Railnews Magazine Feb-18 Edizione posteriore

Network Rail has issued a strong warning to lorry drivers who crash into railway bridges, saying that it will pursue hauliers for compensation. The National Audit Office says it will investigate why the DfT has allowed the East Coast franchise to end three years early.

In other news, Network Rail has helped around 300 smaller suppliers who have been left facing problems after the collapse of Carillion, figures from the Rail Delivery Group reveal a boost in the number of new trains which are set to come into service by 2021, and business leaders in the south west of England have warned that the region’s economy is at risk, blaming a lack of investment in railway resilience at weak points like Dawlish.

In Guest Opinion, Bombardier’s UK managing director Richard Hunter calls for everyone in the railway industry to work together in the continuing drive to deliver good service while containing costs, and Hot Topic asks if the recent falls in passenger totals are significant.

This month’s feature takes a close look at railway projects of the recent past, many of which have been dogged by rising costs and broken deadlines, comparing them with the ambitions of today and tomorrow. Will they fare any better?

We also meet Terry Hutchins, 77, who works as a train cleaner at Bognor Regis in Sussex. He is a happy man who tells Railnews he has no intention of retiring until he must.

Terry is just one of the many people are making the news in Railnews for February.