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

Friday, 17 April 2015

BBC News

• Underground freight travel testedA high-tech study to see whether underground freight deliveries could become reality in the UK is to be carried out in Northampton.
• Rail staff to vote on strike actionThousands of Network Rail staff are to be balloted on industrial action over a pay dispute, the Rail, Maritime and Transport union says.

Financial Times

• Alstom unit charged with briberyAllegations add to sprawling corruption case against several UK divisions of French group

The Guardian

• Eurostar revenues down after Paris terror attacksFirst-quarter takings slump by 6% after January attacks, tunnel fire and rise in sterling, but company says trading has reboundedEurostar’s revenues fell in the first quarter of 2015 as ticket sales faltered after the Paris terror attacks and disruption from a fire in the Channel tunnel.After years of growing passenger numbers, only cheaper advance fares kept thetrain operator’s journey numbers at the previous year’s level of 2.3m.With forward bookings up on this time last year, we are gearing up for a busy summer period Continue reading...

The Herald

• Rail workers strike moves a step closer COMMUTERS could face disruption on the railways after the threat of a strike by thousands of Network Rail workers moved a step closer.

City AM

• Alstom facing further charges in SFO inquiryFRENCH engineering group Alstom is facing further corruption charges filed by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) as part of its ongoing investigation. Both Alstom Network UK, a subsidiary of Alstom, and Michael John Anderson, a UK resident who was previously business development director for Alstom Transport in France, have been charged with two corruption offences and two offences of conspiracy to corrupt. The allegations centre around the supply of trains to the Budapest Metro, and the offences are said to have taken place between January 2006 and October 2007. The fraud office announc...

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Lib Dems’ vow on northern rail links THE Liberal Democrats have vowed to “deliverâ€� an ambitious strategy to transform Northern rail links – despite its multi-billion pound price tag.

London Evening Standard

• Another hazard to worry about on the Tube? Comedians perform stand-up routine to divided crowd of passengers Five men set themselves the task of bringing joy to London's "miserable" commuters - by performing stand-up comedy on the Tube.

Other Regional Press

• New 5km tunnel into Heathrow will 'relieve Paddington', developer claimsThe tunnel could open up 42,000 new jobs and relieve pressure on commuter lines into Paddington station, developers have said
• Eurostar reports 2015 first quarter revenue drop in wake of Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack in ParisCross-channel rail operator Eurostar says its revenues dropped by £12m in the first quarter of 2015 in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris.

Rail Magazine

• Eurostar passenger numbers remain constantHigh-speed rail service releases performance figures for Q1 2015
• RMT ballots 16,000 Network Rail members on strike actionNR pay proposals rejected by 93% on a 56% turnout,
• Virgin Trains launches lost luggage tracking service PIN technology can reunite customers with whatever they choose to protect.
• Work begins at Finsbury Park Tube station to improve accessConstruction work will begin on April 20 to develop step-free access and a bigger station entrance

Railnews

• LibDems go electric, while UKIP would scrap HS2 The Liberal Democrat manifesto has promised that the 'overwhelming majority' of the rail network will be electrified and more stations and lines opened under their plans for transport, while the Ukip manifesto opposes road charging but gives no indication of any plans for rail transport, apart from saying that 'HS2 is an unaffordable white elephant' which 'must face the axe'.

Railway Gazette

• Go Rail to suspend Tallinn - Russia services EUROPE: Estonian private operator Go Rail, which operates Tallinn – Moscow/St Petersburg passenger...
• TDSi signs railway security technology agreement in ChinaCHINA: UK-based security and access control system manufacturer TDSi has signed a five-year...
• Ostrava airport rail link opensCZECH REPUBLIC: Ostrava became the first city in the country with a rail link to its international...
• All Aboard Florida selects GE signallingUSA: Private inter-city service promoter All Aboard Florida has selected GE Transportation to...

Other News Sources

• Railway lines between Bolton and Blackburn set for upgrade as part of £20m plan THE first stage of a programme of works to upgrade the railway lines between Bolton and Blackburn starts at the end of this month.
• UPDATE: Cause of derailed train "appears" to be driver error The cause of yesterday's derailed train at Brighton station
• Eurostar revenues hit by Paris attacksRail operator receives business travel bookings boost