rail

RMT criticises Government over SW investment

Rail union RMT has pledged an all-out fight over rail investment in the South West after the Transport Secretary cast doubt on the scale of investment in the Plymouth region’s railways by admitting that just £40million has been promised – despite calls for a £7 billion package.

RMT has branded the move a “complete and utter betrayal of the South West despite all the posturing and...

Boost for Devon rail commuters

Rail Minister Claire Perry has welcomed the first major redesign of First Great Western’s mainline timetable in Devon and Cornwall for seven years by waving off the first new 0706 retimed service.

The changes launched on Monday (15 December) see an improved service for the South West, providing an earlier morning direct service from London to Plymouth and Cornwall and shaving over 30...

Alison Seabeck MP delighted as additional seat capacity is promised for SW rail services

After continued campaigning to increase capacity on rail services from London to Plymouth, Alison Seabeck, MP for Plymouth Moor View, was delighted to hear that First Great Western and the Department for Transport have confirmed that work will soon begin on increasing standard class capacity through converting some of their first class carriages.

The work, which will deliver almost 3,...

Council leader tells PM "we need action as well as words"

Council leader Tudor Evans has vowed to keep up the pressure on the Government to ensure the region's rail issues stay at the top of Whitehall's to-do list.

He has written to the Prime Minister asking for a progress report on a number of commitments the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Transport made when they visited the city in the aftermath of last month's storm....

Video: Amazing Timelapse of Dawlish rail repairs

Today officially marks the one-month anniversary of the closure of the South West’s main rail link after line at Dawlish was left in tatters by extreme storm damage on 4 February.

The closure has badly hit the South West’s economy as businesses face severe disruption to their normal activity.

The region’s tourist industry thought to have been hot particularly badly seeing...

Five Alternative routes considered to Dawlish

Network Rail has said they will consider five alternative routes as a long term response to the destroyed line at Dawlish.

Options include creating a new passenger route using the existing freight train lines at Alphington and Heathfield near Newton Abbot.

Another option is to reinstate the closed Okehampton line which is expected to cost up to £700m.

Three new routes...

Ed Miliband in Exeter: Government must 'cough up' resilience money

Labour leader Ed Miliband visited Exeter today to see the proposed site of resilience work at Cowley Bridge Junction.

The site was badly affected by floods in the winter storms of 2012/13 causing the main rail line into the South West to close for a several weeks.

Following the line closures, last year, the government promised to spend over £31 million on projects to improve...

£31.1 million for rail resilience will be found

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, has confirmed that the £31.1m promised to improve the resilience of the South West’s rail network will be found.

Ten projects to improve the rail networks resilience against flooding will be funded with the money including for work in Honiton, Cowley Bridge Junction, Crewkerne and several other areas of rail vulnerable to potential flooding.

...

David Cameron visits Dawlish repairworks

Prime Minister, David Cameron, has today visited the destroyed track near Dawlish as part of his tour of the storm damage in the South West.

Mr Cameron met with the repair force from Network Rail and thanked railway staff for their work to retain service via replacement bus and alternative travel schemes.

At meeting with Rail operators First Great Western Mr Cameron tweeted “...

Concerns over 'meaningless promises' on rail resilience funding

Concerns have been raised that the £31.1m promised by the Government last year to secure the South West’s railways against severe weather was not delivered, despite widespread support from local authorities.

The money was promised by the Government for a programme of rail improvements, after winter flooding cut off rail transport to the South West peninsula for several weeks in 2012/13...

Pages