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

Saturday, 17 January 2015

BBC News

• Toy trains from the past 200 yearsWhat is it about toy trains that has continued to entertain children, admittedly mostly boys, for nearly two centuries? A major new exhibition is about to find out.
• Rail link reopening plans outlinedOver 100 people attend a meeting amid hopes a rail link between Aberystwyth and Carmarthen can be reopened.
• 'Berlin Wall across Suffolk' fearsPlans to close railway level crossings could result in a "Berlin Wall through the middle of Suffolk", campaigners have warned. Hundreds of people concerned at the possible closure of level crossings over safety fears met Network Rail in Stowmarket.
• HS2 compensation package increasedHomeowners living near the proposed HS2 rail line between London and Birmingham are to get extra assistance but campaigners dismiss the offer.
• Rail workers 'nearly hit by train'An investigation begins after two rail workers are nearly struck by a train in west London.
• Heavy snowfall causes transport woesHeavy snowfall across southern and central Scotland on Friday evening leads to long delays on major transport networks.

Financial Times

• HS2 resident compensation scheme expandedEnhanced offer on the table for homeowners living near planned high speed rail scheme

The Guardian

• Elon Musk commits to building a Hyperloop transport system test trackSpaceX, Teslsa and PayPal founder pledges to revolutionise public transport with a high-speed tube train that would travel close to the speed of sound

The Independent

• 'Batteries included': East Anglia leading a railway revolution with self-charging train The future of branch-line Britain could rest on what happens in the next few weeks on a 10-mile stretch of track in north-east Essex – because the electric train now standing at Platform 1 is designed to run on batteries as well as mains. The once-an-hour shuttle along the “Mayflower Lineâ€� from Manningtree to Harwich has gone all AC/DC.

Network Rail

• Stunning time-lapse film shows the removal of the mail conveyor at Temple Meads stationIn December last year, engineers from Network Rail’s ‘orange army’ began the process of removing the old Royal Mail mail conveyor from Bristol Temple Meads station, culminating in the structure being lifted out on Christmas Day. This time-lapse photography shows the scale of the project and level of work involved.

London Evening Standard

• HS2 property blight payouts are 'unfair to capital’ Ministers were accused today of  “discriminatingâ€� against Londoners by denying them new compensation being offered to rural homeowners living near the HS2 rail link.
• Probe launched after London train 'almost hit two railway workers' An investigation has launched after a passenger train almost hit two track workers in west London.

Wales Online

• Six Nations: Thousands of extra train seats put on for Wales' opening game in Cardiff – but how many will opt for a £900 trip on the Orient Express?Travel companies have commandeered the luxurious Belmond British Pullman run train to offer eye watering hospitality packages at a premium cost

Bucks Free Press

• Homeowners affected by HS2 route to receive extra compensation Those living between 60 and 120 metres from the line in rural areas could receive a full, un-blighted value for their property under the voluntary purchase scheme.

Rail Magazine

• Support for proposals to extend Overground services to Barking RiversideOf the 90% of respondents to a public consultation into the proposed London Overground extension were in favour.
• Crossrail submits plans for improvements to Goodmayes stationProposed improvements to be delivered by Network Rail include three new lifts and platform extensions to accommodate Crossrail trains.
• c2c named most punctual train operatorNetwork Rail's latest performance results puts National Express operator c2c on top for punctuality.
• GB Railfreight Class 59 ready soonRepatriated Class 59 expected to be ready within weeks.
• Phil Whittingham appointed Virgin Trains managing directorLead Executive at Virgin Trains is appointed MD, recognising his contribution to the operator.
• New compensation announced for property owners along HS2 routeA revised compensation scheme has been announced for homeowners and businesses along the London-Birmingham route of HS2.

Railnews

• Report critical of Government's rail plans A new report by MPs which follows an inquiry into the Government's plans for rail has concluded that there is no clear strategic plan, that projects such as Thameslink are tending to run behind time and over budget, and that the Department for Transport has not convinced its critics that it can deliver value for money. However, high speed rail lobby group Greengauge21 has claimed that the Committee is 'only telling part of the story'.

Other News Sources

• HS2: MPs question value for money of rail projectRail line linking London to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds could cost £50 billion