Green trains ++ New carbon calculations demonstrate that travelling by rail from London to Edinburgh creates only a tenth of the carbon emissions produced by car travel and 13 times less than by plane, according to the Rail Delivery Group. The new figures use detailed rail data including fuel type, journey distance, carriage layout and occupancy for the first time, to create an industry benchmark for carbon measurement. A rail industry initiative, Green Travel Pledge, will provide carbon calculations which are to be released to businesses in Britain by the end of the year.

More trains ++ An option to purchase 11 more trains for the Docklands Light Railway has been taken up by Transport for London. This now means a total of 54 new trains will be introduced from 2024. The new units will be built by CAF, and have been funded by the Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund, in line with an agreement in 2019. The first two new trains from the original order, with a walk-through design, audio and visual real time travel information, air conditioning and mobile device charge points, have been delivered. They are being tested overnight outside traffic hours, and should enter service next year.

North London closures ++ Major engineering work to upgrade the local ‘DC lines’ between London Euston and Watford Junction has been arranged for this summer. The tracks mostly run alongside the West Coast Main Line, and carry London Overground trains. Bakerloo Line trains also share the route with Overground services between Queen’s Park and Harrow & Wealdstone. Various possessions have been arranged between 23 July and 25 August, and there will be some closures while p-way teams install 18,000 concrete sleepers, replace 48km of signal cables and upgrade the drains between Harlesden and Stonebridge Park. Six stations will be improved, and the work will include new platform surfaces and canopy maintenance. The traction supply will also be upgraded.

Depot upgrade ++ A multi-million pound signalling control suite is being installed at Gosforth Tyne & Wear Metro depot, as preparations continue for introducing a new fleet. The suite will control movements of empty stock between the depot and the main line, and replace an installation which dates from the 1980s. Staff in the new control suite have a panoramic view of the depot site, and computers will allow controllers to signal trains with a few clicks of a mouse.