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

Wednesday, 24 July 2019

BBC News

• Greater Manchester pensioners face £10 tram and train feeThe combined authority says the charge will make its concessionary travel schemes

Department for Transport

• Major demolition milestone at HS2’s Old Oak Common site as Great Western sheds clearedFormer railway sheds make way for new HS2 super-hub station designed to link HS2 with Crossrail and Great Western services

The Guardian

• Channel Tunnel group says no-deal Brexit 'very likely'Getlink says Brexit uncertainty and economic slowdown have affected bookings
• The cost of Boris Johnson: pricing up the next PM's pledges9. Review HS2 and build HS3. Cost: unknown. So far £4bn has been spent on HS2 – the high-speed rail project designed to link London to cities in the Midlands and the north. But the final cost has already risen from £32bn to £56bn and reports suggest it has now jumped to between £70bn and £85bn.

The Herald

• Strike threat on Caledonian Sleeper over 'intolerable' working conditionsCaledonian Sleeper staff have voted for strike action in a dispute over "appalling" working conditions. The RMT union said members have suffered workplace stress and mental health issues while morale is at an all-time low following the introduction of its new fleet.

The Independent

• East Coast main line closure: Passengers stranded as overhead electric wire damage shuts rail lineBritain’s flagship rail line has come almost to a halt – with travellers urged not to try to travel today.

City AM

• Farewell, Failing Grayling: Here are your five finest moments in office Any article written about transport secretary Chris Grayling over the past year has tended to start with a not-so-favourable adjective.

The National

• New committee set up to oversee railway policing in ScotlandDETAILS have been announced of a new committee being set up to oversee railway policing in Scotland. The Scottish Railways Policing Committee is being created after repeated delays to a planned merger of Police Scotland and British Transport Police (BTP), initially due to take place in April.

Sheffield Telegraph

• Sheffield pupils help to shape future of the railway with HS2 learning programmePrimary school pupils have given their views on what they would like railways to look like when they are older.

Other Regional Press

• Glasgow rail workers to march against closure of historic Springburn depotTrade unions are mobilising for a protest at a historic depot in Glasgow this week as the 160-year-old Caley railyard looks set to close.
• Stadler apprentices complete training and now set to work on new fleet of Merseyrail trainsFIVE Stadler apprentices have completed their training and have been offered jobs with the company, set to work on the new fleet of Merseyrail trains.
• We want HS2 sooner rather than later, says MP Jim McMahonOLDHAM West and Royton MP Jim McMahon has emphasised the need for the High Speed Rail 2 connection to be made in Greater Manchester sooner rather than later.

Rail Advent

• Virgin Trains teams up with Cherry Healey to launch Train JottingVirgin Trains is launching a competition, this summer, which encourages young people across the UK to get creative and re-imagine train travel by drawing their idea of an ultimate dream train journey.

Rail Magazine

• Pacers to continue running in South Yorkshire into next yearPacers will continue to operate in the South Yorkshire area, Northern has confirmed.
• Old Oak Common sheds demolishedThe former Great Western Railway sheds at Old Oak Common have been demolished, in preparation for construction of a new station which will link HS2 with Crossrail and Great Western Main Line trains.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Government sets out vision for biodiverse railway linesideDfT sets out clear strategy for how it expects Network Rail to protect and enhance the UK's lineside environment.

The Business Desk

• e-opening of historic city centre rail station a step closerBusinesses in the Baltic Triangle area of Liverpool have welcomed proposals that could see the re-opening of a disused rail station.

Other News Sources

• Four-carriage trains during rush hour ‘outrageous’ says Lewes MPMP for Lewes Maria Caulfield has called for a parliamentary debate on short formation trains between Lewes and London.
• Hopes rise that 700 jobs could be secured at Hitachi's Durham siteHitachi is the front runner to build trains for Abellio, reports claim, but that would be bad news for Derby's Bombardier

EIN News Subscription

• Transport committee chair: The aim is to put climate on political agenda in all sectorsIn an interview with EURACTIV’s partner le Journal de l’Environnement, the newly elected chair of the European Parliament’s committee on transport and tourism (TRAN), French Green MEP Karima Delli, spoke about her new priorities. These include relaunching the rail system, regulating transport in a climate-friendly manner and reducing car pollution.