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

Friday, 17 May 2019

BBC News

• SWR refurbished trains launch delayed over door safetyThe introduction of refurbished trains by South Western Railway (SWR) has been delayed over safety concerns.

Department for Transport

• New trains to be rolled out across the country alongside £48 billion investment to upgrade tracksTrains will be greener with more comfortable seats, improved accessibility, free wifi, power sockets and air-conditioning.

The Guardian

• Environmental protesters barred from HS2 site in west LondonHigh court ruling extends injunction to include ancient woodland and London aquifer

The Scotsman

• Undercover government inspectors keep ScotRail on its toes - Alastair DaltonThey are more obsessive than trainspotters, on the hunt for litter the size of a credit card and information posters just few degrees squint.

The Telegraph

• Train firm axes free food and drink in first class after claiming passengers were 'abusing' the offer [subscription]A train company has canned First Class upgrade deals, accusing customers of "abusing" the £10 offer of greater legroom - and more importantly, limitless complimentary food and drink.

Times Online

• ScotRail pays over £1m compensation for delaysPassengers whose journeys were disrupted by delays have received more than £1 million in total compensation from ScotRail.
• Abandoning HS2 would ‘enrage north’ [subscription]Cancelling HS2 would enrage businesses and politicians in the north and Midlands, the transport secretary has said.

City AM

• Easyjet losses soar as fuel prices take chunk out of budget travelLosses shot up at Easyjet in the first half of the year, in line with expectations, the company showed this morning as it was forced to deal with lower revenues per seat.
• Canary Wharf Group in spat with Crossrail over station's £80m safety billThe Canary Wharf Group has hit back at Crossrail over claims that an extra £80m has been spent to make the Elizabeth Line station comply with TfL safety standards.

London Evening Standard

• London tube driver salary: How much do Tube drivers earn? What you didn't know about working for TfL Underground We take a look at what it's like to be a Tube driver

Northern Echo

• Improvement work nearing conclusion on Durham Railway Station underpassWORK is progressing improving part of the passenger experience at a principal station on the Main East Coast Railway line.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Outrage as damning 50-page report on HS2 by House of Lords doesn't mention Toton Hub onceThe £55 billion High Speed 2 rail project should be slowed down, and the entire economic case should be re-examined, according to a highly-critical House of Lords report.

Sheffield Star

• ‘Nearly £10bn cheaper, Manchester in 23 minutes and less than 20 demolitions’ – Campaigners bring viable alternative for HS2 in South YorkshireCampaigners and independent rail engineers have come up with an alternative to the ‘absolutely terrible’ HS2 route through South Yorkshire.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Major rethink needed as government warned northern cities like Leeds "short-changed" by HS2The government has been warned that HS2 needs a "major rethink" and northern cities like Leeds are being short-changed by the high speed rail plans.

Bucks Free Press

• Cheryl Gillan MP tells House of Commons that HS2 that HS2 is 'costing the earth'Chesham and Amersham MP Dame Cheryl Gillan issued a stark warning in the House of Commons speaking on the impact HS2 could have on the local wildlife.

Other Regional Press

• More trains, faster trains, better trains: MP welcomes Harrogate rail upgradeTransport Minister and local MP Andrew Jones has welcomed news that Harrogate is to see more services – including express services – to and from Leeds starting this week. Also the brand new Azuma bullet trains are shortly to start operating between Leedsand London while six direct services a day to and from Harrogate may start as early as December.

New Civil Engineer

• Exclusive | £1.5bn Crewe station contract delayedThe launch of a £1.5bn contract to upgrade Crewe station is being delayed, New Civil Engineer can reveal.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Scrap HS2 and use its £56bn budget to fund 28 alternative projects, urges TPAScrapping the £56bn HS2 project could pave the way for 28 separate local infrastructure schemes to be funded instead with the case “getting stronger by the day” a new report from the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) has claimed. The report states that with the latest evidence...

Other News Sources

• MP Encourages Women To Report 'Unacceptable' Behaviour On Tube After 'Creepy' IncidentMP Dawn Butler, 49, has encouraged anyone made to feel uncomfortable by other passengers on public transport to report their behaviour to the British Transport Police after an incident on her morning commute.
• New ScotRail timetable changes set to come into forceNEW ScotRail timetable changes set to come into force this weekend (May 19) will add thousands of extra seats for customers, says the train provider.