The latest news this week in the Property Industry:

 

 

Plan to build 700 homes at York gas works site

Private rental specialist Moda has teamed up with developer North Star to redevelop York’s former gas works site. Read more…

£9.9m funding injection for Liverpool’s Festival Gardens

Up to 1,500 family homes will be built at the Festival Gardens in Liverpool due to a £9.9m funding boost from Homes England. Read more…

Unite to spend up to £500m on student halls to 2022

Student accommodation specialist is pressing ahead with several major scheme shrugging off concerns about Brexit and its impact on EU student numbers. Read more…

Housebuilding rates increase yet doubts remain on meeting target

More than half of housebuilders increased the rate at which they built new homes over the last year and predict a further rise over the next 12 months, according to a new survey. Read more…

New Tools Extend Lead of Commercial Property Management

Not content to rest on their laurels, the design team for RealPage’s Commercial Property Management Suite has rolled out a trio of enhancements intended to streamline business for commercial customers. Read more…

 

 

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 The latest news this week in the Water & Utilities Industry:

 

 

Interserve considers alternative rescue plan

Interserve has said its board is now considering an alternative to the rescue plan announced earlier this month. Read more…

New membrane system promises industrial wastewater breakthrough

A new pilot plant to treat industrial wastewater is being built that could potentially reduce the amount of liquid waste by over 90 per cent. Read more…

Water retailers need to do better on complaints, says CCWater

Water retailers must do more to turn the tide of non-household complaints received by the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater), says the water watchdog. Read more…

UU sewer workers praised for tackling Liverpool fire

Two quick-thinking sewer workers have been praised by United Utilities bosses after tackling a blaze at a house in Liverpool. Read more…

Irish Water apologises for activated sludge spill

Irish Water has apologised to the public after a tank failure at Dublin’s Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant caused a significant discharge of activated sludge into the estuary of the River Liffey. Read more…

 

 

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The latest news this week in the Construction Industry:

 

Laing O’Rourke signs £195m construction contract for Soho Place

Laing O’Rourke and Derwent London plc have exchanged construction contracts worth £195m for the Soho Place, Tottenham Court Road W1 scheme. Read more…

Former Bouygues London boss joins McLaren

Darren Gill is joining McLaren this week as Managing Director for the London business. Read more…

Laing O’Rourke technical director to leave

Laing O’Rourke Group Technical Director Paul Westbury is leaving the business. Read more…

Housebuilding rates increase yet doubts remain on meeting target

More than half of housebuilders increased the rate at which they built new homes over the last year and predict a further rise over the next 12 months, according to a new survey. Read more…

Kier takes over Birmingham Arena Central scheme

Kier Property has struck a deal with Miller Developments to take forward the Arena Central scheme in Birmingham. Read more…

 

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A personal statement is usually the opening paragraph on your CV. It should be a short summary about you, to help employers see how you view yourself as a person and as an employee.

We’ve put together three simple tips for writing your personal statement:

How long should it be?

Your personal statement should be one paragraph, aiming for a minimum of 5 lines up to a maximum of 12 lines on a word document. If you’re looking for a word count, aim for up to 150 words.

If it’s too long, you risk repeating yourself and rambling too much!

If it’s too short, you’re not selling yourself enough!

What should it include?

You need to think about three key questions:

    • Who are you and what do you currently do?
    • What are your career goals?
    • What can you offer to your next employer, that could make you stand out above the rest?

Can I keep the same one for every job I apply for?

All job requirements are different. If you have the time, it would be beneficial to adapt your personal statement each time you apply for a job, so you can make it as relevant as possible to the role you are applying for. Make sure you do your research on the specific requirements the employer is asking for, both for the job and personal skills.

Remember, your personal statement gives you a chance to sell yourself in one paragraph. The rest of your CV is your work experience and your qualifications, so this gives you the opportunity to add that personal touch.

Here’s an example we’ve put together:

“As an experienced project manager, I have a proactive approach which has resulted in numerous successful completions of important projects across the rail industry. I am now coming to the end of my current project and am seeking a new challenge. I am a reliable and well-organised manager, bringing various expertise and knowledge to the table. I have extensive experience across the board and my attention to detail and communication skills is what makes me stand out from the rest.

TOP TIP

Make sure you ask someone to read through this for you to pick up any spelling or grammatical errors! You can’t always see these when you are writing yourself.

The latest news this week in the Rail Industry:

 

Week on the Network

See what Network Rail have been up to this week, read more…

Liverpool Lime Street station remembers its past with unique display

Liverpool Lime Street station has had a thorough overhaul recently, with new platforms, signalling and track. But its heritage has not been forgotten as three slabs from the original station platforms, dating from 1836, have been included as part of the rebuild. Read more…

Final 100mph speed checks made on electrified Manchester to Preston railway

Final checks have been made on the newly electrified railway between Manchester and Preston as a test train made its last journey over the route for the arrival of 100mph in May. Read more…

New look for West Midlands Trains across Birmingham

Passengers on the Cross City line in the West Midlands (Lichfield – Birmingham – Redditch/Bromsgrove) are starting to experience an improvement in their on-train comfort as the first of West Midlands Trains’ Class 323 units re-enters service after a substantial refit. Read more…

‘Clearer vision’ and improved joined-up working needed to deliver growth in Cambridge-Oxford arc, NIC says

The potential of the highly-anticipated Cambridge-Oxford arc project could be stunted if the government does not provide a “clearer vision and better joined-up working” to maximising the output of the corridor, the National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) has claimed. Read more…

 

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The latest news this week in the Built Environment:

 

First-time buyer numbers hit 12-year high during 2018

The latest data and analysis from UK Finance has revealed that despite ‘challenging’ market conditions and the ongoing Brexit and political circus, first-time-buyer numbers reached a 12-year peak during last year. Read more…

Rainwater used for sewer jetting in Northumbrian initiative

Northumbrian Water has started using harvested rainwater in jetting operations to clear sewer blockages, as an alternative to using clean, treated water for the purpose. Read more…

East West Rail makes ‘powerful case’ for direct services from Ipswich and Norwich to Oxford

A direct rail link between Ipswich, Norwich and Oxford could unlock £17.5bn for the East Anglia community, according to a case for investment from the East West Rail Consortium (EWRC). Read more…

SSE becomes last of the big six to raise prices for customers

SSE has become the sixth and final large energy supplier to announce it is raising its standard variable tariff (SVT) to Ofgem’s revised price cap level. Read more…

£200m Port of Tilbury expansion plan approved

The Government has given the green light for the £200m expansion of the Port of Tilbury in Essex. Read more…

 

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The latest news this week in the Property Industry:

 

 

Intu looks to build housing at Lakeside

The owner of the Lakeside shopping centre is planning construction of around 1,000 build-to-rent flats at the Essex retail park. Read more…

BMHT to build 2,000 homes over the next five years

After completing 10 new homes, Birmingham Municipal Housing Trust (BMHT) is on track to build a further 2,000 new homes over the next five years. Read more…

First-time buyer numbers hit 12-year high during 2018

The latest data and analysis from UK Finance has revealed that despite ‘challenging’ market conditions and the ongoing Brexit and political circus, first-time-buyer numbers reached a 12-year peak during last year. Read more…

£105.5m build to rent London development announced

Telford Homes has announced they will be exchanging contracts for the sale of its Equipment Works build to rent development which comprises 257 units in Walthamstow. Read more…

Top tips for first-time-buyers

According to recent figures, the number of first-time buyers coming to the market has risen from 671,000 during 2016-17, to 785,000 during 2017-181. Read more…

 

 

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The latest news this week in the Water & Utilities Industry:

 

 

DTL to deliver apprenticeship training for South Staffs Water

Utilities specialist Develop Training Limited (DTL) has won a contract to deliver an apprenticeship in water mains laying for South Staffs Water. Read more…

Pumping station switch-on for Severn Trent’s £60M Newark project

Severn Trent’s £60M water and wastewater project in Newark has reached a new milestone, as the company has now switched on its new Terminal Pumping Station at Crankley Point. Read more…

Scottish Water starts £15M River Kelvin project

Scottish Water’s multi-million pound investment project in Glasgow’s West End to help improve the environment and water quality in the River Kelvin is under way. Read more…

Defra Announces Waste “Smart tracking” Funding Winners

Five companies working across the UK have been awarded up to £80,000 to develop innovative digital solutions to tackle the challenge of tracking waste from its source through its treatment and final disposal. Read more…

Rainwater used for sewer jetting in Northumbrian initiative

Northumbrian Water has started using harvested rainwater in jetting operations to clear sewer blockages, as an alternative to using clean, treated water for the purpose. Read more…

Arup announces Chisholm appointment

Douglas Chisholm has joined Arup in London, bringing over 30 years of leadership experience and knowledge in consultancy, construction and client-side programme management. Read more…

 

 

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The latest news this week in the Construction Industry:

 

O’Rourke finally seals UK construction finance deal

Laing O’Rourke has finally completed a refinancing deal for its UK operations after all its contracts were put under the microscope by lenders for months. Read more…

McAleer & Rushe gets go-ahead for two Maldron hotels

Northern Ireland-based developer and contractor McAleer & Rushe has checked-in with planning to build hotels in Birmingham and Glasgow city centres. Read more…

Two Portsmouth ‘Grenfell’ tower blocks to be torn down

Two landmark Portsmouth tower blocks are set to be demolished after work to strengthen them was estimated to cost £86m. Read more…

Telford Homes to start 260 London rental homes scheme

Telford Homes secured another forward funding deal with long-term rental specialist Greystar to deliver a near 260 homes build-to-rent scheme at Walthamstow in East London. Read more…

Amey Rail appoints former Carillion MD as new chief

Former Carillion Rail managing director Andy Joy has been appointed to head Amey’s Rail business. Read more…

Browse our latest Construction jobs here.
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The latest news this week in the Rail Industry:

 

 

Stuart Calvert to be new Digital Railway head

Stuart Calvert, director of programme technical services and supply chain at Network Rail’s Group Digital Railway (GDR), has been announced as its new managing director following the retirement of David Waboso. Read more…

Scheme to double train capacity on West Norfolk line awarded funding

The capacity on West Norfolk’s trains is set to double after funding for an extension of trains running between Lynn and Cambridge has been given government approval. Read more…

Battered Dawlish rail line gets £80m for new protective sea wall

A new taller sea wall is to be built at Dawlish as the DfT announced that up to £80m is being made available to build it – five years on from the storms which wreaked havoc on the rail line. Read more…

Urgent safety advice calls for louder horns on Edinburgh trams after pedestrian’s death

The RAIB has issued urgent safety advice calling for louder warning horns to be fitted on Edinburgh’s trams following the death of a pedestrian. Read more…

Rail industry proposes ending peak-tickets in ‘radical’ overhaul of rail fares

Train operators have called for a major reform of the rail fare system which would scrap peak and off-peak ticket pricing and support the rollout of ‘tap-in, tap-out’ travel nationwide. Read more…

 

 

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The latest news this week in the Built Environment:

 

 

New TfW director appointed for north Wales

Transport for Wales (TfW) has appointed Lee Robinson as its new development director for North Wales. Read more…

Buckingham confirmed for £120m Swansea arena

Buckingham Group Contracting has been confirmed by Swansea Council as the principal contractor under a pre-construction services agreement (PCSA) for the city’s new £120m digital arena. Read more…

Yorkshire Water starts smart analytics trial to help battle leakage

Yorkshire Water is trialling the use of smart analytics to find leaks in its network. Read more…

UK Recycling Rate Edges Up To 45.7%, New Figures Show

The UK recycling rate for waste from households was 45.7% in 2017, increasing slightly from 45.2% in 2016, according to new figures from Defra. Read more…

Where is currently the best place to buy a home in England?

A perfect balance of affordability and low crime rates surely has to be high up on the list of priorities for prospective homebuyers. And, it’s safe to assume that some areas will fare better than others with regards to this. But where are they? Read more…

 

 

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The latest news this week in the Property Industry:

 

 

Go-ahead for 200-home Cardiff build-to-rent scheme

Private rented housing developer PLATFORM_has got the thumbs up to deliver one of Wales’ first big build to rent schemes in Cardiff. Read more…

Stratford receives £78m funding from Homes England

Two new neighbourhoods will be built at London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park following funding from Homes England. Read more…

Government signs off £250m for major housing projects

The Government has signed off nearly £250m of funding to clear the way for construction of almost 25,000 more homes. Read more…

Weston and Tesco plan to turn store site into 1,400 homes

Weston Homes and Tesco are preparing plans to redevelop a supermarket and car park in Goodmayes, east London into a new mixed-use development. Read more…

Hamiltonhill set for 600 new homes

Queens Cross Housing Association has now secured £40m funding from M&G Investments for ambitious plans to build 600 new homes and transform Hamiltonhill, Glasgow. Read more…

 

 

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The latest news this week in the Water & Utilities Industry:

 

 

Yorkshire Water awards AMP7 framework contract to AVK

AVK has been awarded a framework contract by Yorkshire Water for the supply of mechanical fittings including tensile-resistant fittings, under-pressure tees, repair fittings and end caps. Read more…

Waste Firms Sign Up To Energy And Utilities “Inclusion Commitment”

CEOs from 32 of the country’s leading energy and utilities employers have launched a sector “Inclusion Commitment” that is a long-term commitment to attract more “diverse and inclusive talent” into their industry. Read more…

Look beyond five-year plans, MP tells water industry

The water industry needs to move beyond the five-year regulatory price review if it is to deliver for customers and the environment, Angela Smith MP told a gathering of over 200 water industry professionals at a British Water networking event. Read more…

Defra Publishes Waste Export Guide For No Deal Brexit Scenario

Defra has today published guide outlining whatUK waste importers and exporters must do to prepare for changes to rules around waste shipments if the UK leaves the EU with no deal on 29 March 2019. Read more…

Thames Water and Network Rail work together to protect environment

An environmentally friendly herbicide is keeping tracks and taps flowing up and down the country thanks to a partnership between water companies and Network Rail. Read more…

 

 

Browse our latest Water and Utilities jobs here.

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The latest news this week in the Construction Industry:

 

 

Caddick wins £35m Hudson Quarter construction contract

Palace Capital has selected Caddick Construction Ltd to undertake the construction phase of its £35m Hudson Quarter development in York. Read more…

Go-ahead for Manchester Airport beauty group hub

Plans have been approved for a new £31m logistics and global content creation studio next to Manchester Airport. Read more…

McAleer & Rushe to start £82m Paddington hotel

Northern Ireland based developer and contractor McAleer & Rushe has got the thumbs up to start work on a hotel and hybrid aparthotel development in Paddington, London. Read more…

Hamiltonhill set for 600 new homes

Queens Cross Housing Association has now secured £40m funding from M&G Investments for ambitious plans to build 600 new homes and transform Hamiltonhill, Glasgow. Read more…

Bidding starts for £18m Helensburgh leisure centre

Argyll and Bute Council has started the search for a contractor to deliver the Helensburgh Waterfront Development in Scotland. Read more…

 

Browse our latest Construction jobs here.
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Not sure where to start with writing a CV or not fully happy with your one? Want to see an example to compare to yours to?

We have created a CV template that you can download to either fill straight in or just to use as a reference.

Remember

Your CV needs to:

  • Look smart
  • Be readable
  • Have clear and concise information

Try and keep your CV down to two pages wherever possible. When going through CVs, most recruiters or employers will look at the last three jobs that you’ve had. If you’ve worked in a number of jobs or on a number of projects, try including the summary of your duties in just your last three jobs and then list all other jobs with just the company, job title and the dates you were there. You can elaborate on any of your older jobs in an interview.

Register on our website to get access to free CV template downloads, and other helpful resources. 

Take a look at our Advance Advice for more help with CVs, interview preparation, and all things relating to your job search!

The latest news this week in the Rail Industry:

 

Network Rail: Week on the Network

Network Rail works hard to improve the network each week. Every week, we’ll highlight some of those interesting stories. Read more…

Using Data to Improve Fleet Maintenance

Rail Engineer has reported on the use of data analytics before, following attendance at Rolling Stock Maintenance conferences organised by London Business Conferences. Read more…

RMT suspends Northern strike action after “major breakthrough”

Union RMT has suspended its ongoing programme of strike action at Northern over the retention and the role of the guard on its trains. Read more…

Cutting edge technology helping Network Rail to almost double track maintenance capacity

A key part of Network Rail’s ‘predict and prevent’ strategy, Plain Line Pattern Recognition (PLPR) is helping to deliver a safer and more reliable railway for the 4.8 million passengers who rely upon it every day. Read more…

Robinson onboard for Wales

Not-for-profit government agency Transport for Wales has appointed Lee Robinson as development director for North Wales. Read more…

 

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The latest news this week in the Built Environment:

 

Proposals for £39bn investment in Northern Powerhouse Rail to be submitted to government

A business case for up to £39bn of investment in Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) are to be submitted to the government, marking “the region’s single biggest transport intervention” since the industrial revolution. Read more…

Kier pulls off contracts league double

A flurry of contract wins took Kier to pole position for greatest value of orders taken in the opening month of 2019, also keeping the firm at the top of the 12 months rolling league. Read more…

Spurs stadium opening delayed again

Spurs have announced further delays to their late-running £1bn stadium. Read more…

Tideway scoops sustainability award

Tideway, the company delivering the Thames Tideway Tunnel, has been rewarded at the Sustainability Leaders Awards 2019 for its green approach to the use of transport in the project. Read more…

Biffa Gets The Green Light For £15m Durham Plastics Recycling Plant

Biffa has announced it has received planning approval from Durham County Council for a £15m plastics recycling plant near Seaham. Read more…

 

Browse our latest jobs here.

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The latest news this week in the Property Industry:

 

 

Galliford Try wins £50m Assembly Bristol project

Galliford Try has scored a major success, signing contracts with Bell Hammer and AXA IM-Real Assets for the £150m Assembly Bristol mixed-use regeneration scheme. Read more…

London office building to be raised by six floors

Developer London and Regional Properties has submitted plans to reconfigure and extend a major office building, next to London’s Elephant & Castle tube station. Read more…

Tolent wins £12m luxury retirement scheme

Tolent has been confirmed as main contractor for a £12m apartment scheme in Newcastle, on behalf of luxury retirement specialist PegasusLife. Read more…

Regional rental growth battles on despite Brexit

The latest data released by Landbay has shown that since the vote to leave the European Union in June 2016, total rental growth across the English regions has been seven times that of London (3.69% to London’s 0.52%). Read more…

Is virtual reality the future of building construction?

Research from Glen Dimplex Heating and Ventilation shows technologies such as virtual reality, smart technologies, 3D printing and modelling, and robotics will have an impact on the future of building construction. Read more…

 

 

The latest news this week in the Water & Utilities Industry:

 

 

Major natural flood management project underway in Yorkshire

Work has started on a two-year, £2.6 million natural flood management project in West Yorkshire led by the National Trust to help protect homes and nurture wildlife devastated by the Boxing Day floods of 2015. Read more…

Thames continues board overhaul with two new directors

Thames Water has appointed David Waboso CBE and John Morea as non-executive directors. Read more…

Grease Contractors Association doubles its membership

The Grease Contractors Association (GCA), which represents best practice in the maintenance of grease traps and management systems in food establishments, has more than doubled its membership over the last year. Read more…

BAM Nuttall renews framework partnership with Lanes Group

BAM Nuttall has renewed a framework partnership that has seen drainage specialist Lanes Group plc deliver services for scores of projects on behalf of the civil engineering contractor. Read more…

Urgent action required on UK engineering skills crisis, report says

UK engineering faces a growing skills crisis that could become substantially worse after Brexit, according to a new report published by E4E and the Royal Academy of Engineering. Read more…

Interserve announces rescue plan agreement

Interserve has agreed a rescue deal that could see it cut its debts from £600 million to around £275 million by issuing new shares. Read more…

 

The latest news this week in the Construction Industry:

 

 

Race starts for record £30bn public works framework

The Government’s Crown Commercial Service has started the mega bid race for a recording-breaking Government works framework. Read more…

The holistic approach to construction’s productivity problem

After 20 years of stagnation, what will it take to kick-start productivity in construction? Martin Feakes, head of buildings London at Ramboll, believes the conditions are right for change. Read more…

Manchester building boom outstrips LA and Chicago

England’s big three regional cities are shrugging off Brexit worries and enjoyed bumper construction growth last year driven by city centre residential and office schemes. Read more…

Winvic Construction to develop 14-storey residential apartments

Winvic Construction Ltd has been appointed by Lionel House Developments Ltd and Aberdeen Standard Investments (ASI) to develop a new 14-storey build-to-rent (BTR) complex. Read more…

Galliard Homes plans next major Birmingham scheme

Galliard Homes has pushed forward plans for a residential-led, mixed-use scheme of 756 new homes and more than 10,000 sq ft of commercial space on a site opposite Birmingham City Hospital. Read more…

Kier lined-up for £30m Cheltenham school deal

Gloucestershire County Council has confirmed Kier as preferred contractor for a new £30m school in Leckhampton, south Cheltenham. Read more…

 

 

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The latest news this week in the Rail Industry:

 

 

Combating health concerns through changes in diet

With 1.7 billion people travelling by rail each year, the health of workers should be a key focus – if not the key focus – of the industry. Read more…

Long-awaited plans to build a sea wall to protect Dawlish rail line unveiled by Network Rail

Plans to build a new sea wall in the first phase of work to protect the coastal railway which connects Devon and Cornwall with the rest of the UK have been unveiled by Network Rail. Read more…

The pioneering project that could allow dozens of aspiring train operators to follow their dreams

When customer service assistant Alex Bulley successfully applied to become a London Underground train operator, it was a dream come true. Read more…

Network Rail announces new track systems contracts that will last for ten years

Network Rail has announced two (shortly to be three) track systems contracts that could cover the next 10 years and be worth around £5 billion to the successful bidders, or over £10 billion of work when the cost of free-issued materials and services is included. Read more…

Great British Bake Off finalist Ruby Bhogal reveals all about her career in rail

When Ruby Bhogal returned to work on August 30, she was greeted with a warmer reception than usual. She’d only had a day’s leave but, in the space of 36 hours, two of her big secrets were finally out. Read more…

Timing of door closure – how critical is it?

Much has been written and said in recent times about efforts to improve the throughput of trains on metro and inner suburban railways. Using CBTC has enabled 36 trains per hour (tph) to be achieved in each direction on London Underground’s Victoria Line. Read more…

 

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The latest news this week in the Built Environment:

 

 

Young civil engineers see tech as solution to skills shortage

Eight in 10 civil engineers believe that a skills shortage is the main challenge for the future of the industry, and 58 per cent of junior civil engineers believe that this challenge could be overcome by adopting new technology. Read more…

EU Proposal Submitted To Restrict “Intentionally Added” Microplastics

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has submitted a restriction proposal for microplastic particles that are intentionally added to mixtures used by consumers or professionals. Read more…

All Build UK contractors miss 30-day payment target again

No Build UK major contractor members are paying their bills within 30-days. Read more…

Is now the best time to buy a property in London?

It’s a gamble. Do I buy now or wait for a further possible drop in prices? Read more…

‘Light at the end of the tunnel’ as Gatwick Express trains trial due to start

MP Caroline Lucas has revealed that a trial for the Gatwick Express rail link will launch this month following months of reduced services, disruption and the May timetable chaos. Read more…

 

 

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