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

Friday, 14 February 2020

Times Online

• Northern’s new train breaks down with Grant Shapps on board [Subscrption]A new Northern Rail train broke down while carrying the transport secretary, providing further embarrassment for the troubled railway system.

The National

• Judge projects on their merits, not on who proposes themIAN Blackford was right to point out that the High-Speed Railway 2 project did not cover Scotland, any more than our subsidy bill for London Crossrail, Jubilee Line, sewage etc did. By the time it gets to Leeds we’ll all be deid and by the time it gets to Scotland – well, forget it.

London Evening Standard

• Early warning of 10-day shutdown on rail for EasterCommuters and families planning Easter holidays were today given an early warning of a 10-day shutdown over a major part of the London network.

Manchester Evening News

• Transport Secretary hints controversial HS2 link through Wigan could be divertedGrant Shapps has indicated the Golborne Spur could be redirected away from Lowton
• Northern Rail's Sunday cancellations problem solved - just as Arriva loses franchiseBosses have finally reached an agreement with drivers' union - just weeks before the firm is moved to public ownership

Northern Echo

• Keir Starmer slams Tees Valley Tory metro transport cutsLABOUR Party leadership candidate Keir Starmer will today slam the Tory government for what he describes as a "decade of failure" on Tees Valley transport infrastructure.
• Exactly 200 years later, the railway pioneers meet once again in YarmTHOMAS MEYNELL and Benjamin Flounders came back to life on Tuesday evening in the pub where 200 years earlier they had convened a crucial railway meeting.

The York Press

• HS2: a 'transport revolution' - or a colossal waste of money? Think what you will about Boris Johnson, he's certainly got a way with words.
• York NRM Central Hall display opensTHE chair of a jury which will decide on the design of a £16.5 million new Central Hall at York's National Railway Museum visited a display of the five shortlisted entries yesterday - and urged residents and visitors to do the same.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• MP welcomes action on train companyAn MP has welcomed a Government order for a train operator to spend and extra £20 million on improving services.

Burnley Express

• 9-day rail closure on East Lancashire line starts this weekendTRAVELLERS will face disruption for nine days with rail replacement buses in service as the planned closure of the East Lancashire line starts this weekend.

Carlisle News & Star

• More trouble for Northern Rail after transport secretary Grant Shapps is left strandedTroubled train operator Northern Rail was left red-faced when one of its new trains broke down with the secretary of state for transport on board.

East Anglian Daily Times

• East Anglian rail line blocked after trees come down in high windsRail services between East Anglia and London were thrown into chaos on Thursday after high winds brought down a tree on overhead lines just north of Colchester.

Other Regional Press

• Andrew Jones MP talks about rail and HS2The UK has seen rail journeys increase to 1.8 billion a year, from 760 million journeys in 1995.
• Councillor says party has got it wrong on rail linkANDY Boddington has ruffled feathers in the Liberal Democrat establishment.
• Chirk: Simon Baynes MP among those to back HS2 rail plansThe seven Conservative MPs across North Wales, including Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes, have welcomed the government’s confirmation that the HS2 project will proceed.
• 'We're sorry': Train operator c2c launches new campaign to help reduce station queues after 'frustrating' six monthsThe managing director of c2c has apologised to the train operators' customers after six months of problems saw the company unveil a new "reduce the queues" campaign to make buying tickets easier.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Network Rail install new Dawlish sea wall Network Rail’s plan to protect the vital rail line to the south west from rising sea levels and extreme weather has taken a big step forward despite challenging storm conditions. A large sea wall is being installed in Dawlish, Devon to defend the costal railway line and the iconic footpath...
• TransPennine Express receives 'public target' from Transport for the North Agreed by Transport for the North leaders in back in January, the ‘public target’ follows a period at the end of last year when TransPennine Express returned the worst performance figures in the country, with sometimes less than half their services meeting basic performance...

Railnews

• TransPennine Express under pressure, as performance targets are set Transport for the North has given TransPennine Express new and strict public performance targets, after months of cancellations and other problems. The decision comes only a few days since rail minister Chris Heaton-Harris warned that the Department for Transport was prepared to take action against TPE unless performance improved. Transport for the North™s strategic rail director David Hoggarth said: ˜Passengers in the North of England must have a rail service they can rely on. In the run-up to Christmas last year TPE simply failed to provide what was needed.™

Other News Sources

• Reduced rail services planned as Storm Dennis approachesSPEED restrictions and reduced services are expected on the railways this weekend.
• Crisis hit HS2 college hires lawyers to gag OfstedThe crisis hit National College for HS2 has hired a team of lawyers to stop Ofsted publishing a highly critical report, FE Week can reveal.