Station demonstration arrests

Five people were arrested for taking part in an unlawful protest after the government had banned a demonstration at London King’s Cross by Palestinian supporters on Friday evening. Transport secretary Mark Harper said: ‘While the right to peaceful protest is a key part of our democratic society, it cannot be at the expense of other people’s right not to be seriously disrupted or intimidated. That’s why I have granted consent for the British Transport Police to make an order under Section 14A of the Public Order Act 1986 prohibiting the planned protest at Kings Cross.’

DLR walkouts

Two strikes are expected to disrupt Docklands Light Railway services tomorrow and Wednesday. The walkouts have been called by the RMT, which is in dispute with Transport for London’s contractor KeolisAmey Docklands over pay and conditions. Transport for London warned that the effect of the strikes could spill over into the morning of 9 November, and is advising its passengers to seek alternative routes on strike days. If any DLR services do run they are expected to start later and finish much earlier than usual.

Grand Central Voyagers

Open access operator Grand Central has introduced newly refurbished Class 221 ‘Super Voyager’ units on its West Riding route from Bradford Interchange to London King’s Cross. The 221s were originally ordered from Bombardier for Virgin Trains at the start of the century and were a tilting version of the Class 220 Voyagers, for use on the West Coast Main Line.

Cornwall smartcards

A pay-as-you-go smartcard is set to be launched in Cornwall on 15 November. The first stage of the scheme covers the west of the county, but it is due to be extended to lines in central and east Cornwall later on as part of Cornwall Council’s Mid Cornwall Metro scheme between Newquay and Falmouth, which has been approved as part of the government’s levelling-up programme. The west Cornwall scheme is only the second of its kind on GWR.

Engineers’ examination

An historic railway bridge which carries thousands of Tyne & Wear Metro services has been undergoing specialist inspections to prepare for a major track replacement scheme. Specially trained engineers donned harnesses and used ropes to scale the 24 metre structure and conduct a meticulous inspection of the wrought iron arches at Howdon viaduct in North Tyneside.

Heart help

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced that all London Underground, Overground stations and Dial-a-Ride vehicles now have public access defibrillators, which can be used if a passenger suffers a cardiac arrest. Last year, the London Ambulance Service responded to around 13,000 calls following cardiac arrests, but immediate intervention is needed if lives are to be saved.