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

Wednesday, 29 May 2019

BBC News

• Monorail trains for the Egyptian capital Cairo will be built in Derby.Bombardier Transportation will work with Egyptian firms on the Cairo infrastructure and will develop and build the rolling stock in Derby, after being named as the preferred bidder.
• Pacer trains 'could be used as village halls'Community groups are being asked for ideas to reuse the 30-year-old carriages as they end service.

The Guardian

• Manchester and Liverpool mayors call for termination of Northern rail franchiseAndy Burnham and Steve Rotheram urge transport secretary to take action after year of misery

The Scotsman

• Scotrail passengers hit by shortage of catering staff on long-distance journeysScotRail passengers are being left without refreshments on journeys of up to three-and-a-half hours because of a shortage of catering staff.

Times Online

• Ministers fail to set the pace on old rolling stock [subscription]In these austere times, the Department for Transport is nothing if not inventive. Having inflicted Pacer trains on the north of England for four decades, the DfT is retiring the rolling stock that was converted from buses and was never meant to be in service for more than a few years.
• We need to do more to get women into the rail industry [subscription]You may think of the rail industry as a bit of a man’s world, but it has not always been that way. As early as the 1850s, women were breaking stereotypes as labourers on the very first train lines. And throughout World War II women kept our railways running, supporting our economy at a time of national need.

London Evening Standard

• Sutton set for a property boost if TfL approves tramlink extensionA £425 million London Tramlink extension is being considered by Transport for London.

Manchester Evening News

• 'Strip Northern Rail of its franchise', says mayor Andy Burnham, one year on from the timetable meltdownGreater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and Liverpool mayor Steve Rotherham say things have not improved enough - and their patience has now run out
• 'If this is the Northern Powerhouse, they can keep it': Government launches 'exciting' plan to turn Pacer trains into village hallsPacers could also become community spaces or cafes once they are finally replaced by new trains, according to the government, one year after the northern rail meltdown

Other Regional Press

• 'Give Pacer trains a new lease of life - maybe as a cafe'Rail enthusiasts mourning the impending loss of Pacer trains from Britain's railways have been asked to come up with ingenious ways of giving them a new lease of life.
• London Northwestern Railway considering changes to trains at Kings Langley and Apsley after commuter chaosTrain operator London Northwestern Railway has said it is "seriously considering" whether it can increase capacity on the morning services at Kings Langley and Apsley after last week's chaos.

Rail Magazine

• Rail freight sector outlines hopes for UK growthA better joined-up railway with strong incentives to accommodate rail freight growth is a key requirement, according to the freight sector’s submission to the Williams Review.

Other News Sources

• Metro Mayors call for Northern to be stripped of rail franchise 'as soon as possible'The Mayors of Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region have called on the Transport Secretary to terminate Northern’s rail franchise "as soon as possible".
• Metro Mayors call for Northern to be stripped of rail franchise 'as soon as possible'The Mayors of Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region have called on the Transport Secretary to terminate Northern’s rail franchise "as soon as possible".