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

Monday, 21 May 2018

Government

• Savings from cancelled electrification scheme should fund Welsh transport boostThe Welsh Affairs Committee warns that lessons must be learnt from the failures in planning and execution of the Great Western electrification programme, and that future schemes must clearly demonstrate value for money before getting the go-ahead.

BBC News

• Put ditched electric rail £430m into Welsh transport, say MPsMPs want savings from cancelling Cardiff to Swansea rail electrification to go into Welsh transport.
• Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink trains cancelledGovia Thameslink Railway blames
• Rail timetables overhaul aims to boost frequency and reliabilityOne of the biggest rail timetable overhauls ever in the UK is predicted to create winners and losers.

ITV News

• MPs say fund Welsh transport improvements with money saved from electrificationMoney saved from the cancellation of rail electrification between Swansea and Cardiff should be used to fund transport improvements in Wales, MPs have urged.

The Guardian

• Timetable shakeup: UK rail commuters braced for rush-hour disruption – liveCommuters across south east England face altered or reduced services as part of a timetable changes
• Outcry over mass train cancellations as new Thameslink timetable beginsLondon passengers find many of the promised new services not running
• Have you been affected by Thameslink timetable changes?Passenger groups and unions have been critical of changes they say could mean working lives are severely impacted

The Telegraph

• Dozens of trains cancelled on first day of ‘enhanced’ timetableThe panorama from Platform 1 of Blackfriars station, straddling the Thames in central London, is one of the finest in Europe: a vista encompassing St Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge, the Shard and Tate Modern complete with a low-tide beach where children played in the afternoon sun.

Mail Online

• Rail chaos strikes on first day of new nationwide timetable More than four million trains across Britain will be rescheduled from Sunday in the largest timetable change for decades.

The Mirror

• Tories warned over cash saved from axing flagship rail electrification project in South WalesMPs urged ministers to pump the money into transport west of Offa's Dyke rather than handing extra money to English schemes

Belfast Telegraph

• Train firm apologises for disruption after biggest timetable change for decadesEvery train run by the UK’s busiest franchise, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) – which consists of Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express – was rescheduled from Sunday.

Birmingham Mail

• Land deal paves way for new railway park and rideWest Midlands Combined Authority plans to add more than 500 new spaces to the existing parking facilities in Longbridge

Bolton News

• Andy Burnham wants new inquiry into NorthernAndy Burnham has repeated calls for an inquiry into train company Northern after receiving an email from a supposed whistleblower.

London Evening Standard

• Elizabeth line news: Major milestone for Crossrail project as TfL takes over Paddington to Heathrow trainsA major milestone in the Crossrail project was reached today as Transport for London began operating train services from Paddington to Heathrow.
• Fury as new Thameslink train timetable sparks mass cancellations... as passengers warned of further disruption on MondayRail passengers hoping to use the £7 billion upgraded Thameslink service were today met with mass cancellations - hours after its new timetable began.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Heathrow Airport expansion could be a big deal for NottinghamshireIf the Worksop site is chosen as one of the hubs a large amount of investment and job creation is expected for the county.

Other Regional Press

• Study finds biofuels most affordable alternative for shippingA study from charity organisation Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI) has revealed that biofuels are the most affordable zero-emission option for shipping.
• Long-awaited train service connecting Barrow and Millom returns after 40 yearsThe first Barrow to Millom Sunday train service is launched // Pictured: Supporters cheer as the first train arrives at Millom Railway Station.

New Civil Engineer

• Canned electrification money could help fund £1bn Swansea Bay MetroMoney which should have been spent on Welsh rail electrification must be spent solely on Welsh transport schemes such as a radical £1bn Swansea Bay Metro proposal, MPs have demanded.
• Sheffield's HS2 station vision revealedA new artist’s impression of what the new High Speed 2 (HS2) station in Sheffield might look like has been released by its city council.

Other News Sources

• Rail company policy on disabled passengers 'outrageous'Rail union RMT has called for Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) to be the next private train company to be stripped of their franchise, as the union highlighted an insult to disabled people contained in the new timetable arrangements that came in to effect on 20 May 2018.