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Saturday, 03 December 2016

BBC News

• ScotRail fares decision 'before year-end'The Scottish government promises a decision on rail fares before the end of the year.
• Tube ticket office closures caused 'significant issues'Tube ticket offices were closed before suitable alternatives were introduced, a review finds.
• Could a railway force Chanel No 5 out of its historic home?Chanel says it will leave a historic French perfume site if plans for a high-speed train line go ahead.
• Train fares to rise by average of 2.3%Train fares in Britain will go up by an average of 2.3% from 2 January, the rail industry announces.

Financial Times

• Southern to argue strikes breach EU rightsRail group plans to use precedent of Baltic ferry workers case to stop driver walkout

The Guardian

• Rail fare rises driven by hikes on Virgin Trains East CoastTicket prices on line that was reprivatised last year will go up by 4.9% next year, compared to average 2.3% across UKThe 2.3% average UK rail fare rises for 2017 are being driven by much higher increases on the reprivatised Virgin Trains East Coast, where ticket prices set by the operator will far outstrip the rate of inflation.While regulated fares such as season tickets and off-peak returns, which are set by the government, are to increase by 1.9%, fares on Virgin Trains East Coast will increase by 4.9% overall. Continue reading...
• Network Rail to lose sole control of rail maintenanceTransport minister Chris Grayling believes using Virgin, Southern and other private firms will lead to savings, sources saySole control of Britain’s rail infrastructure is to be taken out of the hands of the state-owned Network Rail and shared with private firms under government plans to be announced next week, it has been reported.The move, which would represent one of the biggest changes to the running of the British rail network in recent years, would see track maintenance undertaken by Virgin, Southern, ScotRail and other operators for the first time. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Transport Minister begins talks over public takeover of railwaysTransport Minister Humza Yousaf has begun discussions with passenger groups, unions and political parties over options for bringing Scotland’s railways into public ownership.
• Scottish Government vows to 'look at options' amid calls for ScotRail fares freezeIn the rest of the UK, train fares will go up by an average of 2.3% on January 2.
• The CAMPAIGNERS have criticised the

The Telegraph

• London Underground fined �500,000 after maintenance worker injured in a fall
• Exclusive: Network Rail to be stripped of control over Britain’s train tracks as operators will win power to improve services

Times Online

• Rail fares rise by up to a fifth as overcrowding and delays worsen [Subscription]Rail passengers are facing inflation-busting fare increases of up to 20 per cent in the new year as overcrowding levels soar and delays reach their highest point in a decade.

Daily Record

• Scottish Government to 'look at options' after Labour calls for ScotRail fares freeze A spokeswoman for the Government said that 'no final decision had been taken' on fares next year in Scotland.

Mail Online

• Fares for season tickets are set to rise by up to �260� Millions of rail commuters who have endured another year of strikes, delays and overcrowding face paying almost 2 per cent more for an annual season ticket in Britain.
• Network Rail rakes in �1.4MILLION from a 50p-a-time toilet Commuters at London's second busiest station, Victoria, which handled 85million people in 2015, are charged 50p every time they want to use the facilities.

The Mirror

• Network Rail could lose control over Britain’s train tracks in biggest shake up of the railways for decades Chris Grayling, the transport secretary, will say he wants the state-owned Network Rail to share responsibility for running the tracks with private train operators

London Evening Standard

• Trains run on Post Office's 'mail rail' underground line for first time in a decade Trains have run on the Post Office's underground rail lines in London for the first time since the service was abandoned more than a decade ago.
• 'Worst commute in years' was just the start of chaos, unions warnUnion bosses today claimed responsibility for this week's Tube chaos — and warned of worse to come.
• Furious passengers hit out at rail fare rises after 'hellish' week on London transportRail passengers have labelled the announcement of fare rises "an absolute joke" after a week of chaos across London's transport network.
• Central line delays: Commuters face fresh rush hour chaos on TubeCommuters face more rush hour chaos after a track fault on the Central line led to severe delays.

Sheffield Star

• Car crashes onto train tracks at South Yorkshire stationTrains from Sheffield to Lincoln were held up after a car crashed onto the tracks.

Wales Online

• Rail fares will rise by an average of 2.3% next year It's part of a plan worth more than £50bn to upgrade the railways
• This is how to claim for a refund if you get stuck in Christmas rail delays From how long you need to be delayed to whether you get cash or vouchers, we've checked out exactly what you need to know
• This loophole will ensure you get the cheapest train journeys How to make sure you get the very best deals on rail fares over the festive period

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Rail price rises ‘a kick in the teeth’ for Yorkshire passengersRail fare price rises are to ignite a “winter of discontent”, campaigners have warned, as it emerges costs are to increase by an average of 2.3 per cent next month.

Other Regional Press

• Rail industry announces train fare hike Train fares will go up by an average of 2.3% next year, the rail industry has announced.

Rail Technology Magazine

• 'Mail Rail' trains tested to be revived as museum experienceTrains have run on the London Post Office Railway for the first time since the ‘Mail Rail’ service was abandoned over 10 years ago.  The ‘Mail Rail’ underground track, which has not been used since 2003, saw its first test drive in a decade carried out along a...
• Rail freight activity continues to decline in Q2Activity in the rail freight industry has continued to struggle in Q2, as the decline in coal being moved also spread to renewable sectors such as biomass, the latest ORR figures show. According to new statistics from the ORR, in Q2 this year 4.23bn net tonne kilometres of freight were moved, a...
• DfT reveals Southern passengers to be paid a month's compensationPassengers on Southern Rail will be repaid the equivalent of a month’s worth of fares after a year of unprecedented disruption, the DfT has revealed. Passengers who hold a season ticket will be eligible to claim against it and will receive the equivalent of four weeks of fares in...

Other News Sources

• Rail fare rise highest for three yearsIt’s that time of year: when the decorations go up in the high street – and the fares go up on the railway lines. This year’s rise of� 2.3 per cent, taking effect on January the 2nd, will be the highest for three years.
• �15m compensation for commuters - but Southern won't pay a penny SOUTHERN season ticket holders will be compensated the equivalent of a month's travel for the abysmal train service this year.
• Train compensation scheme "does not go far enough" LONG-SUFFERING commuters have reacted with fury to news that train fares are to rise next year.