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

Tuesday, 24 July 2018

BBC News

• First of ScotRail's new electric trains take to trackRail leaders predict the introduction of 70 new trains could have a transformational effect on the network.

Department for Transport

• Rail passenger numbers and crowding on weekdays in major cities in England and Wales: 2017Rail passenger numbers and crowding statistics on weekdays across 14 major cities in England and Wales during 2017.

The Herald

• Unions make fresh call for railway policing merger to be scrappedThe UK's three largest rail unions have joined forces with Labour in a renewed bid to stop the merger between the British Transport Police (BTP) and Scotland's national police force.

Times Online

• Unions join forces to insist British Transport Police merger be scrapped [subscription]The UK’s three largest rail unions have joined forces with Labour in a renewed bid to stop the merger between the British Transport Police (BTP) and Scotland’s national police force.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Fabricant backs HS4 routeA proposed new 'M25-style' high speed rail route has been backed by a Tory MP – who has cast doubt over whether it will ever be built.

Yorkshire Post

• Government’s litmus test on finally delivering £780m rail improvements While on initial inspection, it would be churlish not to welcome the confirmation of £780m of funding to pay for much-needed improvements to rail services in Yorkshire, the announcement by Prime Minister Theresa May timed, to coincide with her Cabinet’s visit to the North-East, demands further scrutiny.

Other Regional Press

• Herts and Cambs MPs press Jo Johnson on compensation for carnet tickets and interim timetableMPs have been questioning the lack of compensation for carnet ticket holders on Thameslink and Great Northern services and the problems with the new timetable.

New Civil Engineer

• Timeline and funding set out for East Coast rail worksA £780M investment in the East Coast mainline upgrade has been confirmed and the start date was revealed as prime minister Theresa May held a cabinet meeting in the North East.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Lord Berkeley: The time for freight is nowLord Tony Berkeley, chairman of the Rail Freight Group, argues the case for rail freight port connections and considers the improvements that need to be made, as well as the uncertain shadow of Brexit looming over the industry.
• Bombardier and Hitachi launch legal challenge against TfL Tube contractHitachi and Bombardier have commenced landmark legal proceedings against TfL for its decision to award a contract to build Tube trains to Siemens. Papers filed at the High Court over the weekend indicate that directors at Japan’s Hitachi and Canada’s Bombardier feel TfL did not...
• Former AECOM infrastructure boss joins HS2 top teamThe chief executive of an international construction firm will join HS2 Ltd as its chief operating officer. Richard Robinson will join HS2 from AECOM, where he was chief executive of civil infrastructure in Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa. Robinson will support CEO Mark Thurston to...
• Four bidders in final stages for Network Rail assetsNetwork Rail is nearing the end of the process to sell off its giant 5,500 infrastructure estate across England and Wales worth as much as £1.2bn. Following Goldman Sachs and the Wellcome Trust’s withdrawal from the race last week, the government-financed network is confident it will...

Railway Gazette

• ÖBB chooses Siemens to build day and night fleetsAUSTRIA: National operator ÖBB has picked Siemens Mobility as the supplier of a fleet of inter-city...