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

Thursday, 19 April 2018

BBC News

• New TransPennine Express trains to help overcrowdingTransPennine Express routes in the north of England will have 220 more carriages by the end of 2019.

The Herald

• ScotRail investigate sleeping train driver allegationSCOTRAIL have launched an investigation into allegations that a driver fell asleep at the controls of a train heading to Edinburgh.

City AM

• Getlink says Brexit progress has given Eurotunnel's earnings forecast a boostGetlink, the group that owns Eurotunnel, has posted an increase in revenue of 5 per cent over the first quarter of 2018, at €241m (£210m).

Bristol Live

• Public meeting called to discuss the ‘unreliable’ Severn Beach train serviceThe service has been plagued with delays and cancellations since last summer
• Mobile ticketing launched on Bristol trainsYou can now use your phone instead of buying a paper ticket

Liverpool Echo

• Watch what NEW trains set to run from Lime Street will look likeTransPennine Express is bringing in a new fleet of new trains across its network later this year as part of a £500m investment plan.

London Evening Standard

• TfL Tube delays: 'Total chaos' as four London Underground lines and Overground services disrupted amid 25C heatCommuters are facing rush hour misery as four Tube lines and several Overground services were hit by delays and cancellations as temperatures soared to 25C.
• TfL Tube delays: Rush hour travel misery for commuters on District and Circle lines after signal failureCommuters are facing morning rush hour chaos after signal failures crippled two major Tube lines.

Blackpool Gazette

• 35 more trains to bring 17,000 extra tourists to our resort Blackpool could be on track to see more tourists and business visitors after Virgin Trains revealed it was launching 35 additional services a week between London and the resort next month.
• Campaign to revive port rail continues A Fleetwood councillor is calling for more people in the town to back her campaign to try to revive its rail link.

Other Regional Press

• Fresh strike in long-running rail guards’ disputeWorkers on Greater Anglia are to stage a fresh strike in the long-running dispute over the role of train guards, on the day of the 2,000 Guineas horse race at Newmarket.
• MP supports Chinley commuters who may lose vital train service High Peak MP Ruth George has met with Chinley residents to discuss local transport issues.
• ScotRail investigate sleeping train driver allegationSCOTRAIL have launched an investigation into allegations that a driver fell asleep at the controls of a train heading to Edinburgh.

Train Operators

• Cambridge rail station becomes drop-off point for city food bank donationsStaff at Greater Anglia are appealing for people in Cambridge to drop off food bank donations at Cambridge rail station.

Rail Magazine

• Autumn start for TPE’s new locomotive-hauled Mk 5A stockThe first Class 68/Mk 5A trains for TransPennine Express will enter traffic this autumn, the operator confirmed on April 12.
• New windscreens for Hitachi ‘385s’ to be fitted in ScotlandOnce a final design for new windscreens has been approved for ScotRail Class 385s, the modifications will be carried out at Knorr-Bremse Rail Services at Springburn.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Alstom bags 12-year Caledonian Sleeper maintenance dealAlstom has been awarded a £15m maintenance contract for the Class 92 Caledonian Sleeper locomotives. The company already manages the maintenance of the carriages, and will continue to do so once the new Sleeper carriages are introduced later this year. Nick Crossfield, managing director...
• Organisation launched to represent northern rail industryThe launch of a new organisation representing the northern rail industry has been announced. Northern Rail Industry Leaders (NRIL) says that it will aim to deliver the skills, innovation and talent required for the north’s ambitious transport infrastructure plans. The announcement comes...

Railway Gazette

• Hydrogen locomotive on the LiliputbahnAUSTRIA: To support its development of a hydrogen fuel cell for use on locomotives, Railway...
• Stadler signs Slovenian multiple-unit contractSLOVENIA: Stadler formally signed its first contract in Slovenia on April 17, a €170m deal to...

Transport Network

• Work starts on £225m Luton Airport transit systemWork has begun on Luton Airport’s mass passenger transport system, which is set to cost £225m.

Other News Sources

• Dortmund again relies on systems expertise from Kiepe Electric Dortmund public utilities company DSW21 has commissioned the modernization of 64 LRVs and ordered another 24 new vehicles. All electrical systems for both subprojects are to be supplied by Düsseldorf-based systems specialist Kiepe Electric, a member of the Knorr-Bremse Group.  As a system supplier, Kiepe Electric is responsible for the project planning, delivery, assembly and commissioning of the electrical systems. The new, high-floor, bi-directional light rail vehicles are powered by advanced three-phase drive, while the driver’s cabs are equipped with ergonomic multifunction displays ...