By 2025-11-13T04:00:00+00:00
This week’s round-up of business news from the UK railway industry.
Work to replace beams in a tunnel at Whitefield on Manchester Metrolink’s Bury line was completed in early November by lead contractor Story Contracting. The work was authorised following discovery of a fracture in an iron support beam within the roof of the tunnel. Precast concrete roof beams and supports have been put in place, effectively renewing the whole structure, and work to waterproof the tunnel will follow for completion in early 2026. ‘We’re proud to have played a key role in safeguarding this essential piece of infrastructure. Our team worked tirelessly to overcome the unique challenges, from Victorian-era engineering to environmental sensitivities, ensuring the safe and timely delivery of the works‘, said Dan Smithson, Head of Operations (North West) at Story Contracting.
On November 12 Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told the House of Commons Transport Committee that said she hoped to make an announcement about Northern Powerhouse Rail ‘in the next couple of months’. Alexander said it is important to be clear about the economic objectives, and to balance investment east and west of the Pennines.
South Western Railway is to restore the full West of England timetable with hourly trains from London Waterloo to Exeter from November 29. It is offering 20 000 additional Advance tickets from £13, and a range of off-peak tickets for journeys between Salisbury and Exeter will also be discounted by one-third until December 17. Services have been reduced since August 11 because unusually dry weather led to clay soil embankments between Gillingham and Axminster shrinking and disturbing, requiring the maximum speed to be reduced which meant the regular service could not be delivered.
Attic Brew Co is producing Signals IPA exclusively for CrossCountry, with a railway-themed name and artwork.
TransPennine Express has spent £580 000 to more than double workspace and provide improved facilities for up to 150 staff at its Liverpool depot. The space includes meeting rooms, a dedicated occupational health room, a traincrew gym, 16 hot desks and a driver training room. The project was delivered with locally-based contractors including Consortia, Vextrix and AHR Architects. TPE will also share the space with Hitachi.
Translink is to install Automated External Defibrillators across the NI Railways fleet by the end of December. This follows the installation of 134 units at over 80 locations across Translink bus and rail facilities in recent years.
Hull Trains is to sell locally-produced English wine from Little Wold Vineyard in East Yorkshire. This joins Locomotion Atom Beer brewed in Hull, and Lister’s Crisps made in Howden.
Amey has been awarded a place on the Network Rail Wales & Western Ecology Framework for a period of three years. This covers a range of ecology-based services including habitat mapping, protected species surveys and assessments, Biodiversity Net Gain metrics, delivering management plans for invasive and non-native species, and areas of conservation value.
Anotec has been certified by the Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme. The surface coating specialist said this marks a ‘significant step forward’ in its engagement with the rail industry, which is one of the most demanding markets. Rail technologies include zinc flake and duplex coating systems, automated dip-spin and spray applications. London Underground uses concrete fastenings coated in a thermal diffusion process.
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