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

Saturday, 16 July 2016

BBC News

• Another weekend of RMT strikes on ScotRailRMT union members working for ScotRail have started another two days of strike action over the role of train guards.
• Escaped wallaby on the tracks causes rail delaysAn escaped wallaby is spotted on a busy railway line, causing delays to services between West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester.

Financial Times

• FirstGroup flags potential pound benefitTransport operator says challenging UK economy may outweigh weaker sterling since the Brexit vote
• Rail minister quits over Southern chaosStripping operator of franchise is not the answer to problems on commuter service, says MP

The Guardian

• Rail minister resigns as Southern commuter chaos continuesClaire Perry stands down after a week in which she said she was ‘often ashamed to be the rail minister’

The Herald

• Disabled rail passengers 'put at risk' by driver-only trains, warns unionDISABLED rail passengers will be put in danger if conductors are no longer present on Scotland's trains, a trade union has warned.

Times Online

• Start spreading the news, Sepura’s on its way [subscription]If it can make it there, it can make it anywhere. As Sepura picked up a contract to supply a radio network for the New York City Transport System, investors were channelling Frank Sinatra’s optimism over the Big Apple.
• Claire Perry quits as rail minister over Southern trains crisis [Subscription]The rail minister has quit over chaos on Britain’s busiest train line as it emerged that an emergency timetable had failed to prevent delays to a fifth of all journeys.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• New station runs into further delay A LONG-AWAITED railway station has been delayed by a further 10 months at least, as teams search for more hidden mine workings.
• Investigation starts after two Bradford commuter trains pass over 'unsupported' section of track AN OFFICIAL inquiry is under way into how two busy Bradford commuter trains were allowed to travel at nearly full speed over unstable track after a flash flood swept away supporting gravel.

London Evening Standard

• Rail Minister Claire Perry quits amid 'shame' over London Bridge chaosRail Minister Claire Perry today quit just two days after she admitted feeling "ashamed" by the shoddy conditions for passengers using London Bridge.
• Syon Lane fire: Police hunt arsonist who caused track 'explosion' and havoc on South West TrainsA railway track explosion which caused havoc on the train network in west London yesterday was started deliberately and could have killed people, police said today.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Bus and train operator FirstGroup on track despite slow start to yearBus and train operator FirstGroup stuck by its outlook for full-year results yesterday despite reporting a fall in first quarter revenues.

Other Regional Press

• South Holland MP John Hayes new Minister for Transport It has been confirmed within the last 30 minutes that South Holland and the Deepings MP John Hayes is the new Government Minister for Transport.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• First Group announce first quarter trading updateFirstGroup has reported the following update on trading since the start of our 2016/17 financial year. Highlights include:  Trading performance as outlined at recent full year results in June has continued during the first quarter  Group revenue in the first quarter decreased by 1.4% in constant currency, with revenue growth in First Student, First Transit and First Rail offset by decreases in First Bus and Greyhound  No change to overall outlook for the current year, recognising that the degree to which potential net currency benefits as a result of our significan...

Railnews

• Southern cancellations down, but more ScotRail strikes loom The emergency timetable introduced at the start of this week by Southern to combat staff shortages has resulted in a sharp fall in cancellations, said Southern's owner Govia Thameslink Railway. But there seems to be no end in sight to disputes with the rail unions over extensions of driver-only operation in England and Scotland, with another strike set to take place on ScotRail this weekend. After a parliamentary question revealed that 214 out of 346 Scottish stations are unstaffed, RMT general secretary Mick Cash claimed that disabled and vulnerable passengers will suffer if DOO is extended ...
• 'Ashamed' rail minister Claire Perry steps down The transport minister who had been the public face of the Department for Transport over the Southern DOO dispute has resigned. Claire Perry, who is MP for Devizes, became Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in July 2014. It is understood that she resigned from her post at the DfT last night, only days after admitting that she was 'often ashamed to be the rail minister'.

Other News Sources

• Southern Rail adds trains back into emergency timetable More services are set to run through Dorking and Epsom, with Southern saying it was able to "fine tune the deployment of our available train crews"
• MP calls for 50 per cent train refunds AN MP is demanding that train operator Govia refunds disgruntled season tickets holders 50 per cent of the cost.
• Call for Transport Secretary to sort out county rail chaos THERESA MAY'S new Transport Secretary has been urged to waste no time in sorting out the rail problems in Sussex.