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

Tuesday, 20 October 2020

Times Online

• Regional economies like the Midlands crucial to recovery and levelling up [subscription]The challenges we face as a country are unprecedented. Policymakers are shackled to a 24-hour cycle of news, data and expert insight, fighting to keep communities safe and making pressurised decisions to halt the spread of Covid-19. However, while this short-term focus and reactivity is essential for our immediate health and wellbeing, we cannot forget the longer-term goals so central to our future success.

City AM

• Trainline chief executive Clare Gilmartin steps downRail ticketing firm Trainline (TRN) has today announced its chief executive Clare Gilmartin will stand down at the end of February.

Sky News

• Bride and groom posing for pictures on train track among 5,000 trespassing incidents on the railwaysA bride and groom posing for wedding pictures were among more than 5,000 incidents of railway trespassing between June and September this year.

Yorkshire Post

• Now is the time to increase North’s rail capacity – The Yorkshire Post saysTHERE IS a slight irony that Yorkshire’s rail services – so long a national embarrassment – are performing better now than they have done for many years when passenger numbers have dropped so dramatically as a result of Covid-19 and many more commuters working from home than originally envisaged.
• Rail services in the north 'enjoying best performance ratings in years' as passenger numbers dropRail services in the north of England are performing better than they have for many years because of the huge drop in demand seen during the pandemic, a report has revealed.

Doncaster Free Press

• This is how Doncaster rail passengers can help the environmentLondon North Eastern Railway (LNER) is introducing disposable cup recycling stands to the stations it manages – as many as 2,000 cups are thrown away every day at larger stations, said environmental partnership manager Thomas Miles. He said: “More than ever before, people are focused on the impact they are having on the world around them so we hope that these new cup recycling stands will be a success.”

Other Regional Press

• New boss named for Scotland's sleeper link with LondonCaledonian Sleeper has named its new managing director as Kathryn Darbandi. Mrs Darbandi will take up her new role in January 2021 and brings extensive experience in the travel and tourism industry, She previously held senior roles at US group Travel Leaders, Thomas Cook and Tui.

Christian Wolmar

• Rail 913: Wrong way to try to prove that rail is safeStatistics are a big part of my business as a journalist. I love it when I can refer to the fact that railways are far safer than other land-based modes of travel by referring to widely accepted metrics such as deaths per billion kilometres. I also enjoy using the rather remarkable fact that despite all the hype about privatisation being more efficient, over the past twenty years the cost of running the railway per passenger mile has remained virtually unchanged since the days of British Rail.

Rail Magazine

• Testing begins on Midland Main Line electrificationTesting of the Midland Main Line’s new overhead line equipment has begun.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Network Rail spending with SMEs surpasses £2.5bn in 2019-20Britain’s rail industry has a key part to play in its economic growth, and in light of current Covid-19 outbreak, also its recovery. The railway allows people to get to work, businesses to markets, and people to their families and friends.
• 2020 worst summer in five years for trespassing on the railwayRecent statistics from Network Rail and British Transport Police show that there were 5,100 trespass incidents over the summer months, with the total number of incidents recorded in September at 1,239, the worth recorded for that month in the past five years.

Railnews

• Monday essay: A new era? The Department for Transport has awarded a three year contract to Arriva to continue running CrossCountry until October 2023, and this new deal will not include significant commercial risk. Sim Harris asks if this is the way forward.
• Work begins exploring ground conditions on Ashington line Work has started to explore the ground on a Northumberland railway which is being proposed for reopening after its passenger services were withdrawn in 1964. The route runs north from Northumberland Park Metro station to Ashington.

Transportxtra

• First piece of Scots HS2 infrastructureThe first piece of HS2 infrastructure in Scotland is likely to be a depot for HS2 trains in Dumfries and Galloway.

Other News Sources

• 'Dunfermline must be re-connected to West Fife railway'NETWORK RAIL and the Scottish Government are being urged to open all of the West Fife rail line following the announcement of plans to electrify tracks between Longannet and Alloa.
• HS2 scrutiny set to be ramped up by Cheshire EastWORK on the delivery of HS2 in Cheshire East is set to be ramped up.