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

Friday, 22 March 2019

BBC News

• Train punctuality standards to be tightenedA more exacting standard for punctuality will be brought in on UK railways next month in an attempt to improve performance.

ITV News

• Rail firms face tougher punctuality measures from next monthA tougher standard for punctuality will be introduced on Britain’s railways next month in an attempt to improve performance.

The Herald

• £100m Edinburgh to London 'bullet-inspired' rail service due 2021A RAIL firm has ordered a “Japanese bullet train-inspired fleet” to run a low-fare service between Edinburgh and London.

The Independent

• Waterloo disruption: London train station in rush-hour chaos as all services cancelledFriday morning commuters are being urged to avoid Waterloo train station, as overrunning engineering works stopped all trains to and from the key London hub.

Times Online

• London to Edinburgh for £25 on new budget train [subscription]EasyJet-style budget trains will operate between London and Edinburgh with average fares of £25 and no first-class seats, it was announced today.
• Worst rail firms exposed as loophole for late trains closes [subscription]Rules that allow trains to be classed as “on time” even if they arrive up to ten minutes late face being scrapped under measures to improve punctuality.
• ScotRail ‘now in last-chance saloon’ [subscription]ScotRail is drinking in the “last-chance saloon”, Nicola Sturgeon has said as one of her own MSPs railed against the company’s shoddy performance.
• East coast order small comfort at Hitachi factory [subscription]A £100 million order to build rolling stock for a new £25 each-way rail service between London and Edinburgh is unlikely to stave off an impending crisis at Britain’s newest train manufacturing factory, supporting thousands of jobs in the northeast.

The Mirror

• Train companies to face tougher punctuality rules from April - explainedA train is deemed to be "on time" if it reaches its final destination within five or 10 minutes of the timetable - but this is all about to change

London Evening Standard

• Eurostar delays: 'Brexit drill' strikes 'to last until end of month' as passengers urged not to travel 'unless necessary'Eurostar chaos caused by Brexit-related strikes in Paris is set to last until the end of the month.

Northern Echo

• Hitachi secures £100m order for Newton Aycliffe site - but bosses warn big orders still neededA NORTH-EAST train builder has secured a £100m deal to build new high speed trains linking London and Edinburgh.

Other Regional Press

• New railway co-operative wants to run direct services between Swindon and OxfordTRAIN passengers could speed between Swindon and Oxford in under an hour, if a new railway co-operative has its way.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• FirstGroup and Hitachi announce new partnership for high speed trainsA new high-quality, low fare rail link between London and Edinburgh has come a step closer for customers with news that FirstGroup has confirmed an order for five brand new AT300 125mph intercity electric trains and ongoing maintenance, following completion yesterday of a £100 million deal for the trains between FirstGroup and Hitachi Rail, financed by Beacon Rail.

New Civil Engineer

• HS2 clears way for Old Oak Common tunnel crossover boxHigh Speed 2 (HS2) promoter HS2 Ltd has cleared a key construction site close to the new Old Oak Common “super-hub” station.
• WSP to assess scope for East West rail at Oxford stationThe body set up to improve rail links between Oxford and Cambridge has appointed WSP to examine the infrastructure and capacity required to enable more trains to run in and out of Oxford station.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Government promises to look 'very carefully' at £218m bid for second Chelmsford stationThe government will look “very carefully” at a £218m funding bid for a new railway station in Chelmsford, Theresa May has said. Essex County Council has bid for £218m from the government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund to help develop a station and a bypass between...
• Government's role in new passenger-centric railway 'will have to change', says Williams Review leadThe man leading the Williams Rail Review has warned that the government’s role in the UK railways “will have to change” as the industry switches to a more passenger-centric railway. Keith Williams, the man leading the “root and branch” review of the railways...

Railnews

• First, Hitachi move ahead with East Coast open accessFIRSTGROUP’S plans to run budget-priced open access services on the East Coast Main Line have taken a major step forward with the order of five new trains from Hitachi.

Railway Gazette

• Trains ordered for 2021 launch of ‘high-quality, low fare’ London – Edinburgh serviceUK: FirstGroup has finalised an order for five Hitachi AT300 electric trainsets which it will use to launch a London – Edinburgh open access service in autumn 2021.

Other News Sources

• Will HS2 bridge the north-south divide?Some argue the high-speed rail project could help UK reach full potential
• TfL confirms £1bn deal to sell and leaseback Elizabeth line trainsTransport for London says it will be able to invest £1bn in frontline services, including introducing new trains on the Piccadilly line, after completing the sale and leaseback of its Elizabeth line trains.
• Unmarked 'superfast futuristic trains' spotted being tested near HuddersfieldTransPennine Express confirms it is testing new rolling stock set to be released this year