TRANSPORT SECRETARY Grant Shapps has predicted that the ability of railways to carry people will be cut to a tenth of their pre-pandemic capacity. His warning came as he urged people to walk or cycle wherever possible and announced a £2 billion investment to improve capacity for cyclists and pedestrians, by

Union and train operator clash in social distancing dispute TSSA is claiming that South Western Railway staff are being forced to come into offices when their work could be performed from home. The union said that ‘the company's actions are in clear contradiction to government guidance to stay home and for

Social distancing on trains will come at a price, says Sim Harris. IT has been reported over the last few days that rail timetables could be restored to around two-thirds of the normal pre-pandemic service on 18 May, particularly on urban commuter lines. But even though up to 70 per cent of

Tunnel shuttle vehicle numbers fell sharply in April THE effect of lockdowns in Britain and France from later in March has been reflected in the latest statistics of Channel Tunnel traffic. Eurotunnel said 19,682 cars, motorbikes and coaches were carried in April this year, compared with 227,393 in April 2019. Lorry

Network Rail workers in the North East are supporting the NHS during the COVID-19 crisis by donating spare personal protective equipment (PPE) to staff at Hexham General Hospital in Northumberland. Members of Network Rail’s Operations team in Newcastle have an important role to play in keeping the railway operating safely and

Rail freight hub gets green light in face of protests TRANSPORT secretary Grant Shapps has granted a Development Consent Order to promoter Four Ashes Ltd for a rail freight hub in Staffordshire. It will be connected to the West Coast Main Line and create up to 8,500 jobs, according to the

Video 125 is releasing a film showing the very first Intercity railway in the world, filmed before the overhead wires went up. The team at Video 125 travel aboard a Northern Rail class 156 Sprinter, starting at Manchester Airport before joining the original L&M route surveyed and built by George Stephenson. “We

THE London Underground will not be able to carry as nearly as many passengers as before while social distancing is required, according to a leaked report from Transport for London. TfL’s conclusions essentially confirm those of the London Strategic Coordination Group, whose calculations for several scenarios were leaked last week. The

A REPORT from the high speed rail pressure group Greengauge 21 is urging the government to improve railways in the north of England soon, and not to wait until HS2 arrives in the 2040s. The group says important work should be carried out over the next five to ten years, to

FUNDING from the Department for Transport worth £8.6 million over 12 weeks for Tyne & Wear Metro to keep key worker transport running is not enough, according to the man who chairs the North East Joint Transport Committee. The cash is part of a £30 million settlement for light rail and