Rail jobs, staff issues and training

RDG calls for new regulator to stop railway ‘being used as a political football’

19 March 2019The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) has called for a new organisation to regulate the railway and replace the ORR in order to stop the railway “being used as a political football.” Responding to the government’s call for submissions t...

Safety warning issued after runaway road-rail vehicle raises concerns over brake maintenance and ‘inadequate supervision’

15 March 2019The RAIB has issued new safety recommendations after a road rail vehicle (RRV) ran downhill and out of control along a track for 340 metres. During works at Bradford Interchange station, a mobile elevating working platform ran away whilst it was...

GTR fined record £5m for ‘persistent and prolonged failures’ in May timetable chaos

14 March 2019Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has been fined a record £5m for its role in last year’s May timetable chaos. The ORR criticised the train operator for “persistent and prolonged failures” in informing passengers as they suff...

DB Cargo fined £2.7m as electrocuted boy suffers ‘life-changing injuries’

13 March 2019DB Cargo UK has been fined £2.7m after a 13-year-old boy suffered “life-changing injuries” at a Tyneside depot, with the rail firm found guilty of “systematic failings.” The boy had to have both of his legs amputated...

Are you an apprentice or provider in the rail industry? We want to hear from you…

13 March 2019Last week was National Apprenticeship Week (NAW), celebrating the positive impact apprenticeships make not just on the individual apprentices themselves, but also the companies and wider economy and industry they serve in. The theme this year was...

Women in rail - is the industry on the right track?

12 March 2019RTM sits down with Samantha Smith, sole female member of the TransPennine Route Upgrade Alliance Leadership Team, to find out more about encouraging more women to enter rail. Improving gender diversity in the rail industry is firmly on the agenda...

Springburn rail depot’s closure confirmed with up to 200 jobs lost labelled a ‘betrayal’ of Scottish rail industry

07 March 2019Gemini Rail has confirmed the closure of the Springburn depot, meaning up to 200 jobs will now be lost in Glasgow, with unions calling it a “betrayal” of the Scottish rail industry. The rail maintenance company revealed its proposals...

New head of safety and environment for Hull Trains announced

21 February 2019A new head of safety and environment has been announced by Hull Trains, with Mark Shepherd due to replace Phil Green in the role. Bringing more than 25 years’ worth of experience to the industry, Shepherd will focus on all elements of healt...

‘Time is running out’: MSP and union leaders call for government intervention into Springburn depot

19 February 2019Scottish Labour and union leaders have called on the government to take the Springburn depot under public control as ministers debate the depot’s planned closure in parliament. A delegation of Unite representatives and some of the depot&rsq...

South Western Railway strikes suspended after ‘significant breakthrough’ in guard dispute

19 February 2019Strike action by workers on the South Western Railway (SWR) have been suspended after a “significant breakthrough” was made in the long-running dispute over guards on trains. RMT members were due to walk out this Friday and again thro...

MPs make joint-pledge to back rail investment in Liverpool Manchester corridor in Parliament

19 February 2019More than 20 MPs from Liverpool and Manchester have signed a commitment to support rail investment in the north west. The pledge, which was coordinated by rail giant Alstom, states that the cross-party MPs will also support the creation of more s...

Strikes suspended as Northern and RMT reach an agreement in bitter guards dispute

06 February 2019Northern Rail and the RMT have reached a “major breakthrough” in their long-running dispute over guards on trains, bringing an end to nearly two years of industrial action and 47 separate days of strikes. The union confirmed it has su...

RAIB issues warning over brakes and wheel safety following derailment incident

01 February 2019The RAIB has published a warning about the maintenance of freight vehicles and the safety of wheel and braking systems on trains which can lead to derailment. In a safety digest published following an investigation into the derailment of a rail h...

Unite and Hitachi urge government for immediate investment in UK train manufacturers

30 January 2019The Unite union has written to Chris Grayling, with Hitachi’s backing, warning the government to support UK manufacturing, jobs and skills by investing in rail infrastructure or risk “shunting the UK’s rail manufacturing renaissa...

Operator revealed for flagship rail freight interchange in the East Midlands

29 January 2019Segro has been named as the operator of a new flagship rail freight interchange in the East Midlands ahead of its construction by the end of 2019. The company has signed a 25-year lease with Maritime Transport to operate the huge Strategic Rail F...