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

Monday, 06 November 2023

BBC News

• Rail line project axed by Welsh governmentPublic money has been lost on the project, which would have improved travel to major Cardiff events.

The Guardian

• The Guardian view on England's train stations: make them part of a rail renaissance | EditorialThe government's U-turn on closing more than 1,000 ticket offices is a relief. It is time to reject a short-sighted approach of managed decline Belatedly it has dawned on the government that closing more than 1,000 of England's railway station ticket offices, in an election year, would not be very smart politics. As a sound of screeching brakes emanated from Whitehall last week, the transport secretary, Mark Harper, announced that train operators had been asked to withdraw the cost-cutting strategy, which the government itself had originally pushed on them.

Times Online

• Transport chief Bernadette Kelly dealt with complaints about herself over HS2. [subscription]The cabinet secretary forwarded calls for an investigation from a senior government advisor into the head of the Department for Transport over her mismanagement of HS2 directly on to her to respond to, The Times can reveal.

Other Regional Press

• 'Transport for Wales is a shambles'This publication has long railed — yes, the use of that word is intentional — against Transport for Wales and its utter failure to provide the people of this region with decent train services. And for as long as we’ve complained, TfW has failed to improve the quality of its services.
• Progress update hinted for hopes of train station in Fife townNews on hopes of a new train station in a Fife town could be developed in the next few weeks, according to an MSP.
• Plans for new rooflights at Coventry station to replace 'stained' ones that have been there since 1962Coventry Railway Station looks set to get new rooflights as part of a huge regeneration scheme. The building has already undergone huge transformation and, now, plans have been lodged for the next part of the project.

New Civil Engineer

• NAO raises concerns over DfT’s ability to deliver major projectsThe Department for Transport (DfT) may be unable to afford all the transport projects it has pledged to deliver under its £41bn annual budget, a new report from the National Audit Office (NAO) has warned.

Rail Advent

• Walking routes now available on new Transport for Wales app.Ramblers, walkers and anyone looking for a day out in Wales can now take advantage of a free walking and wellness app that shows over 100 miles of walks from railway stations across the country.

Railtech

• Škoda Group to deliver 15 more trams for Brno City Transport CompanyThe tram fleet of Brno, Czech Republic, is set to undergo a significant modernization as the outdated KT8 trams from the 1980s and 1990s are to be replaced by 15 ForCity Smart 45T trams. These new trams are being procured by the Brno City Transport Company (DPMB) from the manufacturer, Škoda Group, utilising a partial option within the existing contract.

Other News Sources

• Network Rail seeks InSAR provider for geotechnical asset monitoringNetwork Rail is looking for an InSAR service provider that can help it to gain intelligence about factors that may influence the safe operation of the railway.