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

Friday, 09 July 2021

The Guardian

• Because the night … why I love a sleeper trainWhether it’s Edinburgh, Vienna or Madrid, overnight rail travel is about romance and excitement. So look forward to new French night trains from 2024When I’m on a sleeper train I can barely sleep, such is my state of expectation. Everything, from the handsome ticket to the unsociable departure time to the identity of other passengers, is liable to induce excitement.Once in the cosy, linen-provisioned room, the door closed, there’s the sound of furtive passengers in the corridor, preparations and salutations, a drinks trolley. I’m sometimes torn between sitting down for a meal in the dining car...

London Evening Standard

• Test trains get green signal on Northern Line Tube extensionA “major milestoneâ€� in the opening of the first Tube extension this century was hit on Thursday when it was revealed that trial operations had started on the Northern Line extension to Battersea.

Other Regional Press

• MP asks Transport Minister about disabled access at local railway stationsYesterday evening Nus Ghani MP for Wealden used an adjournment debate to raise the matter of step-free access upgrades at Wealden train stations, Blue Badge parking at Eridge station and to probe the Minister on investment into the electrification of the Uckfield Line and a new depot in Crowborough.
• Transport Minister visits Bo'ness project halfway down the trackTransport Minister Graeme Dey MSP visited Arcola Energy’s rail engineering team working on the Scottish Hydrogen Train project at the Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway on Monday.
• 'We now have an inadequate train service to London'South Western Railway must do more to provide a better rail service between Weymouth and London Waterloo.

Train Operators

• Codename Swift: tailormade light logistics train takes to the railsThe changing face of rail operations in the UK has taken a mother step forward. An example of the former high-density commuter passenger electric multiple unit class 321 has been rolled out in a new guise. Rebranded as the Swift Express, the 100mph (160kph) EMU is now ready to serve the fast-growing market in parcels and light logistics.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Passenger trains set to deliver parcels to city centresHigh-speed parcel deliveries will soon be made by rail to satisfy a growing demand for faster freight.   Network Rail and distribution firm Orion showed how the concept works at Euston station earlier this week.    Former passenger trains are being converted to take goods directly into city centre stations.   As well as online retail, the flexible freight operation could transport other light goods needed in fast times by businesses.   Parcels would then see bicycle or van couriers take them for final delivery.   Daniel Fredriksson, Network Rail customer relations...

New Civil Engineer

• Crossrail | Huge cost hikes at three stations and on 19 main works contractsHuge cost increases on 19 of Crossrail’s 36 main works contracts have been revealed, including cost hikes at three of the line’s Central London stations.

Railnews

• Peace talks set to start in Caledonian Sleeper dispute Talks are due to begin at ACAS tomorrow in a bid to resolve the RMT's dispute with Caledonian Sleeper over a pay freeze. Meanwhile, the RMT has welcomed a Parliamentary motion which calls on the Scottish Government to intervene.

Other News Sources

• Cheshire East Council unveils plan to scrap Transport Service SolutionsCheshire East Council is to scrap its transport company Transport Service Solutions (TSS) and bring its delivery back in-house.
• Minister for Transport opens new rail research building at the University of BirminghamAndrew Stephenson, Minister of State for Transport, has formally opened a new purpose-built centre at the University of Birmingham, designed to deliver specialist research in railway engineering.
• A New Zero-Emission Hyperloop Port Offers Ground Transport at 'Airplane Speeds'The much-hyped hyperloop is one step closer to becoming a reality with the announcement of HyperloopTT's HyperPort concept.
• Network Rail to rebuild South Lane railway bridgeThe £2.85m project will “secure the future of journeys for rail passengers between Manchester and Liverpool”, according to the arm’s length public body.