Latest news with #LordHendy
The Independent
13 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Rail minister blasts ‘arrogant' HS2 over crisis-hit flagship project
A transport minister has branded the company responsible for delivering the troubled high-speed rail scheme 'arrogant'. In withering criticism, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill said the flagship HS2 project had gone 'badly wrong', pointing out the Government could not say when it would open or how much it would cost, which was a 'terrible position'. With new leadership in place, he pointedly remarked there would now be bosses 'who are communicative, collaborative, straight and honest'. Lord Hendy also noted his own Department for Transport (DfT), which owns HS2 Ltd, bore 'some culpability' and noted the most senior civil servant at the ministry had retired. His scathing remarks came after Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said an interim report by Mark Wild, the chief executive of HS2 Ltd, who was appointed late last year, 'lays bare the shocking mismanagement of the project under previous governments'. The Cabinet minister said she was 'drawing a line in the sand, calling time on years of mismanagement, flawed reporting and ineffective oversight'. HS2 was originally due to run between London and Birmingham, then on to Manchester and Leeds, but the project was cutback by the Conservatives in power because of spiralling costs. The first phase was initially planned to open by the end of 2026, but this was pushed back to between 2029 and 2033 and will now be delayed even further. In 2013, HS2 was estimated to cost £37.5 billion (at 2009 prices) for the entire planned network, including the now-scrapped extensions from Birmingham. In June last year, HS2 Ltd assessed the cost for the line between London and Birmingham would be up to £66 billion. Ms Alexander said the Government has accepted all the recommendations of a review into the governance and accountability of HS2 Ltd, led by senior infrastructure delivery adviser, James Stewart. She also confirmed the appointment of Mike Brown as chairman of HS2 Ltd. Mr Brown is a former commissioner for Transport for London, who helped to oversee the delivery of Crossrail, the transport project which became London's Elizabeth line. Speaking in Parliament on the 'reset' of the high-speed rail development, Lord Hendy said: 'HS2 has gone badly wrong, and it falls to this Government to sort it out, because we cannot carry on like this. 'Currently, we can predict neither when it will open nor how much it will cost. That is a pretty terrible position to be in and it has to be said the consequences are as a result of actions taken by previous governments.' Responding to a question from his Tory counterpart Lord Moylan on criticism of the DfT in Mr Stewart's review, the minister said: 'My own department clearly shoulders some culpability. 'He asked what has happened in the department and, although I do not think it is not right to delve into senior personnel, he will, of course, note that a new permanent secretary is about to be appointed, the previous incumbent having retired.' Lord Hendy went on: ' One of the really important things in this is that, I think for the first time for a long time, we will have a chair and a chief executive of HS2 who are communicative, collaborative, straight and honest, and we can have a discussion with them about where this is going and what it is doing. 'One of the characteristics of this company so far, and of the Crossrail company for most of its life, is that they were both arrogant enough to believe that they knew what they were doing without any supervision and without telling anybody what was really going on. 'In both cases, it went badly wrong. 'Mark (Wild) knows that he has to change the culture of the company. There clearly are some good people there, but they need to be led and directed properly.'
BBC News
7 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Botley Road: Goodwill cash over three-year road closure in Oxford
Businesses affected by the extended closure of a major route in Oxford will receive goodwill payments to "recognise the trouble the delays have caused", the rail minister has small, local businesses impacted by the delayed works on Botley Road will be eligible to receive one-off payments from an £850,000 government road has been closed since April 2023 as part of a £261m Network Rail project to upgrade Oxford Station and is expected to reopen in August Minister Lord Hendy welcomed the additional support and said he was "glad the project is now on track". When the rail operator first outlined its plans the road was expected to be shut over two six-month periods, with a six-month break in-between in April in September 2023 it announced there would be no break because works had run behind schedule. Then in July last year it said it would not reopen in October as planned due to "highly complex" pipework and the discovery of a Victorian-era arch.A new timetable was adopted in January this year, with reopening set for August 2026. During a visit to the site on Friday, Lord Hendy said: "I'm pleased that Network Rail can now offer payments to those eligible small, local businesses affected, and while it can't undo all the hardship businesses have faced, it recognises the trouble the delays have caused."I will continue to hold Network Rail to account and engage with the local community," he said."I look forward to the scheme being completed, so Oxford can benefit from more frequent and accessible transport links to boost growth in this bustling city." Businesses can apply for the one-off government payments through Network Rail, although a time scale has not yet been provided for when the funding would be handed Moran, Lib Dem MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, said the payments would go "some way towards repairing the damage caused by the chaos and disruption of this project"."Today I breathe a massive sigh of relief, with support finally available for businesses struggling with the impact of the never-ending road closure," she continued."Our vibrant local businesses now have a better chance to come out of the other side of this difficult period and thrive." The scheme follows the closure of Courtney Pianos after more than three decades - with the owner pinpointing the long delays to the Botley Road works as the main David Hogben told the BBC the effect the disruption had on the shop was "like falling off the edge of a cliff", adding there had been a 40% drop in sales since the April, five separate businesses affected by the works stopped paying their business rates and said they would not pay them until they received further financial the time, Network Rail said it was supporting local firms with "independent, tailored advice" to apply for a reduction in their business rates. During Lord Hendy's visit to Oxford it was also revealed that costs for the scheme had risen to £261m - about £100m more than initially suggested.A new walkway and cycleway is also set to be completed this Jones, Network Rail's western route director, said: "We know the delays to this project have been frustrating, and we're sorry for the disruption they've caused."The good news is that the project is now firmly back on track, and we're making strong progress."We're committed to keeping the community informed as we deliver a safer, more accessible Oxford station for everyone." You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
The Independent
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Minister hails ‘remarkable turnaround' of renationalised train operator
A train operator renationalised two years ago has performed a 'remarkable turnaround', the rail minister said. Lord Hendy described TransPennine Express (TPE) as 'the blueprint for Great British Railways (GBR)'. The Labour Government began renationalising all remaining franchised train operators in Britain on Sunday, by bringing South Western Railway under public control. The process is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2027. TPE, which runs trains across northern England and into Scotland, was renationalised under the Conservative government in May 2023 because of poor performance. Its reliability was badly affected by drivers no longer volunteering to work paid overtime shifts. Britain's train services were privatised in the mid-1990s. Services now under public control are owned by DFTO (Department for Transport Operator) until GBR is established. DFTO said TPE has reduced cancellations by 75% and recorded a 42% growth in passenger journeys over the past two years. It added that the operator generated £1.4 billion in 'economic value' during the 2023/24 financial year. TPE launched an improvement plan in October 2023 which prioritised stabilising operations. Lord Hendy said: 'TransPennine Express's remarkable turnaround shows exactly why we're bringing our railways back into public ownership as part of our plan for change. 'These impressive results demonstrate what happens when we put passengers and communities first rather than private profit. 'This is the blueprint for Great British Railways: a reliable, accessible and value for money railway that serves the public and drives economic growth not only across the North but the whole country.' TPE managing director Chris Jackson said: 'Public ownership gave us the space and stability to reset. 'Our focus has been on people, our passengers, our colleagues and the communities we serve. 'Two years on, we're proud to be delivering a better, more reliable railway for the North.'
The Irish Sun
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
The £2.1bn new train service that will ‘transform' the UK with metro service and direct city routes
PLANS for a dynamic new passenger-focussed metro service have been unveiled. A London underground-inspired train service is set to unlock 'economic potential' and connect communities with the upcoming North Wales Metro. 2 Network North Wales is promising to deliver a better passenger experience Credit: Alamy Boasting frequent services, Network North Wales will see the train services on the North Wales mainline, the Chester to Wrexham Marches Line and a direct rail link between Wrexham and Liverpool. Ambitions include higher frequency services, reopening closed stations, the birth of new stations and new transport modes such as tram trains. The Welsh Government has committed more than £13m to make the bold transport changes. Cabinet Secretary for transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, explained: "We now have the best possible partnership in place to deliver Network North Wales. Read more on Travel "UK Government, local government, Transport for Wales and English local authorities are working with us to deliver this bold programme of work to better connect communities, with more rail and bus services and greater integration, new stations, new transport routes, new trains, new buses, new technology." He continued: "A network of public transport services that will include cross-border turn-up and go bus and rail services, extending the Northern Arc from Hull to Holyhead. 'With unprecedented partnership across governments, across borders and across the north, we have the opportunity to turn dreams into reality, to deliver on an enduring vision for what our a public transport network should look like. 'Most importantly, we have an opportunity to deliver the principal purpose of public transport – to drive economic growth and prosperity for all.' Most read in News Travel Rail Minister Lord Hendy added: "We are determined to build a modern and integrated transport network across the whole of the UK, delivering our Plan for Change and driving economic growth by better connecting people to homes, jobs, education and business opportunities. "Through close collaboration between our two governments, we're demonstrating how we can deliver a stronger, more connected rail network that truly meets passengers' needs and transforms everyday journeys across Wales. Huddersfield Station Closure: £70 Million Revamp Set to Transform Travel "Our collaborative approach will extend to these exciting proposals, which represent a significant opportunity to transform connectivity across the region and unlock new opportunities for communities." Secretary of state for Wales Jo Stevens said: "Network North Wales is an exciting plan to deliver a better passenger experience across the region. "Economic growth is the number one mission of the UK Government and improving transport is vital to achieve that ambition. "Working in partnership with the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales we will connect people to a range of well-paid jobs across North Wales, thousands of which will be created by our Wrexham and Flintshire Investment Zone and our Freeport in Anglesey." The Welsh Government said immediate changes are in place, with ambitious plans to begin over the next 12 months and heading into 2035. Sun Travel's favourite train journeys in the world Sun Travel's journalists have taken their fare share of train journeys on their travels and here they share their most memorable rail experiences. Davos to Geneva, Switzerland "After a ski holiday in Davos, I took the scenic train back to Geneva Airport. The snow-covered mountains and tiny alpine villages that we passed were so beautiful that it felt like a moving picture was playing beyond the glass." - Caroline McGuire Tokyo to Kyoto by Shinkansen "Nothing quite beats the Shinkansen bullet train, one of the fastest in the world. It hardly feels like you're whizzing along at speed until you look outside and see the trees a green blur. Make sure to book seat D or E too - as you'll have the best view of Mount Fuji along the way." Kara Godfrey London to Paris by Eurostar "Those who have never travelled on the Eurostar may wonder what's so special about a seemingly ordinary train that takes you across the channel. You won't have to waste a moment and can tick off all the top attractions from the Louvre to the Champs-Élysées which are both less than five kilometres from the Gare du Nord." - Sophie Swietochowski Glasgow to Fort William by Scotrail "From mountain landscapes and serene lochs to the wistful moors, I spent my three-hour journey from Glasgow to Fort William gazing out the window. Sit on the left-hand side of the train for the best views overlooking Loch Lomond." - Hope Brotherton Beijing to Ulaanbatar "The Trans-Mongolian Express is truly a train journey like no other. It starts amid the chaos of central Beijing before the city's high-rises give way to crumbling ancient villages and eventually the vast vacant plains of Mongolia, via the Gobi desert. The deep orange sunset seen in the middle of the desert is among the best I've witnessed anywhere." - Ryan Gray 2 Plans are in place for a modern and integrated transport network
Scottish Sun
16-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
UK's largest train station that once had direct routes to Europe and now has a huge new Wetherspoons
The trains ran to Paris, Lille and Belgium ON TRACK UK's largest train station that once had direct routes to Europe and now has a huge new Wetherspoons ONE of the UK's major train stations once had direct trains to Paris - only for them to be scrapped. London Waterloo first opened in 1848, making it one of the oldest in the city as well. Advertisement 4 Waterloo Station opened back in 1848 Credit: PA:Press Association 4 The first train to Europe from the UK was from London Waterloo Station Credit: AFP or licensors However, it was in the 1990s that it launched the first trains to Europe from the UK. Platforms 20 and 21 were demolished to make way for a new Eurostar terminus, which opened in 1994. This connected passengers from London Waterloo to Paris as well as Lille and Brussels. Sadly, this was scrapped in 2007 following the introduction of the new high speed from London St Pancras. Advertisement This has since seen the launch of more destinations such as Amsterdam and Rotterdam, although they are yet to return to Ashford International. Despite this, London Waterloo is undergoing a major renovation. Network Rail and the local Lambeth council has revealed the plans for the 177-year-old station, which will take a decade to complete. The improvements mean new entrances and improved access although the current 24 train platforms will remain. Advertisement The 100-year-old roof is also being repaired along with more places to eat and shop being added. The latest update includes the toilets which were recently upgraded. Reimagining Waterloo Station: London's Next Big Transformation Network Rail boss Lord Hendy told the Standard: 'As these things go, [the masterplan] is one of the best things I have ever seen. And this year, you can visit hidden parts of London Waterloo as part of Railway-200, a year-long celebration Advertisement Currently, the station is the third busiest in the UK with around 57million passengers a year. However it is the biggest station in the UK when it comes to floor space, as well as having the most platforms. 4 It is the largest train station when it comes to area Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd It is also home to the London Underground, after the Waterloo & City line in 1898. Advertisement This was followed by the Bakerloo line on 1906 followed by the Northern line on 1926, with the newest being the Jubilee line on 1999. Film fans will notice the train station from The Bourne Ultimatum or Sliding Doors, as well as The War of the Worlds. And for Wetherspoons fans, the pub recently opened inside the station. Here's everything you need to know about the new The Lion and Unicorn. Advertisement In the mean time, the UK's busiest train station us undergoing a multi-million pound makeover. And here's the historic train station bar that lets you have a free drink at 5:05pm every day.
