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

Thursday, 03 January 2019

BBC News

• ScotRail 'rip-off' rail fares condemned as tickets increase by 2.8%The rail operator defended the hike and said it was investing in the best railway
• Rail fare increases: Charts explain passengers' frustrationTrain delays across Great Britain added up to a total of 32 years in the 12 months to October 2018.
• Railcards: How can young people save on train fares in 2019?New railcards being launched this year should mean significant savings for anyone aged under 30.
• Chris Grayling blames unions for rail fare hikeThe price hike comes into force on Wednesday despite a 13-year low in punctuality across the network.

ITV News

• North East commuters frustrated by rail fare risesCommuters in the North East of England have expressed their frustration at rail fare rises averaging 3.1 per cent nationally.

The Guardian

• Letters - Fare rises and a railway system that is badly failing the countryReaders respond to the latest round of rail fare increases
• Rail passengers face long delays to purchase 'millennial railcard'People wait hours online to buy card, which offers discounts to 26 to 30-year-olds
• UK trains 'are packed to near double capacity'Some major routes to be 208% over capacity by 2022, shows data compiled by Labour

The Independent

• Britain needs honesty about the hard choices for its rail networkThe public are waiting on a freezing platform, trying to get to work, not eagerly anticipating some years-away infrastructure mega project

Times Online

• Chris Grayling blames striking rail unions for fare increases {subscription]The transport secretary blamed striking rail workers for today’s fare increases just as large numbers of commuters faced annual price hikes of more than £200.

City AM

• Overcrowding on trains close to a record high as commuters warned it will get even worseOvercrowding on trains has hit one of its highest ever levels - but is likely to get even worse, according to Labour.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• TWO Bradford city centre rail station refurbishment projects will be delayedSEPARATE plans to upgrade Bradford’s two main rail stations have both been delayed - with one of the schemes likely to finish over a year later than planned.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Restoring Edinburgh’s lost railway faces big hurdles – John McLellanA tram-train fly-over above the main railway at the Haymarket depot is a suggestion for bringing the South Suburban line back into passenger use as part of the Edinburgh tram network.

London Evening Standard

• Overcrowding on trains at near-record high and is going to get even worse, Labour warnsOvercrowding on trains has reached one its highest levels and is set to worsen, Labour has warned.

Yorkshire Post

• Rail industry claims of 2019 improvements will be greeted with cynicismWhile much of the ire in the North towards train operators and rail network bosses since last May’s botched timetable rollout has been rightly focused on the vast numbers of delayed and cancelled services, new figures have today highlighted another major issue that regularly faces commuters; that of overcrowding.

Rail Advent

• New trains arrive into BlackpoolNorthern‘s new Class 195 has made a trip to Blackpool North on test ahead of their rollout into passenger service.

Rail Magazine

• SWR ticket offices close for entire weeksTicket offices at stations run by South Western Railway are being closed for days - or even whole weeks - in succession because of a shortage of staff.
• Rail Operations seeks new sites to extend storage spaceRail Operations (UK) Limited is looking to lease more sites for storing off-lease trains. Via its Traxion business, the company has already leased Crewe South Yard and the Marks & Spencers Logistics site at Castle Donington.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Training the next generation: Govia Thameslink RailwayIn December, RTM’s Jack Donnelly paid a visit to GTR’s training facilities across London. Here, he reports on the state-of-the-art technology and innovative classroom techniques being implemented to equip the next generation of drivers with the skills they need. Govia Thameslink...
• Grayling unveils half-price 16-17-year-old rail discount as millennial railcard goes live  A brand-new rail card offering half price travel for 16- and 17-year olds has been announced on the same day the 26-30 railcard officially goes live across the country. Grayling has unveiled the new railcard, which will benefit over a million young people with a 50% discount on rail...

Other News Sources

• Sir Terry Morgan called to City Hall following Khan’s Crossrail accusationsSir Terry Morgan is the latest senior HS2 figure to be summoned to City Hall and face questions on the Crossrail fallout after the mayor of London accused the former chair of “misremembering” whether he had given warnings about delays to the project.
• The rail network has become a national disgrace, says LEO McKINSTRYSPEAKING on New Year's Day, the embattled Transport Secretary Chris Grayling tried to deliver an optimistic message about the rail network: “I want passenger journeys to be as good as they can be, punctual, reliable and fairly priced.” But his words will have been greeted with a sarcastic laugh by train users.
• Passenger improvements due to arrive at 135-year-old Montrose railway stationRail chiefs have promised Montrose railway station improvements for growing numbers of customers who are finding themselves with more time to spend at the Angus stop.
• Tracsis jumps as it secures “significant contract win” with train owning group for TRACS Enterprise product Share The firm said the five-year framework agreement covers all of the operator’s individual train operating companies within the UK