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

Tuesday, 06 March 2018

The Guardian

• Virgin Trains’ ‘automatic refund’ is way off trackMy train was halted with no explanation, but Virgin hasn’t repaid me as it should

The Mirror

• 'I could smell urine and people were crying': Commuter reveals journey from HELL after train got stuck for hoursThe commuter train had been due to arrive in Lewisham station just before 5pm on Friday night - but was stopped without power for four hours

Birmingham Post

• How HS2 high speed rail will create the new generation of engineers that Britain needs Writing for BirminghamLive, HS2 Minister Nusrat Ghani and West Midlands Mayor Andy Street say construction of the high speed rail line will be an opportunity to train young people in vital skills
• Government wants to use HS2 to recruit women and ethnic minority engineers HS2 will provide a chance to train thousands of engineering students, say Ministers and West Midlands Mayor Andy Street

London Evening Standard

• Passenger's harrowing first-hand account of Lewisham train 'from hell' which became stuck for four hoursA passenger has penned a detailed first-hand account of his experience on board a train from "hell" which became stuck in freezing weather for four hours near Lewisham.

Yorkshire Post

• The Yorkshire Post says: Free wi-fi for all. One failing Grayling can reverseAT least Yorkshire’s train services have returned to some semblance of normality following the snow chaos – and then the latest RMT-orchestrated strike action

Other Regional Press

• North Lincolnshire MP gathers support for direct train service to LondonA North Lincolnshire MP has met with representatives from Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce to discuss support for a direct train service to London.
• Tees mayor holds talks with Government over free ports plan and railway station revamp Ben Houchen has met senior Treasury figures over the proposals to boost growth

Rail Technology Magazine

• Grayling announces £3bn upgrades to TransPennine routeA £3bn programme of upgrades to the TransPennine route is expected to begin in spring 2019, Chris Grayling has announced.
• DfT launches Crossrail 2 affordability review to ensure value for moneyChris Grayling has announced an independent review to ensure the affordability of Crossrail 2. Speaking at the Transport for the Northern Powerhouse conference in Leeds last Friday, the transport secretary explained that the Independent Affordability Review, commissioned jointly by the DfT and...
• West Midlands transport leaders meet to discuss reducing HS2 disruption The potential for significant disruption to the West Midlands’ motorway and road networks needs to be managed during the construction of HS2, political and transport leaders have agreed. Transport minister Jesse Norman, mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street, Highways England chief...

Railnews

• Railnews chairman Sir William McAlpine dies The death has been announced of Sir William McAlpine, the chairman of Railnews Ltd and the patron or president of many other railway organisations. Sir William, who had been ill for some time, was 82.