Latest news with #railways
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Nationalisation of train operators ‘tackling deep-rooted problems'
Bringing train operators into public ownership is 'tackling deep-rooted problems' with the railways, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said. The Cabinet minister made the claim ahead of c2c becoming the second operator to be nationalised by the Labour Government on Sunday. The operator, which runs services between London Fenchurch Street and south Essex, has been owned by Italy's state-owned rail company Trenitalia since 2017. The Department for Transport (DfT) said c2c is 'consistently rated one of the best performing operators in the country'. It achieved a passenger satisfaction rating for the overall journey of 89% in the most recent research by watchdog Transport Focus. This was the joint sixth best performance out of 22 operators. Ms Alexander said: 'Whether you're shopping in Lakeside or walking along the beach in Southend-on-Sea, from this Sunday you will be able to get there on a train service run by the public, for the public. 'Public ownership is already tackling deep-rooted problems we see on the railway that's led to spiralling costs, fragmentation and waste.' Customers of a nationalised train company can use their tickets on another publicly-owned operator at no extra cost during disruption. Ms Alexander added: 'A unified network under Great British Railways (GBR) will take this further with one railway under one brand with one mission – delivering excellent services for passengers wherever they travel.' GBR is an upcoming public sector body that will oversee Britain's rail infrastructure and train operation. Nationalised services are currently the responsibility of DfT Operator. South Western Railway became the first operator brought into public ownership by the Labour Government in May. It joined Northern, TransPennine Express, Southeastern and LNER, which were nationalised under the Conservative government because of performance failings by the former owners of those franchises. Rob Mullen, managing director of c2c, said: 'We are proud of the reliable and high level of service we offer our passengers, consistently being rated as one of the best performing operators in the country. 'We now have a golden opportunity to collaborate with the wider family of publicly-owned operators, sharing our successes and best practice, but also learning from a wide range of different and diverse operators who have already benefited from public ownership, to drive even more improvements for the people and places we all serve. 'A unified and focused railway can deliver more for our communities, including better growth, jobs and houses.' Eddie Dempsey, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, welcomed the nationalisation of c2c but expressed frustration that staff cleaning its trains and stations will still be employed by private company Bidvest Noonan. He said: 'The injustice of outsourcing must end so all railway workers can reap the benefits of public ownership and greedy private contractors can no longer extract obscene profits from the industry. 'Our members working for Bidvest Noonan deserve decent pay and the same terms and conditions as their colleagues, and we will fight tooth and nail to achieve it.' Paul Nowak, general secretary of trade union body the TUC, said: 'We need a fully integrated national rail service that works for passengers and the rail workforce. 'That means tackling outsourcing in the sector.' The next operator to be nationalised will be Greater Anglia on October 12.
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
Saudi Railways transports 8mln passengers, 15mln tons of freight in H1 2025 performance
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) announced record operational results for the first half of 2025, transporting 7.93 million passengers across over 21,000 trips on its North, East, and Haramain High-Speed train networks — an 8% increase compared to the same period in 2024. The strong performance was bolstered by exceptional service during the Hajj season, which saw 1.2 million pilgrims transported via the Haramain line and 1.8 million via the Mashair Metro, totaling over 2,100 Hajj-related train journeys. On the freight side, SAR moved 14.93 million tons of minerals and goods — up 13% year-on-year — helping remove over 700,000 truck trips from the Kingdom's roads. This shift resulted in fuel savings exceeding 72 million liters and a reduction of 190,000 tons in carbon emissions, supporting Saudi Arabia's environmental sustainability goals and logistics efficiency targets. SAR CEO Dr. Bashar Al-Malik said the figures reflect the company's commitment to providing sustainable, efficient transport solutions in alignment with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy. Beyond operations, SAR continues to deliver long-term economic and environmental impact. Its local content initiative, part of the 'Asasat' program, is on track to surpass 60% by the end of the year, supporting national industries and creating quality job opportunities for Saudi talent. Al-Malik also emphasized SAR's vital role in advancing the Saudi Green Initiative by reducing emissions, lowering reliance on conventional trucking, and offering cleaner alternatives that enhance quality of life in cities across the Kingdom.
The National
2 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Egypt sets up trains for Sudanese refugees to return home
Egypt 's railways on Monday launched a special train service for people from Sudan to return home, despite the conflict in their country. Train 1940 left Cairo on Monday morning, heading to Aswan, where passengers will continue their journey on to Sudan via the Aswan High Dam Port. Television coverage of the first trip showed hundreds of Sudanese lining up to board the train, carrying their belongings. The same train will carry regular passengers back to Cairo every Tuesday before returning to Aswan the following Sunday. The train, equipped with third-class air-conditioned carriages, is intended to ease travel for those seeking to return to their homeland, Egypt's railway authority said. It is part of a project to assist Sudanese citizens who have sought refuge in Egypt since the outbreak of the Sudan conflict in April 2023. Egyptian government figures indicate more than 1.5 million Sudanese have entered the country since the civil war started. The initiative follows calls earlier this year by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), which regained control of Khartoum in March, for displaced citizens to return. President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly have also said the number of refugees in Egypt is exerting strain on the country's economy and resources. However, returning home is not without challenges. In a report on Sudan's humanitarian crisis, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) described the situation as the "largest and most devastating displacement crisis in the world". The conflict has displaced more than 12 million people, including 3.8 million who have fled to neighbouring countries and 8.5 million who remain internally displaced in Sudan. The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reported in late April that the number of Sudanese citizens returning home from Egypt surged by 44 per cent in three weeks, rising from 115,000 to more than 165,000. The increase came after the SAF's recapture of Khartoum and parts of central Sudan, which prompted many refugees to attempt to return. Despite this, the IOM described the conditions facing those going back as challenging and fraught with risk, with obstacles including a lack of access to food, health care and other basic services. The UNHCR report said areas such as Khartoum, Darfur and Kordofan remained dangerous, with widespread destruction, violence and severe food shortages. Many who return find themselves in regions with little infrastructure and limited humanitarian assistance, leaving them vulnerable to further displacement. The journey itself is also perilous. According to the UNHCR, a lack of security on roads and at border areas increases the risk of being subjected to attacks, extortion or harassment. Transport is disrupted by road closures, fuel shortages and inflation, making travel expensive and unsafe for many. While the train service provides a means for Sudanese in Egypt to return, humanitarian organisations warn that conditions in Sudan remain dire. UNHCR has called for increased international funding to address the growing needs of displaced people, with only 21 per cent of a $1.1 billion appeal target for Sudan and neighbouring countries having been reached as of March.
Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Times
Ministers heading for union clash in bid for hi-tech rail travel
Ministers want to bring a Google-style mindset to the railways to harness new technology, in a move that could tee up a clash with trade unions. GBRX — a new tech agency within the forthcoming Great British Railways body — will draw inspiration from Google owner Alphabet to create 'a more dynamic, efficient and customer-focused railway', according to a briefing document seen by The Sunday Times. The agency will help 'break the pattern of slow adoption that has historically held our railways back', according to comments from Lord (Peter) Hendy, the rail minister, in the document. 'Much of that delay is due to fragmentation, contractual complexities and the way our system operates.' The document cites the roll-out of digital signalling, which took 20 years, as an example of the industry's 'inertia' and slow embrace of new technology.
The Independent
5 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Nationalisation of train operators ‘tackling deep-rooted problems'
Bringing train operators into public ownership is 'tackling deep-rooted problems' with the railways, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said. The Cabinet minister made the claim ahead of c2c becoming the second operator to be nationalised by the Labour Government on Sunday. The operator, which runs services between London Fenchurch Street and south Essex, has been owned by Italy's state-owned rail company Trenitalia since 2017. The Department for Transport (DfT) said c2c is 'consistently rated one of the best performing operators in the country'. It achieved a passenger satisfaction rating for the overall journey of 89% in the most recent research by watchdog Transport Focus. This was the joint sixth best performance out of 22 operators. Ms Alexander said: 'Whether you're shopping in Lakeside or walking along the beach in Southend-on-Sea, from this Sunday you will be able to get there on a train service run by the public, for the public. 'Public ownership is already tackling deep-rooted problems we see on the railway that's led to spiralling costs, fragmentation and waste.' Customers of a nationalised train company can use their tickets on another publicly-owned operator at no extra cost during disruption. Ms Alexander added: 'A unified network under Great British Railways (GBR) will take this further with one railway under one brand with one mission – delivering excellent services for passengers wherever they travel.' GBR is an upcoming public sector body that will oversee Britain's rail infrastructure and train operation. Nationalised services are currently the responsibility of DfT Operator. South Western Railway became the first operator brought into public ownership by the Labour Government in May. It joined Northern, TransPennine Express, Southeastern and LNER, which were nationalised under the Conservative government because of performance failings by the former owners of those franchises. Rob Mullen, managing director of c2c, said: 'We are proud of the reliable and high level of service we offer our passengers, consistently being rated as one of the best performing operators in the country. 'We now have a golden opportunity to collaborate with the wider family of publicly-owned operators, sharing our successes and best practice, but also learning from a wide range of different and diverse operators who have already benefited from public ownership, to drive even more improvements for the people and places we all serve. 'A unified and focused railway can deliver more for our communities, including better growth, jobs and houses.' Eddie Dempsey, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, welcomed the nationalisation of c2c but expressed frustration that staff cleaning its trains and stations will still be employed by private company Bidvest Noonan. He said: 'The injustice of outsourcing must end so all railway workers can reap the benefits of public ownership and greedy private contractors can no longer extract obscene profits from the industry. 'Our members working for Bidvest Noonan deserve decent pay and the same terms and conditions as their colleagues, and we will fight tooth and nail to achieve it.' Paul Nowak, general secretary of trade union body the TUC, said: 'We need a fully integrated national rail service that works for passengers and the rail workforce. 'That means tackling outsourcing in the sector.' The next operator to be nationalised will be Greater Anglia on October 12.
