Government confirms £500m railway reopening fund
A fund of £500 million has been promised by the Government as the first step in reopening railways around the country, although only £21.9 million has been allocated so far, most of which will boost the New Stations Fund rather than reopen lines. Apart from £1.5 million for Ashington-Blyth-Tyne and £100,000 for the Fleetwood branch, there is £300,000 for an ‘Ideas Fund’, which the Department for Transport says is ‘to encourage innovative ideas that will then be considered for further funding in the future’. The RMT has branded the announcement as ‘PR spin’.
Northern franchise likely to end within daysTransport secretary Grant Shapps is reported to be preparing an announcement about the ending of the Northern franchise, which seems likely to be made on Thursday. The chances of the present Arriva Trains North contract being replaced by a shorter-term alternative are now being discounted in favour of a complete return to public ownership under the Department for Transport’s Operator of Last Resort. A return of Northern to public control is set to be welcomed by politicians in the north of England, some of whom have been voicing opposition to a new, shorter management contract staying in the hands of Arriva.
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