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

Tuesday, 23 January 2018

BBC News

• Alstom testing automated freight train in the NetherlandsFrench train engineering giant Alstom is to test automated freight trains in the Netherlands this year.
• Landslip shuts West Highland Line at Loch Eilt for several daysA landslip that derailed a train will result in part of the West Highland Line being closed for several days, ScotRail Alliance has said.
• Grayling defends Cardiff-Swansea electrification cancellationThe transport secretary Chris Grayling defends the axing of a project to electrify the railway between Swansea and Cardiff, saying it was not a good use of taxpayers money.

ITV News

• Campaign to rebuild railway closed nearly 50 years agoThe King’s Lynn to Hunstanton line was closed in 1969 after opening more than one hundred years earlier in 1862.

The Guardian

• 'Chaos' as Charing Cross station is closed due to gas leakHundreds evacuated from central London nightclub and hotel after fire crews detected high levels of natural gas

The Independent

• Chris Grayling grilled over rail electrification programme as delays lead to soaring costsAn hour into his long and uncomfortable journey, Chris Grayling said plaintively: “By now we were meant to be most of the way to Cardiff, and we’re not.” The beleaguered Transport Secretary was talking about the lamentable delays and cost overruns for electrification of the Great Western Railway. But the 4.45pm Transport Select Committee was not, from Mr Grayling's point of view, making great progress either

Times Online

• Chris Grayling admits Virgin East Coast rail franchise deal was doomed [Subscription]The Virgin East Coast rail franchise failed because the government accepted an “overambitious” bid, the transport secretary admitted yesterday.

City AM

• Kings Cross station closed due to overcrowding: Trains are not stoppingKings Cross station has been closed due to overcrowding this morning, as Londoners deal with travel chaos across several transport networks.

Mail Online

• Now THAT'S high-speed rail! 1,500 Chinese workers build railway for a new train station in just NINE HOURS Chinese workers have demonstrated their incredible efficiency yet again. Around 1,500 workers spent just nine hours paving the railway for a new train station in Fujian Province, southern China
• East Coast franchise could fall apart before 2020 Chris Grayling has come under fire for allowing Virgin Trains and Stagecoach to terminate their agreement in 2020 after promising to pay the Government £3.3BN to run the service until 2023.

The Mirror

• Charing Cross gas leak evacuation: Chaos as station shut and hundreds of panicked revellers flee famous London nightclub in "crush"Nearly 1,500 people were forced to leave the club Heaven, hotels and surrounding businesses overnight due to the emergency
• Tory government could let Virgin Trains run more rail lines despite East Coast 'bailout'Transport Secretary Chris Grayling refused to rule out further franchises despite confessing the firm "made a major mistake"

Bristol Live

• Suburban trains are 'more important' for Bristol than electrification - which isn't going to happenTransport Secretary Chris Grayling says he supports the Metro West local train plan over completing London to Bristol main line improvements

London Evening Standard

• Carillion news: Rail workers still in a state of 'chaos' over the collapse of construction and public services giantRail workers are in "chaos" over the collapse of Carillion and most are unhappy with how the Government has handled it, a study shows.
• Victoria line delays: Commuters hit with 'grim' start to the week as entire line disrupted by faulty trainThe Victoria line was thrown into chaos on Monday after the service was beset with problems, including a faulty train and staff shortages.
• First purple Elizabeth Line Tube roundels installed at stations across LondonThe first Elizabeth line Tube roundels have been installed at stations across the capital.

Wales Online

• Transport Secretary says 'he's saved passengers years of delays' by scrapping rail electrificationTransport Secretary Chris Grayling defended his decision to scrap the electrification of the Great Western line from Cardiff to Swansea by predicting the Welsh Government will also roll back plans to electrify the Valley Lines.

Other Regional Press

• Works set to begin on £40m rail depot in centre of ExeterWork is about to start on a landscape-changing £40m train maintenance depot at Exeter.

Train Operators

• Cambridge station restoration wins heritage awardPainstaking work to restore 32 decorative college roundels on Cambridge rail station’s façade has led to a national heritage award for Greater Anglia.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Plans finalised for GWR's new £40m Exeter depotContract negotiations have been completed on plans for a £40m train maintenance depot in Exeter developed by GWR, Network Rail and the DfT. The new depot will be built at GWR’s current Exeter Olds View Depot site, expanding the capacity of the facility in order to accommodate a...
• TfL installs first 'iconic' purple roundels ahead of historic Elizabeth Line openingThe design of the new Elizabeth line roundels has been revealed as TfL begins installing signage ahead of next year’s opening. Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon and the newly reopened Custom House station have all seen the first of the new line’s signage installed. TfL have called...
• Ex-Carillion employees working on NR projects will be paid until at least AprilNetwork Rail bosses have today confirmed that former Carillion employees working on railway projects will be paid until at least April of this year. The news follows the announcement that the construction giant – one of NR’s major contractors and a major partner to the HS2...

Railnews

• MPs urge government to reduce rail fare increases The Department for Transport is being urged by a parliamentary committee to change its base for increasing rail fares from the Retail Prices Index to the lower Consumer Prices Index. It had already been reported that the government was concerned about the effect of this month's 3.4 per cent average increase on public opinion, accompanied by speculation that Conservative votes could be at risk in the next election. The Retail index is already discredited and is no longer recognised as a reliable measure of inflation by the Office of National Statistics.

The Business Desk

• £21m contract extension for rail freight operatorFreight operator DB Cargo UK has extended its contract with Malcolm Logistics until 2020.