Labour pledges to make Sunday trains as reliable as weekday services
Sunday train services will be as reliable as those on weekdays under plans to renationalise the railways, the new transport secretary will claim in a keynote speech on Monday.Issuing a series of pledges on which the government will be judged by millions of passengers – as well as its political opponents – Heidi Alexander will cite the creation of a network “where Sunday services are as reliable as Monday’s” as one of her key priorities.In her first speech on rail since taking over from Louise Haigh, who resigned in November, Alexander will spell out the scale of the task ahead.She will say the new public body Great British Railways (GBR), which will be established by legislation to be introduced late this year, will become “second in size and importance only to the NHS”.It is expected that GBR will employ a total of about 90,000 people, while the NHS in England employs about 1.
5 million staff.The rail organisation will manage the process of bringing the network under national ownership as private operators’ franchises expire, and will establish the running of trains and tracks under the same body.Rail experts will be sceptical about the government’s chances of creating a Sunday service on a par with that of weekdays without first taking on powerful rail unions, which are likely to resist more Sunday working.Just before the general election last year, rail industry leaders urged ministers to tackle the issue of poor services on Sundays caused by staff shortages, as many services became very severely depleted.Last summer, state-run Northern trains was particularly badly affected, with 282 trains cancelled across its network on one Sunday in late June.
Several operators reported that they could not run anything like normal timetables because of staffing issues.Sign up to ObservedAnalysis and opinion on the week's news and culture brought to you by the best Observer writers after newsletter promotionFormer rail minister Norman Baker said it would be very difficult to deliver on the pledge because union agreements did not require train drivers to work on Sundays.“These agreements will either have to be renegotiated or they will have to pay drivers huge extra sums to get them to work on Sundays.”The whole process of establishing a network run by private operators had, Baker said, led to an overall shortage of drivers.Mick Lynch, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT), said there would be a willingness to discuss changes but on strict conditions.
“We are ready to engage with the companies and the Department for Transport to shape the future of our railways,” he said.“This includes ensuring a fair deal for rail workers that prioritises safety, health, and work-life balance, alongside fair pay and conditions.”Alexander will say that the aim of reform is to turn the railways from a system for “private profit” to one operating for “public good”.She will stress that a renationalised service will help deliver economic growth, with local mayors being given greater power to tailor regional services to local people’s needs.Ministers are also promising that passengers travelling in England will be shown how often their trains are delayed and cancelled on screens at stations.
Chloe Kim, Maddie Mastro make history with double cork 1080s at Laax Open
Chloe Kim and Maddie Mastro became the first women to land a double cork 1080 in snowboard halfpipe competition during a US one-two finish at the Laax Open on Saturday in Switzerland.Kim, the first woman to win two Olympic golds in halfpipe, secured her fifth Laax Open title with a standout performance, earning a score of 96.50 on her first run that included a cab double cork 1080.Mastro followed with an impressive score of 94.50 for a second-place finish, landing a frontside double cork 1080 to join Kim in the record books
All change for England: Borthwick plots full-back role for talisman Marcus Smith
Steve Borthwick has revealed he is giving strong consideration to shifting Marcus Smith to full-back and deploying Freddie Steward on the wing as he plots a course to England’s Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin.Smith has started England’s last seven Tests at fly-half and was their most eye-catching performer during a disappointing autumn in which Borthwick’s side were beaten by New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. With George Furbank injured, however, Borthwick sees merit in moving Smith to the No 15 jersey, which would pave the way for either Fin Smith or George Ford to start at fly-half.Marcus Smith started at full-back on three occasions during the 2023 World Cup, against Chile, Fiji and the bronze medal victory over Argentina. In the autumn Tests against Australia and Japan, Smith was shifted to full-back in the final quarter and his counterattacking ability from deep is valued by Borthwick
Northampton edge out battling Munster in Champions Cup thriller
The team that won the Heineken Cup for Northampton back in 2000 were out on the field at half-time of this match, Paul Grayson, Ben Cohen, Ali Hepher and the rest of them, taking an anniversary lap of honour for their 9-8 victory over Munster in the final that year. It’s maybe long odds this current squad will be doing likewise in 25 years’ time given the strength of the competition, but they are at least a little shorter than they were. They beat Munster, again, in a very different sort of game, 34-32 this time, and earned themselves home advantage in the last 16 by doing it.Saints had to work hellishly hard for it. The Munstermen just absolutely would not quit, even when they were as good as out of it
Jonbon too good for Energumene with convincing Clarence House win
Nicky Henderson brushed off talk of a late run at the trainers’ title after Jonbon’s convincing six-and-a-half length defeat of Energumene in the Clarence House Chase on Saturday. There was the glint in his eye, though, of a fierce, inveterate competitor who can sense a tide may be starting to turn.Henderson left with two more firm favourites for Grade One races at Cheltenham in March, as Jonbon’s win followed an easy success for Lulamba, Henderson’s main Triumph Hurdle contender, in the opener. If all goes to plan with Constitution Hill, the Champion Hurdle favourite, and Sir Gino, who heads the market for the Arkle Trophy, his Cheltenham squad promises to be the strongest from a British stable for several seasons.Jonbon’s first meeting with Energumene in the card’s feature event did not deliver the high drama of Shishkin’s epic battle with Energumene in the same race three years ago, but it was a thoroughly professional and high-class performance by the odds-on favourite, who made all the running under Nico de Boinville
Jack Draper battles five-setters and fitness to set up Alcaraz showdown
In the satisfying aftermath of his long-awaited breakthrough year, as he took a brief moment to rest before setting his sights on new goals, Jack Draper had plenty to look forward to. The initial plan for his pre-season had been to spend some of his time sparring with Carlos Alcaraz at the Spaniard’s home away from home at the Ferrero Tennis Academy in Villena, Alicante.This was clearly an exciting prospect. Since one of his goals in the new year was to chase after Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, it was a perfect opportunity to see how one of the leading lights of the new era of men’s tennis works behind the scenes and to refine his own game against the best.Instead, a familiar obstacle sprung up
Histrionic Tyrrell Hatton has no regrets after Desert Classic smash and grab
Sixty-eight blows, another two at an innocent tee box and no end of chuntering. Welcome to another day in the life of Tyrrell Hatton. The Englishman will begin day four at the Dubai Desert Classic one shot from the lead, held by Daniel Hillier at 13 under par.Hatton’s shot to the par-three 7th drifted to 48ft from the pin. His response involved two whacks with his club to a plastic tee marker – the first was tame enough, the second certainly was not – with a hole left as a reminder
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