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Wednesday, 21 September 2016

The Guardian

• I’m going nowhere with Great Western Railway over a ticket refundStaff are polite and apologetic, but after three months there’s still no sign of my moneyCan you help me overcome apparent sluggishness by the GWR train company? We bought tickets for two senior railcard return journeys from Paddington to Castle Cary in Somerset on 29 April, returning at the beginning of May, for the grand total of £114.60.However, we were forced to cancel our trip two days before we were due to travel due to illness, and posted the appropriate GWR refund form. Over the intervening three months I have phoned six times to chase the refund. Each of its call centre staff I have s...

Times Online

• Southern promises rail revolution (in 2018) [subscription]The company behind the problem-hit Southern rail franchise has promised more rush-hour trains and a revolution in the timetable from 2018 — but critics immediately questioned whether it would be able to deliver them.
• Folding seats offer solution to railway overcrowding [subscription]Folding seats could be installed on commuter trains under plans to ease crippling levels of overcrowding on the busiest lines, it emerged yesterday.

Birmingham Post

• Golf course to be redesigned - as HS2 line ploughs right through itThe future of Whittington Heath Golf Club has been preserved despite new high-speed rail line cutting a swathe through eight acres of its course

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Man denied Snowdon Mountain Railway ride...because there were too many fat people on board Anthony Poppel was turned away from his allotted carriage due to other passengers who were 'large in stature'

London Evening Standard

• 'Hell and mayhem' at Finsbury Park Tube station after key exit is closedAngry commuters described travel "hell, madness and mayhem" at Finsbury Park Tube station this morning after it was forced to shut amid overcrowding.
• Dramatic moment pair nearly die after wandering into railway tunnelA dramatic video has been released showing the moment two pedestrians come within inches of death after they wandered in to a railway tunnel as a train approached.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• 'Game changer' for wi-fi on trains launched by Newcastle company Nomad DigitalA Newcastle company is promising a “game changer” system for wi-fi on trains with the launch of its new product.

Rail Magazine

• More Class 387/1s heading for GWR in DecemberThe next batch of Class 387/1s for Great Western Railway will be delivered from December.
• Minister calls for ‘21st century’ Welsh railwayWales needs infrastructure fit for the 21st century is vital if it is to build on its strengths and drive economic growth, says Wales Minister Guto Bebb.
• Eurostar prepares to scrap 186mph Class 373sEurostar is to send the first of its 186mph Class 373 trains for scrap after just 22 years in service.
• 29th Class 700 delivered to UKAhead of planned increase in the number of '700s' in traffic with GTR, there are now 29 of the electric multiple units in the UK (from an order of 115).
• Rail Minister: Rail Minister Paul Maynard warns that when it comes to new rail projects, “capacity has to be the key concern”.
• Milestones still to be achieved - GEML Taskforce“We still have key and political milestones to achieve,” GEML Taskforce co-Chairman Chloe Smith tells assorted MPs and members of the rail industry.

Rail Technology Magazine

• New Range of Ethernet Switches Manage Increasing Demand for High-Speed Communication Networks On-Board Rail Vehicles To meet the growing need for more capacity in train communications networks, Westermo has introduced a new generation of Ethernet train switches that provide highly robust networks to support many end devices and high data rates.
• Are driverless freight trains safe? In an age where talk of driverless transport is ubiquitous, the US Federal Railroad Administration is proposing regulations that two-person crews be required for US railroads, namely for safety reasons. So why the mistrust over autonomy in the US and…

Railway Gazette

• Software redesign seeks ‘300% faster’ onboard wi-fiNOMAD DIGITAL: The onboard connectivity specialist Nomad Digital used the InnoTrans exhibition in...
• Solaris and Stadler to bid jointly for tram projectsEUROPE: Polish bus and tram manufacturer Solaris and Swiss rolling stock supplier Stadler Rail...
• �BB unveils prototype electric-supercapacitor-battery loco INNOTRANS: Austrian Federal Railways unveiled its InnoShunt eHybrid prototype...
• Hydrogen fuel cell train order expected this yearINNOTRANS: Alstom expects to sign a firm order for a production build of hydrogen fuel cell powered...
• Battery EMU development fundedBombardier Transportation is to develop a battery-electric multiple-unit for operation on non-electrified routes, under a research programme to be partially funded by the Ministry of Transport & Digital Infrastructure.
• ICE bogies may be sourced from ChinaINNOTRANS: Rolling stock giant CRRC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with German...
• Vibration to power level crossings UK: A research programme partly funded by the UK Department for Transport and undertaken by the...

Other News Sources

• Southern to restore Seaford timetable from next week MORE rail passengers will see their services return to normal next week with the latest restoration of timetables by Southern.
• Transport secretary criticises breakdown in rail working relationship THE poor train service across Sussex is down in part to a dysfunctional relationship between Southern and Network Rail, the new transport secretary has said.