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

Friday, 27 November 2015

BBC News

• Glasgow Airport rail link plan revivedPlans for a rail link between Glasgow Airport and the city centre are revived with two options in the frame.
• Network Rail misses punctuality targetNetwork Rail reports a fall in half-year profits and admits that train punctuality is inadequate after failing to reach its 90% target.

The Guardian

• Network Rail misses punctuality target as profits fallRailway operator Network Rail has narrowly missed its own punctuality target as more than one in 10 trains arrived late.

The Herald

• Ministers accused of trying to A FRESH row has broken out between the SNP and Labour over the future of a rail link at Glasgow Airport as ministers were accused of trying to derail it before it has begun.

Network Rail

• Passengers to Manchester and Birmingham advised to plan their travel during Christmas crowdsWith Birmingham and Manchester’s famous Christmas markets underway, and millions of visitors expected to visit the cities over the festive season – increasing pressure on the local rail network – Network Rail is urging passengers to plan their journeys and allow more time to catch their trains.
• £14.7m upgrade planned for Carlisle stationCarlisle station will have a £14.7m makeover as part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan.

London Evening Standard

• Piccadilly line: Tube bosses blame leaves on the line for nearly two weeks of delaysHundreds of thousands of Tube commuters have suffered repeated delays on the Piccadilly line – with Tube bosses blaming leaves on the line.

Manchester Evening News

• Network Rail blasted for 'poor cost estimating' and 'inadequate planning' behind bungled TransPennine route The company will have to 'sell depots' and 'borrow £700m from taxpayer' to fund projects like Manchester-Leeds electrification, according to a new report

Wales Online

• Arriva Trains Wales drivers to be re-balloted for strike action after talks break down againASLEF union has accused Arriva Trains Wales of 'reneging' on the deal

East Anglian Daily Times

• No news is good news, insist rail campaignersCampaigners seeking to improve rail services between East Anglia and London have insisted that the new report into infrastructure is good for the region – because it makes little reference to the route.

Other Regional Press

• Chiltern adds to its trains following complaints CHILTERN Railways has added more carriages to its morning trains from Bicester North after complaints about a lack of peak-time services at the station.
• Electrification to Oxford delayed by four years WORK to electrify the railway into Oxford has been set back by four years, it was confirmed tonight.
• ‘Big disappointment’ as train station revamp faces a delay WORK to electrify the railway into Oxford has been set back four years, throwing the redevelopment of the city’s station into doubt.
• Kanye West station name bid launched by Southeastern commuter in CanterburyA campaign is calling for rail firm Southeastern to name one of its train stations after American rapper Kanye West.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Trade body warns coal closures threaten rail freightIndustry body GB Railfreight has warned the government that its plans to close down all UK coal-fired power stations could be damaging to the nation's rail freight industry.� This comes in response to an announcement by energy secretary Amber Rudd that coal power stations will be phased out by 2025.� Managing director of GB Railfreight John Smith said this leaves the industry at a crucial crossroads and raises considerable challenges.� He acknowledged that a reduction in coal output has been anticipated for some time now and that it is important to help meet UK carbon targets.� However, he emp...
• London Underground’s David Waboso named President of the Association for Project ManagementDavid Waboso CBE, London Underground’s Capital Programmes Director, has today been announced as the new President of the Association for Project Management (APM), and will assume the part-time role in the New Year alongside his current position.  As President, he will lead the APM’s commitment to provide industry-leading knowledge and resources, helping to improve project management across the country. With over 21,150 individual and 550 corporate members, the APM is the largest professional body of its kind in Europe.   David Waboso is an internationally renowned enginee...

Rail Magazine

• ORR to be “fundamentally reviewed”DfT responds to Dame Colette Bowe’s report into CP5 enhancements planning

Rail Technology Magazine

• Future Rail: Issue 32 In this issue: Times of change for Deutsche Bahn, Australia's switch to digital signalling, Network Rail's mobile maintenance trains, Scotland's new rail line, meeting urgent demand for rolling stock in the UK, and more.
• China wins $1.6bn contract to support Hungary-Serbia high-speed rail The governments of China and Hungary have signed an agreement on the development, construction and financing of the Hungarian section of Hungary-Serbia high-speed railway.
• RZD International wins €1.2bn rail electrification deal in Iran Russian Railways subsidiary RZD International has signed a €1.2bn contract with Iranian Islamic Republic Railways (RAI) to electrify a rail line that connects north-central Iran to the northeastern border with Turkmenistan.
• Network Rail to upgrade Carlisle station in England The UK's Network Rail (NR) will replace the roof and rebuild all eight platforms at Carlisle station in Cumbria.

Railnews

• Network Rail 'in new tight financial envelope' Network Rail chairman Sir Peter Hendy has warned that the company no longer enjoys a 'flexible and accommodating financial regime', and will have to live within its means in future. He was speaking to Railnews in the wake of publishing his report into the fate of its delayed enhancement projects, which concludes that most can go ahead although some will only be completed in the next Control Period CP6, which will run from 2019 to 2024. Great Western electrification remains a priority, but the Midland Main Line will only be electrified as far as Kettering and Corby by 2019, and the Transpennin...

Railway Gazette

• Hendy revises Network Rail project timescales as costs riseUK: The cost of Network Rail’s infrastructure enhancement programme for 2014-19 has increased from...
• Eversholt awards ETCS First in Class contract UK: Leasing company Eversholt Rail has awarded Alstom’s signalling business SSL a contract for the...
• RZD International signs Iranian electrification contract IRAN: Russian Railways subsidiary RZD International signed a contract to electrify the 495 km...
• Rio tram starts test runningBRAZIL: Test running with passengers started on the central section of the VLT Carioca tram route...
• Alstom buys stake in South African rolling stock businessSOUTH AFRICA: Alstom announced on November 26 that it had signed an agreement to buy a 51% stake in...