Train services in north west England have been badly disrupted after a car crashed on to the railway in a cutting at Salford. A man is reported to have been injured, although not critically, and he has been arrested on suspicion of drinking and driving. Overhead wires were damaged in the incident, and Network Rail has been working to remove the wrecked car and repair the damage. The railway through Eccles has been blocked, and National Rail has warned that services are affected on many routes. National Rail is reporting disruption on Northern services between Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Airport, between Wigan North Western and Manchester Victoria, also between Chester and Leeds, and Manchester Victoria, on TransPennine Express services Liverpool Lime Street and Hull, Manchester Victoria and Newcastle, and also between Lancaster and Manchester Airport, and on Transport for Wales between Llandudno and Manchester Airport and Manchester Oxford Road, and also between Holyhead and Manchester Airport. It is not thought that train services can be restored before 20.00 tonight.

Regulated train fares on Transport for Wales will rise by an average of 4.6 per cent on 2 March, but some fares will increase by as much as 6 per cent. The average increase will be the same as in England, but transport secretary Ken Skates has blamed the continued existence of regulated fares on privatisation. Transport for Wales will be applying different increases to each category of regulated fare. Anytime Day Return fares and Off Peak Return fares will both increase by 6 per cent but Seven-Day Season tickets will increase by 3.5 per cent and Anytime Day Singles by 3 per cent. Mr Skates pointed out that many passengers are using Pay-As-You-Go, and so regulated fares do not apply to their journeys. He explained: ‘We understand that any increase in fares is unwelcome for passengers, but we have tried to keep the increase as low as possible. It is also important to recognise that the increasing majority of passengers no longer use these regulated products. ‘They are a vestige of the privatised railway, established to ensure that private operators could not drive huge increases in fares to maximise their profits at the expense of passengers outside the control of Governments. It is my hope that with the progress of rail reform, the return of railway services into the public sector that this will see the end of the need for regulated rail fares with public sector operators prioritising value for money for passengers. ‘This is already the case in Wales with Transport for Wales with the introduction of Pay As You Go ticketing.  Alongside this Transport for Wales are also offering airline style demand responsive Advance tickets. These are now available up to five minutes before departure and offer the best value for longer rail journeys.’

Plans to double the frequency of trains between Par and Newquay in May as the first stage of the £56 million Mid Cornwall Metro have been delayed until later this year. The work on MCM has already included the reinstatement of a second platform at Newquay for local trains, while intercity trains will continue to use the existing, longer platform. Work to lay a 400m passing loop on the branch at Tregoss Moor between St Columb Road and Roche has now begun, while another passing loop nearer Par will also be lengthened to 400m, so that 10-car Intercity Expresses will be able to use them. Construction at Goss Moor, which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, is being carried out at night when no trains are running, but the pace will be stepped up to 24 hours a day from 24 February until 23 March, when trains to Newquay will be replaced by buses. Work will also take place on Ponts Mill viaduct, that carries the railway over the River Par. The more frequent service had been set to start with the May timetable, but Network Rail said it is now expected to be launched later this year, while work is continuing on the installation of digital signals. The hourly Newquay services are set to continue beyond Par to St Austell, Truro and Falmouth Docks next year, connecting the north and south coasts of Cornwall. Network Rail industry programme director Bogdan Lupu said: ‘We’ve made great progress so far to bring Mid Cornwall Metro to life and this next phase will take us even closer. Our work will bring more trains to Newquay, improve the environment and boost the local economy.’ GWR head of strategic service development Matthew Barnes said: ‘We welcome the steady progress being made to deliver this scheme. These upgrades will make the track improvements necessary for us to provide more, and better, services. ‘This paves the way for us to run our first Mid Cornwall Metro trains which will provide coast-to-coast connectivity between Newquay and Falmouth via Par and St Austell. ‘Once the infrastructure works and operational preparations are complete, the first step will see us double frequency on the line between Newquay and Par, followed by the start of coast-to-coast services at a later date.’ Do you have a comment on this story? Please click here  to send an email to Platform at Railnews. Moderated comments will be published on this site, and may also be used in the next print edition RN336, published 13 February.

HS2 has awarded the contract to build the substructure foundations at Birmingham Curzon Street station to civil engineering specialist MPB Structures. The contract is the first in a series of major awards at the site, which is being managed by main contractor Mace Dragados Joint Venture. Around 140 people from MPB started working at Curzon Street in January, but news of the contract has only now been released. The work includes removing 65,000 cubic metres of earth, using around 17,000 cubic metres of concrete to install 417 pile caps, and over 4,700 tonnes of reinforcing steel to make the station’s ground beams. They will also be waterproofing the new concrete structures, building drainage and also constructing the attenuation tanks to store rainwater for recycling. HS2’s project client director for Curzon Street Dave Lock said: ‘This contract award marks the next stage of our construction programme to build the flagship Curzon Street station, and we’re delighted to have MPB on board. Further contracts will be awarded in the coming months as we move towards starting on the main station structure next year.’

A review has been ordered after winter weather caused serious disruption on the Merseyrail network because of snow and sub-zero temperatures. Some passengers were stranded on board one train for over three hours on 9 January after ice on the third rail had caused it to stall, while all services were cancelled for two hours, which caused further problems for the rest of the day. Now Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram has appointed an established transport leader to review the rail industry’s plans for winter, and also to consider whether lessons have been learned from previous years. Vernon Everitt is transport commissioner for Greater Manchester, and also a non-executive director on the Board of Transport for Wales. He was previously Transport for London’s managing director for customers, communication and technology. The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Transport Committee has also heard from the Mayor as well as representatives from Merseyrail, Network Rail and train manufacturer Stadler. Councillor William Shortall said: ‘It’s winter every year. Will we be sitting here saying the same thing again?’ Stadler’s head of metro and tailor made projects Matthias Hämmerle said the trains recently delivered by his company could cope with minus 25C, but without effective contact with the conductor rail they would ‘shut down’, although installing batteries on more units would help, while ghost trains run overnight can also keep the third rail clear. Mayor Steve Rotheram said: ‘The recent disruption on our rail network was completely unacceptable and had a significant impact on our residents who rely on trains to get to work, school and important appointments. ‘With the appointment of Vernon Everitt to lead this independent review, we’re taking a thorough, impartial look at how the rail industry plans for and responds to extreme weather. Vernon brings with him a wealth of experience in the transport sector, and his expertise will be invaluable in ensuring we learn from this and improve our winter preparedness.’ The findings of the review will be presented to the next transport committee on 20 March. Do you have a comment on this story? Please click here  to send an email to Platform at Railnews. Moderated comments will be published on this site, and may also be used in the next print edition RN336, published 13 February.

Train services on the Brighton Main Line are being disrupted by a landslip between Three Bridges and Gatwick Airport, and passengers are being advised to check before travelling. Work to repair the damage began last night, but Network Rail warned that one running line had been obstructed by the work, although the other three remain open. Rain is being blamed for the slip, at Tinsley Green, which was first reported a week ago and affects a 30m stretch of the line. Network Rail has been talking to local residents and businesses about the increased noise from the site which will be heard when steel piles, 6m long, are driven into the embankment this week. Engineers will also be installing a steel beam to the back of the sheet pile wall and attaching anchors into the ground. The second phase of work will be carried out from the bottom of the embankment, when the slope will need to be rebuilt with new material, although this part of the work is expected be less disruptive to train services.  Network Rail’s Sussex route director Lucy McAuliffe said: ‘We know that there’s never a good time to close any tracks on the railway, but the Brighton Main Line is a crucial link between the south coast, Gatwick Airport and the capital. Repairing this landslip now will stop it getting worse. ‘It is a challenging site to work on, and we are very mindful of our neighbours. But by doing this work as safely and as efficiently as possible, we can get the railway fully reopened as soon as we can.’ Govia Thameslink Railway warned that some of its trains will be affected. Customer services director Jenny Saunders said: ‘Regrettably, these significant and essential repairs that Network Rail must make to the embankment will continue to disrupt our service. ‘Trains may be delayed and be busier than usual, especially during the morning and evening peak. Please check our websites and online journey planners such as nationalrail.co.uk for the latest travel information before setting off.’ Do you have a comment on this story? Please click here  to send an email to Platform at Railnews. Moderated comments will be published on this site, and may also be used in the next print edition RN336, published 13 February.

Alstom has launched its own celebrations of Railway 200 with a preliminary event at Derby, as a curtain raiser to a special three days at the start of August when the Litchurch Lane works will be opened to the public for the first time in half a century. More than 50 items of rolling stock, both historic and modern, will be on display, and Alstom said it will be the largest gathering of its kind ever seen in this country. A complicated programme of special workings will be needed for all these vehicles to reach Litchurch Lane, and this is being worked out by Network Rail and Alstom staff at Derby. Yesterday’s event was attended by Railway 200 programme manager Emma Roberts, Derby South MP Baggy Shanker, GB Railfreight CEO John Smith, railway enthusiast Pete Waterman and Alstom’s European region president Gian Luca Erbacci. In addition, the King was represented by the Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Derbyshire, Colonel John Wilson. The rolling stock will include an LNER A4, a Southern Railway Merchant Navy class locomotive, a number of diesel locomotives and several multiple units. The oldest of these units will be a preserved Class 507, recently retired from Merseyrail, which will be accompanied by an Alstom-built Pendolino as well as a pair of Class 701 and Class 720 units built at Derby last year. Alstom’s Gian Luca Erbacci said: ‘The Greatest Gathering, presented by Alstom for Railway 200, is a unique opportunity to celebrate not only the incredible progress of the past two centuries but also the bright future of rail.’ The August event will offer rides along the Derby test track, while a variety of narrow-gauge trains will be in operation. There will also be a Model Railway Village, fairground attractions, street food and live music which Alstom said will add to the festival atmosphere. Derby is to be the headquarters city of Great British Railways, and legislation to create GBR is expected later this year. Emma Roberts of Railway 200 said: ‘Our railways are here for everyone. They bring friends and family together and enable us to enjoy new opportunities and experiences. It’s wonderful that Alstom is marking Railway 200 with this fun-packed festival for everyone to enjoy, in Derby, the new home of the railway.’ Tickets for the August event go on sale today, at £30 for adults and £15 for children under 16. All profits will go to charity. Do you have a comment on this story? Please click here  to send an email to Platform at Railnews. Moderated comments will be published on this site, and may also be used in the next print edition RN336, published 13 February.

The Chancellor’s plans for long-term economic growth have been welcomed by rail industry observers, because they include substantial investment in railways, but one transport campaigning group said it was ‘disappointed’. Deputy chair of the National Infrastructure Commission Julia Prescot said: ‘The Chancellor’s speech recognises that half measures on infrastructure will no longer cut the mustard. Accelerating investment in line with the Commission’s existing recommendations is essential: the government’s ten-year strategy in June, and its planning bill, must now give investors and contractors a clear picture of what happens next so they can invest in their skills and supply chains in anticipation. ‘The green light to unleash the Oxford to Cambridge corridor’s full economic potential is welcome after a number of false starts and I’m pleased the government’s ambition matches the scale of transformation we envisaged in our original report in 2017. It is essential that the transport, water and housing constraints on economic growth in one of the UK’s most productive areas are removed, and filling in the gaps on East West Rail, improving strategic roads and concerted action to secure the region’s water supplies are significant steps forward. The government’s compelling vision for the corridor must now be turned into a comprehensive economic plan.’ Mott McDonald transport market lead for UK and Europe Thomas Knight added: ‘The Chancellor’s announcement is an important step forward in providing clarity about key investment decisions which will drive economic growth and improve connectivity across the UK. Mention of crucial projects such as East West Rail, West Yorkshire Mass Transit and the A428; which we are proudly helping to plan and deliver, demonstrates the government’s understanding of the need for infrastructure investment to support growth. These schemes are vital for improving regional connectivity, reducing congestion, and supporting sustainable development. ‘The government presenting a clear path from planning to delivery with commitment to cutting down red tape will mean these projects can be delivered more quickly, while still prioritising community and environmental needs. ‘By prioritising infrastructure projects, the government is demonstrating a clear commitment to creating a more connected, resilient and sustainable future. We’re pleased to continue our collaboration with the government and other stakeholders.’ However Silviya Barrett from the Campaign for Better Transport said: ‘The commitment to build around existing and any future railway stations is very welcome and something we have long campaigned for. As is the commitment to improve rail links between Oxford and Cambridge, but we are very disappointed that the line will not be electrified. The Government has missed a trick here. Few countries in Europe have built any non-electrified track in recent years and not committing to a fully electric East West Rail looks like a failure to future-proof the project.’ Do you have a comment on this story? Please click here  to send an email to Platform at Railnews. Moderated comments will be published on this site, and may also be used in the next print edition RN336, published 13 February.

Network Rail engineers and contractors have been continuing to work around the clock to repair the railway after the destructive winds and rain of Storm Eowyn wreaked havoc on Friday.ScotRail said there had been about 500 incidents involving obstructions or damage north of the border alone, including 120 fallen trees. The disruption continued into the weekend, but trains are running on most lines again today. However, buses are replacing trains between Kilwinning, Ayr and Largs, between Paisley Gilmour Street, Gourock and Wemyss Bay, and between Ayr and Stranraer.Replacement buses are running on the Heart of Wales line between Shrewsbury and Swansea and also on the Conwy Valley branch between Llandudno, Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog, while repairs continue.In England, flooding between Reading and Taunton means that speed restrictions have been imposed until 13.00, and there are delays between Hastings, Tonbridge, London Cannon Street and Charing Cross, after fallen trees were removed from the line. Trains were not running early today between Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier, again because of flooding, but it was hoped that trains could be restored by 11.00.Meanwhile, damage in north west England has now been repaired.Network Rail said more than 60 incidents had affected the West Coast Main Line, including collapsing walls and even a roof which had been blown away. Apart from the main line, the weather had also prevented trains from running on the Cumbrian Coast line, the Settle & Carlisle and the branches to Morecambe and Windermere.Network Rail North West route director Phil James said: ‘I’m extremely proud of my teams who’ve battled difficult conditions to ensure we can get the railway back up and running for passengers as soon as possible.‘Our use of technology and helicopter inspections from above, are hugely important to ensure we can respond quickly and effectively.’ Do you have a comment on this story? Please click here  to send an email to Platform at Railnews. Moderated comments will be published on this site, and may also be used in the next print edition RN336, published 13 February.

The destructive effects of Storm Éowyn mean that no trains are expected to run in Scotland before midday on Saturday. ScotRail said the storm had caused ‘significant damage to infrastructure throughout the country’, and Network Rail engineers will work through the night to remove fallen trees and other debris from the tracks. But overhead lines have also been ‘extensively’ damaged. ScotRail said: ‘The safety of our staff and our customers is our absolute priority, and we will only run trains when it is safe to do so.’  Meanwhile, damage to overhead lines caused by the high winds has disrupted several tram routes in Manchester. Transport for Greater Manchester said the damage at Deansgate Castlefield meant that trams on the Airport, Didsbury, Eccles, Altrincham and Trafford Park lines must terminate outside the city centre. Engineering staff are at the scene of the damage, but TfGM warned that repairs are being ‘hampered by challenging weather conditions’. TfGM’s interim Metrolink director Ian Davies said: ’We are doing everything we can to resolve this situation at Deansgate Castlefield but the conditions are making this very difficult and there is likely to be disruption for the rest of the day.’