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

Tuesday, 02 October 2018

BBC News

• ScotRail pledges 'faster journeys and more seats' with new timetableNew high-speed and electric trains are being introduced across the network as part of an improvement programme.
• CairnGorm Mountain railway closed for 'several weeks'CairnGorm funicular railway has stopped operating due to problems with the structure supporting the tracks.
• 'One click plan' to speed up rail compensationRail companies should follow best practice to speed up claims, transport secretary says.
• Ryanair warns on profits as strikes hit incomeRyanair cuts its profit forecast, blaming the impact of strikes and higher fuel costs.
• Toyota says no-deal Brexit would impact investmentChief executive of Toyota Motor Europe says manufacturers must be able to export to the EU duty free.
• Passengers stranded as airline collapsesStansted airport tells travellers with bookings on Primera Air flights on Tuesday not to turn up.

The Herald

• £100million Caledonian Sleeper fleet delayed again and will not be in service until next yearA BRAND new £100 million fleet of sleeper trains to run between Scotlandand London has been delayed for a second time.

The Independent

• Brexit: UK planes may be grounded in no-deal scenario, says European Commission presidentJean-Claude Juncker says British public were unaware of potential pitfall when voting in the EU referendum
• Visionaries, entrepreneurs and the writers of Back To The Future have long promised that flying cars are hovering just around the corner and about to land on a building near you.Low-cost carrier leaves a trail of claims from disrupted passengers

Times Online

• First flying cars land next year, claim makers [Subscription]Visionaries, entrepreneurs and the writers of Back To The Future have long promised that flying cars are hovering just around the corner and about to land on a building near you.
• Late arrival Chris Grayling announces easier compensation for rail delays [Subscription]Rail passengers who suffer delays and cancellations will be able to claim compensation with a simple “one-click” system, the transport secretary has announced.
• Ryanair better left at boarding gate [Subscription]If only everyone was as keen as Patrick Kehoe. The 23-year-old was so desperate to catch his Ryanair flight that he chased it down the runway at Dublin airport, a thrilling caper swiftly followed by a court appearance and him dropping his trousers to moon at the attendant press snappers.
• ScotRail promises quicker journeys from December [Subscription]Journey times on the main Edinburgh to Glasgow shuttle train service will be cut to 47 minutes by the end of the year, ScotRail has announced.
• Latest delay sidelines new‑look Caledonian Sleeper until spring [Subscription]The new £100 million fleet of carriages for the Caledonian Sleeper has been delayed by another six months.

City AM

• Chris Grayling announces 'one-click' commuter compensation as train delay payouts rocketTransport secretary Chris Grayling has launched plans to make it easier for passengers to claim compensation for delayed or cancelled journeys as the latest figures show that payouts by train companies have rocketed since 2009.

Daily Record

• Passengers refunded after plush new Caledonian Sleeper carriages delayed AGAINThe carriages will include en suite showers and double beds.

The National

• New carriages for Caledonian Sleeper trains subject to further delaysThe carriages, which include en-suite showers and double beds, were expected to be operating between London, Glasgow and Edinburgh from the end of this month but the date has been pushed back to May 2019. They were originally due to be in operation April this year.

Network Rail

• One of the world’s most historically important railway artefacts has been rediscovered by Network Rail after more than 50 yearsFor the first time, members of the public will be able to see detailed plans by George Stephenson - known as the father of the railways - for the world’s first passenger railway to use locomotives.

Derby Telegraph

• Rolls-Royce joins forces with Derby rail giant to trial UK’s first hybrid trainsThe project involves converting existing diesel trains into more environmentally-friendly versions

London Evening Standard

• Commuters face yet another train timetable shake-up as rail bosses prepare for 'leaves on the line'Commuters are braced for another shake-up of train timetables to prepare for a feared sudden deluge of leaves-on-the-line.
• Primera Air collapses: Passengers stranded at Stansted as budget airline ceases operation worldwideThousands of passengers have been left stranded after budget airline Primera Air collapsed.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Transport Secretary Chris Grayling admits rail franchising system 'no longer works'In blunt admission of failure, the transport secretary admitted 'trains are packed, the network is creaking'

Nottingham Evening Post

• Toton and East Midlands Airport areas to benefit from investment aimed at boosting economyA new development group charged with securing greater investment and providing more jobs around the area of the planned HS2 hub at Toton has been announced by the Government.

Yorkshire Post

• Chris Grayling: Our investment and reform will transform railAS Transport Secretary, I am proud to be part of a Government who finally, after 50 years of delay, got a Parliamentary majority in favour of expanding Heathrow Airport.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Airline collapse leaves thousands of Stansted passengers stranded overseasThousands of travellers who flew from Stansted Airport in Essex have been left stranded in the US and Europe after an airline announced it had ceased flying.

Other Regional Press

• New Caledonian Sleeper carriages delayed for a second time until May 2019Passengers who booked for the new carriages will be offered refunds
• East Coast rail platforms recycling just 15%Just 15% of waste on platforms and depots operated by London North Eastern Railway (LNER) is recycled, it has emerged.
• Network Rail’s amazing lengths to keep leaves from linesNetwork Rail will train its sights this autumn on combatting leaves which fall on the line and cause delays.

Train Operators

• ScotRail reaches another milestone with timetable improvements

Construction News

• HS2: Anger as ex-Thatcher aide starts complaints rolePoliticians have attacked the appointment of Margaret Thatcher’s former private secretary to the role of overseeing construction complaints against the HS2 line.

Rail Advent

• Chiltern Railways launch Chil.tvChiltern Railways has announced that it has launched a brand new entertainment system on board its train services.

Rail Magazine

• New Great Northern Class 717 carries first passengersThe first Class 717 carried passengers on the Great Northern network on September 28.

Rail Technology Magazine

• 200m investment to upgrade railway in derby enters final weekNetwork Rail’s £200m project to upgrade Derby’s railway has entered its final week.
• Rail passengers to receive faster compensation in new ‘one click’ repayment plansPassengers should soon be able to claim compensation for delayed trains more quickly and efficiently following the government’s announcement of a new ‘one click’ automated claims system.

Railway Gazette

• High speed trainsets to be delivered within three monthsCHINA: China Railway Corp has awarded Bombardier Sifang (Qingdao) Transportation a 2·2bn yuan contract to supply 10 CR400AF high speed trainsets within three months.

The Business Desk

• New development body to fast-track HS2 at TotonThe creation of a new development body that the government says will bring forward new jobs, homes, infrastructure and growth linked to the new HS2 station has been announced by Chancellor Philip Hammond at the Conservative Party conference.

Transport Network

• Network Rail says leaves on line 'as bad as black ice'The rail industry has defended itself against the inevitable deluge of criticism after at least three train firms announced that they will be extending journey times this autumn to take account of leaves on the line.
• Edinburgh takes fast approach to EV charging with £3.3m planCouncillors in Edinburgh will this week consider a £3.4m plan to introduce a ‘strategic, citywide network of electric vehicle (EV) charging points’.
• Continuing decline in bus use prompts call for national strategyA continued fall in bus use over the last four years has prompted calls for a national bus strategy from a leading operator to stem the tide of local cuts.

Other News Sources

• Poll shows more Spelthorne and Esher residents support Heathrow Airport third runway than oppose itThe poll asked residents of Spelthorne and Esher and Walton for their views on expansion
• Aberdour businesswoman blames lost revenue on ScotRailAN ABERDOUR entertainer has said her business has suffered since Abellio took over the ScotRail franchise.
• New Chester to Leeds line will have 100mph trainsRoute due to commence in December 2019 although this has not been confirmed