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

Monday, 23 March 2015

BBC News

• Railway 'golden ticket' up for grabsA competition giving Borderers the chance to nominate a deserving person for a special journey on the Borders Railway is launched.
• FirstGroup awarded new rail dealTransport company FirstGroup extends its franchise to run rail services between London, South Wales and the South West until 2019.

Financial Times

• FirstGroup to expand commuter servicesTrain operator to add 4,000 seats as part of Great Western line deal

The Guardian

• FirstGroup to run Great Western trains for four more yearsTransport group to create more seats and services for passengers but unions blast franchise agreement as ‘outrageous contract by default’First Group has been handed the keys to the Great Western franchise – which operates services out of London Paddington – for at least four more years.The government said the new contract, which will run from September this year until April 2019, with a possible year’s extension, would require First to bring in more seats and services for passengers as modern fleets of trains are introduced on the line between London Paddington, the Cotswolds, South Wales and ...

The Herald

• Running of Edinburgh trams and buses under review THE running of the entire public transport system in the Scottish capital is under review after the implosion of the board at Lothian Buses.

Bolton News

• More seats and station wi-fi promised after First TransPennine Express wins trains contract MORE seats and wi-fi at stations have been promised after First TransPennine Express was awarded the contract for key services through Bolton for another year.

London Evening Standard

• FirstGroup defies commuter ire to keep Great Western route Commuters into Paddington station will be able to fight over more morning rush-hour seats as part of a four-year, £68 million deal to extend FirstGroup’s operation of the Great Western line to Oxford, Bristol and the west country.

Northern Echo

• UPDATED: Trains stopped for 'trespasser' on line at Durham POLICE are dealing with a suspected trespasser on the line near Durham railway station.

Rail Magazine

• Patrick McLoughlin’s TransPennine Express announcementSecretary of State for Transport makes official announcement regarding Direct Award for TPE
• New trains for South West in new First Great Western franchise dealMore than 360 AT300 vehicles destined for Devon and Cornwall.

Railnews

• More new Great Western trains are part of franchise award FIRSTGROUP has reached agreement with the DfT for a further Intercity Great Western contract, after months of detailed negotiations. The new contract runs until April 2019. The GW network faces major changes between now and 2019, including electrification and new Intercity Express trains.