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

Wednesday, 20 July 2016

BBC News

• Cirencester to Kemble railway: Plan to restore servicesA Cotswold town could be linked to mainline rail services again if a plan for a new line is approved.
• Infrastructure 'still faces flood risk'Britain's roads, bridges, railways, hospitals, electricity, gas, water and internet remain at risk from floods, a government review will admit.
• Severn Tunnel is first to use new electrified trackThe Severn Tunnel becomes the first place in the UK to use a new electrified track as part of the electrification of the south Wales mainline.

Financial Times

• Hong Kong: One country, two economiesAs China’s slowdown hits wealth and relations sour, can the territory revive its fortunes?

The Guardian

• Eurostar disrupted by trackside fire in ParisTGV and international rail services to and from French capital halted for several hours after attempted theft of electric cableA fire suspected to be caused by vandals at the Gare du Nord in Paris halted train traffic to Britain and many other destinations for several hours on Tuesday evening.Some rail services, including Eurostar and Thalys trains, from the central Paris station were suspended at around 6.30pm after a transformer caught fire, authorities said. Continue reading...

The Herald

• First Group Chairman warms vote to leave EU may slow down bus and rail growth
• Platform overcrowding could increase risk from driver-only trains, says reportTHE safety of driver-only train operations will require

The Telegraph

• 'Vision of hell': Commuters endure travel 'carnage' as roads and rail network buckle under the heat

Birmingham Mail

• Ex-offender back on track with Virgin TrainsRail operator working with reformed criminals wants to encourage more companies to consider taking on those who have offended in the past

Birmingham Post

• Sparkbrook tram depot regen back on the cards Revised plans have been lodged to bring about a new life for the 103-year-old former tram depot which has fallen into a severe state of disrepair

Daily Post (North Wales)

• £1bn rail vision for North Wales backed by business community79 business leaders put name to campaign for electrification and rail line speed and station improvements Business leaders from across North Wales, Cheshire and the North West are backing a campaign to secure £1 billion of rail improvements.

Liverpool Echo

• Graffiti crew attacked Merseyrail trains in �123,000 spray-paint rampage Gang of five spared jail despite 125 attacks on trains and trams
• Hottest day of the year blamed for Merseyrail delays Heat-related problems caused four hours of delays on the Kirkby and Ormskirk lines

London Evening Standard

• London Paddington trains delayed and cancelled over fears tracks will 'buckle' in sweltering heatTrains running to and from London Paddington have been delayed and cancelled over fears railway lines would “buckle” in the sweltering heat.
• London train delays: Thousands of commuters battle to get home after heatwave sparks cancellationsThousands of commuters crammed into stations across London today as they battled to get home amid rail delays sparked by fears lines would buckle in the sweltering heat.
• Forest Hill sinkhole: fresh mayhem for London Bridge passengers with delays set to continue into Wednesday [video]Train passengers face another evening of travel mayhem to and from London Bridge tonight as rail bosses warned the chaos will continue into Wednesday morning.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• £1bn plan to improve the Metro approved by North East transport chiefsAmbitious plans to create a joined-up rail and Metro network - as well as replacing ageing trains for a newer fleet - have been approved

Northern Echo

• Nomad Digital working with VIA RailA technology firm has extended a deal to deliver wi-fi on Canadian trains.
• Railway town ready for Flying Scotsman’s visit FINAL preparations are underway for the arrival of the world’s most famous locomotive to a North-East town.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Yorkshire commuters reveal their pet peevesYorkshire commuters have revealed their top five pet peeves about their fellow public transport passengers.

London TravelWatch

• Passenger watchdog welcomes Mayor’s offer to help improve the Southern Rail situationWe welcome the offer today from the Mayor of London for Transport for London (TfL) to take immediate control of Southern Rail services until the problems being experienced by the operator, which are disrupting so many passengers, are resolved.

Rail Technology Magazine

• HS2 works to cause 'difficult period' for rail network - FrobisherWork to upgrade Euston Station to prepare for HS2 will increase the risk of delays, Martin Frobisher of Network Rail has told the Transport Select Committee. At a hearing as part of the committee’s inquiry into improving passenger services, Frobisher, Network Rail’s route managing...
• TransCityRail SpeakersTransCityRail Northern Powerhouse Rail; Day-Time Conference and Evening Dinner
• Lines into London Bridge closed after hole found under tracksTwo lines into London Bridge have closed after a 4m deep hole was found under the railway tracks at Forest Hill. The hole means that the already troubled Southern services will face even more disruption tonight as Southern and Thameslink passengers are advised to use Victoria or Blackfriars...
• Safety rules implementation still inconsistent, despite progress - ORRThe railways in Britain are the safest they have ever been, but safety rules and procedures are still not being implemented consistently across the industry, according to the ORR. The regulator’s ‘Annual Health and Safety Report of Performance on Britain’s Railways:...

Railnews

• London Bridge disruption continues Network Rail is warning that train services through London Bridge will continue to be seriously disrupted today, after a sink hole appeared under the railway at Forest Hill. The 15m hole is linked to a sewer, and Network Rail is working with Thames Water to make repairs. Network Rail rushed repair teams to the site last night, but hopes that the problem could be resolved by pouring up to 50 tonnes of ballast into the gap appear to have been dashed, and it is now clear that the work will take longer.

Railway Gazette

• Expedia to use SilverRail platform to sell UK rail ticketsUK: Expedia Group has announced that it will use SilverRail’s SilverCore technology platform to...
• New York MTA to procure 1025 Subway carsUSA: A major renewal of New York City Transit’s rolling stock fleet and a station refurbishment...
• Drive an Australian train at InnoTransCORYS: Visitors to InnoTrans 2016 will be able to try out a passenger train driving simulator which...