Breaking News
West Coast marks new partnership model for rail
First Trenitalia has today (14 August 2019) been announced as the successful bidder to operate the West Coast Partnership, set to provide passengers with new trains, more seats, simplified fares and more frequent services on the West Coast Main Line.
Rail fares have risen twice as fast as wages over past decade, says union
Rail fares have risen twice as fast as wages in the past decade, new analysis by the TUC trade union has found. The figures show that rail fares, which are pegged to the Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation measure, have risen by 46 per cent since 2009, while nominal weekly earnings have only grown by 23 per cent.
How Scotland is moving to sustainable public transport
Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, discusses how Scotland is supporting new transport initiatives to combat climate change.
Wednesday, 14 August 2019
BBC News
- FirstGroup replaces Virgin to run West Coast routeFirstGroup is to take over the running of the West Coast mainline train route, connecting London Euston to Glasgow Central, from December. Along with Italian firm Trenitalia, FirstGroup said the route would pave the way for an era of high-speed rail.
- Newport rail station footbridge could open next yearA long-awaited footbridge to serve Newport railway station could be completed in 2020.
- Welsh trains: 'No answer' down the track to overcrowdingThe rail network is still feeling the pinch due to a lack of investment, an industry expert says.
- Why Cathay Pacific changed its tune on Hong Kong protestsThe flagship airline finds itself in a storm over continuing anti-government protests in the territory.
- Norwegian cuts routes over 737 Max groundingThe airline says the routes between Ireland and the US are no longer
- Rail fares set to rise again in JanuaryThe rail fare increase for 2020 is set to be announced by the Department of Transport.
- New 50% off 16-17 railcard on sale next weekThe Department for Transport says the 16-17 Saver card will cost £30 and will be valid from 2 September.
Department for Transport
- Over one million people to save hundreds, as new 16-17 Saver launches, cutting cost of rail travel for teenagersNew 16-17 Saver guarantees half-price rail travel for young people.
- West Coast marks new partnership model for railFirst Trenitalia has today (14 August 2019) been announced as the successful bidder to operate the West Coast Partnership, set to provide passengers with new trains, more seats, simplified fares and more frequent services on the West Coast Main Line.
The Guardian
- FirstGroup consortium to replace Virgin on west coast mainlineFirstGroup has been named the winner of the West Coast Partnership competition to run intercity trains, despite opposition from its own shareholders, fears over the financial viability of its other rail operations and legal action by rival bidders.
- Britain’s infrastructure is breaking down. And here’s why no one’s fixing itWhole swaths of Britain experience a blackout and the country lights up with fury. Cabinet minsters, the press, members of the public rightly demand answers: why was Newcastle airport plunged into darkness? Who is responsible for rail services being halted for hours? Threats are issued of a whopping fine, an official inquiry, heads rolling. Days of rage for a power cut of less than an hour.
- Heroin addict jailed for causing £5.6m fire at Nottingham stationA petty criminal who caused £5.6m worth of damage to a railway station by causing a fire in a toilet block has been jailed for just over two years.
The Independent
- New '16-17 Saver' railcard to halve cost of train ticketsCard can be bought up to the day before 18th birthday
- Air pollution in cities 'as bad for you as smoking 20 cigarettes a day', says studyScientists say poor air quality increases chance of developing emphysema by the same as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day for 29 years
- Rail fares: Commuters will 'refuse to pay' if season ticket hikes continue, campaigners warnFresh hikes will add more than £100 to annual season ticket costs for many commuters
The Telegraph
- Potholes in England are 15 times deeper than the Grand Canyon when combined together, new figures reveal [Subscription]Potholes in England would now be 15 times deeper than the lowest point in the Grand Canyon if combined, with a new one reported every 43 seconds, figures have revealed.
- Commuter compares 10mph train to Father Ted milk float episode after brake failure [subscription]Yesterday morning, as the 08:29 train from Liverpool Lime Street set off towards Manchester Deansgate passengers became embroiled in their own low-speed turmoil, as a brake problem meant that the Northern train could not travel faster than 10mph.
Times Online
- Drivers complain about potholes every 45 seconds [subscription]Potholes and cracked roads prompted a complaint every 45 seconds last year from frustrated motorists, cyclists and business owners.
- Huge rise in number of cyberflashers on trains [subscription]The number of crimes on trains in which iPhone users send unsolicited sexual images to fellow passengers they do not know is on course to double for a second year.
- Passengers will abandon railways over rising fares, say campaigners [Subscription]Rail passengers face another rise in fares amid warnings that they will look to other means of transport after a decade in which the cost of train travel has risen at double that of wages.
City AM
- Late holidays cause slump in Getlink passenger trafficGetlink, the Channel Tunnel operator, reported slumps in its truck and car traffic figures in July, which it blamed on a slowdown in UK consumption and later holiday departures.
- Trafigura teams up ahead of polluting shipping fuel banTrafigura has said it plans to join up with two Norwegian-owned shipping firms to start supplying shipping fuels.
- Rival Silvertown Tunnel bidder launches legal action against TfLA rival bidder for the proposed Silvertown Tunnel has launched legal action against Transport for London (TfL), preventing it from signing the £1bn contract.
- Rail fares have risen twice as fast as wages over past decade, says unionRail fares have risen twice as fast as wages in the past decade, new analysis by the TUC trade union has found. The figures show that rail fares, which are pegged to the Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation measure, have risen by 46 per cent since 2009, while nominal weekly earnings have only grown by 23 per cent.
Liverpool Echo
- New trains announced for Liverpool as long-suffering commuters finally get some good newsNorthern Rail have welcomed new state of the art trains to Liverpool in good news for long-suffering commuters. Customers of the rail operator have had it tough for a while now - with late services and cramped surroundings forcing many to despair.
London Evening Standard
- Hong Kong airport protest: Riot police clash with demonstrators as airport crippled for a second dayRiot police armed with pepper spray and swinging batons clashed with pro-democracy protesters at Hong Kong airport as departing flights were suspended for a second day.
Other Regional Press
- New footbridge to replace subway under Newport railway station is expected next yearA NEW footbridge to replace the Devon Place subway in Newport could be completed early in the new financial year.
Rail Advent
- ScotRail launches special Spotfiy playlistsScotRail and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) have launched four special Spotify playlists for passengers to enjoy while travelling on trains.
Rail Magazine
- First Trenitalia to operate West Coast Partnership from December 2019First Trenitalia has today (August 14) been announced as the successful bidder to operate the West Coast Partnership, set to provide passengers with new trains, more seats, simplified fares and more frequent services on the West Coast Main Line.
- Pacer withdrawal programme finally under wayNorthern finally withdrew its first Class 142 Pacer on August 12. Two-car 142005 was the first of 79 to be taken out of traffic, following the arrival of new trains as part of a £500 million investment.
Rail Technology Magazine
- Shadow transport secretary promises East Lancashire rail upgradeThe East Lancashire railway line from Preston to Colne would be upgraded and extended to Skipton, across the Pennines, under a Labour government, according to a promise made by shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald.
- Network Rail's Anna-Jane Hunter on, NPR, TRU, HS2 and supply chain opportunities Anna- Jane Hunter, is a ‘proud northerner’ and is passionate about continuing the investment and success story of rail across the North. She plays a key role in working with government and northern leaders to enable the network to carry on thriving. We caught up with Anna-Jane...
Railway Gazette
- Bombardier sees ‘positive market outlook’ for railBOMBARDIER: ‘The positive market outlook for the rail industry remains unchanged’, said Bombardier when it presented its second quarter results on August 1.
Aviation Industry
- TUI Group sees 3Q net profit decline on MAX grounding Hanover, Germany-based TUI Group has seen a negative financial impact by the global Boeing 737 MAX grounding as well as delayed bookings for the 2019 third quarter (April-June). read more
- Virgin Atlantic takes first A350-1000 for London-New York routeUK long-haul specialist Virgin Atlantic has taken delivery of its first Airbus A350-1000. The aircraft flew into London Heathrow Aug. 10 from Airbus’s Toulouse plant. read more
Other News Sources
- How Scotland is moving to sustainable public transportMichael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, discusses how Scotland is supporting new transport initiatives to combat climate change.
- First outing for new Greater Anglia trains on Norwich to Cambridge routeGreater Anglia's brand new trains have been on their first outing on the Norwich to Cambridge route.
- Vandals slammed after graffiti daubed over artwork at Hartlepool Rail StationRail bosses and a council chief have slammed vandals for scrawling graffiti on artwork at Hartlepool Rail Station.
- HS2 rolls out augmented reality for staff trainingImmersive technology will support processes around the development of high-speed railway’s London super hub before it is built
- Woman who started fire which caused £5 million of damage to Nottingham train station jailedA woman who caused a major fire at Nottingham train station has been jailed. The blaze caused more than £5 million worth of damage to the station.
- Union calls on government to put the brakes on East Midlands train franchise launchA review into the UK rail industry is to be published in the autumn
- HS2 airport hub talkBOSS of Manchester Airports Group Charlie Cornish, met on Friday with HS2 Ltd CEO, Mark Thurston, at Manchester Airport to discuss progress on the development of the line to Manchester and the proposed station at Manchester Airport.
Recent Archives
- Tuesday, 13 August 2019
- Monday, 12 August 2019
- Sunday, 11 August 2019
- Saturday, 10 August 2019
- Friday, 09 August 2019
- Thursday, 08 August 2019
Latest News
Useful Links
Conferences & Expo's
- Adapting Railways for a Sustainable Future: Rebalancing, Resilience, and Realisation - 30 April 2024 - London
- Coach and Bus UK - 12-14 November 2024 - Birmingham
- Rail Infrastructure Networking - 12 September 2024 - Derby
- Rail Live - 19-20 June 2024 - Long Marston
All Transport
- Department for Transport
- European Commission (Transport)
- Greater London Authority - Transport
- Merseytravel (Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive)
- Metro (West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Exectutive)
- Nexus (Tyne & Wear Passenger Transport Executive)
- Plymouth Transport
- South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive
- The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK)
- The Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT)
- Transport East
- Transport for All
- Transport for Cornwall
- Transport for Greater Manchester
- Transport for London
- Transport for the North
- Transport for the West Midlands
- Transport for Wales (Trafnidiaeth Cymru)
- Transport Scotland
- Urban Transport Group
Bus and Coach
Campaign Groups
- Airportwatch
- Aviation Environment Federation
- Campaign for Better Transport
- Friends of The Earth
- Gatwick Area Conservation Campaign
- HACAN ClearSkies
- London City Airport Fight the Flights
- Railfuture
- Save Our Buses
- Stop Stansted Expansion
Friends of TransportInfo
Logistics
Passenger Representatives
Trades Unions
- ASLEF (Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen)
- BALPA (British Airline Pilots Association)
- RMT (Rail, Maritime and Transport Union)
- TSSA (Transport Salaried Staffs' Association)
- Unite
Aviation
Motoring
Rail
- Freight on Rail
- Heathrow Southern Rail
- Network Rail
- Rail Freight Group
- Rail Partners
- Railway Study Association
Shipping & Waterways
- British Ports Association
- Canal & River Trust
- Chamber of Shipping
- Marine Traffic (tracker)
- UKMPG (United Kingdom Major Ports Group)
News Media