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

Friday, 12 April 2024

The Independent

• Labour’s HS2 plans confirmed by shadow transport secretaryThe shadow transport secretary has confirmed Labour has “no plans to resurrect HS2”.

Daily Record

• Direct Stirling-London link set to be axed at end of 2024 as consultation concludesStirling’s only direct rail link with London will be axed later this year after the operator of the service announced the results of a consultation.

Local Government

• Transition Team opens office in Derby as agent appointed to find home for GBRGreat British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT) will officially take up residence in Derby next week at a new, temporary office located right next to Derby Railway Station.

Network Rail

• Partnership with local steel fabricator strengthened by accessibility projectsNetwork Rail engineers visited a steelworks in Annan to see progress on steel fabrication for ongoing projects to improve accessibility at three stations across Scotland.
• Wendy Chamberlain MP sees Leven station progressAs work to deliver the Levenmouth Rail Link nears completion, local MP Wendy Chamberlain visited the site of the new Leven station.

Derby Telegraph

• Alstom: We must save Derby's vital rail industry now before time runs outAn order of just five more trains would save the Litchurch Lane factory and thousands of jobs - we say enough is enough and the time is now
• Great British Railways moves into temporary home as hunt for Derby headquarters goes onGreat British Railways (GBR) will move into temporary premises in Derby next week ahead of finding a permanent home. The GBR Transition Team (GBRTT) has been working with Derby City Council and other local organisations to map out a shared vision for its new national headquarters, which Derby was awarded early last year, beating off five other cities and towns.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Hitachi Rail could start redundancy process at County Durham plant as early as June, Rachel Reeves warnsLabour's Shadow Chancellor visited the Newton Aycliffe train-building factory this week, amid continuing fears over the future of the massive manufacturing site

Other Regional Press

• Green councillors meet rail minister and demand answers over Bristol Road stationGreen councillors Catherine Braun, Chloe Turner and Carol Kambites met with the minister of state for rail, Huw Merriman, along with MP Siobhan Baillie, to call for a decision on the campaign to reopen Stonehouse Bristol Road station, writes Sue Fenton.
• Signals are good for return of passenger trainsThe return of passenger rail services on the Northumberland Line has moved another step closer following the completion of major signalling and level crossing work. 
• Ealing Council leader raises concern over HS2 plans that could see Old Oak Common Lane in Acton closed for up to five yearsThe Leader of Ealing Council, Councillor Peter Mason and Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Climate Action Deirdre Costigan have sent a joint letter to HS2 voicing their concerns over plans that could see Old Oak Common Lane in Acton closed for four or five years

Construction News

• HS2: Cost of phase 2a decommission still unclearHS2 is still unclear about the costs of decommission its enabling works on the route’s cancelled phase 2a, six months after the government pulled the project.

New Civil Engineer

• RIA releases strategy for achieving a net zero UK rail network by 2050The Railway Industry Association (RIA) has revealed its blueprint for achieving a net zero railway in the UK by 2050, which aims to maximise current government infrastructure plans.
• East West Rail Co CEO Beth West decides to step away ’after much reflection’East West Railway Company (EWR Co) chief executive Beth West has announced that she will move on from her post “after much reflection”, having been in the role for two years.

Transportxtra

• £50m ’Mid Cornwall Metro’ rail upgrade scheme underwayTransport Secretary Mark Harper has met with local leaders in Cornwall to plan progress on the major Mid Cornwall Metro project funded by a £50m Levelling Up allocation just announced by

Other News Sources

• MP hails ’astonishing’ progress made on £116m Levenmouth rail projectPROGRESS made over the last 18 months on the £116 million Levenmouth rail link project has been hailed as ’astonishing’.
• Stadler hydrogen train breaks world recordSwiss train manufacturer Stadler has confirmed that a FLIRT H2 has been entered into the Guinness World Records database for the longest distance — 1,741.7 miles (2,803km) — achieved by a ’pilot hydrogen fuel cell electric multiple unit passenger train’ without refuelling or recharging.