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

Wednesday, 06 March 2019

The Independent

• King's Cross St Pancras evacuated over fire alertLondon's King's Cross St Pancras Tube station has been evacuated and no trains are stopping over a "fire alert".
• King's Cross St Pancras evacuation: Station reopens after fire alertStation evacuated and trains stopped on same day suspicious packages found at Heathrow, Waterloo and London City airport

Times Online

• Grayling replacement service is subject to delays [subscription]“We are sorry to announce that there is some disruption to your usual lamentable service. A Grayling Replacement Service will be calling at the dispatch box shortly. It maybe subject to delays, alterations and questions about contract cancellations.”

City AM

• ‘Department wrecking ball’: Chris Grayling refuses to resign over £33m Eurotunnel fiasco despite fresh pressure from MPsEmbattled transport secretary Chris Grayling has been hit with fresh calls to resign in the wake of the no-deal ferry contract fiasco that resulted in a £33m payout to the Channel tunnel operator.

Belfast Telegraph

• Parcel bombs sent to two airports and train station in London posted from DublinGardai are aiding an investigation by London metropolitan police after three explosive devices, posted in Dublin, were sent to key transport hubs in the English capital.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• The end is in sight for Pacer trains, but they served their purposePacer trains - nicknamed ‘bus trains’ - have for many people been the bane of their commuting lives. Constructed from a bus body attached to a freight train base, commuters associate them with draughty carriages and noisy journeys.

London Evening Standard

• London terror probe: 'Irish dissident plot fears' after firebombs sent to major transport hubs in UK capitalThree firebombs found at major London transport hubs have sparked fears of a possible Irish dissident plot.

North Wales Live

• Suspicious packages found at Waterloo station - what we know so far about the investigationHeathrow and London City airports were also targeted, Sctland Yard have confirmed

Other Regional Press

• Aberdeen students’ railway line designs go on displayStudents’ suggestions for breathing new life into a north-east railway line have gone on display.
• Report urges ministers to look further into plans to extend Borders RailwayProposals to extend the Borders Railway east or south-west – or both – are among 21 options now being considered by ministers.

Train Operators

• MP slams rail study for King's Lynn inadequacyScotRail’s first female engineering apprentices are joining their young colleagues to celebrate Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2019

Rail Advent

• Transport for London releases update on Gospel Oak to Barking trainsTransport for London has released an update on the Gospel Oak to Barking train upgrade, which has been delayed recently.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Smart on Rail with Transport for the North Transport for the North is currently leading the rollout of smartcards across the region’s rail network. Programme director, Alastair Richards, shares the customer insights on choices behind the successful passenger take-up, and reflects on how the project is informing the programme’s...
• Bombardier plans digital takeoff with Heathrow Express fleetChris Parker, UK business development director, rail control solutions at Bombardier Transportation, outlines the work being carried out to digitally enhance the Heathrow Express fleet. Last month, it was reported that Porterbrook and Bombardier had signed a contract to upgrade a fleet of 12...
• Good Growth: Barking RiversideLucinda Turner, Transport for London’s (TfL) director of spatial planning, argues that transport investment is the key to unlock good growth in a city. Despite recent economic shocks, London’s population continues to grow. By 2041, the city’s population is expected to grow to...
• Predicting system failures before they occurProfessor Lukumon Oyedele is assistant vice-chancellor and chair professor of enterprise and project management at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol). He also runs its Big Data Enterprise and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (Big-DEAL). Here, he explains i-RAMP, a potentially...
• Lord Berkeley: TransPennine freight is being sidelined Lord Berkeley, former chairman of the Rail Freight Group, makes the case for extra freight capacity across the proposed TransPennine route upgrades. Freight has suffered from the lack of capacity across the Pennines, especially for container trains needing W10 or W12 gauge. This has been a...
• TfL to reduce services on London Overground line after delays to new trains strike againLondon Overground services between Gospel Oak and Barking will be forced to operate reduced services every 30 minutes after TfL revealed that new Class 710 electric trains were still not ready for passenger use. The trains, originally due to be in service in spring last year, have been hit by a...
• DfT declares electrification of Midland Main Line to be extended to LeicestershireThe electrification of the Midland Main Line is to be extended to Leicestershire, the DfT has confirmed. Responding to a parliamentary question, rail minister Andrew Jones said Network Rail had been instructed to design an extension of electrification infrastructure from Kettering to Market...
• Transport and Connectivity at EvoNorth 2019Under the banner of the Northern Powerhouse, transport has been one of the most prevalent themes in advancing the businesses and people who live and operate inside the region. Following the grand announcement of the £70bn transport masterplan in January, the topic of conversation at...
• Bristol's MetroWest could be expanded to Gloucester and Westbury Great Western Railway and Network Rail are reportedly keen on new plans for the MetroWest railway to be expanded to Gloucester and Westbury, leading to growing belief amongst local transport chiefs. Discussions over expanding the line are due to conclude in the summer, and last year the...

Railnews

• Welcome for extension of Midland electrificationELECTRIFICATION of the Midland Main Line is set to be extended from Kettering North Junction to Market Harborough station.

Other News Sources

• TfL Rail passengers at Maryland, Manor Park, Seven Kings and Forest Gate stations gain step-free platform accessTfL Rail passengers using Maryland, Manor Park, Seven Kings and Forest Gate stations can now access all platforms step-free following the opening of lifts at all four stations.
• Rail 870: My letter to Keith Williams on what Rail Review should examineI wish you lots of luck in your endeavour to sort out Britain’s railways.