Latest news with #TransportForWales
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Passengers warned of Birmingham and Shrewsbury rail disruption
Rail passengers are being warned of disruption to services between Birmingham New Street and Shrewsbury on Sunday due to engineering is taking place between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury, closing all lines and no services will run between New Street and Shrewsbury until 16:30 BST that day, West Midlands Railway for Wales routes between Birmingham International and Aberystwyth as well as West Midlands Railway routes between New Street and Shrewsbury will be will operate between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury with connections at Shrewsbury - and train tickets can be used on other operators' services between Wolverhampton and Birmingham, the firm said. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Sun
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Renationalising railways is plain loco… it will be the same old misery for passengers while handing more power to unions
ACCORDING to the Government, the renationalisation of South West Trains on Sunday morning marked a 'new dawn for rail'. It was a Sunday morning, however, which ended like so many do for rail passengers: With the first service soon grinding to a halt and passengers ordered out onto a rail replacement bus. 3 3 Does anyone other than avowed socialists really expect much to improve under the Government's renationalisation programme, which will involve most services in Britain over the next couple of years being branded under the name ' Great British Railways '? It may have escaped some passengers' notice, but train services in some parts of the country already have been renationalised. Local services in the North of England, for example, have been run by the Government under the name Northern Trains since 2020, after the Conservative government terminated the franchise held by Arriva. Services in Wales have been run by the Welsh government since 2021 and those in Scotland by the Scottish government since 2022. How is that experiment coming on? In the final three months of last year, Northern Trains had the fourth worst punctuality record of any operator, with just 50.6 per cent of trains arriving on time. It had the second worst figures for train cancellations, with eight per cent of trains not even making it out of the station. Next down the list was Transport for Wales, with 7.6 per cent cancelled. In Scotland, nationalisation by Nicola Sturgeon did absolutely nothing to improve labour relations, with almost constant strikes in the years since. There has been a distinct change in culture, with the whole network being closed down at the slightest hint of strong winds. Train drivers' strike causes rail travel chaos as many areas left with no services Nor have the renationalised railways proved to be less grasping when it comes to setting and collecting fares. I don't have much sympathy for genuine fare dodgers, but Sam Williamson was trying to do the right thing when he bought a £3.65 return to Manchester with a 16-24 railcard. No one who is old enough to remember British Rail will be fooled into thinking, as the Government and unions would have us believe, that nationalisation is a panacea for our awful rail service Northern's phone app was quite happy to sell him the ticket, but little did he know that deep down in the company's Byzantine rules was a clause saying that railcards can only be used before 10am if the original fare would have been £12 or more — although that rule doesn't apply in July and August. Got that? Williamson was pounced upon by a ticket inspector and was about to be dragged through the courts when, after a public outcry, the company realised that perhaps, after all, its ticketing rules are unreasonably complicated. No one who is old enough to remember British Rail will be fooled into thinking, as the Government and unions would have us believe, that nationalisation is a panacea for our awful rail service. At least the privatised rail companies seemed to want us to travel, luring us with cheap tickets and by opening new stations. I still remember British Rail's response when a rail service in Devon was reported to be dangerously overcrowded. Rather than find an extra carriage or two it scrapped the service altogether. It was British Rail's Chairman, Richard Beeching, lest anyone forget, who closed down half the rail system in the 1960s. Many other services were run down, reduced to a skeleton service. Trains were old and dirty and the catering a stock joke for comedians. 3 British Rail did have one big modernisation project — developing a tilting train which was supposed to run at speeds of up to 155 mph from London to Manchester and Glasgow, but that was scuppered in part by the unions who refused to drive it, demanding it should have two drivers. It is bizarre that the railway system, under privatisation, receives more subsidy than it did in British Rail's day It is true that privatisation never brought us all the benefits it was supposed to. The decision by John Major's government to grant monopolistic franchises allowed rail companies to bid up fares to ridiculous levels. The same companies found it easier, rather than take on the unions, to nod through fat pay rises and then go begging to the government for extra handouts. It is bizarre that the railway system, under privatisation, receives more subsidy than it did in British Rail's day. But none of this is going to be solved simply by taking the railways back into state ownership. The real purpose of nationalisation is to throw red meat to Labour's old faithful — those who never accepted Tony Blair's rewriting of the party's constitution to take out the clause demanding public ownership of the means of production. Labour's sacred cows While Blair was prepared to slay Labour's sacred cows and embrace a more entrepreneurial economy, Starmer is taking his party backwards into its 1940s comfort zone. He may preach 'growth, growth, growth', but has anyone seen a Labour policy in the past 11 months that is calculated to achieve that? Renationalisation of the railways certainly isn't going to do the job. Even transport secretary Heidi Alexander admits it isn't going to reduce fares. All it will mean is that the unions will be in charge of the railways even more than they are already. It will be more fat pay rises for their members as they take advantage of a pushover Labour government — and the same old misery for passengers.
The Sun
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
The £2.1bn new train service that will ‘transform' the UK with metro service and direct city routes
PLANS for a dynamic new passenger-focussed metro service have been unveiled. A London underground-inspired train service is set to unlock 'economic potential' and connect communities with the upcoming North Wales Metro. 2 Boasting frequent services, Network North Wales will see the train services on the North Wales mainline, the Chester to Wrexham Marches Line and a direct rail link between Wrexham and Liverpool. Ambitions include higher frequency services, reopening closed stations, the birth of new stations and new transport modes such as tram trains. The Welsh Government has committed more than £13m to make the bold transport changes. Cabinet Secretary for transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, explained: "We now have the best possible partnership in place to deliver Network North Wales. "UK Government, local government, Transport for Wales and English local authorities are working with us to deliver this bold programme of work to better connect communities, with more rail and bus services and greater integration, new stations, new transport routes, new trains, new buses, new technology." He continued: "A network of public transport services that will include cross-border turn-up and go bus and rail services, extending the Northern Arc from Hull to Holyhead. 'With unprecedented partnership across governments, across borders and across the north, we have the opportunity to turn dreams into reality, to deliver on an enduring vision for what our a public transport network should look like. 'Most importantly, we have an opportunity to deliver the principal purpose of public transport – to drive economic growth and prosperity for all.' Rail Minister Lord Hendy added: "We are determined to build a modern and integrated transport network across the whole of the UK, delivering our Plan for Change and driving economic growth by better connecting people to homes, jobs, education and business opportunities. "Through close collaboration between our two governments, we're demonstrating how we can deliver a stronger, more connected rail network that truly meets passengers' needs and transforms everyday journeys across Wales. "Our collaborative approach will extend to these exciting proposals, which represent a significant opportunity to transform connectivity across the region and unlock new opportunities for communities." Secretary of state for Wales Jo Stevens said: "Network North Wales is an exciting plan to deliver a better passenger experience across the region. "Economic growth is the number one mission of the UK Government and improving transport is vital to achieve that ambition. "Working in partnership with the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales we will connect people to a range of well-paid jobs across North Wales, thousands of which will be created by our Wrexham and Flintshire Investment Zone and our Freeport in Anglesey." The Welsh Government said immediate changes are in place, with ambitious plans to begin over the next 12 months and heading into 2035. Sun Travel's favourite train journeys in the world Sun Travel's journalists have taken their fare share of train journeys on their travels and here they share their most memorable rail experiences. Davos to Geneva, Switzerland "After a ski holiday in Davos, I took the scenic train back to Geneva Airport. The snow-covered mountains and tiny alpine villages that we passed were so beautiful that it felt like a moving picture was playing beyond the glass." - Caroline McGuire Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen "Nothing quite beats the Shinkansen bullet train, one of the fastest in the world. It hardly feels like you're whizzing along at speed until you look outside and see the trees a green blur. Make sure to book seat D or E too - as you'll have the best view of Mount Fuji along the way." Kara Godfrey London to Paris by Eurostar "Those who have never travelled on the Eurostar may wonder what's so special about a seemingly ordinary train that takes you across the channel. You won't have to waste a moment and can tick off all the top attractions from the Louvre to the Champs-Élysées which are both less than five kilometres from the Gare du Nord." - Sophie Swietochowski Glasgow to Fort William by Scotrail "From mountain landscapes and serene lochs to the wistful moors, I spent my three-hour journey from Glasgow to Fort William gazing out the window. Sit on the left-hand side of the train for the best views overlooking Loch Lomond." - Hope Brotherton Beijing to Ulaanbatar "The Trans-Mongolian Express is truly a train journey like no other. It starts amid the chaos of central Beijing before the city's high-rises give way to crumbling ancient villages and eventually the vast vacant plains of Mongolia, via the Gobi desert. The deep orange sunset seen in the middle of the desert is among the best I've witnessed anywhere." - Ryan Gray 2
Sky News
22-05-2025
- Sky News
Passengers injured after train hits trailer on level crossing near Leominster - as police arrest man
More than a dozen people have been injured after a train hit an agricultural trailer on a level crossing in Herefordshire, according to emergency services. British Transport Police (BTP) said officers were called to the site north of Leominster at 10.40am on Thursday. A man has been airlifted to hospital and a woman has also been taken to hospital. A further 15 people, who were passengers on the train, were assessed by paramedics but discharged at the scene, West Midlands Ambulance Service said. A spokesperson confirmed that nobody from the tractor-trailer required assessment. Police have confirmed that a 32-year-old man from Bromyard has been arrested on suspicion of endangering safety on the railway. Firefighters and officers from West Mercia Police also attended the scene. A spokesperson for Transport for Wales (TfW) confirmed its 8.30am service between Manchester Piccadilly and Cardiff Central hit an "obstruction" at a crossing between Ludlow and Leominster. All lines between the Hereford and Craven Arms stations are blocked and trains will not run between the two. Replacement road transport is being put in place and TfW tickets are currently being accepted by Northern, Avanti, GWR and CrossCountry, it said. Disruption is expected to last until the end of the day and a spokesperson for the company advised anyone travelling on Thursday to check before they travel. A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service said it was "called to an incident on the railway track at Nordan Farm, Leominster, at 10.46am". "On arrival crews found a man who was a passenger on the train, they treated him for non-life threatening injuries before conveying him by air ambulance to Hereford County Hospital," they added. "A woman was also treated for injuries not believed to be serious and conveyed by land ambulance to Hereford County Hospital." The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said it had sent a team of inspectors to Leominster "between a passenger train and an agricultural trailer at a user worked level crossing", which require people to operate the crossing themselves. "Our inspectors will gather evidence as part of the process of conducting a preliminary examination and a decision on whether an investigation will be launched will be taken in the coming days," the spokesperson added.
Sky News
22-05-2025
- Sky News
Passengers injured after train hits trailer at level crossing near Leominster - as police make arrest
More than a dozen people have been injured after a train collided with a trailer in Herefordshire. British Transport Police (BTP) said officers were called to a level crossing north of Leominster at 10.40am on Thursday, following reports that a train had struck a trailer. A man has been airlifted to hospital and a woman has been taken to hospital by road. A further 15 people, who were passengers on the train, were assessed by paramedics but discharged at the scene, West Midlands Ambulance Service said. A spokesperson confirmed that nobody from the tractor required assessment. Police have confirmed that a 32-year-old man from Bromyard has been arrested on suspicion of endangering safety on the railway. Firefighters and officers from West Mercia Police also attended the scene. A spokesperson for Transport for Wales (TfW) confirmed its 8.30am service between Manchester Piccadilly and Cardiff Central hit an obstruction at a crossing between Ludlow and Leominster. All lines between the Hereford and Craven Arms stations are blocked and trains will not run between the two. Replacement road transport is being put in place and TfW tickets are currently being accepted by Northern, Avanti, GWR and CrossCountry, it said. Disruption is expected to last until the end of the day and a spokesperson for the company advised anyone travelling on Thursday to check before they travel. A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service said it was "called to an incident on the railway track at Nordan Farm, Leominster, at 10.46am". "On arrival crews found a man who was a passenger on the train, they treated him for non-life threatening injuries before conveying him by air ambulance to Hereford County Hospital," they added. "A woman was also treated for injuries not believed to be serious and conveyed by land ambulance to Hereford County Hospital." The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) said it had sent a team of inspectors to Leominster "between a passenger train and an agricultural trailer at a user worked level crossing", which require people to operate the crossing themselves. "Our inspectors will gather evidence as part of the process of conducting a preliminary examination and a decision on whether an investigation will be launched will be taken in the coming days," the spokesperson added.
