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Tuesday, 27 February 2018

BBC News

• Busiest trains hit by cuts to carriagesShortage of carriages as old diesel trains reach the end of their lease period and electrics trains are delayed.
• Row over £26m Derry station planThere is anger over a multimillion refurbishment of the old Waterside railway station in Londonderry.

Financial Times

• Macron heads for clash with unions over rail reformsFrench president is paring back public sector privileges and unions’ welfare role
• Stagecoach blames government for East Coast mainline failingsFranchise for rail route ‘not fit for purpose’, transport chief tells MPs

The Guardian

• Whistleblower warned Carillion bosses about irregularities, MPs toldEmma Mercer raised accounting questions shortly after becoming construction finance chiefA senior Carillion “whistleblowerâ€�, who later became the group’s finance boss, struggled to get her concerns about accounting irregularities within the company taken seriously in the run-up to its demise, it has emerged.Emma Mercer raised questions last spring over the company’s accounting practices to the group’s human resources department six weeks into her new role as finance chief of Carillion’s construction services. Carillion folded in January with just £29m in cash on its balance sheet. Continue rea...

The Herald

• Fewer carriages on rush-hour trainsScotRail is cutting the number of carriages on some services between Glasgow Queen Street and Edinburgh via Falkirk High.

The Telegraph

• French rail unions vow to strike as Macron axes workers’ privileges

Times Online

• Taxpayers’ £250m bill as passengers put off trains [Subscription]Taxpayers face a shortfall of almost £250 million because of a fall in the number of railway passengers. The Department for Transport (DfT) admitted that income from rail franchises would be lower in 2017-18 than originally forecast. A report setting out changes in government spending plans said that net income would be £248.7 million lower than previous estimates.

City AM

• Crossrail's coming: Elizabeth Line train makes its first trip through new tunnels across south east LondonTransport for London (TfL) and Crossrail Limited today said the first new Elizabeth Line train has been tested in brand new tunnels through London.

The Mirror

• Rail boss blames Manchester terror attack for decline in passenger number growthStagecoach chief executive Martin Griffiths was being grilled by MPs over his firm pulling out of the East Coast Main Line franchise five years early

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Train commuters urged to check journey times ahead of Saturday's strike action RAIL users are urged to check their journey times this weekend as Northern announces its timetables ahead of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) strike this Saturday.

London Evening Standard

• Elizabeth line trains start running in south-east LondonAn Elizabeth line train has made a journey through the tunnels of south-east London for the first time.

Wales Online

• Who are the two companies left in the race to run the railways in Wales?It is the biggest procurement exercise ever seen in Wales and over the long-term could be worth £5bn. But now there are just two bidders left in the race, in MTR and KeolisAmey, to run the next 15 year Wales and Borders rail franchise from October and design and build the next phase of the south east Wales Metro project with electrification of the core Valley Lines.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Greater Anglia and Network Rail defend decision to close linesGreater Anglia has confirmed that it will be running a reduced service because of threatened snow on Tuesday and Wednesday – and has defended its decision to make a public announcement.

Other Regional Press

• Railway company first to recycle disposable cupsCHILTERN Railways has announced that it will be the first train operator to recycle coffee cups at stations.
• Railway company first to recycle disposable cupsCHILTERN Railways has announced that it will be the first train operator to recycle coffee cups at stations.
• East Coast boss aware of problems just weeks after taking overThe boss of the majority owner of Virgin Trains East Coast has revealed he knew the route faced financial difficulties just weeks after taking over responsibility for it.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Phasing issues put Crossrail construction £190m over expected costConstruction costs on the Crossrail programme have come in 20% over the planned costs, amounting to around £190m of extra spending on the year to date. The difference in cost has been attributed in part to the phasing of certain works, with construction on certain sections of the line...
• 'Milestone moment' as Elizabeth Line train makes successful debut in new tunnelsThe first of the Elizabeth Line trains made its debut journey on Crossrail’s new south east London tunnels last night. With 10 months to go until the line officially launches, the new train represents the first journey to leave Abbey Wood as part of the Elizabeth Line. The Class 345 EMU...