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

Thursday, 27 August 2020

BBC News

• Llangennech diesel train fire: 'Major incident' declaredPeople had to be evacuated from their homes after a large diesel freight train caught fire in south Wales. Dyfed-Powys Police said people were now allowed to return to their homes after the blaze on the tracks at Llangennech, near Llanelli in Carmarthenshire.
• Coronavirus: Rail passengers to be warned when trains are busyRail companies plan to share capacity information with passengers so they can avoid crowded trains.

ITV News

• Will businesses that once thrived under railway arches survive the pandemic?For years London's railway arches have provided the perfect place for small businesses to trade from. Now some are warning they might not survive the economic fallout from Covid. The private company that owns the arches has already offered three months rent free to tenants, but are facing calls to do even more.

The Guardian

• Wales train fire triggers evacuationsDiesel freight train catches fire at Llangennech, near Llanelli, with exclusion zone put in placeHomes have been evacuated in south Wales after a large diesel train caught fire.British Transport police said crews were called to the blaze at Llangennech, near Llanelli, around 11.20pm on Wednesday. Continue reading...

The Telegraph

• People evacuated after large diesel train catches fire in south Wales

Daily Express

• Wales horror: Llangennech residents flee homes after huge blaze engulfs trainWELSH residents were evacuated from their homes after a huge fire engulfed a diesel train.

Mail Online

• New York City's MTA warns of 'horrendous' 40% cuts to bus and subway services as well as 7,200 job losses if it does not receive $12 BILLION in federal aid after pandemic wipes out revenuesNew York's transit authority says it is facing 'horrendous' cuts to bus and subway services after the coronavirus outbreak wiped out its revenue.

The Mirror

• Residents evacuated from their homes as diesel train catches fire in WalesHuge flames and pillars of smoke are towering above the area where a freight train has caught fire, with police urging people to avoid the area while fire fighters tackle the blaze in the middle of the night

Belfast Telegraph

• Translink Enterprise trains from Belfast to Dublin set to return to full serviceTranslink say the return to full timetable will offer customers 'more choice of travel times and help to facilitate social distancing on board'
• Diesel train fire leads to evacuations in south WalesResidents were forced to leave their homes and an 800-metre exclusion zone was set up after a large diesel train caught fire in south Wales.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Train rides return to North Shields in time for Bank Holiday visitorsStephenson Steam Railway will reopen from lockdown this Friday - with changes including a slightly different name

Nottingham Evening Post

• How East Midlands Railway is changing its train servicesCustomers must continue to wear a face covering, unless they are exempt

Other Regional Press

• Suttons Coffee Shop, Weymouth, wins South Western Railway small business competition AN HISTORIC Weymouth coffee shop will be featured on railway advertising billboards in Weymouth after winning a prestigious award launched to celebrate the best of local business.

New Civil Engineer

• HS2 rail freight deliveries to take 1.5M lorries off roads and cut emissionsThe first rail freight delivery of aggregate arrived at High Speed Two's (HS2’s) Washwood Heath site in Birmingham this week, signalling the start of the project’s programme to take up to 1.5M lorries off the roads to cut carbon emissions.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Major upgrades to Great Eastern Main Line this autumn Numerous upgrade works are set to take place this autumn on the main line between Stratford and Shenfield to advance the reliability of passenger journeys and prepare for the introduction of Elizabeth line services. At Stratford and Maryland, improvements will take place to upgrade the overhead...
• Multi-million-pound upgrade work across August Bank Holiday Network Rail are reminding passengers of significant upgrades taking place across rail networks this weekend. Between the West Midlands and London Euston work is taking place to make journeys more reliable for passengers and freight customers in future. The multi-million-pound investment, part...
• 1.5 million lorries to be taken off the roads by HS2 HS2 have received the first rail freight delivery of aggregate arrive (25 Aug) at HS2’s Washwood Heath site in Birmingham, signifying the start of HS2’s major programme to take up to 1.5 million lorries off Britain’s roads to cut down carbon emissions. Over the next decade, up...

Railnews

• First tri-mode trains to be seen next year The first tri-mode train in Britain is set to enter service with GWR early in 2021. The operator has received the first example of a Class 769 unit, which is a conversion of a former Thameslink dual-voltage Class 319 unit with the addition of diesel power.

Other News Sources

• Innovation lab fires up best of new technology to help Transport for Wales improve customer experienceTRANSPORT for Wales has launched the second phase of its innovation and accelerator programme working with some of the best start up innovation businesses around to deliver real customer benefits.
• Transport accessibility app to be piloted in Scottish Highlands and IslandsThe app will provide instant information about access to buses, trains, car hire, car clubs, bicycle hire, air travel and ferries.
• £13 million investment in West Norfolk rail link upgrade announcedA multi-million pound funding package, which MPs hope will bring a major upgrade of West Norfolk's rail link a step closer, has been announced this afternoon.
• Poacher Line rail group vies for two national awards – your votes needed for one of themA group dedicated to the promotion and development of the railway line between Skegness and Nottingham is vying for two national awards.
• A Tory renationalisation?If there is one thing free marketeers and large state socialists agree on, it would be the terrible state/private hybrid ownership structure of our railways currently supported by the government. While large state socialists won’t be happy until the private sector is squeezed out of the system, market liberals view the Conservative government’s actions as creeping renationalisation.
• GWR receives first ‘tri-mode’ trainFlex fleet will expand services on North Downs line     Train operator GWR has received its first ‘tri-mode’ multiple unit – able to run on overhead and third-rail electrified lines as well as under its own power using a diesel generator. Converted from a Class 319 unit previously used on Thameslink services by ROSCO Porterbrook, the first of 19 Class 769 ‘Flex’ trains has arrived at GWR’s Reading Depot for an extensive programme of staff training and testing. The trains are expected to enter service by early next year in services along the North Downs l...