Arriva TrainCare has completed the refurbishment of 24 Class 158 DMUs operated by Transport for Wales. They have been repainted and fitted with USB charging points and new seat covers, carpets and interior fittings.
A feasibility study has been completed for the third phase of track renewals on the Derry~Londonderry – Coleraine line, and a business case is now being prepared. Studies are also being undertaken for stations and associated park-and-ride facilities at Strathfoyle, Eglinton/City of Derry Airport and Ballykelly, as well as the possibility of introducing half-hourly services.
Northern has appointed Tony Plumbley as Head of Engineering with effect from March 21. He joins from Merseyrail, where he was Head of Fleet & Engineering, having previously worked for Knorr-Bremse, CrossCountry, Arriva and Bombardier. In his new role he will manage major fleet projects and performance enhancement schemes and the delivery of asset information systems.
Eight companies have been appointed to Crown Commercial Service’s Rail Legal Services panel with effect from March 21. They are Addleshaw Goddard, Ashurst, Burges Salmon, Dentons UK & Middle East, Evershed Sutherland (International), Herbert Smith Freehills, Linklaters and Osborne Clarke.
Nexans Power Cable Accessories UK has secured Network Rail approval for a range of Nexans products including the Euromold range of connectors and bushings, as well as the company’s slip-on termination models.
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport has awarded Tiflex Ltd a £600 000 eight-year framework agreement for the supply of rail pads and related products for the Glasgow Subway.
Network Rail has awarded Land Sheriffs Ltd a £7·1m contract to provide security services on the High Speed 1 route from St Pancras International to the Eurotunnel boundary. This covers trespass and vandalism, metal theft, graffiti, terrorism, suicide and mental health intervention, and route and station patrols.
High Speed 2 contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI is launching a work placement programme enabling undergraduate students in the Midlands to gain hands-on experience. The eight-week programme, which begins on July 4 will include opportunities in the civil engineering, commercial, design, construction, project management and planning teams, based in Birmingham, Warwickshire and Staffordshire.
Transport information provider Zipabout has appointed Charlotte Pearce as its Head of UK Rail. A business development specialist, she previously worked with Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems (UK) Ltd, Rail Alliance, LNER and the Community Transport Association.
BPC UK has won a tender to supply Translink with ticket rolls.
Heathrow Express has appointed Business Development Manager Mark Eastwood as Commercial Strategy Lead, responsible for commercial policy including technology, ticket pricing, marketing, PR, sales and distribution.
Harrogate-based technology firm Storm has joined the Rail Innovation Group. Storm’s workforce management technology enables contractors and subcontractors to track and report incidents quickly and easily.
Mechan has delivered a set of four bespoke 15 tonne lifting jacks to Hamilton depot.
South Western Railway and Co Bikes have installed 30 e-Bikes and docking stations at Cranbrook and Honiton stations. The scheme is being funded by the Department for Transport, Co Bikes, local councils and the Exeter & East Devon Enterprise Zone.
The Better Journeys by Rail scheme has been launched to help older and disabled people in South Yorkshire travel by rail independently. The project backed by Northern’s accessibility fund provides travel tips, up-to-date travel information, help with applying for concessionary travel passes and journey assistance cards, and up to five one-to-one support sessions.
East Midlands Railway now offers Zipabout’s Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp service, providing passengers with personalised alerts about busy trains, platform changes, delays and alternative travel routes.
A total of 134 defibrillators are to be installed at more than 80 Translink bus and rail stations in a project funded by the Department for Infrastructure and delivered in partnership with the British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Ambulance service.
