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

Friday, 21 October 2016

BBC News

• Tube train device controlled explosion at North GreenwichA suspect device found on a London Underground train is destroyed in a controlled explosion.

The Herald

• ScotRail announce improvement plan after performance target missedPASSENGERS can expect carriage doors to shut 15 seconds before the train is due to depart as Scotrail introduce a raft of measures to improve punctuality after missing one of their contractual targets.

The Scotsman

• ScotRail admits service ‘not good enough’ScotRail has admitted its performance “isn’t good enough” after the reliability of train services fell below target.

The Telegraph

• Southern Railway strike called off for London Poppy Day after British Legion request

Mail Online

• North Greenwich Tube station evacuated as suspicious package 'found near O2 Arena' Passengers were evacuated from North Greenwich station in East London as alarm bells rang at about 11am and a huge section of the Jubilee line was suspended.

London Evening Standard

• Southern Rail strike: Passengers 'faced mass panic and violence' during strike actionSouthern Rail passengers suffered scenes of "mass panic and violence" during strike action, lawyers acting for a commuter group claimed today.
• Southern Rail strikes: RMT union cancels walk-out on poppy day after British Legion pleaA Southern Rail strike due to clash with London Poppy Day has been cancelled at the request of the British Legion.
• North Greenwich station: Counter-terror probe as Tube train 'suspect item' blown up by bomb squadCounter-terror police have today launched an investigation after a suspicious package found on a packed London Underground train was exploded by the bomb squad.

Manchester Evening News

• Metrolink delays could continue tomorrow, bosses warn Engineers will work through the night to try to sort the problems which saw widespread disruption across the Metrolink network

Rail Technology Magazine

• WYCA calls for extra Northern and TPE servicesLocal leaders have called for Northern and TransPennine Express (TPE) to increase the number of services they run on top of existing commitments in their franchise agreements. In April, Arriva took over responsibility for the Northern franchise, while First Group took sole control of the...
• Atkins consortium wins contract to remodel Leeds station ahead of HS2The contract to redesign Leeds station to prepare it for HS2 has been awarded to a consortium of design, engineering and project management consultants led by Atkins. The group will design a blueprint to deliver planned improvements to Leeds station, now also known as the Yorkshire Hub...
• Southern promises to restore cancelled services by end of monthSouthern has promised to fully restore the services it had to cancel in the summer by the end of October, it has been revealed. Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), Southern’s parent company, announced in July that it was cancelling 341 services a day to try to gain control of unpredictable...
• Manchester Victoria roof collapse 'isn't good enough' as MP calls for inquiryThe construction process for the roof at Manchester Victoria wasn’t “good enough” after it collapsed, a local MP has said. Rain water leaked through part of the roof, filling one of the plastic panels underneath and leading it to collapse at about 4.30pm on 18 October. The...
• Greater Anglia and NR promise measures to tackle autumn leaf fallGreater Anglia, with help from Network Rail, is investing in new equipment and introducing a revised timetable to reduce the impact of autumn leaf fall on rail services. Leaves on the track at this time of year can form a mulch, which is then compressed and hardened by train wheels until it is...

Railnews

• Major improvement plan for struggling ScotRail The ScotRail Alliance has unveiled a plan to improve performance, after managing director Phil Verster had described the task of upgrading the network while running trains day-to-day as like �performing open heart surgery while doing a marathon�. The new plan includes �8 million for asset improvements, �specifically tailored� upgrades for key parts of the network such as Edinburgh and the Borders, Lanarkshire and Tayside, and targeted work on rolling stock to deal with the most common faults.

Other News Sources

• Full Southern timetable to return but some journeys will take longer SOUTHERN will reinstate its full timetable by the end of the month but some journeys could take longer.