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

Monday, 29 January 2018

BBC News

• London Underground noise could damage hearing, says academicA BBC investigation reveals parts of the Underground network exceed noise safety levels.
• East Coast rail franchise decision investigated by watchdogThe NAO will examine why Virgin and Stagecoach were able to hand back the franchise early.
• Carillion tried to 'wriggle out' of pension contributionsThe collapsed outsourcing giant avoided paying into the pension schemes, say MPs.

Financial Times

• The ‘true and fair’ questions that dog CarillionEchoes of the Savings & Loan crisis of the 1980s resonate with UK outsourcing group
• Discontent grows with Britain’s fractured rail networkPrivatisation was meant to deliver competition, innovation and improved service, but has it delivered?
• UK watchdog to investigate East Coast rail franchise decisionNAO to look in to withdrawal of Virgin-Stagecoach joint venture

The Guardian

• Carillion: MPs accuse pensions watchdog of failing to actRegulator let firm defer payments to £1bn pension deficit but rack up debts to fund dividendsMPs have accused the Pensions Regulator of failing to act while Carillion racked up debts to pay dividends and executive bonuses, as the business built up a pension deficit that reached nearly £1bn by the time it collapsed this month.The House of Commons work and pensions committee, which is investigating Carillion’s collapse into compulsory liquidation two weeks ago, criticised the Pensions Regulator for allowing Carillion’s pension trustee to defer pension deficit contributions in September in a bid ...

The Herald

• Comfort upgrade for travellers as 7,000 new carriages introducedMORE than 7,000 new train carriages are being introduced to Britain’s railways, according to an industry body.

City AM

• Transport secretary faces questions over Office of Rail and Road chair's reappointment after recruitment process fails to find successorThe Department for Transport has faced questions over the reappointment of the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) chair, after his tenure was extended twice.
• TfL sounds alarm over public transport crowding from Heathrow expansionTransport for London (TfL) has raised concerns over the impact Heathrow expansion will have on the capital’s transport network, warning over significant crowding.
• Carillion “repeatedly” cited cash flow problems as reason for not plugging huge pension black holeFailed contracting giant Carillion has been accused of spending 10 years trying to “wriggle out” of plugging a mammoth hole in its pension schemes.

The Mirror

• Angry businessman forced to pay £64 for second train ticket despite making shorter journey on same trainJonathan Worsley had initially bought a £19 advance ticket to travel from Nottingham to London St Pancras

London Evening Standard

• Parts of the Tube are so loud that commuters should wear hearing protection, experts warnTravelling on the Tube can be "as loud going to a rock concert" and could be damaging people's hearing, a leading professor has said.

Yorkshire Post

• ‘Sustained’ investment needed in region’s railway network“SIGNIFICANT and sustained” investment is still needed in the North’s rail network, campaigners have said, after new analysis showed that more than 7,000 new train carriages are being introduced to Britain’s railways over the next three years.