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

Friday, 19 January 2018

BBC News

• Cardiff rail upgrade value questioned by MP Glyn DaviesA senior Tory MP has questioned the worth of electrifying the Great Western rail line from London to Cardiff.
• Carillion's collapse may delay Midland Metro workBosses say the multimillion-pound Midland tram extension depends on other infrastructure projects.
• First Carillion task force meeting 'constructive'The group will co-ordinate efforts to support business and workers affected, government says

Financial Times

• No top ministers met Carillion in wake of profit alertCollapsed contractor still awarded six government contracts in late 2017

The Guardian

• Bristol investigates underground system to ease congestionBristol is investigating the possibility of building an underground system to ease the city’s growing congestion problems.
• Four cities, 1 hour, 1.3m people: new northern rail plan revealedNorthern Powerhouse Rail – a fast line between Bradford, Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool – could create 850,000 jobs, says transport body
• Environmental protesters at HS2 site threatened with injunctionLetters served at Hillingdon site say government plans to seek high court injunctions to prevent further demonstrations

The Scotsman

• Alastair Dalton: ScotRail Alliance needs to work on its relationshipA year ago, there was a political storm over the ScotRail Alliance’s poor performance.

City AM

• HS2 has unveiled the first pictures for the major Colne Valley viaduct including "noise-reduction barriers"HS2 today unveiled plans for the 3.4km Colne Valley viaduct in Buckinghamshire, which it said will be one of the longest in the UK, aiming to address key criteria such as fitting the landscape and maintaining views.
• Train drivers' union says the RMT is blocking four-day week plans for Tube driversUnions are divided over the prospect of a four-day working week for Tube drivers, with Aslef saying the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has blocked the proposals.
• Crossrail hands over site to Derwent London for retail revamp and new West End theatre over Tottenham Court Road stationCrossrail has handed over a West End site to developer Derwent London for work to get underway to develop a major £260m project over Tottenham Court Road station encompassing offices, retail and a new theatre.
• Rail industry income from passenger fares has risen by nearly 20 per cent in five yearsThe rail industry’s income from passenger fares has surged by nearly a fifth in five years, according to figures out today from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).
• Balfour Beatty boosted by US tax reforms after blow from Carillion collapseAfter revealing it would take a financial hit from Carillion's collapse earlier this week, Balfour Beatty delivered more welcome news to investors this morning, saying it expects a boost from US tax reforms.
• Mayor Sadiq Khan's concerns over fresh Crossrail 2 delays revealed in letter to the chancellorLondon mayor Sadiq Khan’s concerns over fresh delays to the £31bn Crossrail 2 project have been revealed in a letter sent to chancellor Philip Hammond.
• This Tube map shows how busy each London Underground station is during the dayA new Tube map has been created to show how many passengers enter and leave the capital's Underground stations throughout the day.

Birmingham Post

• 'Almost no exposure' to rail sector if companies collapse like Carillion Transport minister moves to reassure Parliament that projects such as HS2 will be protected if other contractors follow the same fate as Carillion
• Birmingham woman Nusrat Ghani makes history as first female Muslim Government Minister in the Commons Nusrat Ghani, born and bought up in Birmingham, made history when she spoke in the Commons in her new role

London Evening Standard

• New interactive Tube map reveals how busy each London Underground station is at peak timesA data enthusiast has created an interactive map of the Tube network which shows how many thousands of passengers pass through the stations each day.
• Tube delays: Trespasser at Aldgate East causes chaos on four major London Underground lines A trespasser at a busy east London station has caused huge disruption on four major Tube lines.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Fresh delays on Greater Anglia trains as engineers find another tree blocking line between Stowmarket and DissCommuters using Greater Anglia trains in Suffolk and Essex are facing further disruption after the region’s rail network was brought to its knees by yesterday’s storm.

North Wales Live

• ECHO Environment Awards sponsor Merseyrail on track for major energy savings over coming yearsNew £460m fleet for 2020 will contribute a 20 per cent improvement

Other Regional Press

• Councillor claims freight is key to establishing Levenmouth rail linkAs transport officials continue to work with Fife Council to develop a robust business case for the project, a local councillor said establishing a demand for freight trains was key to its success.
• Dewsbury rail station getting ticket gates to tackle fare dodgersTransPennine Express has installed new ticket gates at Manchester Airport and Dewsbury rail station

Rail Magazine

• Early opening of Toton Hub to stimulate regenerationThe planned HS2 station at Toton could open several years ahead of schedule, and before the arrival of HS2 Phase 2b in 2033.
• IEP use to be decided by operatorsIt is the responsibility of franchise bidders to specify how Intercity Express Programme (IEP) trains are used, according to Lords transport spokesman Baroness Sugg.
• Grayling: "I want the first hydrogen train to operate on our rail network within a short period of time"The prospect of hydrogen-powered trains has moved a step closer after Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling said their introduction was “a priority”.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Nottingham tram operator records losses of £48m following network expansionThe operator of Nottingham’s tram network has recorded huge losses that grew from £15m to £48.5m in the year to 31 March 2017. In accounts released today by Tramlink Nottingham, it was found that the company recorded the loss despite turnover increasing from £44.5m to...
• Next phase of £150m Wolverhampton tram extension to move forward in MarchThe next phase of Wolverhampton’s £150m tram extension will kick off in March, it was revealed today. In a statement, the Midland Metro Alliance, which operates the light rail network on behalf of the West Midlands Combined Authority, announced that it will get on with work on the...
• NR to upgrade bridge to strengthen services in £1m schemeNetwork Rail will strengthen a six-span railway bridge between Ely and Littleport in February to safeguard the reliable running of services in the future. The work will enable smooth running of the railway by preventing future speed restrictions that can cause delays between Ely and Kings...

Railnews

• New Transport ministers facing ‘key challenges’THE Department for Transport ministerial team consists of mostly new faces after the New Year cabinet reshuffle, although rumours that transport secretary Chris Grayling was set to be moved by Theresa May turned out to be unfounded.
• Abellio says Welsh bid has survived Carillion collapse Dutch operator Abellio has moved to quash rumours that the collapse of engineering giant Carillion could mean the end of its bid for the Wales & Borders franchise. Arriva had already announced at the end of October that it was withdrawing from what started as a four-horse race, leaving Abellio, KeolisAmey and MTR. As the extent of the Carillion fallout continued to grow, speculation also grew about the future of the Abellio bid in Wales, because Carillion had been its contracting partner.

Other News Sources

• Heathrow Airport’s short-lived railway stationIn our modern age, it’s almost impossible to believe that a railway station could open in London, and close just six months later, but that is what happened, in January 1998.