Transportinfo.org.uk - today's transport news in the uk, hand picked for you each morning

Friday, 20 July 2012

BBC News

• Rail drink ban comes into forceAlcohol is banned on Scottish trains in the evenings and mornings following concerns over drink-fuelled anti-social behaviour.

Department for Transport

• Transport statisticsLight rail and tram statistics for 2011/12.

The Guardian

• FirstGroup hangs on to Great Western – and state subsidies FirstGroup may be handed an extension to its Great Western rail franchise, underwritten by a multimillion-pound taxpayer subsidy – despite having served notice on the contract to avoid a payout of more than £800m to the government.

The Herald

• ScotRail begins its night ban on alcoholSCOTRAIL will deploy extra staff at key stations tonight as it implements the UK's first blanket alcohol ban on late night services.
• Anger at Network Rail plan to reward directorsFRESH anger has erupted over public sector executive pay after golden handcuff payments totalling nearly £1 million were awarded to three Network Rail directors at its annual general meeting in Glasgow.

The Scotsman

• Three ˜fat controllers™ share £1m bonusesRail bosses have approved 
almost £1 million of publicly-funded special bonuses – as union members stood outside raging against the “great train robbery”.

The Telegraph

• Train drivers to strike during GamesTrain drivers are to stage three days of strikes during the Olympics in a row over pensions, threatening disruption to spectators travelling to the Games.
• Network Rail bosses to share £1m bonus potNetwork Rail has approved “golden carrot” awards totalling almost £1million to three directors.

Mail Online

• That's a nice little earner! £1m bonuses for rail chiefs just to stop them leavingThe performance-related payments of £300,000 each will be made on top of the trio’s £360,000-plus salaries. They were approved at Network Rail’s annual general meeting, triggering anger among union members.

Network Rail

• £100m INVESTMENT SIGNALS NEW START FOR NOTTINGHAM
• GOVERNMENTS ON COURSE FOR £310M REBATE

Liverpool Post

• Passenger growth could see new Liverpool underground stationLIVERPOOL city centre will need a new underground rail station to cope with capacity if its increase in passenger numbers continues.

London Evening Standard

• Tube to run later than usual during the OlympicsTrains on the London Underground will be running later than usual during the Olympics to make sure spectators can get home from the Games.
• Signal failures cripple Tube for second day running ahead of OlympicsSignal failures crippled Tube and mainline rail services today increasing transport fears for the Olympics.
• Three days of rail strikes to hit key route into London during OlympicsUnion barons today ordered three days of rail strikes during the middle of the Olympics on a key main line connecting the Midlands to London.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Train on Oban to Glasgow line smashes into landslip Heavy rain was blamed yesterday for another landslide that caused disruption on a west Highland railway line.

The York Press

• Locomotive trip for Prince Charles THE National Railway Museum in York will provide the nameplate for the locomotive taking The Prince of Wales on his first trip to the Northumberland coast.
• Former rail workers return to York station control room A FATHER and daughter who both worked at York railway station returned to a special event organised by the National Railway Museum.

Other Regional Press

• Protesters at in Carshalton and Sutton garner support for rail meeting Politicians and protesters rallied outside the Sutton's train stations yesterday to save a key rail link .
• Railway workers stop short of Olympic strike actionMEMBERS of a train union voted against going on strike during the Olympics by four votes.

Railnews

• Last orders called on ScotRail at night A complete ban on carrying alcohol on ScotRail trains after 21.00 has come into force, after a 'soft' trial period. The new clampdown will not affect the Caledonian Sleeper nor trains operated by Virgin and East Coast.
• Great Western franchise to be extended The present Great Western franchise is to be extended because the DfT's franchise renewal programme is running behind schedule. The contract, which is held by FirstGroup, was due to end in April next year after First declined to take up an option to keep it until 2016.
• New union warning over ticket offices The RMT is claiming that at the close of Parliamentary business earlier this week, the Government 'slipped out' a possible change to regulations under its 'Red Tape Challenge' that would remove a layer of protection from rail ticket offices, making it easier for many to be closed.
• Threat of rail strikes during Olympics Drivers at East Midlands Trains are planning to strike for three days in early August. The action, if it takes place, could affect train services during the Olympics fortnight.

Other News Sources

• Transport Secretary: 'Miliband should get union to call off strike action' Transport Secretary Justine Greening has responded to today's latest announcement that drivers at East Midlands trains have voted to take strike action across three days during the Olympics.
• RMT warns of Government threat to rip up regulations protecting ticket offices from closuresRAIL UNION RMT warned today that at the close of Parliamentary business earlier this week, the Government slipped out a possible change to regulations under their 'Red Tape Challenge' that would remove a layer of protection from rail ticket offices enabling the McNulty plans to wipe them out to be bulldozed through regardless of public opposition.