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

Thursday, 13 December 2018

BBC News

• 180 jobs under threat at Glasgow rail services firmStaff at Gemini Rail Services in Springburn are told of plans to close the maintenance plant.

The Herald

• Major snag for rail ideaDAVID McKenzie's plans for an Argyll-Antrim link (Letters, December 12) are certainly ambitious, especially those that involve a rail line

The Independent

• Christmas travel chaos across Europe looms with air and rail strikes expected to affect thousandsAirlines from the UK to Nice have been advised to fly via Italy on Friday to avoid a strike by French air-traffic controllers

The Scotsman

• Rail passengers can get Facebook alerts about delayed trains The six-month trial has been launched by the rail industry to keep customers better informed during disruption.

Times Online

• Transport funds go up a gearInfrastructure spending is set for a £5 billion boost in the latest budget. A total of £1.7 billion has been put aside for transport in the coming fiscal year, as well as £825 million for housing. There are also plans for the building of new schools, nurseries and healthcare facilities.

Reuters News

• TfL shelves plans for Tube upgrades as financial woes revealedBombardier Inc said on Wednesday it would “evaluate” its options, after losing a C$989 million ($741 million) rail order in Canada when state-owned Via Rail picked Germany’s Siemens AG to supply new locomotives.

Daily Record

• Gemini Rail Services plant in Springburn to close with 120 jobs set to goThe Glasgow facility has existed in one form or another for 160 years but the highly-skilled workforce and their families are now facing a bleak Christmas.

Bristol Live

• Where the new ticket gates are at Bristol Temple Meads and how they will workReady and waiting to welcome through customers on Monday morning, December 17, the gates are expected to make it easy to move on and off of platforms.

Northern Echo

• Hitachi in bid to secure £500m Tyne and Wear Metro contractA NORTH-EAST train builder is in the running for a multi-million pound contract to build a new fleet of trains for the Tyne and Wear Metro.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Rail freight investment should be a priority to protect environment, say business leadersA SENIOR figure at Associated British Ports (ABP) has expressed concern that rail freight has not been made a priority in plans to improve rail connections across the Pennines.

Yorkshire Post

• Delayed rail passengers urged not to miss out on compensation payouts Rail passengers are missing out on compensation for the May timetable chaos because they do not believe they are eligible, a watchdog has claimed.

Other Regional Press

• Our rail services may cause some frustration – but don’t judge them just yet!The region’s rail services have taken a double whammy this week with the news that reliability fell during the middle of the year – and then we had confirmation that there would be another three-month weekend blockade of the main line to London.
• Entire community left without bus route to hospital, shops and schoolsDescribed as a “vital lifeline” for the community of Prenton the 83a was withdrawn when Wirral bus firm Avon collapsed

Rail Magazine

• ScotRail introduces EMUs onto newly-wired Central Belt routesElectric trains have begun running to Stirling, Alloa and Dunblane, as part of a new timetable introduced by ScotRail in December.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Hitachi and Spencer Group join forces for £500m Tyne and Wear Metro deal bidHitachi and Spencer Group have launched a joint bid to win a £500m contract to build new trains and a maintenance depot for the Tyne and Wear Metro.

Other News Sources

• Rail partnership group has achieved a lot in two years Since the North Notts & Lincs Community Rail Partnership (NNLCRP) commenced in February 2017, it has achieved much without the benefit of an officer or money, writes Barry Coward.
• Government silent for two years on tram safety – MP JonesA tram safety board may not be established unless Government releases the required funding before the end of the year, a Commons debate called by the Croydon Central MP was told yesterday
• Proposed bus station shows town is on 'upward trend', council chief saysTHE plans for Dudley's proposed bus and tram interchange show the town is on an 'upward trend', the council's regeneration chief has said.
• ‘Dreadful, frustrating, appalling’ - campaigners call for better bus and rail links at north Norfolk stationCampaigners have described transport links at a north Norfolk railway station as “dreadful, frustrating, and appalling” as new figures reveal it gained 10,000 passengers over the past year.
• Oyster card extension to Radlett and Potters Bar welcomed by Hertsmere News that the Oyster card scheme is to be extended to two more train stations has been welcomed by Hertsmere Borough Council.