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

Saturday, 29 September 2018

BBC News

• New government job for rail watchdog bossThe boss of the rail watchdog that strongly criticised the recent timetabling chaos is to join the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

The Guardian

• Country diary: a shadow of ash dieback over Derbyshire's dalest’s a common assumption that modern life invariably gets faster as the decades pass: not in Millers Dale. Had I been tramping down past Glebe Farm a hundred years ago, I would have seen an express train to London roaring across the twin viaducts that span the river Wye here, a scene of noise and smoke, the dramatic climax to an engineering magic trick that threaded a major railway through this wildly beautiful gorge.

The Independent

• The Ryanair strike shows how badly companies handle a crisisThe tourism and travel industry has had a difficult time over the past few years, with bad weather, industrial action and terror attacks creating unprecedented levels of chaos and delay.

Times Online

• Trains will skip stations to combat leaves on line [Subscription]Rail companies are preparing to run trains early and skip some station stops to overcome autumn leaves on the line.
• Scotrail’s losses mount as passengers stay away [Subscription]The operator of Scotrail has racked up its biggest loss since taking over the franchise.
• Commuters not attracted by Scotrail smartcard [Subscription]Scotrail’s “smartcard” system has failed to take off, with only 8 per cent of passengers using it.

Daily Record

• You can FLY to these European countries for less than a Scotrail return train ticketDreaming of lapping up the sun rather than standing on an overcrowded train? It might be worth it.

The Mirror

• Fiona Phillips: Full to bursting trains signal railway failureTrain journeys were once a pleasant experience you looked forward to, but now they are eye-wateringly expensive hell on earth
• Rail bosses to ferry disabled passengers in taxis during TWO-MONTH lift refurbishmentEXCLUSIVE: Wheelchair passengers face 40-minute journeys to stations with step-free access in taxis because of lifts being out of action

Edinburgh Evening News

• ScotRail passengers face train overhaul delayLong-distance ScotRail passengers may have to travel in unrefurbished second-hand trains because of further delays to their overhaul.

London Evening Standard

• Piccadilly line strike: Commuters face more chaos as crippling Tube walkout enters third dayFollow live updates from the strike here

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• New roof planned at Aberdeen Railway StationWork has begun as part of a 12-month programme to upgrade and replace the station’s glass roof.

Other Regional Press

• Minister backs reopening Shropshire to Mid Wales rail routeA rail line between Shropshire and Mid Wales could be reopened under plans to grow business and ease pressure on a major road.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Aberdeen station gets new glass roof in £9m upgrade Work to upgrade Aberdeen station as part of a £9m investment to replace the glass roof has begun. Network Rail says this will make the station brighter, improve drainage and enhance the overall appearance of the station, as well as safeguard the listed station building. Network Rail...
• RAIB launches probe into Jubilee Line incident of 11 wide-open doors on moving trainA freak incident on the Jubilee Line which saw 11 passenger doors remaining open whilst the train was moving was caused by a failure in the vehicle’s computerised control system, the RAIB has found. A formal probe has now been launched by the investigator after a passenger filmed the...
• Exclusive: Shutting door to nationalisation 'fetters' rail review and constrains expert advice, says BurnhamThe Greater Manchester mayor has revealed he was disappointed in transport secretary Chris Grayling’s rail review, arguing that the government is limiting the review leaders by ruling out the possibility of renationalisation. In an exclusive interview with RTM, Andy Burnham argued that it...
• West Yorkshire to receive share of £840m funding to upgrade key rail connections West Yorkshire Combined Authority has secured funding for upgrading connections to eight of its rail stations after Theresa May announced that the authority will receive a share of a £840m transport fund. The Department for Transport announced that the combined authority’s successful...