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

Tuesday, 13 April 2021

BBC News

• Rail operator Abellio ScotRail posts losses of £64.5mTrain operator Abellio ScotRail has blamed the early impact of the pandemic on widening losses in its latest annual accounts.

The Guardian

• Visually impaired users complain after rail websites go greyscale for Prince PhilipGesture backfires as customers highlight accessibility issues, with one saying UK has completely lost the plot. A leading sight charity has stressed the need for inclusive web design after rail websites switched to black and white to mark Prince Philip's death, leaving partially sighted people struggling.Network Rail and National Rail websites turned from colour to greyscale in a tribute to the Duke of Edinburgh.

The Independent

• National Rail failed to see issues with Prince Philip website tributeNational Rail has said that it will address its “internal accessibility process” after it failed to pick up issues with its tribute to Prince Philip.

Times Online

• Train app helps passengers to avoid busiest carriages [subscription]Rail passengers will be able to avoid overcrowded carriages under plans for technology that provides real-time information about the busiest trains.

City AM

• TfL passenger numbers jump as retail and hospitality reopenPassenger numbers on Transport for London (TfL) services jumped this morning as people rushed to back to the capital’s shopping hotspots following the lifting of some lockdown restrictions.

Bucks Free Press

• HS2 asks to close A413 at Little Missenden for two weekends Part of a major A-road in Bucks could be closed over two weekends for HS2 works.

Other Regional Press

• Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership achieves government accreditationTHE Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership (CRP) has achieved government accreditation for its high standards.
• Action plan over disruption drawn up by East West RailCompany acknowledges that scale of activities has increased in recent weeks

New Civil Engineer

• Crossrail | Growing list of work being deferred sparks concernCrossrail project representative Jacobs has raised concerns about the growing list of work that is being deferred on the project.
• Restoration of historic Yorkshire viaduct completeWork to restore the world-renowned Ribblehead viaduct for rail passengers and tourists in North Yorkshire is now complete.
• West Wales rail lines turns to crowdfunding in bid to reopen axed routeCampaign group Traws Link Cymru has launched a £5,000 crowdfunding appeal on justgiving.com in a bid to raise funds to support the work to reopen the Beeching-axed West Wales Rail Corridor.

Rail Magazine

• International travel hopes: Eurostar targets Paris upliftGovernment aims to set out its plans for international travel early next month, including whether people can begin travelling abroad from May 17.
• Hull Trains resumes East Coast Main Line passenger servicesOpen access operator Hull Trains restarted its passenger service on April 12, following a third hibernation period in response to the pandemic.

Railway Gazette

• Alstom selected for ‘milestone’ Danish electric train contractDENMARK: National passenger operator DSB has named Alstom as the winner of a contract to supply at least 100 electric multiple-units in 2024-29, saying the order marks an important milestone in the transition to more climate-friendly and sustainable public transport.

Other News Sources

• Torquay rail station getting major upgradeNetwork Rail has been investigating improvements at the listed Victorian station for more than a decade
• TfL: Passenger numbers up as businesses reopen doorsThe number of passengers using Tube and bus services in London rose this morning as lockdown restrictions eased, initial data has revealed.
• 'Compelling case' to level up economy through rail innovationGreater investment in rail research could be used to help level up the economy in the north of England, according to a report by economics and policy analysts Perspective Economics.
• The rail industry is suffering from a mental health crisis: What can, and should, we do about it?Mental health and wellbeing are finally getting recognised – but with the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating the problems, the rail industry still needs to do more. At Atkins, April Welsh and Tom Buick learnt about the mental health crisis after setting up a Mindfulness At Work group and discovered how the industry can do better.