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

Thursday, 22 June 2017

BBC News

• Union concerns over abuse towards rail staff in HamiltonScotRail has been accused of ignoring an increase in violence towards its staff at Hamilton Central.

Department for Transport

• Bidders for 2 rail franchises named by governmentAnnouncing companies in the running for the new West Coast Partnership and South Eastern rail franchise.
• West Coast Partnership and South Eastern rail franchise biddersAnnouncing companies in the running for the new West Coast Partnership and South Eastern rail franchises.

Times Online

• Southern trains fiasco blamed on rail unions’ needless strikes [subscription]Unions will be blamed today for causing chaotic scenes on one of Britain’s busiest rail networks by staging unnecessary strike action and “undermining” train services, The Times has learnt.

City AM

• Stagecoach, Virgin and SNCF joint venture among three shortlisted picks for new West Coast franchise that runs first HS2 trainsThe Department for Transport (DfT) has announced the companies shortlisted to run the new West Coast Main Line. The winner will also design and run the first HS2 services between London and Birmingham from 2026.

London Evening Standard

• Charing Cross delays: Signal problem causes Southeastern rush hour meltdown on hottest day of the yearCommuters faced evening rush hour travel chaos on Wednesday as signalling problems sent the system into meltdown and frustrated passengers were left sweltering in the heat.
• Commuters swelter on 'cattle truck' Tube as temperatures pass 30C Sweltering commuters were today struggling through "crazy hot" cattle truck travelling conditions on what was forecast to be the hottest day so far this year.
• Late-night train noise complaints soar, with Londoners blaming Night TubeMore Londoners than ever are complaining about noise from passing Tube trains, it has been claimed.

Manchester Evening News

• Metrolink's ticket machines are refusing to take card payments.... again Passengers are being advised to buy tickets using the Get Me There app instead

Other Regional Press

• Companies in bid to run West Coast Mainline announcedThey are: Virgin; A joint venture between First Rail Holdings Limited and Trenitalia SpA and Hong Kong based MTR Corporation (UK) Ltd and Guangshen Railway Company),
• Railway centre chuffed with latest awardEMPLOYEES at Didcot Railway Centre are chuffed to bits with their latest award.

Wall Street Journal

• A Florida Rail Project Breaks New GroundThe intercity Brightline service is privately funded, built and operated—and may be pointing the way to the future

Rail Technology Magazine

• Network Rail appoints Arcadis to support Digital RailwayNetwork Rail has appointed Arcadis as a programme partner (systems) to help shape the Digital Railway programme ahead of implementation. Supported by Ramboll, Arcadis will deliver a range of services to the project including technical leadership, engineering management, project management...
• Suburban rail devolution a key tenet in Khan's 25-year transport strategyAlongside Crossrail 2, the devolution of suburban rail services to TfL and the creation of a suburban metro in the capital have both been featured as a key tenet in the mayor of London’s draft Transport Strategy, published today. The strategy, now under consultation until 2 October, placed...
• Queen confirms commitment to bring forward HS2 phase 2 billThe second phase of HS2 received a notable mention in today’s Queen’s Speech during the State Opening of Parliament ceremony. In her speech, the Queen confirmed that a new bill for the project “will be brought forward to deliver the next phase of high-speed rail”. As...

Railnews

• HS2 commitment confirmed in Queen�s Speech The new Government says it intends to continue with work on HS2, including Phase 2a towards Manchester, which it describes as the �next leg�. The commitment is set out today in the Queen�s Speech at the State Opening of Parliament. Timetables for passing laws have been disrupted by the unexpected General Election, and this year�s speech will last for two years.

Railway Gazette

• Rail sector responds to the Queen's SpeechUK: The rail sector responds to the Queen's Speech given at the state opening of parliament on June...
• Perpetuum enters Chinese rail marketCHINA: Remote conditioning monitoring specialist Perpetuum has signed a memorandum of understanding...

Other News Sources

• Railway station surveys get underway at Manea and Whittlesey to see how they can be improved to enable longer trainsWork to improve the railway stations at Manea and Whittlesey will steam ahead this weekend as contractors begin to undertake survey work.
• New train makes first journey through SE Cornwall todayGreat Western Railway’s first new Intercity Express Train is to make its maiden voyage to Cornwall later this morning, as part of a special journey from London Paddington to Penzance.
• 'Dyanmite' Report Into Southern Rail ImminentA long-awaited report into the failings of Southern Rail is finally expected to be release.
• Eight firms win places on government's new £50m rail legal services panelThe UK government has appointed eight firms to a new panel for to the Department for Transport’s rail division, with Linklaters, DLA Piper and Ashurst among those winning places.