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

Friday, 13 October 2017

BBC News

• Rail fund allocation leaves £600m gap, says transport ministerTransport Minister Humza Yousaf says the £3.6bn allocated by the UK government is not enough.

Financial Times

• Sir Richard Branson invests in futuristic hyperloop trainBillionaire backs US company developing vehicles that will run at supersonic speeds

The Herald

• Scottish ministers demand fair funding deal for railwaysScottish ministers have called for a fair funding deal for Scotland's railways after the UK Government announced billions of pounds worth of funding for future years.
• Sir Richard Branson claims hyper-loop will take passengers from Scotland to London in just 45 minutesSir Richard Branson has invested in a Hyperloop firm which he claims will transport passengers between Scotland and London in 45 minutes.

Times Online

• ‘Pedantry and poor teamwork’ derailed Edinburgh trams [Subscription]The Edinburgh trams project was hampered by unrealistic expectations, poor teamwork and a culture of pedantry, an inquiry has been told.

City AM

• Transport for London could cash in on open data expertise through new consulting armTransport for London (TfL) has shed more light on the role of its consultancy arm in the works, saying today that it is exploring new commercial avenues through releasing open data.

Daily Record

• Sir Richard Branson to build futuristic train line that will carry passengers from Edinburgh to London in 45 minutesVirgin has described Hyperloop One as the 'world's most revolutionary train service' which will have 'operational systems' ready by 2021.

Mail Online

• Ryanair pilot blasts managers in extraordinary letter Captain Imelda Comer is the first pilot to use her name when criticising the airline and penned the letter to CEO Michael O'Leary (pictured) which she delivered to their headquarters in Dublin.

London Evening Standard

• WH Smith airport and rail stores eclipse High StreetWH Smith today hit a landmark point in its 225-year history with its stores in train stations and airports now larger than its High Street arm.

Northern Echo

• Hitachi 'will expand further' if orders continue to come - bosses claim BOSSES of a trainbuilder have said they are ready to expand to challenge for significant new projects after unveiling their latest North-East creation yesterday.

Wales Online

• Commuters 'face daily major-event-style queues at Cardiff Central Station' The number of people using the station every year is expected to grow by 3.5 million over the next five years

North Wales Live

• Merseyrail making changes to Wirral train journeys after admitting service has not been good enough Passengers angry at delays and disruption blamed on Lime Street closure and leaves on the line

Rail Magazine

• Scotland's new rail championNew ScotRail Alliance Managing Director ALEX HYNES talks about why he moved north of the border in June, and the challenges he faces in his new role
• Hitachi unveils first complete Scottish Class 385Hitachi Rail Europe unveils first completed Class 385 for ScotRail.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Specialist trains keep Wales moving through autumnSpecialist ‘railhead treatment’ trains are in use across the railway in Wales and the Borders as Network Rail and Arriva Trains Wales step-up their plans for autumn. The railhead treatment trains are designed to use high pressured water jets to clear the top of the track, improving...
• Councillors consider £500m Leeds station upgradeProposals to make £500m worth of changes to Leeds Station to build a central hub for HS2 have been discussed by councillors this week. The plans, which relate to both the high-speed rail and Northern Powerhouse projects, include an increase in the number of entrances and the creation of a...
• NR launches first multi-site land package for homesNetwork Rail has launched the first in a planned series of multi-site land packages as part of its land for homes programme. The multi-site packages will streamline the process of unlocking land for homes. The first package includes two sites in Bermondsey, south-east London, a residential and...
• DfT allots £48bn for CP6 alongside new major upgrade funding processTransport secretary Chris Grayling has announced £48bn spending on railways from 2019 to 2024 including more maintenance and the promised increase in renewals. The figure, quoted in the Statement of Funds Available (SoFA), is £10bn greater than the previous control period and has...

Railway Gazette

• Railway supply industry news round-upGE Transportation announced on October 7 that Chief Executive Officer Jamie Miller is to become...

Other News Sources

• 'Stalinist' £150 million Guildford railway station development would prevent chance to alleviate town centre traffic, campaigners say Guildford Vision Group is not happy about developer Solum's radical proposals for the town’s main transport hub