on Saturday, when members of the drivers’ union ASLEF are set to walk out.

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.