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

Saturday, 27 June 2015

BBC News

• Ministers deny rail upgrade 'betrayal'Ministers say they only learnt recently major rail upgrades would have to be delayed, amid Labour claims voters were
• Q&A: Rail upgrade rowWhy have rail upgrade plans been held up?
• Network Rail 'too big', says BransonNetwork Rail is too big and should be broken up into regional units, Sir Richard Branson tells the BBC.

Financial Times

• Delays bedevil God's Wonderful RailwayNewts and dormice conspire with roadworks, councils and the weather to frustrate upgrade
• More delays on UK's creaking rail networkThe government must mind the gap between promises and delivery
• Labour accuses Tories of rail 'betrayal'Delays to electrification come weeks after Tory promises of a Northern Powerhouse
• Network Rail loses out to HS2 brain drainSenior managers quit for more glamorous high-speed project

The Telegraph

• Ministers could force train companies to pay compensation for 15 minute delaysPatrick McLoughlin, the Transport Secretary, suggests that he will now look at plans to pay customers facing delays on commuter services across the country.

Times Online

• £2bn fiasco of Britain’s broken rail network [Subscription]Passengers on some of the country’s most congested rail lines face waiting years longer for crucial upgrades after ministers shelved improvements worth £2 billion.

This is Money

• Ministers accused of burying bad news on HS2 as fears of spiralling costs are laid bare in previously hidden official reports Campaign group StopHS2 said ministers had chosen the same day as a row over rail funding to publish a highly critical report casting doubt over HS2’s feasibility and classifying it an ‘amber-red’ risk.

Network Rail

• Network Rail confirms review of five year CP5 planMore train passengers arrived at their destination on time last year than ever before, Network Rail’s Annual Report has revealed today.

Yorkshire Post

• Government comes out fighting over Yorkshire rail u-turnTHE Department for Transport today rejected claims that it had betrayed Yorkshire rail travellers - and that it was still committed to the electrification of the Midland Mainline and TransPennine Express routes.
• Yorkshire rail decision prompts inquiryTRANSPORT Secretary Patrick McLoughlin and Network Rail executives look set to be grilled by MPs over the decision to shelve two major railway improvement projects in Yorkshire.

Bucks Free Press

• Reports raised concerns HS2 was unaffordable Previously supressed reports on HS2 raised major concerns the project would not be affordable.

Other News Sources

• FTA says Network Rail needs to deliver on rail enhancementsThe Freight Transport Association has expressed concern that measures announced today by the Secretary of State for Transport to ensure Network ...
• GTMC hits out over rail ‘mismanagement’Business travel group calls government’s review of rail projects “frustratingâ€�
• Data and safety are buyers’ main concerns over ‘sharing’ economyCarlson Wagonlit looks at how business travel is becoming more “customisedâ€�