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Tuesday, 18 October 2016

BBC News

• Labour launches plan for major infrastructure panelPlans for a panel of experts to advise on major transport, energy and environmental projects have been unveiled by the Welsh Government.
• Rail bid: "Once in a generation" chance, says Ken SkatesThe deal to determine who runs train services in Wales is a "once in a generation opportunity" for passengers, the Welsh transport secretary has said.
• Southern strike: Latest three-day walkout beginsA three-day strike by staff on Southern rail begins with hundreds of trains cancelled.

Financial Times

• Bradford eyes ‘northern powerhouse’ rail boostTransport for the North considers routing Transpennine line through England’s fourth-biggest city

The Guardian

• Southern rail commuters face three days of disruption as strike beginsAround 61% of Southern’s timetable will run, along with rail replacement buses, as conductors begin second in series of 72-hour strikesPassengers on Southern railway face another three days of heightened travel disruption after the second in a series of 72-hour strikes by conductors started on Tuesday morning. The RMT insisted its action would be solid, although Southern’s operators, Govia Thameslink Railway, claimed that more than in one in four conductors had turned up for work during the strike last week. Continue reading...
• Fresh attempt to end Southern rail strike fails to stop latest walkoutSecond three-day strike will begin at midnight after RMT rejected rail firm’s offer to restore a £2,000 incentive for staff
• No light at the end of an Ireland-Scotland rail tunnel [letter]It may be, as John Barstow says (Britain and Ireland face border bother, Letters, 17 October), that there is a “prima facie case for a rail tunnel between Larne and Stranraer”, but it is almost certainly never going to be built.

This is Money

• Let us build HS2, says UK steel industry after French win Trident deal Liberty House Group and British Steel are pushing to become key suppliers in the scheme linking London with the Midlands and the North.

Birmingham Mail

• New inter-city train deal delivers just two carriages a day on overcrowded lineThe agreement to run the sprawling Cross Country network of inter-city rail services, was a “lost opportunity” to boost passenger capacity, says Transport for the West Midlands

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Work now 'progressing well' on new Low Moor rail station, despite setbacks A LONG-DELAYED new rail station is still on track to open next May, a progress report reveals.

Liverpool Echo

• Detailed plans submitted for Lime Street Station revampMajor works planned for city station to allow more train services

Liverpool Post

• Runcorn councillor corrects transport report referring to city region as 'Liverpool'Cllr Harry Howard's comment backed by Merseytravel committee chairman

London Evening Standard

• Huge new station planned for Ilford 'to meet Crossrail demand'Plans for a huge new glass-fronted station at Ilford were submitted today as part of a package of improvements for the start of Crossrail services.
• Southern Rail strikes: Three-day walkout to begin at midnight after talks break downTrain passengers on crisis-hit Southern will face further strikes tomorrow after another failed attempt to break the deadlock in a row over conductors.

Manchester Evening News

• Metrolink operator is named the best in the world after scooping three awards at the tram 'Oscar's'And Tim Jackson, CEO, said it was thanks to the ongoing hard work and dedication of the team who keep Greater Manchester’s trams on track

Wales Online

• Why Brexit casts a shadow over the South Wales MetroEconomy Secretary Ken Skates made the case for new powers and warned of funding risks
• Body that would advise on what infrastructure projects Wales needs could be up and running within a yearA National Infrastructure Commission for Wales (NICFW), which would advise Welsh Government ministers on key infrastructure projects needed with an outlook stretching 30 years, could be operational within a year.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Leeds Station’s southern entrance an engineering triumphLeeds Station’s new southern entrance has won a prestigious engineering award for its outstanding design.

Bucks Free Press

• Council leader slams 'insultingly low' HS2 cash offer A council leader has slammed the Government’s “insultingly low” cash offer intended to help communities blighted by a controversial rail project – and plans to challenge it at the House of Lords next week.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Suffolk MP quick to quash idea of cutting passenger services on Ipswich to Felixstowe rail lineA Suffolk MP has stifled suggestions that passenger services on the Felixstowe-Ipswich line could be cut.

Peterborough Telegraph

• New services, new trains and a �2 billion rail improvement package launched todayNew trains, new and faster services and a £2 billion package of improvements to transform rail travel has been promised as Greater Anglia starts a new nine-year franchise today.

Other Regional Press

• Train passengers in mid Wales ‘deserve better'MID Wales train passengers have been forced to put up with an “inadequate summer of rail services” and improvements need to be made, according to an Assembly Member.

Rail Magazine

• Susan Evans to give speech at RAIL’s National Rail ConferenceConnected Communities and Devolved Regions Director, Alstom Transport, will speak at the NRC in Manchester on November 1

Rail Technology Magazine

• Roger Matthews discusses the future of on-board entertainment Just a year after launching, on-board infotainment provider GoMedia has already secured lucrative contracts with Virgin Trains and Eurostar. With more expansion plans on the agenda, GoMedia managing director Roger Matthews talks about upcoming servic…
• GTR brings back �2,000 offer for RMT members ahead of Southern strike Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has brought back a proposed £2,000 bonus for members of RMT who accept its proposals to extend driver-only operated (DOO) services as the union prepares to go on strike again. GTR withdrew the offer on 6 October after RMT refused to accept it, clearing the...
• Lack of increased capacity 'hugely disappointing' in new CrossCountry contract The government missed an opportunity to reduce overcrowding on rail services into the West Midlands when it extended Arriva’s contract to operate the CrossCountry franchise, a local transport leader has stated. Arriva promised improvements, including strict punctuality targets, extra seats...
• Euston Express HS2 alternative would save �3.7bn, Lords toldA scheme designed to put all HS2 and West Coast Main Line trains into one new integrated station at Euston, would be £3.7bn cheaper than HS2’s current plans for the station, the House of Lords HS2 Bill committee was told last week. The Euston Express team said their scheme would be...
• RIA appoints new chief executiveDarren Caplan has been named as the new chief executive of the Rail Industry Association (RIA). Caplan will take over early next year, replacing David Tonkin, who has acted as interim chief executive since former RIA director general Jeremy Candfield retired due to health reasons in the...

Railway Gazette

• East Anglia franchise is ‘deliberately ambitious’UK: ‘This is a deliberately ambitious franchise’, insisted Rail Minister Paul Maynard, speaking at...