Breaking News
Rail fare rises are a legacy of decades of underinvestment
Barely had the rail fare increase for England and Wales next year been revealed, than a pro-public transport pressure group rushed out a news release condemning the rises.
Northern and TransPennine shortlists revealed
The Department for Transport has published the shortlists for the next Northern and TransPennine Express franchises, which are due to be awarded in Octiober 2015 and start in the following April. It said the bidders will 'be expected to show how they will make the most of the government™s £1billion investment programme for the rail network in the north of England, which will provide faster and more reliable journeys, more capacity, better trains and improved connections for passengers across the region'.
Wednesday, 20 August 2014
BBC News
- Campaign for Better Transport calls for fare changesRegulated rail fares will rise by 3.5% from January next year, following the release of July's inflation figures.
- Minister says coalition has brought a 'rail renaissance'The rail minister, Claire Perry, has defended the cost of rail fares which have risen by 25% since 2010.
- HS2 and the new North-South divideHS2 - the proposed high speed rail link from London - is supposed to help bridge the North-South divide. But the debate surrounding the controversial project has arguably opened up a divide between councils in the North, who welcome the scheme, and those further south which do not.
- VIDEO: Road tunnels to open 'on schedule'Work to refurbish the A38 tunnels in Birmingham will be completed on time for the start of September, contractors say.
- Google cars 'designed to speed'Google's driverless cars are programmed to occasionally exceed speed limits by up to 10mph, says the project's lead engineer.
- Disabled parking abuse laws passedNew laws to crack down on drivers who abuse disabled parking are passed by the Scottish Parliament.
- VIDEO: Manchester introduces 20 mph zonesA 20mph speed limit is introduced on more than a 1,000 roads in Greater Manchester.
- Operators bid to run rail networksThe shortlist of companies bidding to run rail networks in the north of England is announced by the government.
- Rail fares to rise 3.5% for 2015Regulated rail fares in England will rise by 3.5% in January 2015, following the release of inflation figures for July.
Financial Times
- Rail fares to rise 3.5% in JanuaryIncrease in regulated fares will take the total rise since 2010 close to 25% compared with an increase in average wages of just 6.9%
- Digital revamp is just the ticketBig airlines must fly beyond legacy GDS technology and disrupt their own models before rivals do it for them, writes Steve Jones of Capgemini
- Maersk targets $1bn share buybackDanish group raises profit guidance again after a strong second quarter and is planning its first structured buyback programme, with more to follow
- AirAsia has ‘no interest’ in SkymarkChief executive Tony Fernandes calls Japanese media report that Malaysia budget airline may bid for struggling Japanese carrier ‘rubbish’
- Maersk: containment strategyDanish shipping company reports messy results, but management flags some important new ideas
- Rail franchise shortlists releasedFirstGroup and Stagecoach are seen as well placed to succeed after shortlists for Northern and TransPennine Express rail franchises are announced
The Herald
- New action plan is launched to tackle the messy problem of marine litterMARINE litter costs Scotland £16.8 million every year in its impact on the environment, wildlife, industry and tourism, say new to figures.
- Hundreds of drink-driver cars seizedMORE than 150 people had their vehicles seized because of drink-driving between April 2013 and March.
The Independent
- Rail fare rises are a legacy of decades of underinvestmentBarely had the rail fare increase for England and Wales next year been revealed, than a pro-public transport pressure group rushed out a news release condemning the rises.
The Telegraph
- How to beat the train fare risesVideo: Kate Palmer, at London Victoria, explains how passengers can avoid the 2015 price rises
- Avoid soaring train fares by booking in advance, rail minister saysClaire Perry, the rail minister, says that people should not just 'rock up' to the station, but avoid high fares by booking tickets in advance
- To put the railways back on track we must first rip out the wasteMore competition, not further subsidies, is the key to reforming this antiquated industry, believes Allister Heath
- Ditch the car and lose half a stone - research shows public transport linked to lower BMIPeople should be encouraged to ditch their car and take the bus or walk or cycle to work after a study showed men lose an average of half a stone, experts said
Mail Online
- Transport Minister defends rip-off rail prices (set to rise ANOTHER 5.5% next year) Claire Perry's remarks came after it was revealed ticket prices were set to rise by 5.5 per cent in January – despite wages falling for the first time in five years.
The Mirror
- Expert claims Flight MH370 pilot 'deliberately turned off passengers' oxygen supply' before ditching into seaA veteran air accident investigator suggests all 239 people lost consciousness up to four hours before the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 disappeared beneath the waves
Network Rail
- Talking Statues at London Paddington stationVisitors to London Paddington station can listen to the statues of The Unknown Soldier and Isambard Kingdom Brunel for the first time.
- REDHILL - No rail services to London Bridge for nine days and no Thameslink route commuter serviceSignificant changes to rail services from Redhill start this Saturday and last for nine days, as work to rebuild London Bridge station continues.
- Major changes to London Bridge train services begin this SaturdayA nine-day part-closure of London Bridge railway station begins this Saturday, with no First Capital Connect or Southern trains calling at the station until Monday, 1 September.
Bolton News
- Bolton's canals, towpaths and locks to be restored CONSERVATIONISTS have been working to uncover the town’s industrial heritage — and they believe the Bolton and Bury Canal could ultimately match Yorkshire’s famous Bingley Five-Rise Locks.
- Bolton 20mph speed limit plan delayed by cash shortage A TWO-year plan to make all of Bolton's residential streets 20mph zones has been delayed due to a shortage of cash.
Bradford Telegraph & Argus
- Rail ticket hikes spark concern among Bradford passengers CONCERNS have been raised in Bradford after it emerged that rail passengers will face average season ticket price rises of 3.5 per cent in January following the announcement of the latest inflation figures.
Daily Post (North Wales)
- Rail passengers in Wales face fare increase of up to 3.5%Welsh Government still to decide costs of travel in Wales and Borders franchise
London Evening Standard
- Warning over 'five years worth of free travel' bus stop scam Bus passengers are being warned over a scam offering people up to five years worth of free travel on London's transport network in exchange for email addresses.
- Rail commuters face fare hike six times the rise in wages Rail commuters into central London today faced inflation-busting hikes of up to hundreds of pounds in the cost of their annual season ticket.
Manchester Evening News
- Trams begin tests at Manchester Airport as take-off looms for new Metrolink lineFirst trams arrive at the airport station ahead of the service opening this year ... 12 months ahead of schedule.
Sheffield Telegraph
- Bidders for northern rail franchises are announcedThe names of companies hoping to run rail services in the north of England from 2016 have been announced.
Yorkshire Evening Post
- Companies bidding to run Leeds trains revealedTHE six companies vying to run local and commuter rail services into Leeds were announced this morning.
Yorkshire Post
- Airport service call as rail firms lodge their bidsBIDDERS for the franchises to run local and commuter trains in Yorkshire have been urged to restore a direct service between Hull and Manchester Airport.
Blackpool Gazette
- Vow to residents over M55 road linkThe MP for Fylde has contacted residents across the borough by letter to assure them the building of a link road from St Annes to the M55 will begin next year.
Carlisle News & Star
- Work on Carlisle Airport revamp could start within weeks Work on the long-awaited £20 million redevelopment of Carlisle Airport could begin in six weeks – provided there is not another legal challenge to the planning approval granted by councillors.
- Cash cuts lead to axing of Cumbrian bus services Many evening and Sunday buses will be axed from September 8 because Cumbria County Council is withdrawing subsidies for loss-making services.
Doncaster Free Press
- VIDEO: Protest over rail fare rises at Sheffield stationProtesters gathered at Sheffield station to spread the word about rail fare rises and campaign against private ownership of the railways.
East Anglian Daily Times
- Suffolk/Ipswich: MP Ben Gummer to lead the calls for no 3.5% rail fare increasesIpswich MP and rail campaigner Ben Gummer is to lead the battle by commuters against possible rail fare increases next year.
Other Regional Press
- Plan to cut Cleethorpes to Manchester direct express train service is right off track, says Labour candidate Peter Keith LABOUR'S parliamentary candidate for Cleethorpes has described the suggestion that North East Lincolnshire could lose its direct train service to Manchester Airport as "ill-considered". Read more: http://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/Plan-cut-Cleethorpes-Manchester-direct-express/story-22787238-detail/story.html#ixzz3AvBkVplQ
- Politicians given more time to respond to M4 legal letter POLITICIANS have been given more time to respond to a letter from an environmental campaign group opposing the planned Newport M4 relief road route.
- Train fare rises criticised by Portsmouth passengersCONCERNS have been raised by rail passengers who face higher fares from January.
- Rail unions call for fair fares after warning that Teesside train commuters face rise of 3.5%Unions gather Thornaby railway station to call for fair fares and public ownership of railways, saying passengers are paying price of privatisation
- Road markings firm’s expansionEnnis Flint EMEA, a global firm specialising in road markings and traffic safety solutions, has expanded its operations at its Lancashire headquarters in Chorley.
- Railway closure over bank holidayPeople planning a bank holiday get away are being urged to check before they travel because the West Coast main line will be closed.
- Battle on to save Huddersfield's and Dewsbury's free busesKirklees says cuts are necessary because of Government imposed cutbacks
- VIDEO: Campaigners call for renationalisation of Dorset's railways CAMPAIGNERS are calling for train services to be renationalised.
London TravelWatch
- London TravelWatch expresses concern at proposed above-inflation fare risesLondon TravelWatch has expressed concern that rail passengers in and around London face average fare rises of 3.5% in the new year following the release of July's inflation figures*.
Rail Technology Magazine
- Transcore to Showcase Products at InnoTrans 2014 Transcore's 70-year history of developing innovating transportation systems has created a vast portfolio of solutions.
- Future Rail: Issue 18 In this issue: The EU’s efforts to form a free trade agreement with Japan’s rail industry, new safety regulation for crude oil transport in the US, a super-luxury train, a futuristic concept for vertical rail hubs, the booming market for rail passeng…
Railnews
- Northern and TransPennine shortlists revealed The Department for Transport has published the shortlists for the next Northern and TransPennine Express franchises, which are due to be awarded in Octiober 2015 and start in the following April. It said the bidders will 'be expected to show how they will make the most of the government™s £1billion investment programme for the rail network in the north of England, which will provide faster and more reliable journeys, more capacity, better trains and improved connections for passengers across the region'.
- 'No decision yet' on January's fare changes The announcement today of the Retail Price Index for July has been seen as a key indicator of how much rail fares are likely to rise in January. Demonstrations against the expected increase are taking place outside more than 40 major stations this morning. The RPI for July is traditionally used as the benchmark, but it is not yet known what the exact formula will be for 2015.
Railway Gazette
- Northern and TransPennine Express franchise shortlist announcedUK: On August 19 the Department for Transport announced the six bidders which have been prequalified to submit ‘innovative and ambitious proposals’ to operate two passenger franchises in northern...
Aviation Industry
- Ryanair to accept Paypal paymentsTailored business product to be launched 'in the coming weeks'
Other News Sources
- £5m Blackburn bus station rises from the rubble THE skeleton of Blackburn’s £5million new bus station is now appearing.
- Fair fares? Cost of rail tickets rises as wages stagnateRail passengers will have to pay an extra 3.5 per cent for their season tickets in January on top of the big increases they have seen since the last election.
- Rail fares to rise 3.5% in 2015Prices could rise 5.5% on some routes
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