This week we find out why Crossrail is being delayed again, and at a potential cost of an extra £450m. Plus, another derailment hits UK railway lines, as a Llangennech diesel train bursts into flames in South Wales.
Llangennech diesel train catches fire after derailing
A freight train carrying diesel has derailed and burst into flames in Llangennech, South Wales.
The train involved was the 21.52 Robeston Sidings (Milford Haven) to Theale (Berkshire) oil train.
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British Transport Police were called to the scene at 11.29pm on Wednesday 26 August. Police said it had been declared a “major incident” due to the “initial risk of harm” to people nearby, and a cordon was put in place. Click here for more details.
Crossrail delayed until 2022 and needs extra £450m
London’s Crossrail project has been delayed until the first half of 2022, and may need £450m extra to complete, its board has said.
The delivery of the Elizabeth Line is now in its complex final stages and being completed at a time of great uncertainty due to the risks and potential impacts of further COVID-19 outbreaks.
The Crossrail board’s latest update expects the central section between Paddington and Abbey Wood will be ready to open “in the first half of 2022”. As work on the railway progresses, this date could be brought forward subject to progress during the intensive operational testing phase. Click here for more details.
Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway resumes services after successful trial
The Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway will return to operating trains over its full length in September, following a successful reopening during August.
The major mid-Wales tourist attraction resumed services on August 1, five months later than its originally scheduled start of the 2020 season in April.
Services were running over half of the eight-mile line between Llanfair Caereinion and Castle Caereinion. These services will continue on five days a week through September, and the line will add special trains all the way to its Welshpool Raven Square terminus on Wednesdays and Saturdays starting on September 9. Click here for more details.
UK’s first fully wrapped Pride train staffed by all LGBTQ+ crew launches
Avanti West Coast has launched the UK’s first fully wrapped Pride train entirely staffed by an LGBTQ+ crew for its first official service on August 25.
After COVID-19 forced the cancellation of Pride events across the country, which Avanti West Coast had planned to support, the intercity rail operator has completely wrapped one of its iconic Pendolinos with the progressive Pride flag.
The train operator has adopted the most recent iteration of the Pride flag which sees the addition of the colours black, brown, light blue, pink and white to bring people of colour, transgender people and those living with or who have been lost to HIV/AIDS to the forefront – highlighting Avanti West Coast’s progressive commitment to diversity and inclusion. Click here for more details.
Stonehaven derailment: Network Rail launches two new task forces
Network Rail has launched two independent task forces in response to the Stonehaven crash.
Driver Brett McCullough, 45, conductor Donald Dinnie, 58, and passenger Christopher Stuchbury, 62, died when the 6.38am Aberdeen to Glasgow Queen Street train crashed into a landslide across the tracks near Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, on August 12 following heavy rain.
Dame Julia Slingo FRS, former chief scientist at the Met Office and a world-renowned expert in climatology, will lead a weather action task force with the objective of better equipping Network Rail to understand the risk of rainfall to its infrastructure, drawing on the latest scientific developments in monitoring, real-time observations and weather forecasting. Click here for more details.
Latest service updates
When using public transport there are a few things we ask you to keep in mind:
- Try travelling during the quiet times, many local stations have different quiet times. Check how busy any station is on the TfL network at any time or day using our online tool or our TfL Go app.
- You must wear a face covering over your mouth and nose for your entire journey including inside stations, unless you are exempt. Please maintain social distancing from other passengers and allow extra time as some station layouts may have changed.
- We have lots of online tools to help you plan your journey, including maps with walking times between Tube stations and walking times between shops and attractions in West End.
London Underground
| Due to engineering work the following services will be affected. Please check before you travel and plan your journey ahead of time. District line From Saturday 29 until Monday 31 August, there will be no service between Tower Hill and West Ham. Rail replacement bus services DL6 will run. Use alternative Tube, local and replacement bus services. Hammersmith & City line From Saturday 29 until Monday 31 August, there will be no service between Hammersmith and Barking. Use alternative Tube and local or replacement bus services DL6. Northern line From Saturday 29 until Monday 31 August, there will be no service between Moorgate and Kennington. Use alternative Tube and local bus services. No Night Tube or London Overground Night Service and limited Night Bus services are running. See the latest status updates on London Underground, including a map of closures. London Overground Due to engineering work, the following London Overground services will be affected. From Saturday 29 until Monday 31 August, there will be no service between: Highbury & Islington and New Cross Gate. Rail replacement bus service X will run between Dalston Kingsland and New Cross Gate. Or use Tube, DLR or local bus services New Cross Gate and Crystal Palace or West Croydon. Use alternative Southern Rail services, or local bus services. Surrey Quays and Clapham Junction. Rail replacement bus service M will run between Canada Water and Clapham Junction On Saturday 29 August, there will be no service between: South Tottenham and Barking. Use local bus or Tube services. Rail replacement bus service T will run between Walthamstow Central and Barking On Sunday 30 August, there will be no service between: Liverpool Street and Enfield Town. Use local bus or Tube services. Rail replacement bus service L1 will run between Seven Sisters and Enfield Town Liverpool Street and Cheshunt. Rail replacement bus service L2 will run between Seven Sisters and Cheshunt. Or use Greater Anglia services Liverpool Street and Chingford. Use Tube services. Rail replacement bus service L3 will run between Hackney Downs and Chingford On Sunday 30 and Monday 31 August, there will be no service between Gospel Oak and Barking. Use local bus or Tube services. Rail replacement bus service J will run between Gospel Oak and Seven Sisters. Rail replacement bus service T will run between Walthamstow Central and Barking. No Night Tube or London Overground Night Service and limited Night Bus services are running. Check before you travel and plan your journey ahead of time. See an overview of planned track closures for the next six months. DLR From Saturday 29 until Monday 31 August, there will be no service between Stratford and Canary Wharf (via Bow Church and Poplar). Use Tube or local bus services. Ticket machines at all DLR stations (with the exception of Lewisham, Shadwell and Woolwich Arsenal) now only accept payment by card. You can top up your Oyster card online, via the TfL Oyster app or at an Oyster Ticket Stop. Alternatively, you can pay as you go using contactless. |
