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

Wednesday, 01 April 2015

Financial Times

• UK rail nationalisation would save £1.5bnChanges could fund an 8 per cent cut in ticket prices, TUC report argues

The Herald

• New ScotRail operator promises Oyster-style smartcard for whole of ScotlandPASSENGERS across Scotland will eventually be able to use a single smartcard to travel on trains, buses and other modes of transport under ambitious plans outlined by Dutch operator Abellio as they take over the ScotRail franchise today.

The Scotsman

• Abellio seeks to boost passenger numbers up to 100mDUTCH firm Abellio takes over ScotRail today with the pledge to boost passengers to 100 million a year by 2018. The operator said two fleets of new trains would help it hit the target, up some 90m in the year which ended yesterday.

London Evening Standard

• 'Give London Bridge passengers automatic refunds if trains are late'Passengers forced to put up with weeks of chaos at London Bridge station should get an automatic 50 per cent refund if their train is late, it was suggested today.
• Simon Calder says: Are there ways to save money on trains in Belgium?We are going to Belgium in May. We are staying with a friend in the town of Geel, east of Antwerp and then spending two nights in Ghent. Are there any tickets we can get for the trains that will save us money? - Julie Wiley

Manchester Evening News

• Get ready for an Easter eggstravaganza ... of shut stations, improvements on key lines, and motorway roadworks!Roadworks, Victoria station closure, engineering works and no direct route to London spell trouble for the long weekend getaway
• Hero railway staff at Salford Crescent station save woman's life after she fell in front of trainBritish Transport Police praised the quick-thinking staff who rushed to the woman's aid

Nottingham Evening Post

• Plans for HS2 station in Nottinghamshire back on trackPlans to build the new HS2 high-speed rail hub in Nottinghamshire are back on track. Nottingham City Council leader Jon Collins has made the claim following a recent meeting with "an official" for the project – which the Post believes to be HS2 chairman Sir David Higgins.
• TracyWalker published Tram testing in Beeston is scheduled for Wednesday nightResidents in Beeston are to get their long-awaited first view of a tram on Wednesday night.Trials of the tram extension into the town are due to take place from 11pm.There had been plans for the tests on Tuesday night but work was rescheduled as NET Phase two construction contractor Taylor Woodrow Alstom did not get clearance from police or the highways authority.It means three years of upheaval for residents and businesses is drawing to a conclusion. The tests will run from University Boulevard...

Sheffield Telegraph

• Sheffield rail passengers ‘to be used as cash-cow’ for European operators, claim campaignersSheffield railway passengers have been warned they will be used as a ‘cash-cow’ to fund improvements to train services in Europe.

Doncaster Free Press

• Warning of ‘extremely busy’ Easter getaway for road and rail usersRoad and rail users are preparing for an ‘extremely busy’ Easter getaway in South Yorkshire this weekend.

Other Regional Press

• Last ditch effort to save Bedwyn's direct trainsTRAIN campaigners in Bedwyn have written to the Department of Transport in a last ditch attempt to save a direct service to London.
• Celebrate 150th anniversary of the Portland branch railway with these fantastic pictures THIS year marks the 150th anniversary of the Portland branch railway.
• Metro trains back on track after power problemMetro trains back on track after power problemMETRO services are now running again after power problems knocked out services between East Boldon and South Hylton.

Other News Sources

• Train line between Spalding and Peterborough closed as freight train wagon blown off tracks in high windsThe train line between Spalding and Peterborough had to be closed on Tuesday after a freight train wagon was blown off the tracks.