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

Sunday, 23 July 2017

BBC News

• Merseyrail strike hits Open golf at Royal BirkdaleThe action over driver-only-operated trains coincides with the final day of the tournament in Southport.
• Manchester Metrolink trams suspended after faultA communications failure has led to the whole network being shut down, Metrolink said.
• First class could be cut on busy trains, says GraylingThe transport secretary is

The Guardian

• Full speed ahead for train builders as minister pulls plug on electrificationChris Grayling has axed promised upgrades, but in other areas the industry looks healthy. What’s going on?The bright, electric future of the railway has been dimmed: trains will now continue to run on diesel west of Cardiff to Swansea, as they will on the Midland mainline to Nottingham and Sheffield.An announcement sneaked out on the last day before parliament went into summer recess has sparked howls of betrayal, in Wales in particular. Rail electrification, the government had once boasted, would bring quicker, greener, more reliable services, jumpstarting the economy and creating jobs with i...
• From the railways to the NHS – why can’t Britain think anything through? | Ian JackThe saga of delayed and failed rail electrification suggests our politicians and officials are more comfortable with talking than with deliberation• Ian Jack is a Guardian columnistThe line from Gospel Oak to Barking used to be one of London’s more obscure railways, looping 14 miles through the northern and eastern suburbs and never penetrating the capital’s centre. A railway enthusiast could have told you that the boat trains from Tilbury to St Pancras used to use it – for many visitors and migrants from the British empire, including MK Gandhi and some of the passengers from the Empire Windru...

The Herald

• Rail bosses warned that shake-up will increase sex attack riskRAIL passengers in Scotland face a higher risk of sexual assaults due to staffing changes and a controversial merger of the British Transport Police, campaigners have warned.

The Huffington Post

• Chris Grayling Backing 'One Class' Trains On Shorter Commuter RoutesFirst class train carriages will be cut on busy suburban routes to stop commuters having to stand, Chris Grayling has said. The Transport Secretary said he did not see the case for different sections on shorter routes and pledged that the Government will stipulate “you can’t start segregating” in future deals. Grayling, who travels to Westminster by train every day, said he was “absolutely” committed to scrapping first class carriages on commuter routes and wants train operators to take action if passengers demand it. The Government is working on “smart tic...

Times Online

• Glasgow’s tram-train link firmly on track [Subscription]There is growing optimism that a direct “tram-train” link between Glasgow airport and the city centre will get the go-ahead, according to Scottish government sources.

Bolton News

• How long will bridge next to train station be closed for? WORK is continuing on a bridge next to a train station.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Council buys car park in multi-million pound deal as plans for rail station revamp progress A MASTERPLAN to expand the Interchange rail and bus station has moved a step closer, with Bradford Council buying up a key site nearby.

London Evening Standard

• Chris Grayling vows to ban first class on cramped commuter routes as golf fans struggle to get The Open over strikeFirst class train carriages will be banned on busy suburban routes to stop commuters having to stand due to "segregation", the Transport Secretary has said.

Bucks Free Press

• MP: ‘It is important Wycombe can rely on a fast and reliable rail service’This week Wycombe MP Steve Baker writes exclusively to Bucks Free Press readers:

Other Regional Press

• Rail engineering work to affect late night servicesRAILWAY engineering work in the region this weekend will affect late night services on Sunday and into next week.
• Car park scheme for new Oxford Station masterplan could 'devastate' residential streetsHOUSEHOLDERS are calling for changes to the latest masterplan for Oxford Railway Station – fearing they will 'devastate' their quiet residential streets.
• Train track electrification will go ahead in OxfordshireTHE electrification of the railway between Oxford and Didcot will go ahead as planned despite the project being scrapped across parts of the country.
• Rail passengers set for disruption as nine-day engineering work starts Rail passengers set for disruption as nine-day engineering work starts
• Southeastern could be forced to ditch first class seatsTrain operator Southeastern could be forced to ditch first class seats after a government minister pledged to remove them on busy commuter services.
• WATCH: Timelapse video shows part of �800m rail upgrade getting underwayA timelapse video shows a new footbridge - part of an �800m upgrade - being built�at a busy station.

Other News Sources

• Network Rail urges commuters to 'consider working from home' during August construction work at London Waterloo The major work at London Waterloo is expected to cause severe disruption across South West Trains services between August 5 to 28