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

Tuesday, 11 September 2018

BBC News

• Man dragged by Metrolink tram after door system failureA detection system on Metrolink tram doors failed to register the man's hand, a report finds.
• Network Rail sells railway arches for £1.5bnThe deal will shore up the operator's finances but business tenants worry it will mean rent rises.

Department for Transport

• Wales and Borders rail franchise 2018: devolution agreementsSets out Wales and Borders franchise arrangements for funding, services specification and management, and the exercise of operator of last resort duties.

The Guardian

• Network Rail sells railway arches to investors for £1.5bnWorried tenants told they will be protected by ‘charter’ but it lacks promises on rent rises
• Women are being forced to breastfeed standing on packed trains. What has the world come to?I had to stand up holding a toddler, because nobody would give up their seat. This isn’t just an inconvenience – it’s an expression of the sexism women face

The Scotsman

• Anger at £700k bill for consultants as part of rail policing merger More than £700,000 has been spent on private sector consultants as part of the controversial work to integrate railway policing into Police Scotland.

Times Online

• Electric-powered green trains cause havoc with signals [Subscription]A fleet of hybrid electro-diesel trains built for the east coast mainline will have to run on diesel alone on some tracks because they interfere with signals.
• Network Rail sell off thousands of arches in £1.5bn deal [Subscription]Network Rail has agreed to the £1.5 billion sale of railway arches that are home to thousands of shops and small businesses around the country.
• I’ve got worst job in UK, says Network Rail boss Andrew Haines [Subscription]The new boss of Network Rail was warned he was taking on “one of the worst jobs in Britain”, he has revealed.

City AM

• Arch rivals: Blackstone and Telereal Trillium win bid for Network Rail property portfolioNetwork Rail is to sell off its £1.46bn commercial property portfolio to an Anglo-US consortium in a deal with significant interest for commuters and other rail travellers.

Labour Party

• Rachael Maskell responds to Network Rail’s commercial estate saleRachael Maskell MP, Labour’s Shadow Rail Minister, commenting on Network Rail’s commercial estate sale, said:
• Andy McDonald responds to East Coast mainline delays on new infrastructureAndy McDonald MP, Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, responding to reports of delays to trains that will run on the East Coast mainline, said:

Manchester Evening News

• Rent hike fears after Network Rail sells arches for £1.46bnThousands of railway arches occupied by small businesses, including many in Manchester, have been snapped up by investment giants Telereal Trillium and Blackstone.

Northern Echo

• Hitachi Azuma trains 'not compatible' with ageing East Coast track north of YorkThe Azuma trains, which are being built by Hitachi in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, do not work properly with ageing trackside equipment on the network.

Yorkshire Post

• New trains for Yorkshire to London railway do not work properly with the trackTaxpayers face paying more to ensure new trains for the railway which links Yorkshire to London and Edinburgh work properly.

Doncaster Free Press

• Doncaster MPS call for rail system to be put back in public handsDoncaster MPs have joined together in a day of action to call for the rail network to be placed back in public hands.

Other Regional Press

• New Network Rail boss warned he was taking on ‘one of the worst jobs in Britain’Andrew Haines told MPs he will put passengers’ interests ‘front and centre

Train Operators

• Greater Anglia staff recognised for innovations that improve service for customersGreater Anglia has recognised staff who came up with innovative ways to improve the train service for customers.

Rail Magazine

• East-West rolling stock to be decided ‘later’The type of rolling stock to be used on East-West Rail will be decided at a later stage according to Rail Minister Jo Johnson.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Greater Anglia’s new trains rolled out for testing in EuropeSwiss manufacturer Stadler have started testing their brand-new trains in Europe, moving the delivery of 58 trains for Greater Anglia one step closer.

Railnews

• Intercity Express problems mount on East CoastTHE new Hitachi Intercity Express ‘Azuma’ trains destined for the East Coast Main Line could be causing greater problems than have been reported so far, according to industry sources.

Railway Gazette

• Network Rail agrees £1·46bn commercial estate saleUK: Infrastructure manager Network Rail announced on September 10 that it had agreed terms for Telereal Trillium and Blackstone Property Partners to buy its commercial estate portfolio in England and Wales for £1·46bn. The deal comprises around 5 200 properties, the majority of which are spaces under viaducts. Properties in Scotland are excluded.
• DB spending halted as profits slumpGERMANY: Deutsche Bahn Chief Executive Dr Richard Lutz has brought in emergency spending controls, amid reports of a third warning that the group’s 2018 profit target was unlikely to be achieved.

RMT

• RMT on announcement today of "fire sale" of Network Rail income producing assetsGeneral Secretary Mick Cash said; "The confirmation today that Network Rail is to embark on a fire sale of long-term, income producing assets, including thousands of railway arches, is a desperate one-off measure that has the dabs of the dead hand of the DfT all over it.

Other News Sources

• No 'silver bullet' to improve South Western Railway's poor performance, independent review findsPassengers are likely to have to wait several years to see significant improvement on South Western Railway
• Thirsk and Malton's MP to lead rail debate in ParliamentThirsk and Malton's MP will lead a debate in Parliament this afternoon about the summer of disruption on North Yorkshire's railways.
• BBC to broadcast TV show live from York on the shocking state of our railwaysThe BBC will broadcast a live programme from York tonight examining the state of transport in the North.
• Rail timetabling chaos set to escalate through winterTUC Congress will be told today that widespread industrial action across the UK's rail networks is on the cards this winter if Transport Secretary Chris Grayling's threat of wage cuts is not neutralised.