LNER is selling reusable face masks with designs inspired by the cities of Edinburgh, London and Newcastle. They cost £13·50, with proceeds going to the operator’s chosen charity, the Campaign Against Living Miserably.
The 10 bridges on Network Rail’s Anglia route which are most frequently hit by road vehicles are to be fitted with CCTV which will be able to capture images of the bridge deck, allowing faster examination by structural engineers. NR says ‘bridge bashes’ cost around £13 000 per incident and £23m a year nationally.
Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps announced the appointment of three non-executive directors to the HS2 Ltd board on July 14. Ian King will represent the government’s interests, reporting to the Transport Secretary and HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson. Elaine Holt joins as a railway and infrastructure specialist, and former parliamentarian Tom Harris will focus on community engagement.
Dyer & Butler has completed platform extension works at Cooksbridge, Lancing and Goring-by-Sea, which will enable Govia Thameslink Railway to increase the length of some trains on Sussex coast services.
On July 14 the government published additional safeguarding directions to protect a site in Leeds which may be needed to build Phase 2b of HS2. The site is not currently in use, and any future planning application affecting the land would first need to be discussed with HS2 Ltd, and if necessary the Secretary of State, to guard against potentially conflicting development.
Network Rail has installed 250 hand sanitiser points as well as vending machines selling face coverings, gloves, anti-bacterial wet wipes and hand sanitiser at its 20 managed stations. It is also applying Zoono anti-viral treatment that protects surfaces for up to 30 days on a 21-day cycle, with additional touch-point cleaning at least every 4 h.
Dyer & Butler has completed refurbishment of a wheel timber bridge over the River Wandle at Wandsworth Town, replacing eight life-expired softwood wheel timbers with more durable hardwood and installing a low-level GRP walkway to facilitate inspection and maintenance. ‘This was a truly collaborative project that required detailed decision making in relation to the bridge’s unusual structure’, said the contractor’s Operations Manager Jeff Taylor.
HS2 Ltd has signed up to Business in the Community’s Race at Work Charter which aims to improve employment outcomes for black, Asian and minority ethnic employees. It includes commitments to appoint an executive sponsor for race; capture data and publicise progress; ensure zero tolerance of harassment and bullying; making equality in the workplace the responsibility of all leaders and managers; taking action that supports ethnic minority career progression.
Network Rail’s Wales & Western director Mark Langman is to retire in December.