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

Wednesday, 26 June 2019

BBC News

• £2bn rail upgrade proposal put forward for MidlandsThe Midlands Rail Hub said it wanted to create space for 24 extra passenger trains an hour by 2033.
• London Underground theft reports increase by 80%The Piccadilly and Central lines, which serve tourist hotspots, had the most reports of theft.
• Kapten tube poster: TfL sorry for 'sex assault joke' Tube adThe advert for a ride-hailing app broke the transport authority's own advertising policy.

The Guardian

• FirstGroup chairman to stand downThird of investors vote against Wolfhart Hauser’s re-election at emergency meeting

The Scotsman

• Caledonian Sleeper passengers locked out of Edinburgh Waverley StationCaledonian Sleeper passengers have been left locked out of Waverley Station in Edinburgh in the latest nightmare for the troubled service.

The Telegraph

• FirstGroup chairman quits despite seeing off activist coup [subscription]irstGroup’s chairman has fallen on his sword after almost a third of shareholders backed calls by US activist Coast Capital for him to be forced out of the transport giant.

Times Online

• First Group chairman Wolfhart Hauser bows to activist pressure [Subscription]The chairman of First Group will stand down after an American activist shareholder won support for its proposals to remove more than half the board of the transport group, even though it was defeated in a crunch vote yesterday.

City AM

• Stagecoach profits rise despite UK rail franchise lossStagecoach’s profits rose as it slashed net debt in the year to the end of April, despite being stripped of a key UK rail franchise in the process.

The National

• Look to French cities to see the success of modern tram systemsIN his or her excellent letter, V MacKinlay makes it quite clear that a priority in urban transport planning must be to persuade motorists to reduce the use of their cars and that the only means of public transport that can do so is the modern tram (Letters, June 18).
• Not all ScotRail passengers see ‘better services’ON Monday, May 27, I travelled from Glasgow Queen St to Inverness, where I live. I had bought a first-class ticket. There were two carriages on the train. There was no first-class carriage. There were no seat reservations. The train was packed to overflowing, many people had luggage, lots of luggage. There was standing room only before we’d even left Glasgow.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Settle Station sign is back a year after it was knocked downA RAILWAY sign has finally been replaced at the entrance to Settle Railway Station after a lorry knocked it over more than a year ago.

London Evening Standard

• Jim Armitage: FirstGroup’s board has missed the bus. All change pleaseIt’s easy for City veterans to get misty-eyed over FirstGroup. A star in Margaret Thatcher’s privatisation firmament, it was among the first companies to take over council bus routes, before leading the pack on winning rail franchises.
• Train delays: Southern Rail, Thameslink and Gatwick Express commuters hit by disruption and cancellations after floodingCommuters travelling into London are facing travel misery after thunderstorms prompted floods in the south-east.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham's tram system most well used in the country as journeys soarNottingham's tram system is the most well used per head than any other in the country, according to new statistics which show an extra million journeys were made last year.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Transport for Wales awards first ECI contracts for £700m South Wales MetroTransport for Wales (TfW) has awarded three companies to begin preparatory works on the £738m South Wales Metro, the organisation announced today. Balfour Beatty, Alun Griffiths and Siemens are being tasked with building the Metro’s control systems, stations and maintenance...
• Grand Central plans new rail route from Blackpool to London from spring 2020Grand Central will run a new route from Blackpool to London from spring 2020, the train operator announced today. The new InterCity services are expected to give a significant boost to the economy in the North West of England and London as the company expands across the north. Grand Central...

Other News Sources

• Concerns raised over Folkestone housing plan sparks transport fearsPlans to build thousands of new homes near Folkestone could lead to overcrowding on London-bound trains, leaving Ebbsfleet commuters "unable to get on trains", according to Dartford Council.
• Virgin Trains breaks ground on Orlando extensionUSA: Virgin Trains USA held a ‘Red Spike’ groundbreaking ceremony at Orlando International Airport on June 24 to launch construction work on its 275 km Phase 2 extension from West Palm Beach.
• Caledonian Sleeper cancellations continueMany of you will have read our recent piece on the issues affecting the new Caledonian Sleeper carriages.