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

Tuesday, 14 February 2012

BBC News

• HS2 protesters warn of legal moveProtest groups against the HS2 rail project have sent the government a formal letter warning they will take legal action unless the £33bn scheme is stopped.
• London 'wants Kent rail links'A Kent MP is meeting London transport bosses over fears that the city may take over the running of some of the county's train services.

The Independent

• HS2 rail link may face legal challengeThe Government may face a legal challenge to its £33 billion HS2 high-speed rail project, it was revealed today. Related StoriesMinisters 'fully behind' Lansley and NHS reforms, says CameronMiliband brother returns with talk on party 'mess'Warsi to make case for faith on Vatican tripBritain warned it may be in line for a credit downgradeOh, brother... Ed may not like it but David Miliband is speaking out (again)

The Telegraph

• Train operators to lose grant for replacement busesRail operators will no longer be allowed to make money from forcing passengers onto replacement buses at the weekend, under new Government plans.
• Fresh legal challenge to high speed railCampaigners trying to block plans to build a high speed rail line from London to Birmingham have made their first move to challenge the scheme in the courts.

The Mirror

• Bombardier will shut if it loses Crossrail contract, bosses warnThe shock threat comes just days after the firm seemed to have secured enough orders to stay open for at least three years

Network Rail

• 95% OF SCOTTISH SERVICES TO RUN DESPITE STRIKEMajority of services on routes across Scotland will be unaffected by RMT strike Six local services from Glasgow Central to be reduced / withdrawnNo disruption expected to cross-border operations

Birmingham Post

• HS2 protest group planning legal action against high speed rail linkThe Government is facing the latest legal challenge to its £32 billion high speed rail link between London and Birmingham.

London Evening Standard

• Crossrail chaos as work begins at PaddingtonCommuters were thrown into confusion as work on the new Crossrail project got under way at Paddington

Metro

• Tube chaos for commuters as Metropolitan Line weekend work overrunsA number of commuters had a miserable start to the week after work being carried out on the Metropolitan Tube line overran causing massive delays.

Wales Online

• Train seats could be halved on peak time rail routes under new franchisesTHE number of seats on one of Wales’ busiest peak-time rail routes could be halved under new rail franchises, a passenger group has warned.

Yorkshire Post

• Sponsored byHigh-speed rail faces court fight from critics A LEGAL challenge is being launched against the Government’s £33bn HS2 high-speed rail project.

Campaign for Better Transport

• Rail fares at a cross roads13 February: We are waiting with baited breath for the Government review on fares to start. We want this to be an opportunity for passenger views and ideas to get a fair hearing. read more

Global Rail News

• New ScotRail trains ˜should be Scottish-owned™Sustainable transport alliance, Transform Scotland, today said that any new trains ‘serving the Scottish network’ should be ‘Scottish-owned’. As part of its response to the ‘Rail 2014′ consultation, Transform Scotland also said there was a need for detailed consultation with passengers, both on new trains and on timetable changes. Transform Scotland rail campaigner Paul Tetlaw [...]
• Industrial action to affect ScotRail servicesIndustrial action scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday 14th February) will affect some ScotRail services, the train operator has warned. The RMT said its rail signalling staff at the West of Scotland Signalling Centre will be striking again for 24 hours. The union said the strike has been called ˜following a total failure by the management to [...]
• CCTV released after men spotted ˜train surfing™ in LancashireBritish Transport Police has released images from CCTV of a young man and his friends ‘train surfing’ in Accrington, Lancashire. Officers have been shown CCTV images which show a young man hanging from the driver™s door of a train leaving the station. It seems the men had no intention of getting on the train, they [...]

Railnews

• Trains for Scotland 'should be Scottish owned' call A transport pressure group says the next generation of new trains for Scottish routes should be owned by the government, rather than be leased. Transform Scotland has made the call as a consultation continues on the shape of the next franchise north of the border, which is to start in 2014.

Other News Sources

• Initial cleaners at swanky St Pancras Eurostar terminal strike over poverty payRAIL UNION RMT announced today a series of strike actions by cleaners working for Initial on a Network Rail contract who are paid peanuts to clean the swanky first class facilities at the St Pancras Eurostar terminal.
• RMT reaction to Bombardier statements that they may have close the Derby plant if they don't secure the Crossrail fleet contractReacting to the statement today from Bombardier that they may be forced to close the Derby plant if they don't secure the Crossrail contract, RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: