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

Thursday, 19 December 2019

BBC News

• Abellio ScotRail contract to end three years earlyA NEW rail link between Abertillery and Ebbw Vale, a larger car park at Severn Tunnel Junction and new park and ride facilities in Newport and Pontypool are among transport improvements in the pipeline.
• Environmental fears stop 'urgent' Bescot rail projectPlans for a "nationally important" rail project have been rejected because of environmental concerns.
• Poole railway station could move in town centre planA railway station could be moved as part of plans to revive a Dorset town centre.
• Victoria station 'at a standstill' after signal failureRail bosses warn disruption across the network could continue into Thursday morning's rush-hour.

ITV News

• Nightmare journey home as signal failure paralyses major London rail route

Financial Times

• Abellio ScotRail contract to end three years earlyPoor performance sparks calls to take service into public ownership

The Guardian

• ScotRail contract to end three years early after commuter anger risesThe franchise run by Abellio, Scotland’s main railway operator, will end three years early after anger from commuters over cancellations and poor services.
• Chaos for rail travellers at Victoria station after signal failureUK’s second busiest train station at a standstill, leaving thousands of passengers struggling to get homeThree of London’s busiest train stations faced hours of delays and cancellations on Wednesday evening, leaving thousands of passengers struggling to get home.Trains in and out of Victoria and London Bridge were severely disrupted after a “major signal failureâ€� near East Croydon. Continue reading...

The Telegraph

• Major signal failure causes transport 'chaos' at London stations

Times Online

• Abellio managers left in dark over plan to strip it of ScotRail contract [subscription]Managers at the beleaguered company that runs Scotland’s railway were kept entirely in the dark about plans to strip it of the contract, it is understood.

City AM

• Revealed: Testing delays mean Crossrail may not open until October 2021The central section of Crossrail may not be open before October 2021, despite claims it could be launched in the first quarter of that year.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Rail graffiti vandal jailed over £1,205 of damage to train at Bradford Forster SquareA RAILWAY vandal has been jailed for two months for a graffiti attack on two train carriages at Bradford’s Forster Square Station.
• Station Plaza canopy recognised in Railway Heritage AwardsTHE Station Plaza in Ilkley has come runner-up in the National Railway Heritage Awards for the refurbishment of the glazed car park canopy.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• North Wales Metro scheme to get £20m cash injection - this is what you can expectWelsh Government funding aims to create 'more integrated and efficient transport system' for the region

London Evening Standard

• Chaos at London Victoria with station left 'at a standstill' following signal failureHuge crowds of passengers struggled to get home from London Victoria as the station was brought to

Cambridge News

• Hills Road student sets up petition over 'appalling' Cambridge train serviceThe 18-year-old says the service is regularly overcrowded, delayed or cancelled

Carlisle News & Star

• ScotRail contract scrappedThe Scottish Government has cancelled the contract with the company running rail services between Carlisle and southern Scotland.

Get Surrey

• New South Western Railway timetable announced but two extra days of reduced service after strikes An amended timetable will be in place after the strikes have ended for guards to be "properly refreshed" for necessary safety activities

Other Regional Press

• Welsh Government £20m boost for North Wales Metro schemeThe North Wales Metro is set to benefit from a £20m funding boost, the Welsh Government has announced today.
• Avanti West Coast set to hold official North Wales launch event in Wrexham todayAvanti West Coast will hold an official launch event in Wrexham later today.

Buying Business Travel

• Scottish government strips Abellio of ScotRail franchiseScottish transport secretary Michael Matheson has announced that the Abellio ScotRail franchise will end in 2022 – three years earlier than it was due to finish.

Railnews

• Abellio™s ScotRail franchise to end in 2022 The Scottish Government has decided to terminate the ScotRail franchise held by Abellio when the core contract ends on 31 March 2022. There is a break point in 2022, when the levels of subsidy are recalculated or ˜rebased™, and in theory the contract could have been extended up to 2027. Abellio said it was ˜hugely disappointed™.

Other News Sources

• 'Urgent Action Needed' on Toxic Tube DustTransport for London (TfL) must take 'urgent' action to ensure the public is not at risk from toxic Tube dust, the London Assembly says.