Morning Star: 22nd July 2010 by Louise Nousratpour
Rail union RMT has branded the Con-Dem government's plans for longer rail franchises a "one-way ticket to the bank" for failed private train operators.
Continue reading "RMT sees through new plans for rail privateers" »
Morning Star; 13 July 2010by Paul Haste
Furious rail workers have begun legal action to fight for millions of pounds in unpaid wages. The money is owed to more than 1,000 engineering workers sacked after an engineering firm collapsed.
Morning Star: 13 July 2010 by Roger Bagley
Miners' MP Dennis Skinner bitterly condemned the "outrageous" invitation to Prime Minister David Cameron to speak at September's TUC Congress.
Continue reading "Miners' champion Skinner joins TUC outcry" »
BEP: July 13, 2010
At a recent meeting, Bristol City Council went ahead with a £48 million bendy bus scheme despite Government warnings that the money may not be there. You could understand if the money was for the reopening of the Portishead rail line to passengers. But a bendy bus? It is not worth taking the risk.
Continue reading "It beggars belief the council is ignoring rail" »
The Telegraph: 05 Jul 2010
Trade Unions have accused the Government of ''declaring war'' by considering tightening up laws on strike ballots.
Continue reading "Unions accuse Government of 'declaring war' over strikes" »
ITF: 8 July 2010
Low paid workers in the UK working on London’s underground network have won fairer pay thanks to a long campaign by an ITF-affiliated union.
Continue reading "Victory for low paid UK transport workers" »
BEP: 9th July 2010
A £30 MILLION passenger rail link between Portishead and Bristol has been put back years because of public spending cuts.
Private Eye: 4 July 2010
Fabulously wealthy rail boss Iain Coucher, who has come to the end of the line at Network Rail
SO. Farewell then, Iain Michael Coucher. He jumped before he was pushed from his "licence to print money" job as chief executive of Network Rail, and retired to his estate in the Scottish Highlands. (Google "Iainland" and you will see his pictures of the land your taxes bought him.)
The Telegraph: 24 Jun 2010 By David Millward
Philip Hammond, the Transport Secretary, has condemned the decision by Network Rail to pay its six top directors £2.25 million in bonuses.
Daily Mail: 24th June 2010 By Jason Groves
The Government was accused today of making people 'work until they drop' under plans to increase the pension age.
Continue reading "'Work until you drop': Union fury as ministers scrap retirement age of 65" »
Reuters: Jun 23, 2010
German state rail operator Deutsche Bahn AG is in talks with Britain about running its trains on the country's only high-speed railway, in a move that could break rival Eurostar's monopoly.
Continue reading "D.Bahn in talks on access to UK high-speed railway" »
RMT: June 22 2010
TRANSPORT UNION RMT today slammed what it described as “the ConDem’s budget for the rich” – warning of widespread community and industrial resistance once people realise the full scale of the impact of the Government’s cuts plans for public services and the true cost for jobs and standards of living.
BBC: 22 June 2010
Rail passengers are growing more satisfied with train travel, according to a national passenger survey by rail customer watchdog Passenger Focus.
News.com.au: June 22, 2010
QUEENSLAND Rail has been fined the maximum penalty of $660,000 for breaching federal workplace laws in its push towards privatisation.
Continue reading "Queensland Rail fined the maximum amount over workplace breaches " »
BBC: 21 June 2010
The 68-mile (109km) London to Folkestone high speed rail link has been put up for sale by the government.
Continue reading "High-speed London to Folkestone rail link up for sale" »
The Guardian: 21 June 2010
Network Rail's monopoly over maintenance work on the British rail network could be ended by the new owners of the High Speed One route, which was put up for sale by the government, in the hope of raising £1.5bn.
Continue reading "Network Rail's contract at risk after High Speed One route is sold off" »
Daily Mail: 21st June 2010 By James Chapman
Business leaders want a dramatic tightening of strike law as unions threaten a 1970s-style wave of militancy.
The Independant: 18 June 2010 By Alistair Dawber
The chief executive of Network Rail resigned unexpectedly yesterday, saying he could not commit to the Government-owned company during its next round of financing talks.
Continue reading "Network Rail chief executive Coucher quits unexpectedly" »
Daily Mail: 14th June 2010 By Karl West
Network Rail is 30pc-50pc less efficient in spending on maintenance and track renewal than its European rivals, according to a regulatory review. Research conducted by industry watchdog, the office of rail regulation, said civil engineering costs in the UK are typically up to double those in Europe.
Continue reading "Network Rail is 30%-50% less efficient than rivals says new review " »
BEP: 16 June 2010
THE boss of First Great Western has admitted that there are major doubts surrounding the £1 billion plans to electrify the main rail route between London and Bristol.
Continue reading "Train boss in talks with new Government over electric bid" »
RMT: June 8 2010
RAIL UNION RMT today reissued its demand that Scotrail call an immediate halt to plans to extend Driver Only Operation on its services as it emerged that another train derailed on the Oban-Glasgow line at Falls of Cruachan 13 years ago due to a landslip. Incredibly, the same Guard, Angus MacColl, was on board both trains and was praised back in 1997 for his professional and calm response as he implemented emergency procedures.
The Telegraph: 08 Jun 2010 By Aislinn Laing
Fans travelling to South Africa for the World Cup will be able to make use of Africa's first high-speed rail link from the airport to Johannesburg.
Continue reading "Africa's first high-speed rail link awaits World Cup fans " »
CAR: June 8th, 2010 by Martin Fellowes
The UK government is set to begin the sale of assets of the 108km Channel Tunnel Rail Link from London to Kent. The Department of Transport and London & Continental Railways, the owner of the rail link, will aim to distribute a sales document to potential bidders before the emergency budget on June 22. It’s believed that the sale could auction for up to £2 billion.
Continue reading "Channel Tunnel Rail Link to be Auctioned" »
RMT: June 4 2010
RAIL UNION RMT today accused the government of moving towards a “slash and burn” attack on transport budgets as a barrage of announcements this week confirmed that the profits and subsidies of the private train operating companies are being ring-fenced while key modernisation, maintenance and upgrade works are being ditched in an all-out dash for cuts:
The Guardian: 7th June 2010
Fallen boulders suspected of causing derailment of Glasgow to Oban train, injuring eight people
Continue reading "Train driver saw rocks on line before derailment " »
Lille - 13 April 2010
