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

Thursday, 19 September 2019

BBC News

• Tyne and Wear Metro: Hitachi in County Durham fails to win new train contractThe Japanese train builder Hitachi has failed to win an order to supply 42 new trains for the Tyne and Wear metro.
• Isle of Wight Steam Railway halts plans for Island Line linkA heritage railway has dropped plans to run steam trains on part of the Isle of Wight main line network.
• Transport for Wales trains without toilets 'dehumanising'A man with a bowel condition says new trains will be unusable for some passengers.
• Major projects body has achieved very little, say AMsConcerns are raised by AMs about a body set up to oversee major building and transport projects.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• North East rail users promised cheaper fares and faster trains - on one conditionThe region’s leaders have welcomed Prime Minister Boris Johnson's announcement that he wants to hand over control of fares, timetables, trains and stations to local authorities

Northern Echo

• Newton Aycliffe's Hitachi receives support following Spanish contract decisionPRESSURE is mounting on a North-East public body to review a decision to award a £500m contract to a Spanish company rather than a train builder in the region which has been struggling for orders.

Other Regional Press

• London Conservatives call for HS2 to be scrappedThe Government should scrap High Speed Two (HS2) and invest in better rail links for London and the Northern cities, according to the London Assembly Conservative group.
• New train investment slammed as shameful by Light Rail Isle of WightMONDAY'S announcement of a £26 million investment in Island Line was met with criticism from Light Rail Isle of Wight (LRIW), which said it was a 'shameful day'.

New Civil Engineer

• HS2 launches search for phase 2a design partner despite ongoing reviewHigh Speed 2 Ltd (HS2 Ltd) has launched its search for a design and delivery partner (DDP) for the phase 2a section of the route despite the ongoing Oakervee review and announcement from its chair that it could be up to five years late.

Rail Advent

• Rail innovation programme launched by Transport for WalesA rail innovation programme has launched in Newport and is aimed at developing some of the best new start ups around.

Rail Technology Magazine

• West Midlands HS2 interchange station development granted up to £20m The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has agreed to fund up to £20m for a UK Central Hub in Solihull alongside the HS2 station development. The plans to develop the new HS2 Interchange Station within the 340-acre Arden Cross site have been given the green light by the combined...
• British Transport Police launches train station scanners trialIn a bid to tackle violent crime in London, British Transport Police (BTP) is rolling out a five-day trial of new body scanners at Stratford train station. The scheme will be supported by Metropolitan Police and will be able to detect guns, knives and explosive devises on a person. Last week...

Other News Sources

• Ending HS2 at Old Oak is the ‘Ryanair option’, warns TfL bossTfL commissioner Mike Brown says railway must continue on to Euston to secure benefits for the capital
• Glut of new rolling stock brings challenges and opportunities for rail sectorAlthough almost 6,000 coaches were built over this time, most replaced those that did not meet crashworthiness standards, so the fleet increased by only 18% and trains became crowded.