Rail News – Late October 2024
Estimated reading time 4 minutes
Network Rail and its key suppliers will be hosting a networking event for SMEs keen to learn more about work available across Scotland’s Railway over the next five years.
The event will be held at The Studio, on Glasgow’s Hope Street, on Wednesday November 13 and is open to any company interested in increasing their presence in the rail sector.
Taking place over two separate sessions – in the morning and afternoon – attendees will be able to hear directly from Network Rail and suppliers about opportunities to be involved in over £1bn of investment in Scotland’s Railway between now and 2029.
A private sector consortium has shared proposals to create jobs, skills and growth by connecting the Midlands with Northern towns and cities by constructing a new 80km rail line – the Midlands-Northwest Rail Link (MNWRL).
£96 million plan for Liverpool Baltic Station on track for approval.
Local leaders are set to approve a £96 million funding package to build the Liverpool Baltic station, as part of Mayor Steve Rotheram’s ongoing work to improve rail access across the Liverpool City Region. The package will be recommended for approval at the September Combined Authority meeting, paving the way for a planning application to be submitted to Liverpool City Council in October. Pending approvals from the Department for Transport, construction will begin next year, with the Mayor pledging to have the station open by 2027.
The investment will fund the new station, alongside improvements to active travel and surrounding public spaces, following significant support from a recent public consultation.
Plans have been revealed for a brand-new tramway from Cardiff Central railway station to Cardiff Bay, connecting the two directly by rail for the first time.
The first phase of Cardiff Crossrail, which is being delivered by Cardiff Council and Transport for Wales (TfW), will significantly improve the railway network between the city centre and Cardiff Bay, benefiting the wider city and region
High Speed Rail Group report outlines opportunity for private investment to finance major rail infrastructure.
The High-Speed Rail Group (HSRG) has released its latest report, ‘Driving Investment in Rail Infrastructure’. This report outlines the critical steps needed to develop a comprehensive long-term rail infrastructure strategy that actively engages the investment community and explores a broad range of funding options, including those that harness private investment.
BCIMO will this month welcome Steve McBride as its Business Development Director. Steve has held senior positions in the rail industry across the train manufacturing, rolling stock maintenance and leasing sectors for more than thirty years, including at Intercity West Coast, Alstom, Angel Trains, Vivarail and STM Rail. He has also worked as a consultant for organisations within the industry and is currently Chairman at UKRL, a role in which he will continue.
He takes up his role at BCIMO in October and will focus predominantly on developing the organisation’s relationship with key industry stakeholders across the breadth of heavy, light and very light rail, in particular highlighting the £32m purpose-built Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre’s Rail Development & Test Site facilities.
Keltbray Infrastructure Services Ltd (KISL) has completed its acquisition of Sheffield-based Linbrooke Services’ rail business – a specialist technology and connectivity integrator to key rail network operators across the UK.
Linbrooke’s rail business is an approved Network Rail tier-one Principal Contractor, delivering “design and build” signalling, telecommunications and associated power solutions across the UK Rail infrastructure since 2003.
An independent review has been launched by the Transport Secretary, to delve into HS2’s spiralling costs and “bring the project back on track”.
Louise Haigh has reinstated ministerial oversight of the project and will hold regular meetings with HS2 Ltd alongside rail minister, Lord Hendy and the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, to “challenge delivery and remove obstacles”.
