THE general secretary of Britain’s largest rail union is stepping down. Mick Cash announced his decision after the RMT’s Annual General Meeting, saying that certain groups had ‘seized every opportunity to undermine and frustrate my efforts’. Mr Cash had been on extended sick leave after suffering stress, and had only returned to

TRAIN operators are preparing for the four-week English lockdown which starts at midnight tonight and many intend to maintain their present timetables, in spite of the renewed ‘essential travel only’ rule. However, there are also warnings that some traincrew may not be able to report for duty if they or their

THE first piles have been installed at the site of the future Brent Cross West station on the Midland Main Line in north London. The work involves concrete being pumped 15 metres below ground before a reinforced cage can be built to house the future foundations. Barnet council said 135 piles would

A NATIONAL coronavirus lockdown running from November 5 to December 2 has forced Locomotive Services Limited to postpone the launch run of its ‘Blue Pullman’ HST. With a livery harking back to the days of BR’s iconic Blue Pullman, the debut of the train was to have been on November 14,

THE new lockdown in England has prompted open access operator Hull Trains to suspend its services from Thursday until further notice. Unconfirmed reports say Grand Central is following suit. The RMT reacted by claiming that open access operators have become the ‘poor relation’ in the rail sector because they do not

TRAINS are running once again past the site of the fatal derailment south of Stonehaven in August, when a train struck debris from a landslip. Two members of railway staff and a passenger lost their lives. Network Rail has replaced more than 500m of track, 70m of bridge parapets and 400m

Following the government announcement of a second national COVID-19 lockdown, the Severn Valley Railway will close from November 5. The Railway’s pubs, cafes and shops will also shut. All customers who have tickets for this period will be offered the chance to rebook during December. The railway has confirmed that tickets booked

A NEW version of a classic railway alphabet first seen in 1965 has been unveiled. Rail Alphabet was a key part of modernising British Rail’s corporate identity in the days of Beeching, and its effects eventually reached every part of the country. Sim Harris considers the prospects for Rail Alphabet

GWR 2-8-0 No. 2857 and Pannier 0-6-0 No. 7714 at Kidderminster on July 31, during trial runs by the Severn Valley Railway prior to public reopening the next day. The tests were to ensure social distancing measures were working correctly. CHRIS MILNER The announcement of a second national coronavirus lockdown by

TENSE talks over more funding for Transport for London ended with a deal last night, just hours before the Mayor could have been forced to start withdrawing services as the money to pay for them ran out. The agreement to allow TfL a further £1.8 billion in a combination of grant