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

Thursday, 13 October 2016

Government

• All roads lead to Wales for business, says Alun CairnsThe Secretary of State is to visit the latest work at the Severn Tunnel before speaking to the Institute of Directors in Wales

BBC News

• Rail electrification still a top priority, Cairns saysElectrifying the main rail line between south Wales and London remains a
• Rail delays: New plans to compensate passengersRail passengers will be able to claim compensation for delays of more than 15 minutes under plans being announced.

ITV News

• Rail disruption will be worth it promises Welsh SecretaryThe Welsh Secretary will tell business leaders that electrifying the main railway line from London to South Wales continues to be one of the UK Government's biggest priorities.

Department for Transport

• Government announces improved compensation scheme for rail passengersTransport Secretary announces improved compensation scheme for passengers if their train is more than 15 minutes late.

The Herald

• Secret shoppers to ride the railsSCOTRAIL is to spend £100,000 on undercover ‘mystery shoppers’ to ride its trains amid growing criticism of the services being provided by the Dutch operator of the franchise.

The Telegraph

• Millions of rail travelers to be eligible for compensation if trains are 15 minutes late - but new terms will not be UK-wide until as late as 2025

Times Online

• Create jobs or miss out on HS2, foreign engineers told [subscription]Foreign construction companies chasing nearly £9 billion of HS2 contracts have been warned by the government that unless they create thousands of local jobs and invest in a legacy of high-speed rail-building skills they will not be welcome in Britain.
• Money back if your train is 15 minutes late [subscription]Southern passengers will be able to claim compensation if their train is more than 15 minutes late under an improved compensation scheme announced today.

Mail Online

• UK passengers will be able to claim compensation if their trains are more than 15 minutes late Transport Secretary Chris Grayling will announce a Delay Repay scheme which will be trialled on a number of services, including troubled Southern Rail, before being rolled out across the country
• Opponents brand HS2 line a 'vanity project' and dismiss money as a 'drop in the ocean'� In an effort to appease local authorities, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said they could apply for �70million of Government grants - but critics say this is not nearly enough.

The Mirror

• Train driver caught almost NINE times over drink limit spared jail - and still allowed to driveColin Chapman, 54, was preparing to drive a passenger train from Edinburgh to Glasgow when he was busted with a bottle of vodka

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Dilapidated rail station won't be repaired until 2019 after costs spiral to more than £1 million KEIGHLEY’S dilapidated mainline railway station faces major delays its refurbishment, with the forecasted renovation budget of £370,000 ballooning to more than £1 million.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• These rail giants want to run YOUR trains in North Wales from 2018The list of bidders for Welsh rail services includes a Hong Kong based train firm and current provider Arriva Trains Wales

London Evening Standard

• Southern Rail strike: Peace talks to avoid more walkouts collapse in just 40 minutesPeace talks to try and prevent yet more strikes on beleaguered Southern Rail collapsed in acrimony after just 40 minutes today.

Manchester Evening News

• Flying Scotsman will be in Greater Manchester today - here's where you can see it The famous steam locomotive will officially open the East Lancashire Railway's seventh calling point

Wales Online

• Government insists the HS2 rail link is going to happenThe first phase of the railway is planned between London and Birmingham by 2026.
• What next for the South Wales Metro are four bidders to build it are revealed?The winning bidder will also run the next Wales and Borders rail franchise from October 2018
• What next for the South Wales Metro are four bidders to build it are revealed?The winning bidder will also run the next Wales and Borders rail franchise from October 2018
• Minister for Infrastructure Ken Skates on how a ‘not for profit' Wales and Borders rail franchise could workThe winning bidder for the next rail franchise from 2018 will also deliver the Metro project
• Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns says Brexit will be good for WalesHe will argue Wales needs more projects like the South Wales Metro that can drive the economy forward.

Reading Evening Post

• Government insists the HS2 rail link is going to happen The first phase of the railway is planned between London and Birmingham by 2026.

Other Regional Press

• 'Network Rail must install more Silent Track' say council bosses COUNCIL bosses have voted to force Network Rail to install Silent Track along a further stretch of railway in North Oxford.
• South Wales Metro Project Moves ForwardThe planned South Wales Metro project has taken a step forward after the Welsh Government named the four companies bidding to run the scheme

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Huddersfield railway researchers win top IMechE award Dr Yann Bezin and Dr Gareth Tucker were awarded the George Stephenson Gold Medal for their paper Track loading limits and cross-acceptance of vehicle approvals RESEARCH that could lead to big efficiency gains and cost savings for rail vehicle manufacturers has earned University of Huddersfield experts a share in a prestigious award that commemorates one of Britain’s most famous engineers. The George Stephenson Gold Medal is bestowed by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) to authors of the best original paper that it has published over the past year.  In 2016, the judges...

London TravelWatch

• London TravelWatch claims an important success for passengers with the introduction of 15 minute compensationLondon’s independent passenger watchdog has welcomed the Government’s announcement today that rail passengers suffering from delays of between 15 and 29 minutes will soon be able to benefit from delay repay compensation of 25% of the cost of their fare.

Rail Magazine

• Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council to give speech at RAIL's National Rail ConferenceLeader of Manchester City Council will speak at the NRC in Manchester on November 1

Rail Technology Magazine

• Bombardier Rail Control Certifies Four Vendors and Offers 4G LTE Wireless Technology Bombardier Transportation has successfully completed tests to operate its range of mass transit and mainline rail control solutions with the latest Long-Term Evolution (LTE) standard for wireless data communications, commonly known as 4G.
• DfT urged to end 'worrying' lack of communication on Southeastern devolutionTransport authorities in London are seeking clarification from Chris Grayling on whether the government supports the capital’s bid for devolution of more rail services, including the Southeastern franchise. Ahead of a London Assembly transport committee meeting yesterday, Caroline Pidgeon...
• New scaffolding measure saves NR �9.5m and prevents Liverpool service closuresA new scaffolding method will allow Network Rail to restore the ceiling of the Victoria tunnel at Liverpool Central station more cheaply and without services being cancelled. The infrastructure owner will install an access platform secured to the tunnel walls, 15m above the track, to allow...

Railnews

• 'Second person' argument derails Southern talks The new peace talks in the Southern DOO dispute have broken down, as the RMT accused Govia Thameslink Railway of refusing 'to adhere to assurances on second person on the train'. The issue is whether a train could run with only a driver on board in 'exceptional circumstances', and came to the fore yesterday morning while GTR chief executive Charles Horton was being interviewed on BBC radio.
• �Customers come first � not the union� Govia Thameslink Railway chief executive Charles Horton has accused the RMT of having its 'head in the sand', following today's breakdown of talks in the driver-only operation dispute, which had been requested by the union. The RMT's move had followed a radio interview early yesterday, in which Mr Horton spoke of 'guarantees' that no train would run with only a driver. However, GTR later explained that Mr Horton had been referring to rostering arrangements, and the list of 'exceptional circumstances' when just a driver would be allowed was still part of the proposed deal.

The Business Desk

• HS2 faces disruption due to delays over Compulsory Purchase OrdersMAJOR infrastructure projects in the Midlands such as HS2 could be disrupted due to delays over Compulsory Purchase Orders, a new study has said.

Other News Sources

• NOMAD DIGITAL EXTENDS AUSTRALIAN AGREEMENTNewcastle-headquartered Nomad Digital, which provides passenger and fleet connectivity services to the rail industry, is extending its partnership with an Australian rail operator for an additional three years.
• Southern Rail strike: Talks break down between RMT Union and operator in midst of three-day strike The two sides, Southern Rail and the RMT union, met for fresh talks on Wednesday but could not reach an agreement
• Hong Kong, Dutch, German and French companies revealed as preferred bidders to run Welsh rail servicesEconomy and Infrastructure Secretary Ken Skates has today revealed the preferred bidders for services on the new Wales and Borders franchise and Metro.