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

Wednesday, 24 July 2024

BBC News

• Fewer HS2 seats could force passengers not to travelThe government may need to deliberately put people off travelling between Birmingham and Manchester by rail because scrapping HS2’s northern leg is likely to mean trains can take fewer passengers.
• Meetings on future of under-threat train builderLabour’s new transport secretary Louise Haigh will meet with officials later to discuss the future of an under-threat train builder.

Financial Times

• Britons may need to be put off taking trains due to HS2 curtailment, watchdog saysAxing northern leg between Birmingham and Manchester will mean fewer seats on existing rail services, NAO says

The Guardian

• West coast fares could rise to incentivise people ’to not travel by rail’, UK watchdog saysDfT told to look into lessening demand amid reduced capacity after HS2’s second leg axed

The Herald

• Glasgow has made to many wrong turns on public transportGlasgow’s transport system has come in for much criticism lately, with the cudgels being taken up on Saturday by Geoff Ellis, a leading light in the city’s entertainment and events sector.

The Independent

• Sunak’s scrapping of HS2 will cost £100m and take up to three years, National Audit Office warnsNAO lays bare the cost and complications of decision to scrap phase 2 of the high-speed rail plan, first revealed by The Independent

The Scotsman

• Why a ScotRail pay dispute breakthrough could come from an unexpected quarterFor regular ScotRail passengers, it’s been Groundhog Day.

City AM

• Election ploy? Off-peak Friday tube trial was Sadiq Khan’s decision, says TfLTransport for London (TfL) has admitted it was instructed to run a £24m trial offering off-peak fares on Friday by Mayor Sadiq Khan, ahead of his bid for a historic third time in office.

Local Government

• Statement from the Mayor of Greater Manchester on the National Audit Office HS2 reportThe Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, provided the following statement on the National Audit Office's (NAO) report: "HS2: update following cancellation of Phase 2" (opens in new window).

Sky News

• Labour may have to discourage people from using trains after Sunak axed HS2 northern leg, watchdog saysThe report from the National Audit Office comes after Rishi Sunak controversially cancelled the high-speed line north of Birmingham last year.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Huddersfield station's iconic roof set for restorationWork has begun on the trainshed roof of Huddersfield's Grade I listed station as part of a significant multi-billion-pound upgrade.

London Evening Standard

• Fresh talks in train drivers’ pay dispute ’constructive’ – AslefThe meeting at the Department for Transport (DfT) on Tuesday will be followed by further talks in the coming weeks.

Manchester Evening News

• Rail passengers from Manchester to London can expect a new Euston... but it could be years before it's even planned outA new report into how HS2 was cancelled has revealed a £100 million bill and a lot of waste

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Labour transport secretary to meet Hitachi bosses over future of County Durham train factoryLouise Haigh will sit down with Hitachi bosses in London, as uncertainty continues over the future of the Japanese manufacturing giant's Newton Aycliffe plant

Bucks Free Press

• New Mid Bucks MP on Green Belt, HS2 and other issuesThe new MP for Mid Buckinghamshire Greg Smith has revealed his key pledges on the Green Belt, Wycombe Hospital, HS2 and other issues.

Carlisle News & Star

• Cumbria Distilling Co.'s British Gin secures Avanti contractA Cumbrian gin is now being served to relaxing passengers in the 1st Class Lounge at London Euston Station.

Other Regional Press

• ‘It’s full steam ahead for Great British Railways - so will trains run in the national interest?’Could the government’s vision for our railways signal a new era for public transport and train travel in this country, asks our columnist?

Construction Enquirer

• HS2 to spend £100m shutting sites where work never startedHS2 will need to spend £100m and take three years closing down sites for the cancelled Phase 2 leg despite construction never starting on them.

Rail Advent

• TransPennine Express launches its own IPA beer'Pennine Pale' to be available to first-class passengers

Rail Magazine

• Woods returns to PorterbrookBen Woods is joining Porterbrook as Engineering Business Development Director, having started his railway career with the company in 2004 as a Graduate Technical Support Engineer.

Railway Gazette

• ’TBM in a can’ plan makes progress at HS2 site in west LondonUK: Construction of HS2 Ltd’s Green Park Way ventilation shaft at Greenford in west London has entered a crucial phase, as preparations ramp up ahead of the arrival and subsequent recovery of four tunnel boring machines at the site.

Trafnidiaeth Cymru [Transport for Wales]

• Comms Design and Transport for Wales trial Request to StopComms Design and Transport for Wales are preparing to trial a digital signalling system that will enhance passenger experience and optimise train operations on rural and low-density rail routes.

Other News Sources

• Safran looks to future of sustainable air transportCFM International, a joint venture between Safran and GE Aviation, has announced progress towards sustainable air travel.
• HS2: update following cancellation of Phase 2Background to the report
• Successful reset needed for HS2, says NAOMeasures to reduce costs include renegotiating four main construction contracts.