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

Tuesday, 06 December 2016

BBC News

• Rail minister refuses Southern rail dispute interventionThe rail minister reaffirms the government will not intervene in the dispute between Southern Rail and the RMT.
• London Underground drivers call off planned strike actionA 24-hour strike that was due to take place on two London Underground lines is suspended.
• Southern rail strike to bring 'major delays'Commuters have been warned to expect major delays during a three-day walkout on the Southern rail network.
• Trains and track come together in rail management revampRailway management in England is set for a major overhaul, promises Transport Secretary Chris Grayling.

Department for Transport

• Rail reform: future of the rail networkBritain’s railways are crucial to our economic future, and we have seen significant growth in passenger numbers in the 20 years since privatisation. This growth brings challenges, and the impact of disruption can be immediate, significant and wide ranging.
• Transport secretary puts passengers at the heart of the railwayNew East West rail operation and closer industry cooperation for better services for passengers.

Financial Times

• Network Rail faces loss of power to train operatorsPlan to form ‘integrated teams’ in crackdown on infrastructure owner

The Guardian

• Chris Grayling to unveil plans for new fully privatised railway lineTrack and trains on Oxford-Cambridge route to be run by one firm, in first fully integrated operation since 1990s privatisationThe government is to unveil plans for a fully privatised railway line, with track and trains operated by the same company.A new route linking Oxford and Cambridge will not be developed by Network Rail, the owner of Britain’s rail infrastructure. Instead, a new entity will be responsible for track and infrastructure, as well as operating train services, under proposals drawn up by the transport secretary, Chris Grayling. Continue reading...

Times Online

• Shake-up signals end of Network Rail’s track monopoly [Subscription]Network Rail could lose its monopoly over the operation of at least three railway lines under the biggest overhaul of the system since privatisation two decades ago.

Sky News

• Network Rail to be stripped of complete control of railway tracksThe Transport Secretary says the major change will lead to more reliable services and help "transform the passenger experience".

Birmingham Mail

• HS2 depot site sold by St Modwen 50-acre plot in north Birmingham acquired by the Government to house a new rolling stock maintenance depot

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Plans for a new railway station serving Leeds Bradford Airport are unveiled A NEW railway station serving Leeds Bradford Airport is part of �270 million proposals to transform transport in Leeds, it has been announced today.

London Evening Standard

• Tube strike: Piccadilly and Hammersmith and City line walkout suspended after talksA planned 24-hour strike by Tube drivers has been suspended following last-minute talks.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Fears costs of Aberdeen-Inverness rail upgrade have ballooned to £330millionThe cost of rail upgrades between Aberdeen and Inverness could have ballooned to £330million. An expert report has said the price-tag of the project could have almost doubled from £170million.

The York Press

• Judge slams rail company over crossing crash YORK'S top judge has warned�people could have been killed in a recent train crash and urged Network Rail to improve safety.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Train passengers face cancelled trains and long delays due to defective trackRail passengers travelling from London to Clacton, Colchester and Ipswich tonight are facing cancelled trains or delays of up to 45 minutes due to a defective track on the outskirts of London.

Other Regional Press

• Conservative leader calls for Vale rail line upgradeAction must be taken to address problems of overcrowding on train services in the Vale, South Wales Central AM Andrew RT Davies said this week.
• Anger that Streatham is left out of transport planGrowing concern about a reliable and safe transport network around Streatham prompted a public meeting with residents, Streatham MP Chuka Umunna and Transport for London and Southern Rail. Shujaul Azam finds out what the main concerns aired at a recent
• Transport Secretary set to pledge commitment to East West Rail link

Rail Technology Magazine

• Watchdog rejects reopening LU ticket offices, but demands urgent action planTicket office closures on London Underground (LU) can be implemented, but new measures should be carried out to address areas such as passenger safety, London TravelWatch’s review of the closures has concluded. The independent watchdog’s final report, which was commissioned by London...
• Maynard outlines plans to move rail investment to Innovate UKInvestment in innovation across rail development could be transferred from the DfT to Innovate UK, the government’s innovation agency. Speaking at the Future of Rail conference on Friday, rail minister Paul Maynard said he was looking into introducing the changes in April. Meanwhile, the...

Railnews

• Underground strikes called off after 'progressive' talks The RMT says 24-hour strikes which had been called on the Piccadilly and Hammersmith & City lines of London Underground from 21.30 tomorrow (6 December) have been cancelled, following successful talks at ACAS. The union said 'all objectives' in the Piccadilly line dispute had now been achieved and that it was committed to further talks 'aimed at a long term agreement' on the Hammersmith and City line.

Other News Sources

• Southern Rail commuter pens amusing 'ditty' in an attempt to 'find something funny in a desperate situation' Billy Hamilton Stent wrote a song about commuting with Southern Rail after missing countless bedtimes and meetings due to disruption and strikes      
• Enough is enough - end this train misery RAIL passengers and politicians have demanded an end to the stalemate between Southern rail and unions as strikes blight Sussex's transport network again today.