Network Rail ‘on a warning’ for failures
Dawn over the South Coast yesterday and, above, braving the cold in Kent
A GOLDEN sun rises over Beacon Mill, near Brighton, as Britons woke to clear skies yesterday.
Dog owners in Ashford, Kent, enjoyed a walk as frost and freezing fog blanketed the South.
Overnight lows saw Benson, Oxfordshire, shiver at -5C, with the cold set to continue. Meanwhile, the North enjoyed above-average temperatures for January.
Met Office forecaster Aidan McGivern said: “Clear skies and light winds overnight meant that
frost and fog returned to southern Britain. Elsewhere because of the large areas of cloud it’s a mild start to the day. A few gaps in the cloud could allow a touch of frost for the far North-east of England.”
Public Health England has issued a cold weather warning for the Midlands and the South today, urging people to check on those most at risk of being affected.
Looking forward, conditions will be more settled, with grey skies and chilly temperatures.
NETWORK Rail is being investigated over poor performance, it emerged yesterday.
The Office of Rail and Road has put the government-owned company “on a warning” in relation to routes used by train operators Northern and TransPennine Express.
Services deteriorated in 2018 and “failed to substantially recover during 2019”, according to the regulator.
ORR chief executive John Larkinson said: “Network Rail’s performance in the North-west and Central region is not good enough.”
Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines said: “On behalf of the rail industry, I’d like to apologise.We have let you down.
“A cross-industry task force has been pulled together to tackle the problems head-on.”