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

Thursday, 27 June 2019

BBC News

• Northern launches new £500m fleet of 101 trainsIn the past year, Northern has been affected by widespread rail timetable chaos affecting services.
• Caledonian Sleeper Highland service launch delayedNew carriages featuring double beds were due to be introduced, but will now be diverted to Glasgow and Edinburgh instead.
• Eurostar backtracks on train booze banCustomers can take unopened alcohol to their destination, the train service has clarified.

The Guardian

• Stagecoach happy to miss the train but it’s bad news for the puntersRail franchise bidding has become a contest to find which unsuitable bidder will limp over the line
• Caledonian Sleeper suffers setbacks with Highlands train delayLuxury trains will not appear until after summer season, says operator Serco

The Herald

• Transport giant Stagecoach signals end to UK rail bidsSHARES in Stagecoach closed up nearly three per cent after the transport giant revealed its intention to effectively withdraw from bidding for major rail contracts.

The Telegraph

• Stagecoach boss says rail officials have deserted 'core principles' of a free market [Subscription]Stagecoach believes rail officials have abandoned the “core principles” of a free market as the transport giant, once one of the country's biggest train operators, prepares for life as UK-only bus company for the first time in three decades.

Times Online

• Stagecoach reaches end of line on railways after contract row [subscription]The heavy cost of its retreat from the rail industry has been spelt out by Stagecoach, which revealed a fall in revenues of almost £1 billion yesterday.

City AM

• Eurostar chair set to take the reins at Go-Ahead GroupTransport giant Go-Ahead today said it has appointed Eurostar boss Clare Hollingsworth as its new chair following the retirement of Andrew Allner.

Daily Record

• ScotRail Glasgow to Edinburgh trains cancelled as commuters face huge disruptionsServices between Milngavie and Edinburgh and from Springburn to Dumbarton Central have been withdrawn.

London Evening Standard

• London Underground thefts up by 80 per cent over last three yearsThe number of reported thefts on the London Underground has shot up by more than 80 per cent in the past three years.

New Civil Engineer

• Network Rail repairs collapsed wall at Liverpool stationNetwork Rail has begun repair work to a retaining wall which collapsed onto the railway at Liverpool Lime Street, causing major disruption to the network.
• Plans for £2bn Midlands Rail Hub submittedTransport body Midlands Connect has submitted its plans for an overhaul of the Midlands rail network that would connect 6M extra passengers a year to HS2 via Birmingham.
• ‘Missing’ HS2-Heathrow link ‘typical’ of poor UK planningThe UK is “missing an opportunity” by not directly linking High Speed 2 (HS2) to Heathrow Airport, a leading academic who specialises in airport planning has warned.

Rail Magazine

• Charity launched to support retired BTP dogsA charity launched at Rail Live for a retired canine crime-fighter raised £1,700 across the two days.
• Stagecoach drops plans for rail franchise bidsStagecoach says it will not bid for any more rail franchises until the level of risk to operators reduces.
• EXCLUSIVE: Grayling: next PM will commit to “essential” HS2Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling has insisted that whoever becomes the next Prime Minister will commit to HS2, despite frontrunner Boris Johnson threatening to scrap the £56 billion project by the end of the year.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Midlands Rail Hub proposal document launches in BirminghamKey figures within the Midlands rail industry have gathered in Birmingham today to back the region's new investment proposal and launch the Midlands Rail Hub summary report.
• Malcolm Holmes: Midlands Rail Hub 'about connecting people'Malcolm Holmes, executive director of the West Midlands Rail Executive, about what impact the proposed £2bn Midlands Rail Hub would have to rail connectivity within the region.
• Major railway suppliers join forces to form 'Rail Innovation Family'The UK’s major rail suppliers have joined forces to form a ‘Rail Innovation Family’ that will help provide greater and clearer support for suppliers seeking to bring innovation into the rail industry. The Rail Innovation Family launched at the Digital Railway Conference hosted...

Other News Sources

• Eurostar CEO reveals 'frightening and embarrassing' statisticEurostar is to step up its marketing strategy after research found that 82% of its customers have travelled on its trains only once.
• Promotion for Balfour Beatty Crossrail managerBalfour Beatty has named Steve O’Sullivan head of aviation, heading up the company’s aviation projects across its UK Construction Services business.