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

Wednesday, 14 March 2018

BBC News

• No decision taken on electric trains for Ebbw Vale and MaestegBut Carwyn Jones says Ebbw Vale and Maesteg will enjoy better services under Metro plan.
• Millennial railcards sold out despite technical problemsDemand for the new millennial railcard crashed the website on the first day of nationwide sales.

The Telegraph

• Rail company pays hundreds over 'continual' delays as others could follow suit
• Millennial railcard chaos as site crashes and only 10,000 available 

Times Online

• Buying millennial railcard ‘harder than getting Glastonbury tickets’ [Subscription]The launch of a new millennial railcard was branded a “shambles” today after the website selling the tickets crashed due to high demand.
• Tram boss ‘paid out huge bonuses years before deals were fulfilled’ [Subscription]The former head of Edinburgh’s tram company devised an unusual bonus scheme based on results that paid out huge rewards years before the new transport system was completed, a public inquiry has been told.

City AM

• TfL's fares income from the Tube is down £89m so far this year due to fewer passenger journeys than expectedTransport for London (TfL) is continuing to battle the impact of an unexpected dip in passenger numbers, with both rail and London Underground fare income lower than expected for the year so far.

Network Rail

• New alliances to be formed as £5bn railway track work tender issuedThe infrastructure company, which owns, manages and develops Britain’s railway, has begun the process to let the next generation of track infrastructure contracts.

Birmingham Post

• Major rail disruption at Easter as trains between Birmingham New Street and London Euston cancelled Rail bosses warn travel will be 'particularly difficult' on Easter Sunday

Liverpool Echo

• Have Merseyrail just threatened to remove striking guards' jobs guarantee?On the anniversary of the union dispute - Merseyrail have been accused of 'veiled threats' and 'bullying'

London Evening Standard

• TfL fares income 'to fall by £89m' as number of Tube passengers dropsThe number of passengers using the Tube has continued to fall behind predictions, Transport for London admitted today.
• Tube flasher banned from London Underground network after exposing himself to women on the Central LineA sex attacker has been banned from the London Underground and DLR network after admitting to flashing and rubbing himself against women on the Tube.
• Millennials left baffled by Virgin Trains bizarre avocado offer Virgin Trains has been bombarded with questions over its one-week offer to millennials to have a third of their rail fares slashed - if they "present an avocado".

Northern Echo

• Mothballed railway lines at Leamside and Stillington on the agenda at campaign group meetingTHE possibility of the mothballed Stillington and Leamside lines being re-instated for passenger use will be on the agenda at a public meeting of Railfuture North-East.

The York Press

• Grand Central’s plan for additional servicesYORK headquartered train operator Grand Central is in talks to operate additional daily services in a move that will see 1,600 extra daily seats to or from London.

Crewe Chronicle

• Council leader hails Crewe HS2 Hub as "whole new chapter" for the region Cllr Rachel Bailey says that clarity from the Government on their support for a Crewe HS2 Hub has given a "real boost" to the Constellation Partnership - a 25 year regeneration programme for the region

Other Regional Press

• ScotRail’s cut in stop-skipping in Fife still not good enough, says MSPHowever, the organisation revealed 138 scheduled station stops were still missed in the four-week period to March 3, a situation branded frustrating by Labour MSP Claire Baker.
• Detested Pacer trains set to be axed from the Huddersfield-Sheffield lineThose detested Pacer trains may be on the way out – but what’s going to replace them on the Huddersfield-Sheffield line?

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• TfL budget shows progress to achieving operating surplus by 2021/22Transport for London (TfL) has published its draft budget for 2018/19, which describes the transport improvements that will be delivered for London in the first year of its latest five- year Business Plan.  The Business Plan, published in December last year, set out a fully funded plan for delivering the Mayor’s Transport Strategy, including investing record amounts in public transport and prioritising safer and less polluted streets, with an unprecedented focus on walking and cycling over the next five years. The 2018/19 budget being published today details how TfL will work to ach...

Construction News

• Network Rail to trigger £525m framework extensionsNetwork Rail has revealed plans to extend 16 of its long-term construction deals by an extra two years, with the extensions set to be worth up to £525m.

The Business Desk

• Crewe hub announcement will see Constellation surgeThe leader of Cheshire East Council and member of the Constellation Partnership has said that clarity from Government over plans for the Crewe HS2 hub has given the 25-year regeneration programme a real boost.
• £15bn boost for Northern economy if Bradford secures Northern Powerhouse Rail stationThe North’s economy could benefit by up to £15bn in additional GVA by 2060 through a Northern Powerhouse Rail station in Bradford city centre, it has been revealed.

Other News Sources

• BRADFORD NPR STATION COULD PROVIDE £15BN BOOST - RESEARCHA new Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) station in Bradford city centre could provide a £15bn boost to the economy, according to new research.
• Preston to Blackpool line set to be ‘energised’ next month with new overhead wire system Lancashire’s railway is all set to be “energised” around April 14 as upgrades to the Preston to Blackpool line remain on track.