NEWS |
News in brief ScotRail secures Investing in Volunteers accreditation ScotRail has been awarded the prestigious Investing in Volunteers accreditation by Volunteer Scotland for its ongoing Adopt-a-Station volunteering programme. The Investing in Volunteers (IiV) accreditation is the UK quality standard for good practice in volunteer management, and recognises the incredible contribution made by volunteers. GWR fast-charging trial brings regular battery-only rail services a step closer Great Western Railway has signed a deal with manufacturer Vivarail to trial new battery-charging technology on its network, paving the way for battery-only trains to run in regular passenger service in the future. The trial, supported by Network Rail, will take place on the Greenford branch line later this year and test Vivarail’s trackside fast-charging equipment in an operational setting for the first time. RIA wins two Trade Association Forum Awards on diversity and leadership The Railway Industry Association (RIA) won twice at the national Trade Association Forum Awards 2022. RIA Chief Executive Darren Caplan won the ‘Trade Association Leadership Award’, and RIA topped the ‘Diversity & Inclusion’ category. Darren Caplan’s Trade Association Leadership Award was recognition of progress made by RIA in the last five years. The Diversity & Inclusion Award recognised the work of the RIA team, particularly Policy Director Kate Jennings and Senior Policy Executive Isabella Lawson, in launching, together with Women in Rail, the Rail EDI Charter.
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The automatic sliding step on Tyne and Wear Metro’s new train fleet
An automatic sliding step that will transform accessibility on the Tyne and Wear Metro’s new trains has been revealed. The sliding step is a key feature of the new £362 million Metro fleet, making life easier for thousands of customers when boarding and alighting by eliminating the gap between the train and the platform edge. They will be located at every door of the new trains, making boarding easier for Metro’s 50,000 wheelchair customers as well as people with children’s buggies, luggage or bicycles. The sliding step will automatically deploy from beneath the door sill every time the new Metro train pulls into a station, closing the gap between the platform. It then automatically retracts before the doors close and the train pulls away. New photos released today show the new boarding system, passenger saloon and driver cab doors being put through their
paces as final assembly of the new Metro trains continues. Both the sliding step and the doors are being made by a company called Bode Die Tur, who specialise in the development and production of electronic door and boarding systems at their factory in the city of Kassel in Hessen, central Germany – which has recently been refitted following severe flash flooding in the region in 2019. Metro’s operator, Nexus, and the Swiss train builder, Stadler, have conducted an official inspection of this transformative piece of technology. The visit to the Bode factory was a chance to test the sliding step and doors ahead of them going into full production. When the sliding step and door systems are completed they will be transported to the Stadler assembly line for installation on each of the 46 new trains.
York Station Front improvement work begins The first stage of work to improve the gateway to and from York’s famous railway station is now taking place on Queen Street. The ambitious York Station Front scheme will completely transform the station frontage, providing an improved transport interchange, as well as revamping the public space around the station. The scheme aims to encourage more people to walk, cycle and use public transport to access the station, as well as creating a more welcoming and inclusive environment around the front of the railway station for the public. The scheme will also create an improved setting for the City Walls and other heritage buildings in the area. Last year a planning application was approved to transform the front of York
Railway Station. This will provide an improved transport interchange and public spaces around the station for people to enjoy. The full scheme which is valued at over £25 million, is funded by the West Yorkshire-Plus Transport Fund and the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund. This major scheme will be delivered in partnership by City of York Council, Network Rail, LNER and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. The work on Queen Street marks the beginning of the project with the main stage of work on the scheme set to begin later this year. We are engaging with contractors to minimise disruption for those who live and work in the area.
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