Another Scottish station is set to open
The new station at Balgray will welcome its first passengers on Sunday. Built to serve one of East Renfrewshire’s growing communities, the station will provide convenient links to Glasgow. It will open ahead of schedule and within budget.
A charity is warning that public transport can be effectively barred to people who are deaf or have limited hearing. A report called Clear Signals has been published by the RNID, which says that 18 million people have hearing difficulties, and find that public transport is difficult to use, because their handicap is not always taken into account by operators.
No trains are running between Reading and Didcot Parkway today, because of a gas leak in Didcot. The obstruction is affecting Great Western Railway and CrossCountry services, which are being replaced by road transport between Reading and Oxford. However, Great Western Railway is advising passengers to avoid the route entirely.
The RMT has staged a demonstration outside Marylebone station in London this morning, on the first full day of the renationalisation of Chiltern Railways. The RMT is opposing driver-only operation on the line, and the union's members are currently being balloted for a strike as part of its campaign,
The renationalisation of Chiltern Railways will provide ‘a fresh opportunity to deliver East West Rail and its benefits’, according to the Government. Chiltern is now controlled by DfT Operator, having changed ownership at 02.00 on Sunday, and it has already been nominated as the future operator of East West Rail. However, although the reconstructed section beween Bicester and Bletchley has been able to carry scheduled services for the past two years, a dispute with the RMT has prevented trains running.
The dispute over driver-only operation on East West Rail is being stepped up by the RMT. Its members are being balloted for a strike, and the union is planning to stage a demonstration outside Marylebone station in London on Monday.
New rules about the rights of passengers whose trains are cancelled have come into force, affecting nearly all English train operators. Passengers whose trains are cancelled can now use other services without any further charge or the need to rebook.