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

Wednesday, 22 December 2021

BBC News

• Hundreds of trains cancelled as Covid hits railwaysChristmas journeys are at risk as train operators prepare for more disruption.

The Independent

• Fire on train closes key West of England rail lineNo one is thought to have been hurt as a result of the fire on a CrossCountry train, believed to be the 5.25am from Plymouth to Newcastle

The Scotsman

• 'Financial prudence' justifies rail fare hike for Scottish passengers, says transport ministerScotland’s transport minister has said “fiscal prudence” and affordability to the taxpayer justifies the largest jump in rail fares in almost a decade for Scottish passengers.

Times Online

• Train firms blame Covid for widespread cancellations [subscription]Rail passengers travelling over the Christmas period face being crammed on to trains as staff shortages cause widespread cancellations.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• North East leaders could take over rail line reopening after government snubNorth East transport chiefs are drawing up their latest plans for the reopening of the Leamside Line, following the latest round of disappointing news from the government on the long-awaited project.

Sheffield Star

• Third time lucky - Transport Secretary Grant Shapps promises rail electrification is definitely coming to SheffieldThird time lucky - Transport Secretary Grant Shapps promises rail electrification is definitely coming to Sheffield

Wales Online

• Transport for Wales introduces emergency timetable to 'prepare for Omicron surge'Transport for Wales (TfW) has announced an emergency rail timetable due to the spread of the Omicron variant.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Trains feel the strain as Covid decimates servicesCoronavirus-related staff shortages have been blamed for train cancellations across the region as people try to return home in time for the Christmas period.

Yorkshire Post

• Two flaws in Grant Shapps defence of £96bn Integrated Rail Plan – The Yorkshire Post saysMOST NEWSPAPER columns submitted by Whitehall departments fall by the wayside because the content is bland, templated – or mistake Yorkshire for the North East.
• This Integrated Rail Plan will get North back on track and prove its critics wrong over high-speed rail – Grant ShappsWHEN our Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) came out last month, it set two records. The first was for the amount of public money spent on railways – a whopping £96bn and every penny of it being spent in the Midlands and North, supporting connectivity and creating new links regionally and to London.

Other Regional Press

• New railway station in Chelmsford moves closer as key stage agreedEssex County Council has admitted there is an 'unfunded cost escalation' risk
• Southampton vs Eastleigh: Paul Holmes MP and city council in GBR bidTWO major Hampshire leaders have locked horns after both bidding to bring a railway HQ to their neighbouring constituencies.
• Portishead rail delays 'will cost millions'More delays to reopening the railway line to Portishead will cost millions and may be more than the project can bear.
• Rail plan promises Chesterfield to London in 76 minutes but politicians say it's 'nothing new'Future Chesterfield to London journey times of 76 minutes have been promised as more detail was revealed about the Government’s rail plans.

Business Live

• Go-Ahead shareholders come close to unseating director in rail franchise rowShareholders in the Newcastle-based firm voted 47% against the director who has chaired the company's audit committee
• Hull Trains to bring in reduced timetable as Covid hits demandOpen access operator will drop 15 services in staggered response to increased uncertainty hitting ticket sales

New Civil Engineer

• Contractors urged to bid for track and signalling lots on Network Rail’s £10bn Southern frameworkNetwork Rail has put contractors on notice to tender for the signalling and track tranche of its £9.6bn Southern Integrated Delivery (SID) framework.
• DfT slammed for ‘insulting’ claim that IRP pushed through long-delayed Midland Main Line electrificationRail commentators, engineers and opposition politicians have hit out at government claims that work to electrify the Midland Main Line (MML) is a result of pledges made in the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP).

Transport Network

• Morton steps in as Heaton-Harris leaves transportWendy Morton MP has been appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Transport (DfT), taking up a ministerial vacancy left by Chris Heaton-Harris.

Other News Sources

• Approval for £2m transport interchange at MotherwellWork on a new transport interchange at Motherwell railway station will start early next year after approval was given for the £2 million project and Balfour Beatty was appointed to carry out the work.