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

Wednesday, 21 February 2018

BBC News

• Metrolink problems: Mayor demands answers after tram chaosGreater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has called for an urgent report on Monday's problems.
• Signal problems resolved after major disruption to Glasgow servicesTwo signalling faults caused cancellations and delays to rail services in and out of Glasgow.

The Herald

• It is hard to come to terms with the farce that is Abellio ScotRailAbellio ScotRail (ASR) operates trains it doesn’t own, over track it doesn’t own, between stations it doesn’t own.

The Scotsman

• Kath Murray: SNP decision to delay police merger is right oneFor the most part, discussion about the integration of British Transport Police (BTP) in Scotland into Police Scotland has focused on the sizeable practical obstacles: on terms and conditions for transferring officers, the costs and risks, and whether seamless cross-border railway policing can be achieved under a dual command structure.
• ScotRail passengers hit by major signalling disruption Thousands of ScotRail passengers suffered major disruption today after more than 100 trains were cancelled because of four faults across the Central Belt.
• Controversial rail policing merger is thrown into doubtControversial plans to integrate railway policing into Police Scotland have been thrown into doubt after the scheduled start date was delayed.

Times Online

• Transport police merger hits bump in road [Subscription]A controversial merger of Police Scotland and the British Transport Police has been put on hold, the Scottish government has said.

City AM

• Deputy mayor slams government for abandoning London's transport network as TfL faces near £1bn deficitLondon's deputy mayor for transport will issue a rebuke of government today for abandoning the capital's transport network as Transport for London (TfL) faces a near £1bn operational deficit next year.

Daily Record

• ScotRail fined £3m in penalties for poor services The train operator has forked out £3m over the last night months for skipping stops, delays and cancelling services.
• Rush hour chaos as two of Scotland's busiest rail lines hit by disruption Passengers travelling on Newton and Croy lines are being affected by delays or cancellations following a signalling issue.

Network Rail

• Thousands of UK companies are set to benefit from £multi-billion work-bankThousands of UK companies are set to benefit as Network Rail starts its advanced procurement for a multi-billion pound investment programme for its next five-year funding period, 2019-2024, Control Period 6 (CP6)
• What the railway could look like in 30 years’ timeImagine the railway of the future. Research and development teams across the rail industry are doing just that, thinking about the needs of passengers and businesses in 30 years’ time and even further ahead, and considering how the railway can adapt through innovation to meet these requirements.

London Evening Standard

• Probe after Tube passenger dragged along platform and into tunnel after getting handbag trapped in train doorsAn investigation has been launched after an elderly woman was dragged along a London Undergound station platform and into a tunnel after becoming trapped in a train door.
• TfL Tube delays: Commuters face travel chaos as District, Circle, Hammersmith and City and Victoria lines hit by delaysTube commuters were braced for travel chaos as four lines were hit by delays ahead of the evening rush hour.
• First Elizabeth line trains run from Paddington for testing ahead of Crossrail launchThe first Elizabeth line trains have started running from Paddington ahead of the launch of Crossrail later this year.

Manchester Evening News

• Passengers caught up in Metrolink chaos 'could get compensation', says Mayor Andy Burnham Mayor calls for thorough investigation and 'more resilient system' in future as trams get moving again

Northern Echo

• 'Bring East Coast into public ownership now', petition statesA PETITION has been handed into the Government renewing calls for the East Coast Mainline franchise to be brought back into public ownership.

Other Regional Press

• Spalding gridlock fears over freight train plansSpalding’s level crossings could halt road traffic for 24 minutes in every hour once work is completed on a freight train “underpass” at Werrington.
• Railway subway plans set to include CCTV and two-way mirrors NEWPORT City Council (NCC) has said it plans to install CCTV, repair lights and reinstall a two way mirror in a graffitied subway.
• This is why MPs think the Virgin Trains collapse could pave the way for direct rail from Grimsby to LondonPrevious bids to run trains from London to Cleethorpes were blocked because it could hit Virgin Trains' profits

New Civil Engineer

• TfL reviewing 1,800 engineering rolesUp to 1,799 engineering jobs at Transport for London (TfL) are under threat as part of the body’s continuing cost-cutting drive, New Civil Engineer has learned.
• India hyperloop route gets green light for developmentIndia is a step closer to getting a hyperloop route after plans were revealed to construct a test track between two major cities.

Rail Technology Magazine

• First direct London-Amsterdam service marks 'exciting new chapter' for EurostarThe first ever direct Eurostar service from London to Amsterdam left London St Pancras International today, marking a landmark moment for rail travel between the UK and mainland Europe. A service left at 08.31 this morning, and will take just over three hours to get to Rotterdam, and three hours...
• Alstom: Industry must start work bringing hydrogen trains to UK immediatelyAlstom, the supplier who are leading the race to put hydrogen-powered rolling stock on track in Europe, has said that Jo Johnson’s ambition to get rid of diesel-only trains by 2040 will work as motivation for the industry to work towards delivering greener trains.   In an exclusive...
• Grayling granted injunction to stop protestors trespassing on HS2 construction siteChris Grayling has this week been granted an injunction to stop campaigners protesting the construction of HS2 on site. DfT demanded the injunction to prevent eight protestors demonstrating on site where the high-speed line in the Colne Valley, Hillingdon. The project has faced regular protests...
• TfL completes biggest test of Tube's signalling upgrade Transport for London (TfL) has completed a weekend of testing on a brand new signalling system set to transform the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines. More trains ran between Hammersmith and Edgware Road this weekend than any other weekend of testing. TfL says that...

Railway Gazette

• Greater Anglia Aventra EMUs under construction in DerbyUK: Bombardier Transportation’s Derby plant has begun production of the first of 111 Class 720...
• Greater Anglia Aventra EMUs under construction in DerbyUK: Bombardier Transportation’s Derby plant has begun production of the first of 111 Class 720...
• Eurostar runs Amsterdam preview service to mark start of ticket salesEUROPE: Cross-Channel high speed train operator Eurostar ran a preview service between London St...

The Business Desk

• £30m Centre of Excellence in Rolling Stock gets the backing of Rail MinisterThe University of Huddersfield’s Institute of Railway Research (IRR) has been announced as a Centre of Excellence for the new £90m UK Rail Research and Innovation Network (UKRRIN).