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

Friday, 02 March 2018

BBC News

• Siemens train factory plant planned in GoolePlans for a £200m rail factory creating 700 jobs in East Yorkshire have been announced.
• Southeastern rail commuters cramped as services cancelledPassengers faced delays after Southeastern closed up to 50 stations as bad weather was forecast.

The Guardian

• Private equity firms among bidders for Network Rail property businessBlackstone and Terra Firma understood to be tabling bids in sale that campaigners claim will leave ‘gaping hole’ in infrastructure budget

Times Online

• Relief for passengers as train station toilet charges are scrapped [Subscription]Charges of up to 50p to use toilets in mainline rail terminals will be scrapped next year. Passengers have expressed anger at the fees, which yielded £20.3million for Network Rail between 2013/14 and 2016/17. Last year the infrastructure company made £4.8 million from its toilets, with London Victoria station generating £911,528.
• Siemens vow to build UK rail factory [subscription]Siemens is to open Britain’s third train manufacturing plant — if it wins multibillion-pound rolling stock orders for either HS2 or London Undergound.

City AM

• Guy Hands' Terra Firma is set to battle with buyout behemoths for Network Rail propertiesGuy Hands, one of the UK's most well-known buyout firm bosses, is set to make a £1bn swoop for Network Rail's commercial property portfolio.

Mail Online

• Airports, train stations and motorways grind to a halt As freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall continue to blight Britain, commuters face another day of disruption. Here are some of the latest reported issues.
• Rrailways chief scraps station toilet charges across the UK Passengers have been forced to pay between 30p and 50p for using the toilet in a number of the UK's main stations in recent years but as of next year toilets will be free to use in mainline rail terminals.

The Mirror

• Freezing passengers sleep in luggage racks OVERNIGHT on train stranded in snow that set off 15 hours ago Around 100 travellers are said to be trapped on a South Western Railway service, which left Waterloo at 5.35pm yesterday to Bournemouth

Belfast Telegraph

• Plan for Siemens train factory could mean 700 new skilled jobsThe German firm says it has secured a site in Goole and plans to establish a major new plant to manufacture and commission trains in a move which “has the potential to have a tremendous impact on the Yorkshire economy and the North of England as a whole”.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• New trains for Bradford planned under doomed East Coast franchise 'will be delivered', Transport Secretary says A BOOST in the number of direct trains between Bradford and London will still go ahead, despite the collapse of the East Coast franchise, Parliament has been told.
• Frozen brakes causes train delay for commuters A BROKEN down train caused commuter problems in the district this afternoon. A spokesman for train operator Northern said the 16.38 train from Leeds to Bradford Forster Square terminated at Shipley because the brakes had stuck.

London Evening Standard

• First glimpse inside 'biggest and best' Elizabeth line station at Canary Wharf as it nears completionThese pictures deliver a first glimpse inside the Elizabeth Line station at Canary Wharf, described as the "biggest and best" in the vast London infrastructure project.
• Train passengers near Bournemouth stranded ALL NIGHT as freezing weather causes travel chaosAround 100 people were stranded all night in freezing temperatures on board a train heading to Bournemouth from Waterloo as services to the south west were crippled by the UK's big freeze.

Wales Online

• Arriva Trains Wales cancels all services in southern part of the network Trains are expected not to be running until at least lunchtime on Friday

Yorkshire Post

• Siemens unveils plans for £200m Yorkshire factory that could create 1,700 new jobsA £200m state-of-the-art train factory is to be built in Yorkshire in a move which is anticipated to create 1,700 jobs.

Other Regional Press

• Siemens plans new £200m rail factory creating up to 700 jobs near HullThe industry giant has agreed to develop a 67-acre site for train manufacturing just 35 minutes from Hull

Train Operators

• Passengers advised to plan ahead as next phase of multi-million pound upgrade to railway in Leicestershire beginsThe Market Harborough Line Speed Improvement Programme is a key part of a wider upgrade to the Midland Main Line, which runs from St Pancras to Sheffield and the work taking place at the station will see new track and ballast installed, as well as work to the signalling.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Vivarail to supply three D-Trains to West Midlands TrainsVivarail has today announced that it has entered an agreement with West Midlands trains to build three new Class 230 D-Trains for the Marston Vale Line between Bedford and Bletchley. West Midlands Trains is the first franchise to have made an order for the rolling stock, which are expected to...
• Khan asserts commitment to West London Overground extension in transport strategyMayor of London Sadiq Khan has this week reasserted his commitment to a West London Orbital rail line as he announced his transport strategy for the next 25 years. The announcement follows a draft plan being submitted in June this year, and after 6,500 responses to the public, the mayor has...
• UK Government takes major step towards Welsh rail devolutionThe Welsh Government has taken a huge step towards devolved control over the railways after a new bill was put in front of Whitehall ministers this week. The process would see the National Assembly given new powers to oversee the Wales and Borders franchise. These plans also include provisions...

Railway Gazette

• Railway supply industry news round-upRolls-Royce’s MTU business has announced an agreement for it to be the exclusive supplier of diesel...
• Electrification envisaged in Ireland's 10-year transport plan IRELAND: Suburban electrification, main line upgrading and new rolling stock are among the...
• D-Trains ordered for Bedford – Bletchley UK: Vivarail has reached an agreement to supply three two-car Class 230 D-Train diesel-electric...

Other News Sources

• South Western Railway commuter launches petition asking government to revoke company's franchiseSouth Western Railway has been criticised for poor performance since taking over the franchise in August 2017
• Brighton MP Caroline Lucas calls for refunds and free travel during rail worksAN MP has demanded that commuters be compensated for serious disruptions they will face as part of a £300 million railway improvements scheme.