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News in brief Plans for £2 billion investment in tram, rail, bus and cycling set out in Government funding bid
One of the world’s oldest railway tunnels gets some tender loving care
The West Midlands Metro network will be extended in Walsall, Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell and Wolverhampton under a wide-ranging plan to revolutionise transport across the region. Further investment would see rail stations opened, new rapid bus services launched, lower fares, more zero-emission vehicles, a very light rail line in Coventry and miles of safe cycling routes created to support the region’s economic growth and its #wm2041 net-zero carbon targets. Additional services between Wrexham and Bidston from spring 2022 Additional Transport for Wales services between Wrexham and Bidston are set to be introduced from spring 2022. Transport for Wales (TfW) has been working closely with Network Rail to deliver the necessary infrastructure improvements and enhancements to the Wrexham to Bidston line, to enable the delivery of two trains per hour along this route. TfW Class 230s are planned for the line in 2022, allowing the route to be serviced by the upgraded trains. £1 million signed off to upgrade Billingham Station access Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has signed off a £1 million investment to significantly improve disability access at Billingham railway station. The scheme will see the existing pedestrian footbridge, which is approaching the end of its life, replaced by a new one served by lifts, making it step-free and suitable for wheelchair users. On top of this, a series of car park and access route improvements will take place to make the station even better to use for all passengers.
Rail Professional
One of the world’s oldest railway tunnels is being made more reliable for passengers this autumn. Network Rail is upgrading tracks through the 180-yearold Summit tunnel between Rochdale and Hebden Bridge. More than three kilometres of track across both railway lines will be replaced inside the 2.6-kilometre-long tunnel. It was built between 1838 and 1841 as part of the
Manchester and Leeds railway. The £2 million Great North Rail Project investment by Network Rail will take place between 23 and 31 October. Network Rail is also working in partnership with the Environment Agency which will be upgrading a culvert beneath the railway lines as part of a wider flood defence project in the area.
New Northern line stations open as Tube extends to Battersea Power Station Transport for London (TfL) has opened the doors to its two new Tube stations making up the Northern Line Extension, at Nine Elms and Battersea Power Station. The two step-free Zone 1 stations are set to dramatically improve the connectivity of these vibrant south London neighbourhoods and support the capital’s recovery from the pandemic at a vital time. Major construction on the three kilometres twin-tunnel railway between Kennington and Battersea Power Station, via Nine Elms, began in 2015. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the construction project stayed on track for an autumn opening. Tube services started running on the extension, which is on the Charing Cross branch of the Northern line, at 05:28 on the morning of 20 September with passengers including the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan; Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP; London’s Transport Commissioner, Andy Byford; Battersea Power Station Development Company’s CEO, Simon Murphy; Deputy Mayor for Transport, Heidi Alexander; Leader of Wandsworth Council, Cllr Ravi Govindia and Leader of Lambeth
Council, Cllr Claire Holland. In addition, the Battersea Power Station Community Choir sang at the new station at Battersea this morning to mark its opening day. A peak-time service of six trains per hour operates on the extension and this will increase to twelve trains per hour by mid-2022 as more people move into new housing in the area and the demand increases. There are five trains per hour during off-peak times, with this set to double to ten trains per hour next year. The Northern Line Extension is the first major Tube extension this century and is supporting around 25,000 new jobs and more than 20,000 new homes. In addition, construction of the extension boosted the UK economy and supported around 1,000 jobs, including 79 apprenticeships. TfL has delivered the Northern Line Extension £160 million under budget, bringing its estimated final total cost to £1.1 billion, despite the cost pressures brought about by the pandemic. The spending authority budget was increased to £1.26 billion in January 2016, but TfL has worked hard through strong collaboration with suppliers to ensure the project provides value for money.
