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Saturday, 21 January 2017

BBC News

• On the wrong track?A timeline of Phil Verster's tumultuous 18 months as managing director of ScotRail Alliance.
• ScotRail Alliance managing director Phil Verster leaves roleThe managing director of ScotRail Alliance is leaving to take up a new role in England.
• People tired of old and cramped Arriva trains, say MPsThere is an
• Oban to Glasgow rail line to stay closed until MondayNo rail services will operate on the Glasgow to Oban line over the weekend, after a lorry collided with a bridge.
• UK looks for HS2 train-builderA company is needed to take on a �2.75bn contract to build 60 high speed trains.

The Guardian

• ScotRail boss resigns after pressure over firm's performancePhil Verster’s departure for another rail job raises doubts about future of Scotland’s transport minister Humza Yousaf Phil Verster, the beleaguered boss of the ScotRail franchise, has resigned after weeks of pressure over the company’s poor performance.His decision to quit to take up another rail industry job has plunged the Scottish government into an unexpected crisis, raising further questions about the future of the transport minister, Humza Yousaf. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Under-fire head of ScotRail in shock quit moveTHE beleaguered boss of the firm running Scotland's railways has quit, The Herald can understands.
• New ScotRail chief announced within daysTHE operators of Scotland's railway network will appointment a new chief within days following the announcement beleaguered boss Phil Verster was to quit the operation.

Times Online

• ScotRail Alliance chief switches tracks for new job [Subscription]The man in charge of Scotland’s under fire railway services is leaving his £260,000-a-year post.
• Wheels are in motion for HS2 contract race [Subscription]The next stage in delivering the HS2 rail network got under way yesterday when the search began for a company to take on the £2.75 billion contract to build the high-speed trains.

Birmingham Post

• Bids invited for �2.75 billion HS2 high speed trains contract Winning firm will build new HS2 trains to run between London and Birmingham

Derby Telegraph

• Derby's Bombardier 'very keen' to bid for £2.75bn HS2 train contractDerby train-maker Bombardier is "very keen" to bid for a £2.75 billion contract to design, build and maintain high speed trains for the new HS2 rail link, the Derby Telegraph understands.

London Evening Standard

• Northern Line extension: Tunnelling work on �1.2bn extension to Battersea to begin in MarchThe tunnelling work on the �1.2 billion Northern Line extension to Battersea Power Station will begin in March, it was announced today.

Northern Echo

• Conductor's kindness helps young soldier reach family funeral A RANDOM act of kindness avoided heartache for a young soldier and his family, when a problem with his train ticket nearly caused him to miss his grandfather’s funeral.
• Hitachi ‘well placed’ for HS2 contract that could see trains built at Newton Aycliffe factory A TRAINBUILDER is well placed to secure a £2.75bn high-speed rail deal, it was last night claimed.

The York Press

• Director in court for not paying rail fare A banking accountant and company director has a criminal record today after he admitted fare dodging between Skipton and York.
• UPDATE: Rail firm tell of pride after conductor's amazing act of kindness A GRATEFUL mum has thanked a kind conductor after he bought a �55 ticket for her stranded son.

Other Regional Press

• Bring Welsh trains into public ownership, says report THE Wales and Borders rail franchise should be taken into public ownership, a group of Welsh MPs have said.
• Didcot station could be relocated in billion pound town masterplan A BILLION pound transformation of Didcot could include a new technology institute, railway station and leisure centre, new plans have revealed.
• Former Scotrail boss to head project linking Oxford and Cambridge The former boss of a Scottish train operator will head up a rail project linking Oxford and Cambridge.
• Former Scotrail boss to head project linking Oxford and Cambridge The former boss of a Scottish train operator will head up a rail project linking Oxford and Cambridge.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• The hunt is on for a company to build HS2 trains in �2.75 billion government rail investmentThe hunt for a company to design, build and maintain a fleet of state-of-the-art high speed trains for Britain’s HS2 network was launched by Transport Secretary Chris Grayling. Providing a world class passenger experience is at the heart of the requirements for companies interested in bidding for the £2.75 billion contract. Up to 60 high specification trains to transport passengers at around 225mph on Britain’s new high speed rail service are needed. Hundreds of jobs will be created by the government’s investment, boosting Britain’s skills and expertise in this...

Rail Technology Magazine

• Continuous Wi-Fi Solution for Chiltern Railways WiFi SPARK is a leading specialist in public wireless solutions. The company is the owner and developer of the unique SPARK® platform which delivers the most flexible, feature rich and scalable solution for guest access Wi-Fi on the market today.
• The future of East West RailShortly before the end of last year, transport secretary Chris Grayling announced unprecedented proposals to create a new and independent East West Rail operation tasked with designing, managing and running services between Oxford and Cambridge. RTM's Luana Salles reports.
• Khan accused of lying over failure to extend TfL fares freeze to travelcardsLondon mayor Sadiq Khan has been accused of reneging on his pre-election pledge of a TfL-wide fares freeze after it was revealed that it would have been possible for him to freeze the price of travelcards. A leaked document acquired by the MayorWatch blog via a FoI request showed that TfL...
• 'Transformational change' in Wales franchise hinges on new trains and electrificationA committee of MPs has urged the Welsh and UK governments to end underdevelopment of the Welsh rail network, pointing to the new Wales and Borders franchise as an opportunity for “transformational change” to the network. In a new report, the Welsh Affairs Committee (WAC) said that...
• Verster to leave ScotRail for East West RailPhil Verster will be leaving his current position as ScotRail’s managing director, which he has held since 2015, to become the MD of the East West Rail project in the spring. The new East West Rail organisation, announced by the transport secretary Chris Grayling late last year, will...

Railnews

• �HS2 train procurement launched The Government has started the procurement process for the first generation of trains on HS2. The contract is valued at �2.75 billion, and will involve up to 60 new trains capable of travelling at 360km/h. The work to build the new fleet will create 'hundreds of jobs', according to the Department for Transport, and the winning bidder will maintain the fleet at Washwood Heath in Birmingham alongside the HS2 Network Control Centre. The award of the contract is expected at the end of 2019.
• West Coast/HS2 franchise 'once in a lifetime opportunity' A new prospectus for the next Intercity West Coast franchise has been published by the Department for Transport, confirming that the next operator will also be expected to manage the introduction of services on HS2. Phase 1 of the high speed line is due to open in 2026. and the DfT has described the combined project as a 'once in a lifetime opportunity'. Known as the West Coast Partnership franchise, the contract will run from 2019, and the DfT has described its ambitions for the route:
• ScotRail chief Phil Verster in surprise resignation The managing director of the ScotRail deep alliance Phil Verster has resigned, only a day after he reportedly clashed with Scottish transport minister Humza Yousaf over the cost of giving season ticket holders a week of free travel in compensation for disruption over recent months. The problems have been attributed to the amount of upgrade work which is being carried out in the central belt, including the key electrification scheme between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh. Mr Verster, who has only been in his job since 2015, is moving to manage the new East West Rail project announced by tr...