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The Wire Tuesday 3 November |
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The Wire · Tuesday 3 November Good morning. Here is today's Energy & Infrastructure news. 👇 |
Six items overnight, every one dated, opened at the primary source and checked before it went in, with our read on each. Three minutes with your coffee and you are up to speed. |
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Diesel 199.2p ↓ 0.1p | Brent $105 ↓ $13 | Power £211 ↓ £12 | CPIH 3.6% ↑ 0.3 | Bank Rate 3.75% – | GBP/USD $1.34 ↑ |
The Pulse · figures to 2 Nov · the full board → |
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01 |
 Transport · Department of Transport (Ireland) · 2 November 2026
Objectors drop court challenge to Galway ring road after mediation
Released by Department of Transport (Ireland) |
Transport |
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All judicial review proceedings against planning approval for the Galway City Ring Road have been withdrawn following mediation, the Department of Transport and Transport Infrastructure Ireland confirmed on 2 November 2026. The motorway scheme, designated as critical infrastructure under the Critical Infrastructure Act, 2026, now moves to pre-tender stage.
| | Our read The legal fight is over. Contracts still need to go out to tender before work can start. |
Read the source → |
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02 |
 Rail · Network Rail · 2 November 2026
Redhill-Tonbridge trains resume after embankment repair shuts line for 5 days
Train services resumed between Redhill and Tonbridge on 2 November 2026 after Network Rail completed emergency work to stabilise an embankment near Godstone. Engineers installed 208 sheet piles, each 10 metres long, along a 126-metre stretch of embankment after ground movement was detected, and the line had been closed since 28 October.
| | Our read Five days to drive in 208 piles along 126 metres of embankment is a fast fix, but Network Rail hasn't said whether it's keeping an eye on the ground for further movement. |
Read the source → |
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03 |
Transport · Department for Transport · 2 November 2026
Government lays out 22-point plan for keeping transport running when things go wrong
Released by Department for Transport |
Transport |
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The Department for Transport published its Transport Resilience Strategy on 2 November 2026, setting out its approach for the next five to ten years. Annex B lists 22 commitments, including the launch of a Transport Resilience Academy and a new Transport Resilience Network, putting into practice the UK Government Resilience Action Plan published in July 2025.
| | Our read A 22-point strategy is a lot to be judged on, but the document doesn't attach funding or a delivery timetable to any of it, so the real test will be whatever gets measured first. |
Read the source → |
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04 |
 Energy & Grid · Construction Enquirer · 2 November 2026
National Grid substation for Teesside data centre goes to Balfour Beatty
Balfour Beatty has been named as National Grid's contractor for what is expected to be Britain's largest electricity substation, at the Dorman Point site in Teesworks, Teesside, Construction Enquirer reported on 2 November 2026. National Grid's own project page describes the Tees Dock Substation at Dorman Point as providing over 1 gigawatt of capacity to support a proposed data centre and battery storage system, with construction due to start in autumn or winter 2027, subject to planning approval.
| | Our read Appointing a contractor before planning permission is granted is jumping the gun a little. The autumn or winter 2027 start date still hinges on an approval that hasn't come through yet. |
Read the source → |
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05 |
 Ports & Maritime · Construction Enquirer · 2 November 2026
Kier and BAM win £600 million Devonport submarine dock contract
Kier and BAM's joint venture has secured a £600 million main works contract from Babcock to upgrade Devonport's 10 Dock for deep maintenance of the Royal Navy's Astute-class submarines, Construction Enquirer reported on 2 November 2026. The work includes strengthening the dock walls, replacing part of the floor with a reinforced concrete base and new docking cradle, and a heavy-lift gantry crane, with the joint venture moving from early contractor involvement into the main works phase.
| | Our read A defence contract of this size, coming after the same joint venture's 2022 framework win, points to a steady pipeline of Royal Navy dock work. |
Read the source → |
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06 |
Rail · Network Rail · 2 November 2026
Hastings line reopens after nine days of track and tunnel repairs
Network Rail reopened the Hastings line on 2 November 2026 after a nine-day closure between Tonbridge and Wadhurst. Engineers replaced worn slab track and restored railway systems inside Grove Hill Tunnel, and also removed three temporary speed restrictions caused by dried-out embankments after this year's hot, dry summer.
| | Our read Network Rail now counts embankment shrinkage from drier summers among its regular maintenance costs. |
Read the source → |
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