Latest news with #trainnetwork
The Sun
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Huge boost for railways as Rachel Reeves' spending review reveals more funding for NEW train lines across UK
RACHEL Reeves has promised to provide a major boost for the UK's train network - with a fresh vow to pump in billions more pounds into new lines and upgrades on key routes. The Chancellor delivered the first Spending Review in nearly four years this afternoon - vowing to splurge a mega £300 billion into the likes of the NHS, defence and travel. 3 3 3 However, she has not provided a clear plan for how Labour will pay for it. In a clear tack to the Left, she used her Spending Review to defend higher taxes and borrowing to fund the cash shower. Referring to travel expansions, she said it was the Government's intention to "undo a generation of underfunding and neglect" under the Tories, 12 months on from Labour's General Election victory. Speaking in the Commons today after the weekly PMQs, Ms Reeves said the trains boost aims to "unlock the potential of all parts of Britain". "We are going further: investing in major rail projects to connect our towns and cities." The Spending Review includes: She referred back to the Autumn Budget in October last year when she announced funding for the Transpennine Route Upgrade. "The backbone of rail travel in the North... linking York, Leeds and Manchester... with a quarter of the route expected to be electrified by this summer," the Chancellor continued. "I know the commitment of the HFs, the Members for Huddersfield, York Outer, and Colne Valley to this issue …and today, I can announce a further £3.5bn of investment for that Route. "But my ambition and the ambition of people across the North is greater still …and so in the coming weeks I will set out this government's plans to take forward our ambitions on Northern Powerhouse Rail." Ms Reeves went on to say: "I have also heard the representations of my HFs, the Members for Milton Keynes North, Milton Keynes Central, and Buckingham and Bletchley. "And I can tell the House today to connect Oxford and Cambridge... and to back Milton Keynes' leading tech sector... I am providing a further £2.5bn for the continued delivery of East-West rail." She added: "On a matter I know is of great importance to HF Members for Lichfield, Birmingham Northfield, and Birmingham Erdington I can announce today that I am providing funding for the Midlands Rail Hub… the region's biggest and most ambitious rail improvement scheme for generations..." This will strengthen connections to Birmingham, across the West Midlands and into Wales. The Chancellor then told the Speaker: "For 14 years, the Conservatives failed the people of Wales. Those days are over. "Following representations from my RHF the Welsh Secretary, the First Minister of Wales and Welsh Labour MPs... I am pleased to announce £445m for railways in Wales over 10 years, including funding for Padeswood Sidings and Cardiff West Junction. "That, Mr Speaker, is the difference made by two Labour governments... working together to undo a generation of underfunding and neglect." It comes as Ms Reeves also promised to provide hundreds of millions to tackle illegal migration. pledged to end the use of expensive asylum hotels - that are costing taxpayers £4million a day - before the next election. But it risks infuriating voters who want to see action to stop using them now rather than in four years time. And critics have warned Ms Reeves mega spending blizzard will drive Britain even further into debt and raise the prospect of more tax hikes. Laying out her package in the Commons, Ms Reeves said: 'My choices are different. My choices are Labour choices." The Chancellor was heckled by Tory MPs as she claimed to have turned around the economy 'after 14 years of mismanagement and decline'. Earlier Kemi Badenoch tore chunks out of Labour's record of raising taxes on business that have led to job losses. Despite widespread fury from bosses, Ms Reeves defended her National Insurance raid as the reason she can splash the cash today. She is using increased taxes to splurge £190billion more than the Tories on day-to-day departmental spending. The Chancellor confirmed departmental budgets will rise by 2.3 per cent a year, slamming past Tory austerity as 'a destructive choice for our society and our economy.' She also doubled down on her decision last year to loosen her fiscal rules to hike borrowing by an extra £113billion to pay for shiny infrastructure projects. Tory Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride blasted Ms Reeves spending review as a 'spend now, tax later' fantasy. He said Labour had 'completely lost control' and warned a 'cruel summer' of tax hikes speculation was coming. Her short Chancellorship has been blighted by the winter fuel debacle, fury over tax hikes, angry farmers and rows over welfare spending. A YouGov survey yesterday found just 12 per cent of voters think she is doing a good job.
ABC News
21-05-2025
- ABC News
Commuter chaos continues for Sydney train passengers
Has Video Duration: 2 minutes 1 second . Thousands of people are facing another tough journey home as Sydney's train network meltdown stretches into a second evening.
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Syndey Trains: Avoid travel alert issued with major delays and cancellations on on T1, T2, T3
Commuters are being urged to 'avoid travel' on Sydney 's train network as major delays and cancellations cause widespread chaos. The network came to an abrupt standstill on Tuesday afternoon after a passing train became entangled in fallen high-voltage wires suspended above the tracks near Strathfield station in Sydney's inner-west, which triggered a power outage. Major disruptions across the train network have continued into this morning, with buses still replacing trains on several lines throughout the city. Transport for NSW warned commuters early Wednesday that significant delays and cancellations would continue to plague Sydney's rail services throughout the day, including the T1, T2, and T3 lines. 'Passengers planning on travelling on the rail network this morning are advised to avoid travel or use alternative transport if possible,' Transport for NSW said. 'If you need to travel on the network there will be limited shuttles operating. 'If passengers must travel, plan ahead and allow extra travel time. We have trains running on all lines, but at a reduced frequency. 'Sydney Trains teams have been working hard overnight and have removed a defective train and completed repairs to the overhead wiring that caused major disruption on the rail network yesterday.' About 22 bus services will be supplementing trains between Lidcombe and Ashfield from 6am. 'Sydney Trains apologises again to passengers for the inconvenience of the continuing disruption,' Transport for NSW said. 'It's expected the work will be completed later this morning and we will look to transition to normal timetabled services for the afternoon peak services.' About 300 passengers on board the packed train hit by live wires were stranded for three hours before they were evacuated by carriages one by one. NSW Transport Minister John Graham described the situation as dangerous and life-threatening as a 1500-volt power connector was sitting on top of the train. This is a very serious incident, right in the heart of Sydney's train network,' Mr Graham told ABC News. Mr Graham said the train's pantograph collided with overhead wires, causing the damage. Footage showed impacted passengers being escorted off the train and walking along the tracks to safety. The power outage caused three other trains to come to a halt, with staff arriving on site to evacuate the passengers. Strathfield is a major interchange for multiple lines, with the incident affecting every line on the Sydney metro except for the T4 line. The Metro, light rail and local buses weren't impacted.
ABC News
20-05-2025
- Climate
- ABC News
Commuters warned to expect delays following 'catastrophic' fallen wires on Sydney train
Commuters relying on Sydney's train network are being warned to expect major delays this morning in aftermath of a train becoming entangled with live wires during Tuesday's peak hour rush. A 1,500-volt overhead cable came down on top of carriages near Strathfield station in Sydney's west, with hundreds of commuters evacuated from the affected train and three other caught up in an associated outage. Overnight crews worked in wet weather to assess the damage, with Transport Minister John Graham describing the rainy and dark conditions as "difficult". Although the "very serious" and "catastrophic event" was brought under control on Tuesday night, Mr Graham said the impact would flow through to Wednesday. "The priority is getting the trains running," Mr Graham told the ABC, acknowledging the "knock-on effect". "There will be impacts on the morning commute. "So if people do have other options, tomorrow would be a good chance to exercise those." Nearly all lines on the rail network were impacted by the fallen wires, with Transport for NSW issuing a warning for commuters. "Stops and platforms may change at short notice and customers may need to change their trip," a spokesperson said. "Passengers should listen to announcements and check information displays for service updates." Sydneysiders were advised to consider different transport options if possible, with the metro, light rail and local buses not impacted. Passengers are being told to keep across the latest updates via Transport NSW's information website. "Sydney Trains apologises to passengers for the inconvenience this has caused," a spokesperson said. Transport for NSW's coordinator general Howard Collins also apologised to impacted commuters, assuring the public that maintenance of the network's live wires was likely not to blame for the incident, nor was the rainy weather. "We're asking people to be very patient I know it's very frustrating. We'll find out why this incident occurred," he said.
