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

Wednesday, 29 June 2016

Department for Transport

• Investment in infrastructure is now even more important - Speech - Patrick McLoughlin MPThe UK must be seen to be open for business and building the infrastructure it needs.

The Telegraph

• 
 The magic of Britain's least-used train stationsFew people know Britain's rail network better than David Brewer, a softly-spoken train enthusiast from Chorley in Lancashire.

Reuters News

• Hitachi, Alstom, Stadler win $5 billion contract to build trains for TrenitaliaHitachi Rail Italy, France's Alstom and Swiss firm Stadler have won contracts worth a combined 4.5 billion euros (3.74 billion pound) to build trains for Trenitalia, the Italian train operator said on Tuesday.

The Mirror

• Texas train crash: Three feared dead after freight services collide setting off massive explosionAn injured man is being treated in hospital after he reportedly leapt from one of the moving trains before it smashed into another in a fiery crash

Network Rail

• Plans for upgrade work in Cambridgeshire to be unveiled by Network RailPlans to allow more trains to run and reduce journey times on the East Coast Main Line will be on display at four public information events being held by Network Rail in Cambridgeshire next week.
• New Plotr online world lets young people explore careers in transportCareers website Plotr has launched an online portal and game, A better connected future – Transport Careers, so 11-24-year-olds can find out what it’s really like to work in the transport industry.

Birmingham Mail

• Balfour Beatty snubbed in new Midland Metro partnership Contractor which worked on the much-maligned extension between Snow Hill and New Street station misses out in new 'alliance' to build four more tram routes

Birmingham Post

• London Midland sponsors Birmingham Big Art Project Rail operator supports major project to create piece of landmark art for Eastside City Park

Bristol Live

• Platform at South Gloucestershire railway station to close amid Great Western line electrificationA platform at a South Gloucestershire railway station will be demolished and closed.

Northern Echo

• Virgin East Cost insists rail safety is priority after whistleblower raises concernsVirgin East Cost insists rail safety is priority after whistleblower raises concerns Virgin East coast has attempted to allay safety fears raised on its East Coast Mainline rail route after an alleged incident

Sheffield Star

• Reaction to HS2 location change from Meadowhall to Sheffield city centrePlans to locate Sheffield’s HS2 station in the city centre was today hailed as ‘fantastic news’ by city leaders – but has split opinion among the public.

Sunderland Echo

• MP demands promises Nissan and Hitachi won't go same way as Tata in savage attack on Business SecretaryA North East MP has demanded promises from the Business Secretary Sajid Javid that he will work with Nissan and Hitachi to protect jobs in the region.

Rail Magazine

• GBRf wants more '73s', but plans on holdMore Class 73s could be rebuilt for GB Railfreight, but the company says while it would like to have more, there is not currently the work for them.
• Chester-Runcorn service over Halton Curve extendedNorthern has agreed to extend the Saturday-only service between Chester and Runcorn via the Halton Curve on July 16.
• S&C rail services run to Armathwaite Northern’s truncated services from Leeds to Carlisle began running further north to Armathwaite yesterday.
• Extra capacity a key element of Oxfordshire rail strategyCouncil leaders in Oxfordshire have been asked to approve the county’s new rail strategy, which sets out the local authority’s objectives for the coming years.
• HS2 costs exceed funding - but savings could go below budgetHS2 Phase 1 costs exceed available funding, according to National Audit Office. But, if all predicted cost savings are made, it could come in under budget.
• HS2 must meet target for Royal AssentHS2 is on target to achieve Royal Assent by December, which the NAO describes as a “significant achievement” for one of biggest bills ever considered.
• HS2’s impact on the conventional networkHS2 will have a major impact on the existing rail system, says the National Audit Office.
• Kirby: HS2 has made “real progress”HS2 Ltd says that while many challenges remain, the project is on track to deliver its strategic scope and be constructed to budget.
• Changes to rolling stock funding could induce delaysNAO says experience of IEP and Thameslink shows negotiating the terms of private finance can take significantly longer than currently allowed in HS2 schedule

Rail Technology Magazine

• HS2 timetable for phase 1 'unrealistic' and 'behind schedule'HS2 is already behind schedule and could fail to deliver phase 1 by the 2026 target date, with problems including uncertainty about financing, lack of staff and the need for further analysis, the National Audit Office (NAO) has warned. The NAO had found that HS2 is only 60% confident that it...
• DfT to publish South Western ITT at start of JulyThe South Western franchise invitation to tender (ITT) is expected to be published at the start of July, the rail minister Claire Perry has said. The ITT was issued to the bidders on 9 June, and in the last few weeks MTR formed a joint venture with FirstGroup to compete against current operators...
• Funding decision for Class 801 bi-mode conversion due in autumnThe decision on how to fund the conversion of the Great Western Main Line Class 801 units to bi-mode operation will be made in the autumn, the DfT has said. In response to a question from Lilian Greenwood MP, Claire Perry, the minister for rail, said that the department is currently considering...
• Bromsgrove railway station to open on 12 JulyBromsgrove’s £24m station development, designed to attract business to the town and improve integration with other transport facilities, is complete and will open on 12 July. The new station features a staffed ticket office, passenger waiting room, toilets and 350 onsite car parking...
• Nick Crossfield appointed new Alstom MD for UK and IrelandAlstom’s managing director of train control has been promoted to its UK and Ireland managing director. Nick Crossfield, who joined Alstom last year, has successfully led the integration of SSL Ltd into Alstom’s UK & Ireland business and secured Alstom’s largest ever UK...

Railnews

• Route changes on the way for HS2 in South Yorkshire The chairman of HS2 David Higgins has revealed that some revisions are being planned to the route of Phase 2 in South Yorkshire, but no details will be published for at least another week. He has also dismissed suggestions that the economic turmoil following last week's Brexit vote could delay the project. A review of national infrastructure projects is due to be completed by the autumn. He has been speaking in response to a new report from the National Audit Office, which is said to contain a warning that the project schedule as set out by the Department for Transport is 'too ambitious', and...
• Jail sentence for West Coast SPAD driver The driver of a steam-hauled charter train who turned off a safety system and almost caused a major collision with a high speed intercity train has been given a suspended jail sentence by Swindon Crown Court. Melvyn Cox was driving the train at Wootton Bassett Junction near Swindon in March last year. It overran a red signal by almost 700m and came to rest fouling the main Great Western line, only moments after an Intercity 125 express had passed. The court heard that he had directed a colleague to turn off the Train Protection and Warning System, which would have stopped the train.

Other News Sources

• With record sums of investment planned for the UK’s rail network what will the future network look like?Over the coming five years, more than £25billion will be invested in the UK’s rail network. While that includes big ticket items like High Speed 2 (HS2) and Crossrail, there is considerable innovation taking place across the network – from traditional heavy urban rail networks to innovative city centre mass transit systems.
• InPost lockers expand to railway stations InPost UK will expand its locker service to three TfL stations, four Great Western Railway stations, and Virgin Trains’ Birmingham International Railway station.
• Greater Anglia launches recruitment drive for volunteers to brighten up train stationsA train operator has launched a drive to recruit volunteers to brighten up stations.
• Greater Anglia blasted on Twitter for heating trains in summerCommuters on Greater Anglia trains across the county and East Anglia have taken to social media to express their shock and concern at the train operator heating carriages in the summer warmth.