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

Wednesday, 16 October 2019

BBC News

• Rail fares: Why do prices vary around Wales?Have you ever wondered why some train tickets are more expensive than others?
• HS2 must be built in full, say the CBI's regional headsThe call by regional heads of the CBI business lobby comes amid worries HS2 could be scaled back.

Financial Times

• Northern business leaders warn against HS2 rail cutsReport highlights huge economic boost as official review considers axing section to Leeds

The Guardian

• Bus food ban and the battle against obesity [Letters]Your correspondents (Letters, 11 October) complain that the recommendation by Sally Davies, the former chief medical officer, to ban eating on public transport is impracticable and patronising. This is not helped by your article’s focus on one minor but eye-catching recommendation in a detailed report from Davies (Ban eating on buses and trains, health chief urges, 10 October).
• Northern Powerhouse seeks more control of HS2 rail schemeBusiness and city leaders warn of economic damage of cancellation and call for 2012 Olympics-style authority. A review of HS2 by northern business and city leaders has called for control of construction of the high-speed railway to be devolved to the north and Midlands – and warned that its possible cancellation would leave no viable alternatives for transforming their economies.

Reuters News

• Alitalia gets qualified thumbs up from Atlantia, state railwaysMILAN (Reuters) - Italian loss-making airline Alitalia said on Tuesday it won a commitment from toll-road operator Atlantia (ATL.MI) and state railways Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) to come to its rescue provided a number of conditions were met.

The Mirror

• One trillion pound jackpot for North if HS2 gets go-ahead, says reportThe Northern Powerhouse Partnership revealed the potential bonanza as a review of the rail scheme is underway

Sky News

• CBI calls for no more 'dither or delay' on HS2 rail linkA scaled back version of HS2 will not deliver the connectivity across the country businesses are crying out for, says the CBI.

Birmingham Mail

• Desperate attempts launched to save HS2 amid government review as CBI demands it be built 'in full'The chairs of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) all signed up to a statement claiming a scaled-back version "will not deliver the improved connectivity across the country that businesses are crying out for"

Birmingham Post

• Liverpool transport chief 'confident' both Northern Powerhouse Rail and HS2 WILL come offFrank Rogers said PM Boris Johnson is a "strong supporter" of the schemes
• Business bodies tell government to deliver HS2 and unlock potential of the North and MidlandsIn two separate reports released today the Northern Powerhouse Partnership and the CBI have said failure to deliver HS2 will be damaging to the North and the rest of the UK

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Government urged to re-commit 'all the way' to HS2MPs have joined together to urge the Government to re-commit 'all the way' to HS2.

London Evening Standard

• Boris Johnson urged to provide money to pay for £3bn Bakerloo line upgrade A Bakerloo line extension was today demanded by a cross-party group of politicians and business chiefs.

Manchester Evening News

• Just hand over OUR half of HS2 instead of cutting it, northern leaders tell 'irresponsible' governmentA scathing report has hit back at suggestions the Leeds leg of the line could be axed to cut costs
• Metrolink section named 'busiest' in the world - but crime and antisocial behaviour is on the riseThe total number of recorded anti-social behaviour and crime incidents rose by nearly a third in the last year, with most incidents occurring at night and during the school holidays

Wales Online

• How Transport for Wales is doing one year on from taking over our rail serviceHave rail users benefited 12 months on? Our reporter Lydia Stephens documented her commute to work

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Last-ditch bid to save Leeds section of HS2 launched by North's political and business leadersSenior civic and business leaders in the North have launched an 11th-hour bid to persuade the Government to deliver HS2 in full amid rumours the Leeds leg of the high speed rail scheme is to be scrapped.

Bucks Free Press

• HS2 'will help tackle climate change’ claims spokesman in response to Great Missenden protests An HS2 spokesperson has released a statement to the Bucks Free Press, in response to the protests against the project currently taking place in Great Missenden.
• Protesters gather in Great Missenden to 'fight the destruction' of HS2's controversial road-widening project Protesters have gathered in Great Missenden today to “fight the destructionâ€� of a number of trees as part of HS2’s controversial road-widening project.

Other Regional Press

• New London to Shropshire trainA new direct train from London through Shrewsbury and onto Wrexham is to be introduced by the First Train Italia Franchise company.
• New train service for Malton and Norton delayedPlans for a half-hourly train service between Malton and York have been cancelled this year.
• Dundee MSP in talks with Network Rail to save ‘historic’ railway bridgeA city MSP is calling for a rethink on a plan to demolish a “historic” railway bridge at Dundee’s docks.
• 'Positive discussions' on improvements to Luton Train Station could see disabled accessSeniors officials from Govia Thameslink have engaged in "positive discussions" about improvements to Luton Train Station, with the prospect of full disabled access.
• TransPennine Express train boss gets 44 per cent wage hikeTransPennine Express chief Leo Goodwin's salary rose even though two thirds of his company's trains are late

Train Operators

• FREE AND FRIENDLY WI-FI WITH LNERLondon North Eastern Railway (LNER) onboard and station Wi-Fi has become Friendly Wi-Fi certified.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Ministers highlight vital projects around the country as government drives infrastructure revolutionThe government has reaffirmed its pledge to drive forward an infrastructure revolution with major investment in transport and the roll out of super-fast broadband to rural areas as ministers showcase the benefits of investment already taking place across the country. A series of visits highlighted the crucial work being made to increase access to opportunities across the UK and improve journeys for commuters, help the UK’s ports prepare for Brexit and roll out full fibre broadband to every corner of the country. The Transport Secretary visited Portsmouth International Port to see the cru...

Christian Wolmar

• Rail 887: HS2 in dangerIt had to happen. The biggest infrastructure project the UK has ever seen was never going to be nodded through without a reappraisal given all the leaks about increased costs and the solid phalanx of opposition within the country’s (just) ruling party.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Railway workforce celebrated on #StationsDay today Today (Oct 15) is #StationDay in the UK, dedicated to celebrating British railways, its stations and the hard-working staff and volunteers who keep it running day after day. A £48bn investment was announced by Government back in 2017 to upgrade and modernise the rail networks and stations...
• Life-saving defibrillators to be put in trains and stations across the north of EnglandLife-saving defibrillators are to be installed at TransPennine Express (TPE) railway stations and in new trains across the north of England and Scotland. The defibrillators will be the first port of call for anyone who suffers a heart attack or cardiac arrest. Network Rail and Transport for...

Other News Sources

• Queen's Speech: Govia's Great Northern and Thameslink routes could be set for reformThe government has put reforming the railways at the heart of its legislative agenda known as the Queen's Speech.
• BCC and Chambers write to PM on importance of delivering HS2We write to you today as the British Chambers of Commerce, and as local Chambers, to reiterate the importance of delivering all phases of HS2.
• TfL wants you to name London’s two new tube stationsSouth London does have its transport perks: the shiny, air-conditioned Overground; the DLR, aka London’s slowest rollercoaster – and yes, the London Trams down in Croydon. Actual tube lines, on the other hand, are a bit lacking. Of the city’s 270 tube stations, only about 10 percent are south of the river.
• Spalding Railway Station improvements after police called for the second time in four weeksImprovements will be made to Spalding Railway Station following police being called to the site for the second incident in four weeks.
• Scrapping HS2 would derail efforts to boost the NorthScrapping HS2 in the North will derail efforts to close the UK’s economic divide, an independent review by the Northern Powerhouse has concluded.