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

Tuesday, 21 June 2016

BBC News

• Govia Thameslink franchise row as Southern strike loomsA row about Govia Thameslink's rail franchise continues as conductors on the Southern network prepare to stage another walkout.
• Eurotunnel services hit after police clashes with Calais 'Jungle' migrants reportedServices through the Channel Tunnel are hit by delays after migrants clash with police, according to reports.
• ScotRail blames union over strike plans as talks break downScotRail accuses union leaders of causing a dispute which will
• ScotRail and Southern strikes prompt disruption warningRail passengers are warned to expect cancellations and disruption as 24-hour strikes begin across Scotland and south-east England.

The Guardian

• Southern Railway is failing customers again and again. That’s why I spoke out | David BoyleEndless cancellations through ‘staff shortages’ and journey delays make for commuting misery. When will passengers start to feel that somebody cares?A small revolution is brewing among passengers on the Southern Railway routes to the coast. It is hand-knitted and very English. Nobody seems quite sure what to do – they are not given easily to revolt, these middle-class commuters, and they tend to direct their growing rage into their mobile phones.Even so, being turfed off motionless carriages, as trains are cancelled time after time, evening after evening, taking three hours to get home on a co...

The Herald

• Managers to act as guards as rail chaos is expected on strike hit trains in ScotlandTHOUSANDS of commuters across Scotland are facing rail services chaos on as 15 routes are cut altogether and some services including Glasgow to Edinburgh trains are cut by half as the first of a series of 24 hour strike begins.

The Scotsman

• In full: rail routes affected by Scotrail strike actionCOMMUTERS across Scotland are facing a day of travel chaos on Tuesday with the first in a series of planned strikes set to bring much of the nation’s rail network to a grinding halt.

The Telegraph

• Rail companies could be fined if trains are more than a minute lateTrain companies could face penalties for services that are just one minute late in a bid to improve frequent delays across the rail network.

Mail Online

• Rail firms to face fines if trains are a minute late in bid to reduce minor delays Under the current system, long distance trains are classed as being on time if they arrive within ten minutes of being behind schedule, and local trains within five minutes.

London Evening Standard

• Southeastern delays: Rush hour misery for commuters after train breaks downA broken down train sparked delays on Southeastern services this morning, causing a miserable start to the week for commuters.
• Southern rail strike: Commuters stage fresh protest at Brighton station on eve of 24-hour walkoutSouthern commuters have staged a protest at Brighton station as hundreds of thousands of rail passengers are braced for fresh disruption because of strike action.
• Southern rail strike: London commuters face travel chaos during 24-hour walkoutHundreds of thousands of commuters are braced for travel chaos from this morning as a fourth 24-hour strike by train conductors cripples major rail routes into London.

Other Regional Press

• MP will lobby the government for cash to improve area’s transport FAREHAM MP Suella Fernandes has given her support to plans for improved transport infrastructure in the Solent region.
• Train carriage arson during busy weekend for firefightersA train arrived at Bedford station with a carriage on fire after a blaze was started deliberately. Firefighters from Bedford and Kempston arrived within seven minutes after getting an emergency call on at 10.24pm on Saturday (June 18). They boarded the train and used a water extinguisher to put the fire out before passing the incident to the British Transport Police.

Rail Magazine

• Mk 1 charter row as CET plans a major inconvenience for charter firmsNetwork Rail plans to cease using stock not fitted with controlled emission toilets could cripple industry, charter promoters and operators warn.
• EU vote: Stay or leave - the impact on UK railWith the UK rail industry heavily affected by any decision on whether to remain in the EU, RAIL delves into the issues for our industry
• EU vote: The EU’s role in UK railAt this time of intense political debate, it is worth reflecting on the benefits or disbenefits that ‘Remain’ versus ‘Leave’ will have on the GB railway.
• Brand new Class 700s enter traffic with ThameslinkFirst Class 700 enters traffic with Govia Thameslink Railway.

Rail Technology Magazine

• rail franchises operators & contractsBidding for new franchises is growing increasingly costly and time-consuming and risks discouraging new bidders from entering the market, the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) has warned.
• High-Performance Redundant Ethernet-based Remote I / O Architecture for Rolling Stock System Availability BRIO is an Ethernet-based decentralised remote input / output module designed to be embedded onboard rolling stock vehicles.
• DfT assessing financial impact of new ECML services on Virgin, but not other factorsThe DfT is carrying out an assessment of the impact of the decision to approve new services on the East Coast Main Line (ECML), but not of the impact of other factors. In response to written questions by Lord Bradshaw, Lord Ahmad, parliamentary under-secretary to the DfT, said that the...
• 'Totally needless' ScotRail strike to go ahead after talks break downStrikes on ScotRail tomorrow are due to go ahead after last-minute talks failed to reach a resolution. In a statement ScotRail accused the RMT of sabotaging the talks by refusing to cancel the strikes, which the union announced following a dispute over the expansion of driver-operated only (DOO)...
• RMT attacks GTR over performance and bonuses ahead of strikeRMT has attacked Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) for its performance problems as it prepares to lead further strikes tomorrow on Southern, one of GTR’s companies. RMT confirmed that the 24-hour strike over the introduction of driver-operated only (DOO) services, following two previous...

Railway Gazette

• Comparisons are difficult, EU rail price and quality study findsEUROPE: The European Commission’s Directorate General for Mobility & Transport has published a...
• Kazakhstan orders train ferryKAZAKHSTAN: National railway KTZ has awarded Croatian shipbuilder Uljanik a contract to supply a...

Other News Sources

• Unions say strike is only about safety while Southern insists new system is "perfectly safe" UNION officials have said their industrial action is over passenger safety - not jobs, or pay - as rail passengers face the misery of another day of strike action by the RMT.
• Brighton railway station protest over Southern Railway franchise expected PROTESTERS are due to gather at Brighton station tonight to ramp up their anger over the state of the railway network.
• Bad start for maiden Thameslink service using new rolling stock IT was a case of same old, same old, for passengers using the new rolling stock on the maiden Thameslink service this morning.