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

Tuesday, 31 July 2018

BBC News

• Wolverton railway works to be demolished for homesWolverton railway works are still active today and consist of large train sheds and workshops - some of which date back to the mid-19th Century.
• ScotRail launches smart mobile ticketingCustomers will be able to use tickets directly from their smartphone, without the need for paper tickets.
• Are UK trains the 'envy' of Europe?Northern Rail passengers have had huge disruption, but is the rest of Europe jealous of our railways?

The Guardian

• The railways are a mess. But it’s not all Chris Grayling’s faultFragmented rail privatisation has resulted in a fiasco for which no one person or company can justly be held responsible

The Independent

• Northern Rail: 75% of cancelled services restored as Andy Burnham calls for Chris Grayling to resign‘I’m struggling to see how Chris Grayling can defend his position because he's been asleep at the wheel all summer,’ said Andy Burnham

The Telegraph

• Britain's railways are the envy of Europe, says train boss, as he is accused of 'living on another planet'rail boss has been accused of "living on another planet" after claiming that Britain's railways are the envy of Western Europe.

Times Online

• We’re the envy of Europe, says rail boss amid chaos [Subscription]Britain’s railways are the “envy” of Europe, an industry leader said yesterday just as train passengers in northern England faced travel chaos.
• Northern Showerhouse [Subscription]Not for the first time, Chris Grayling is failing the on-time train test

City AM

• John Laing Infrastructure Fund (JLIF) threatened by shareholder rebellionDisgruntled shareholders are threatening to rebel over a potential £1.4bn takeover of the John Laing Infrastructure Fund (JLIF), according to reports.
• Bank holiday travel: Euston station to close as Network Rail carries out major projectsBritish holidaymakers travelling on the August bank holiday weekend have been urged to plan their journeys in advance as Network Rail uses the time to complete 400 projects across the railways.

Mail Online

• Britain's railways are the envy of Europe, says rail boss Robert Nisbet, regional director of the Rail Delivery Group said European nations including France, Spain and Italy could only dream of the punctual services in this country.
• Ministers will propose laws to end train strike misery by bringing in 'minimum service requirement' Laws which could stop rail unions holding Britain to ransom during strikes are to be proposed by ministers after a Daily Mail investigation which showed the reliance on drivers working overtime.

The Mirror

• Campaigners call for the Government to take over from failing rail companies in the NorthNorthern Powerhouse Partnership says timetables misery has cost local economy £37million in Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside and Yorkshire

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Railway trespass warning after four deaths in a yearFOUR people have been killed on the Airedale railway line through Keighley in the past year, it has been revealed.
• More rail misery on northern servicesRAIL passengers across the North have suffered more pain on the trains amid growing calls for the Prime Minister to sack Transport Secretary Chris Grayling and get a grip of the “chaosâ€�.

London Evening Standard

• South Western Railway strike: Train commuters warned of rail chaos as walkouts continueCommuters have been warned of possible railway chaos as strikes on South Western services continue.

Manchester Evening News

• Northern Rail's new 'old timetable' kicked in this morning - but not EVERYTHING went to planA total of 53 trains were fully or partially cancelled by 10am

Morning Star

• It’s private ownership that’s causing chaos on our railwaysWHEN George Osborne’s Northern Powerhouse Partnership claims chronic chaos in Northern Rail has cost businesses the best part of £40 million, it is tempting to lay the blame for Britain’s rail crisis on the hapless Chris Grayling, Transport Secretary in a Tory Cabinet whose constantly revolving membership has broken all records for dysfunctional chaos, policy confusion and serial incompetence.

Yorkshire Post

• The Yorkshire Post says: Progress at last on the railway? At last Theresa May says more must be done UNTIL now, Theresa May and her 10 Downing Street team have appeared to be in denial about the summer of discontent on the region’s railways.
• Tom Richmond: Stop saying sorry – a passenger’s plea after keeping a log of every train delay and cancellation for two weeks NOW Chris Grayling has conceded that he “is not a specialist in rail matters”, I’d like to introduce the failing Transport Secretary – and you – to someone who does have some first hand expertise.

Other Regional Press

• Minister brands railway disruption in Huntingdonshire ‘unacceptable’The rail industry “collectively failed” passengers over the chaos which followed the wholesale timetable changes which were introduced in May, Jo Johnson, minister responsible for rail, has said.
• First new express trains arrive in Devon but they can't cope with our hillsThe sleek new trains will cut journey times between London and Penzance but only after they have been modified to manage the steep climb through Totnes

New Civil Engineer

• Calls for TfN to take over trans-Pennine worksThe Northern Powerhouse Partnership has called for Transport for the North (TfN) to take over the trans-Pennine route upgrade.

Rail Magazine

• ScotRail targets further electrification schemesThe five years from 2019 could feature more wiring in Scotland, with ScotRail Alliance Managing Director Alex Hynes telling RAIL: “I’d love to see more electrification - Stirling to Perth, East Kilbride and the Edinburgh South Suburban.”

Rail Technology Magazine

• Timetable disruption cost northern economy £38m, bosses call for greater TfN devolutionRail industry chaos caused by new timetables on 20 May cost the northern England economy £38m, new analysis has shown. Analysis produced by the Northern Powerhouse Partnership (NPP), a group led by former chancellor George Osborne, found that almost 950,000 hours were lost between 20 May...
• Burnham urges May to 'solve the railway chaos' after botched emergency timetablesThe mayor of Greater Manchester has today written to Theresa May calling on her to intervene to solve constant disruption to rail services in the north. Andy Burnham said it was “frankly outrageous” that the introduction of emergency timetables had not led to service improvements...

Other News Sources

• City explores multi-billion pound underground rail systemBristol is exploring the possibility of constructing a new underground metro rail system.