Government and European Union Deliver Funds

Ambitious improvements have now been given the green light at Rotherham railway station following the agreement of a £7.6m financial package from the Government and European Union. The finance can now be administered in delivering the huge revamp for the tired 1980’s buildings and exterior facilities including roads and platforms.

Managing the development, the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive can now transform the railway station up to the standards of neighbouring stations such as Barnsley, Doncaster and Sheffield.

As part of the development Rotherham railway station will also include a new railway station building, ticket office, passenger lounge for commuters, a shop, toilet facilities, improved security systems with CCTV, and new passenger information facilities.

The funding will also be put to good use on the exterior of the station which is set to get an upgraded station approach road with disabled parking improvements along with more secure and effective facilities for local cyclists.

The railway platforms themselves are likely to be upgraded with better coverage facilities and accessibility ramps for disabled travellers. The South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive are now hoping the upgraded railway station will not only set new standards for station improvements but continue deliver a first class rail experience for its commuters and visitors.

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Safety Has to be Addressed in the Rail Industry

Following the release of horrifying footage of a near miss at a Welsh rail crossing Network Rail and other safety campaigners have called for more attention to be given to the issue of safety at rail crossings across the UK, in particular in the rural sectors where track security is more easy to abuse and ignore.

The CCTV security footage released to the media yesterday was filmed at Llangadog railway station in Wales and highlights the moment when a family car jumps the crossing and drive across the rail track at the very moment a passenger train passes through. The train only misses the motor vehicle by inches as it swerves in front of the train. Whe looking at the footage it is difficult to comprehend how the train actually misses the vehicle at all.

More horrifying is the fact the man driving the motor car also had his wife and young child in the car with him, the consequences of which are difficult to imagine. Fortunately in this instance everyone, including all the passengers on the train at the time of the incident escaped without injury or indeed any idea what had happened.

Network Rail and the rail industry in general are deeply concerned that health and safety and overall public perception to the dangers involved in the rail industry are being abused on such a scale despite years of publicity and education to the dangers involved. Figures revealed show there is now a 5 year high for incidents that have been reported on the UK’s rail crossings with over three thousand incidents reported in the previous twelve months alone. The shocking figures highlight that in 2008 fifteen people were actually killed and twenty vehicles were involved in crashes with trains at UK level crossings. Everyone involved are now reviewing what can be done to improve this alarming situation.

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Job Cuts Spark Rows in the Rail Industry

Hampshire’s biggest commuter rail company has announced plans to cut another 180 jobs, on top of its previous announcement to cut 480 positions throughout the company. In the public announcement South West Trains revealed the employment cuts will include, management roles right across to ticket office staff and station staff.

As the largest service provider in Hampshire South West Trains deliver commuter rail services across the London area and throughout the South of England. They are reported to be imposing the cutbacks to lower costs but stress they are not making any cuts to the number of train drivers, station guards and essential rail maintenance levels. South West Trains are also keen to stress that they been be striving to deliver the local community with the same level and number of passenger services but the Rail, Maritime and Transport union is angry at South Wests move and are now calling on the Government to take action. The RMT are also confirmed that it is not ruling out a ballot for industrial action due to the sheer volume of job cuts involved.

The RMT wants answers to why profit generating train company can make over 600 jobs whilst at the same time raising it dividend payments by thirty three per cent.

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Rail Freight Opportunity Presented by the MoD

The Ministry of Defence barracks at St Davids in Bicester, Oxfordshire is quite unique in the fact it owns over 36 miles of quality yet unused railway line. The 1500 acre site runs adjacent to the barracks and now the MoD are looking to the rail industry for help and support in finding ideas on how to develop it.

In a bid to attract rail developers the MoD is holding an open day for all those interested in putting ideas forward to how best the site can be developed. The Defence Storage and Distribution Agency (DSDA) who currently manage the area for review have advertised the venture in many rail industry trade magazines as a ‘Rail Freight Development Opportunity’.

The rail track itself is completely sound despite it being unused for a number of years. Although any rail project that might come to fruition will not impact on the barracks themselves the use of the area for any domestic housing development has been completely ruled out. The area however is being quoted as being ‘ideal for a rail freight development.

The Ministry of Defence are holding the open day at the Bicester barracks on the 29 January.

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Rail Industry News

Middlewich railway station and rail line, yet another of the Beeching victims of the sixties is set to possibly reopen after extensive campaigning from locals and the formal element of the Middlewich Railway Steering Group has won them the chance to obtain a detailed assessment of the requirement for it to be reopened. The decision paths the way for detailed information to be gathered from rail industry experts and local community residents to convince Chester and Cheshire Council leaders to prioritise the transportation scheme.

The survey will be carried out by The Railway Consultancy Ltd and will be fundamental in giving the town its railway station back. At present it is believed that nearly fifty per cent of the local community are travelling by car which is quite shocking given the fact Middlewich is the largest town in Cheshire.

The detailed study which is to be conducted over the next few weeks will give fresh hope to residents and businesses that new and more efficient means of rail transport will be possible to the surrounding areas, Crewe, Sandbach, North including major city destinations such as Manchester.

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