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

Tuesday, 31 October 2017

BBC News

• Arriva Trains Wales drops out of Welsh rail franchise bidThe firm drops out of the race to continue running the Wales and Borders franchise it won in 2003.
• Rail industry promises investment and improvement in servicesThe industry joins forces in a pledge to improve its services and public image as criticism mounts.

Financial Times

• Former HS2 chief executive accused of ‘defrauding taxpayers’Simon Kirby says he did not approve disputed redundancy payments to staff

The Guardian

• Plan to name German train after Anne Frank condemnedCritics say use of diarist’s name by national rail Deutsche Bahn provider conjures painful images of persecution of JewsPlans by Germany’s national rail provider to name a train after the diarist Anne Frank have come under fire, with the Anne Frank foundation saying it “caused new painâ€� to those who experienced deportations.“A combination of Anne Frank and a train conjures up the image of persecution of Jews and deportations during World War II,â€� the Amsterdam-based foundation said in a statement. Continue reading...
• Delhi’s secret ring railway line – in picturesConstructed in 1975 to bypass the crowded stations of Old Delhi, New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin, this line once used to be the lifeline of the capital Continue reading...

Times Online

• Track blunder outside Cardiff central station almost led to rail disaster [Subscription]Two trains came within a few minutes of a potentially disastrous collision after an engineering blunder by Network Rail, accident investigators have said.

City AM

• Disruption at London Paddington: Severe train delays and Heathrow Connect service suspendedThere are severe delays on trains in and out of London Paddington this morning due to a signalling failure.

Mail Online

• German firm sparks anger by naming new train Anne Frank Railway firm Deutsche Bahn has been slated online after deciding to name its new locomotive Anne Frank, with Christian Social Union politician Iris Erberl branding the moniker 'impious'.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Metro boss apologises for 'unprecedented' day of failings as passengers' misery continues Tobyn Hughes has said a full investigation into the Metro failings will be carried out as problems continued for a second day

The York Press

• Could a monorail and floating homes be key to York's future development? A MONORAIL to carry shoppers and commuters above the York traffic, floating homes on the flood plain, and water taxis on the rivers.

Wales Online

• Hero train driver narrowly averted crash near Cardiff after points blunder during track works There were massive works in and around Cardiff Central station during Christmas last year, and it's been revealed today there was a near miss
• Arriva Trains Wales pull out of bid to run the next Wales and Borders rail franchise It also means that it is no longer bidding to build the next phase of the south Wales Metro

East Anglian Daily Times

• Rail industry promises to work together to help East Anglia’s passengersRail bosses from across the country have joined a new campaign to insist they are working together to improve services – with East Anglia at the forefront.

West Sussex Gazette

• Travelling by rail over Christmas? Southern announce service alterationsRail passengers looking to travel over the Christmas and New Year period are being advised to plan ahead as engineering work and service alterations will mean a large amount of change.

Other Regional Press

• Arriva Trains Wales pulls out of the running for the Wales and the Borders franchise contract THE operator of the majority of the railway lines in Wales has pulled out of the tendering process for the franchise in 2018.

Buying Business Travel

• RMT strikes planned across rail servicesDisruption possible on November 8 and 9

Rail Magazine

• Britain’s railway launches ‘single plan’ to increase economic benefits'Single plan’ for Britain’s railway launched, with RDG claiming it's worth £85 billion of additional economic benefits for the UK.
• RMT lambasts ‘single railway’ plansRMT criticises new industry plan, calling it:

Rail Technology Magazine

• Contractors invited to tender for £165m Edinburgh tram extensionEdinburgh City Council has started its search for contractors to deliver the city’s major tram extension. Tendering has begun on the project, which has been divided into two lots: lot 1 - the infrastructure and systems contract, and lot 2 - the Swept Path contract. The winner of the...
• Northern opens £23m Blackburn depot as part of Great North Rail ProjectNorthern and Network Rail have spent £23m on a new train maintenance depot in Blackburn, opened by rail minister Paul Maynard last week. The facility has been built with a range of modern equipment and will be used to maintain as many as 30 diesel trains. In addition to the new King...

Railnews

• Arriva makes surprise exit from Welsh competition Arriva has decided to withdraw from the competition to run the next Wales & Borders franchise. Arriva had been one of four shortlisted bidders. The others are Abellio Rail Cymru, KeolisAmey and MTR Corporation (Cymru) Ltd. The Welsh Government said: œIt is not uncommon for bidders for major projects to withdraw during the tender process,� while the RMT said the revelation had exposed ˜the whole flaky and opportunist nature of the rail franchising process™.

Other News Sources

• South Western Railway promises to 'consult alternative timetable' after MP slams proposed cuts to services in opposition petition North East Hampshire MP Ranil Jayawardena continues to urge people to sign his petition opposing the planned cuts to services
• Passengers told to expect new trains and more jobsBRITAIN’S rail industry has made a series of commitments to improve services and provide billions of additional pounds to the economy.