Seasonal cheer
The Government’s Integrated Rail Plan published in mid-November (see p14) gave the rail sector an unusually (and from our perspective) extremely welcome extended period in the spotlight, even if many of the headlines focused on the negative issues surrounding the axing of part of HS2.
There were some positives, which we outline, such as the long-promised completion of the electrification of the Midland Main Line. Disappointingly though, the IRP doesn’t sit as part of a wider strategic plan to electrify the UK network, as our ‘Industry Witness’ explains (p14). One thing absent from the IRP discussions was a focus on the people who translate the politicians’ rhetoric into action and make our railway function. As Rail Express found out when spending time with many of those working directly in the IRP area (p76) they are extremely dedicated and deserve much praise. Thank you to all our readers from the whole of the Rail Express team. We wish you a peaceful and above all healthy festive season and look forward to your company in 2022.