9 July: news in brief

Derailed engineering train causes major disruption at London station

AN engineering train which became derailed just outside London Victoria overnight is blocking platforms nine to 13, and Gatwick Express services have been suspended. Many Southern services have also been diverted or cancelled, and no services are calling at Battersea Park. Passengers are being urged to use London Bridge or Blackfriars instead. The cause of the derailment is unclear, but some track on the approaches to Victoria has been damaged, according to Southern, while Network Rail said disruption is expected to continue until the end of the day. An investigation is being launched.

Government urged to electrify more railways as well as cars

THE government has announced investment of £37 million in electric vehicle charging points, but the Campaign for Better Transport has responded by calling for more investment in rail electrification as well. The group’s chief executive Darren Shirley said: ‘We welcome the investment in these innovative projects which will help make electric cars easier and more attractive. However, on their own these projects will not decarbonising our transport networks. Government also needs to bring forward the phase out of polluting petrol and diesel engines to 2030, create a rolling programme of electrification on our railways and invest in zero emissions buses for our towns and cities.’

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