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If passengers dont pay for rising rail fares, who does? [Subscription]
The annual increase in rail fares set out yesterday prompted predictable anger from passengers. Its not hard to see why. Overcrowding is getting worse, delays have risen sharply and upgrades to Britains creaking Victorian rail infrastructure are often painfully slow.
YEP Says: Charges are start of clean air in Leeds
Plans to charge high-emission buses, taxis and HGVs for coming into the city centre are the first step towards a Clean Air Zone but we have to be careful who will pick up the tab.
Could tubes, trains and trams go solar?
Rail, tube and tram networks could be connected directly to trackside solar panels for subsidy-free clean energy.
Wednesday, 06 December 2017
BBC News
- 'No trains' at Kenilworth's new railway station 'until 2018'A town's fifty-year wait for a railway station continues amid a row over when trains can run through it.
- South Western Railway could axe quiet train carriagesA train operator could be about to signal the end of quiet carriages on its services. South Western Railway has said conductors are often unable to enforce the rules on board trains.
- Passengers evacuated 'very close to' live rails on London Overground trainThe train was carrying 450 passengers when it suddenly stopped before reaching a station.
- Virgin Trains East Coast staff balloted for strike actionIf members agree on industrial action, strikes could take place early in the new year.
Department for Transport
- Transport infrastructure efficiency strategyDescribes 7 challenges that the Department for Transport and its delivery bodies will address to improve transport infrastructure efficiency.
Financial Times
The Guardian
- The Guardian view on rail privatisation: going off the tracks | EditorialTwenty years after rail privatisation was completed, passengers put up with late, expensive and frequently overcrowded services. The state should run a few train firms so private companies would be forced to up their gameThere are few more annoying issues for the great British public than their railways. Whilesome cities and towns have seen stations spruced up, the public suffer from often late, expensive and frequently overcrowded train services.
- This hefty train fare rise is yet another Tory betrayal of passengers | Andy McDonaldThe highest price rise in five years is part of a simple truth that the government won’t admit: the rail system it created is now broken beyond repair• Andy McDonald MP is shadow secretary of state for transportThe chancellor, Philip Hammond, has been true to his word and his government has followed through on his promise. In 2011 he said the railway was a “rich man’s toy”. The rail industry is doing its level best to deliver on that pledge with Tuesday’s announcement that rail fares will go up by an average of 3.4% in January, the highest increase in five years. Ticket prices have already ris...
Times Online
- Fares upset highlights funding dilemma [subscription]The latest increase in rail fares announced today prompted predictable derision from passenger groups. Its not hard to see why.
- If passengers dont pay for rising rail fares, who does? [Subscription]The annual increase in rail fares set out yesterday prompted predictable anger from passengers. Its not hard to see why. Overcrowding is getting worse, delays have risen sharply and upgrades to Britains creaking Victorian rail infrastructure are often painfully slow.
- Rail unions blamed for rising train fares [Subscription]Train fare rises could slow in coming years by pegging future increases to a lower inflation rate provided rail unions ease their wage demands, The Times has learnt.
City AM
- DEBATE: Is an average price increase of 3.4 per cent in rail fares for 2018 justified?Is an average price increase of 3.4 per cent in rail fares for 2018 justified?
Daily Record
- 11 ways to ease the pain of biggest rail fare price hike in five years Tickets across the UK will rise by an average of 3.4 per cent with Scotland's fares rising by around 3.2 per cent.
Mail Online
- Passenger train collides with a freight train in Germany The horrific smash occurred near the Meerbusch-Osterath station, on the outskirts of Dusseldorf in the west of the country.
Bradford Telegraph & Argus
- Feasibility study will explore impact of high-speed rail station for BradfordA STUDY is being commissioned into the feasibility of bringing high-speed rail to Bradford.
Liverpool Echo
- More Liverpool to London train services on the wayFormer Merseyrail boss's new company says Liverpool-Birmingham service will extend to London
Yorkshire Post
- The Yorkshire Post Says: A train of thought - how rail fare rises will curb social mobilityEven though the largest hike in train fares for five years was widely anticipated because of the current rate of inflation, and even though more money than ever before is being invested in the railway industry, the average 3.4 per cent rise in the New Year will not find universal favour.
East Anglian Daily Times
- Train fare price hike is a ‘kick in the teeth’ say rail unions – see how much your Greater Anglia season ticket will costRail passengers in Suffolk and Essex are bracing themselves for the largest hike in fares in five years.
Other Regional Press
- Could tubes, trains and trams go solar?Rail, tube and tram networks could be connected directly to trackside solar panels for subsidy-free clean energy.
- Coventry to Leicester rail link won't arrive any time soon, says campaignerCoventry Rail Action Group warning that planned new line will not be a priority for Government
- TransPennine Express to invest 7m in new servicing depot in Scarborough, creating 15 jobsTRAIN company TransPennine Express is to invest 7million in constructing a new train servicing depot in Scarborough.
- Oxford to work with rivals Swindon to unlock rail and transport linksOXFORD has pledged to work with historic rivals to unlock rail routes to cater for thousands of new homes in the coming decades.
- Trains on the only direct route from Kirklees to London set for upgrade Grand Central is refurbishing its 180 Class trains
Train Operators
- High-Speed Trains for Scotland move one step closerHigh-speed trains (HSTs) connecting Scotlands seven cities are another step closer as the ScotRail Alliances welcomed the arrival of its second train this week.
London TravelWatch
- Passenger watchdog urges National Rail passengers to renew their season tickets now to beat the January fare riseLondon TravelWatch has expressed disappointment at the 3.6% increase in National Rail fares which takes effect on 2 January. The watchdog urges passengers to renew their season tickets before then to avoid the 2018 price rises.
Rail Technology Magazine
- Biggest rail fare rise in five years condemned by passengersThe Rail Delivery Group (RDG) has announced the biggest fare increase since 2013, with prices set to rise by 3.4% in January. Figures are lower than the initial ONS projection of 3.6% but have been condemned by passenger group Transport Focus for using the higher retail price index to calculate...
- ORR: Train performance improving but still not hitting targetsTrain performance in England and Wales has improved but is still some way short of hitting both Network Rail and regulatory targets. The ORR’s Network Rail Monitor report for the last six-month period also shows that there has been significant underspend on both renewals and enhancements...
- Thameslink certain that infrastructure will finish on time despite project delaysThe director behind the Thameslink Programme has today defended the project and reassured passengers that the infrastructure will be completed to schedule, despite the roll-out of other parts of the project being delayed. In an exclusive interview with RTM, Mark Somers, rail systems project...
- TfL completes largest ever test of new signalling systemTfL has completed its biggest test to date of its brand new signalling system. Engineers have worked over the weekend testing trains on a new computer-based signalling and controls system between Hammersmith and Edgeware Road, which will be the first section of the Tube to go live with the new...
Railnews
- Rail fares rise of 3.4% is a cruel joke Rail fares are to rise by an average of 3.4 per cent at the start of January. Regulated fares will go up by 3.6 per cent, in line with the Retail Price Index in July this year. Critics have described the forthcoming increases as a 'cruel joke' and a 'chill wind', but train operators said the money was needed for investment.
Railway Gazette
- Angel Trains raises 11bn to support appetite to competeUK: Rolling stock leasing company Angel Trains Group announced on December 6 that it had secured 835m of new funding to refinance the procurement of 665 Bombardier Transportation Aventra electric multiple-unit cars that will be leased to Abellio for use on the East Anglia franchise from 2019.
Railway Gazette
- SNCF orders prototype EMU and tram-train traction transformersFRANCE: National railway SNCF has awarded Mitsubishi Electric Corp a contract to supply prototype...
The Business Desk
- West Coast services help to bolster Virgin RailHalf year profits have fallen at Virgin Rail Group despite a strong performance from the West Coast Mainline service operated by the company on behalf of the Department for Transport.
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