Click here to listen to the latest rail news on Friday, 3rd May 2024.
InTheNews: The latest rail news on Friday, 3rd May 2024
A group wanting to turn a popular Peak District trail back into a railway line has said the project has taken a “significant step forward”. If successful, the scheme would see the Monsal Trail converted back into the former Peak and Dales line, providing a direct Derby to Manchester rail link.
An article on Derbyshire Live says the initial campaign was launched in January 2019 by the Manchester and East Midlands Rail Action Partnership (MEMRAP). The plans would see 13 miles of railway to link Matlock and Buxton, via Bakewell, as well as upgrading 23 miles of railway.
On Tuesday, April 30, a team from the group met with the Department for Transport to submit several sections of MEMRAP’s Better Value Rail (BVR) document for the project.
Through the BVR document, the team has now completed many of the fundamental aspects of the scheme, including the key strategic aims, benefits and potential risks associated with the project.
Trainline has surpassed £5 billion in ticket sales for the first time, as the aggregator enjoyed a recovery in rail travel in Britain and sharp growth across Europe.
An article on The Standard website says the London-listed company’s pre-tax profit more than doubled to £48 million in the year ending February 29, buoyed by an easing in rail strikes, which fell to 25 days from 30 in the previous 12 months.
Trainline’s ticket sales grew 22 per cent year-on-year, mainly driven by £3.5 billion in UK tickets.
The Railway Industry Association (RIA) has announced the appointment of the new Chair and Vice Chair for the RIA SME Group.
Catherine Leech, Managing Director at Anturas Consulting Ltd takes on the position of Chair from Lucy Prior, and Vice Chair, Mike Harmer, Chief of Strategic Operations at Belvoir Rail, replaces Paul McSharry.
Catherine said: “We are all facing challenges and with Mike’s support, help and input I hope we can support SMEs overcome some of these challenges to build an even stronger SME community.”
Great Western Railway has named a train after HRH The Princess Royal in recognition of her support for more than 300 charities, organisations and military regiments in the UK and overseas.
An article on Greatest Hits Radio says representatives from a host of those organisations joined guests at London Paddington on as Intercity Express Train 800024 was named in honour of Her Royal Highness.
Her Royal Highness was joined at London Paddington by husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, a member of the GWR Advisory Board.
