Great Western Coffee Shop

Would you like to tell us about some other activities of the Department for Transport that could have relevant lessons for us?  Or describe your rail experiences in Slovenia as they make an interesting contrast to the UK?  Or fill us in on the battle at Westenhanger, Beltring or Swale to maintain the current service levels? Such posts will be welcome in "The Wider Picture".

We have also launched a "Frequent Posters Club" this morning - a board for current, frequent posters which has a similarly wide remit, but which can only be read (and posted to) when you've reached a certain minimum number of posts.  Chat with your fellow regulars there, without everything you say being "billboarded" across Yahoo and Google!

As a trial, the type of articles that have been appearing in the "Greater Britain" section of the Save The Train forum (http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?board=9.0) will now appear in this section of the Coffee Shop forum.

The aim is to provide a "one-stop shop" for & a strong general, comparative element to the news article links that we provide, and also to free up the Save The Train forum to concentrate on TransWilts issues.

Photographs which span 100 years have gone on display at London's St Pancras Station (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7603508.stm

Rail passengers travelling between Sheffield and Chesterfield will face major delays when multi-million pound improvement works begin (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/7602797.stm

TransPennine Express has decided to shut its carriage doors after 30 seconds to preserve the air-conditioning in summer and the heat in winter (link below.)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article4699013.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=797084

Thieves are risking their lives to steal metal and cable from the Lothians' railway network (link below.)
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/12445/Rail-thieves39-lives-on-the.4462525.jp

High-Speed train developments in South East Asia and rising US demand for freight locomotives are helping to create boom conditions in the railway supply industry, new European research has shown (link below.)
http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/international/2008/09/06-rail-worldwide.html

Liverpool Street station^s ticket office is getting a ^250,000 makeover (link below.)
http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/3647410.Liverpool_Street_ticket_office_gets___250_000_revamp/

A motorist had a lucky escape when his car crashed through railings on to a railway track in Dorset (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/7603947.stm

Nice work, Lee. This gets the thumbs up from me. I like having all the news on one place.

My emphasis within the quoting, Lee.    This is exactly the approach / material that will help widen the usefulness of the board to passengers in the FGW area - and if anyone from outside teh area finds it useful too, that's fabulous.  At the same time, by keeping this material in "The Wider area" it won't clutter up line-specific boards

Missed one!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/7604280.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/7604280.stm)

 ;D  ;D

Thanks TerminalJunkie, that'll do as our "And finally....."

Network Rail has slammed the Office of Rail Regulation for a 'flawed' analysis of projected spending over CP4 (2009-2014) control period, and asked for a further ^1bn to make ends meet (links below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/09/shortfall_impedes_network_rail.html#more

http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5183

http://www.nce.co.uk/news/2008/09/network_rail_say_orrs_determination_is_flawed.html;jsessionid=5DE2C81298246FAA74C760C1CD0EA01F

The world's biggest airline by revenue, Air France-KLM, said on Monday it plans to move into high-speed passenger rail transport in a venture with French transport, waste and water firm Veolia (link below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/09/air_france_veolia_plan_highspe.html#more

Bluebell Railway has finally received the green light from the Financial Services Authority, after a year-long inquiry, to proceed with a ^1.8m ($3.2m) share offer to raise funds to extend its line to East Grinstead by 1.8 miles (link below.)
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/571a5120-7df7-11dd-bdbd-000077b07658.html

Plans for a high speed rail link between Scotland and the rest of the UK are to be considered by a public inquiry being held by the Scottish Parliament 9link below.)
http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5182

Plans to create a direct rail link between Burnley and Manchester have moved a step closer (link below.)
http://www.burnleyexpress.net/burnleynews/Burnley-city-rail-link-boost.4462892.jp

Eurostar is set to embark on a major refurbishment of its 28 Class 273 trains, which date from 1992 and have been running services through the Channel Tunnel to France and Belgium since 1994 (link below.)
http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/business/2008/09/08-eurostar-refurbishment.html

National Express East Anglia has launched its first cinema campaign, highlighting the company's London services (link below.)
http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/844408/National-Express-look-cinema-latest-campaign/

Trains have been delayed on the London to Norwich line due to a telephone system failure (link below.)
http://www.dissexpress.co.uk/news/Train-delays-on-London-to.4471490.jp

Bombardier Transportation has received an order worth approximately ^66m from Danish State Railways for the delivery of 10 three-car Contessa trains, with options for 30 additional trains (link below.)
http://www.theengineer.co.uk/Articles/Article.aspx?liArticleID=307886

The opportunities offered by a rail freight terminal in Shropshire are being outlined to more than 100 firms (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/shropshire/7605746.stm

The boss of a charity which helps run the Weardale Railway has predicted a brighter future following a US takeover (link below.)
http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2008/09/09/huge-potential-forecast-for-line-61634-21705034/

A man was taken to hospital with multiple injuries after jumping onto tracks at Orrell Park station (link below.)
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2008/09/09/rail-chaos-after-man-jumps-onto-tracks-at-orrell-park-100252-21710068/

Is road transport the best way to send oranges from Spain to northern Germany? Or would it be better to ship them by rail or waterway for part of the route? A new software package determines the cheapest, fastest or most environmentally compatible mode of transportation (link below.)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080908135908.htm

Twelve dual recycling and litter bins have been installed at Euston Station to allow travellers to recycle their papers, plastic bottles and cans (link below.)
http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?id=15276&channel=0&title=Camden+commuters+recycle+as+they+go

MEPs have called on the European Commission to make rail freight a priority and reduce Europe's need for road transport (link below.)
http://www.roadtransport.com/Articles/2008/09/09/131647/europe-pushes-for-prioritised-rail-freight.html

Virgin Trains has escaped censure from the Advertising Standards Authority following a direct marketing gaffe earlier this year (link below.)
http://www.mad.co.uk/Main/News/Articlex/cd2db981c7724cc7b40abb127bbd4b97/Virgin-Trains-cleared-over-email-gaffe.html

One of the UK's oldest working steam locomotives has arrived at a County Durham museum to help celebrate the region's railway heritage (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7609107.stm

Edinburgh West MSP Margaret Smith has called for more answers on plans for a new train station in the Gogar area (link below.)
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinburgh/MSP-calls-for-station-talks.4475747.jp

Transport bosses have rejected calls for a railway station in Wythenshawe saying it would not provide value for money (link below.)
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1066258_wythenshawe_station_plan_scrapped

Refurbishments at Cambridge railway station have been officially unveiled by the city's MP (link below.)
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/cn_news_home/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=347974

Train journeys from London to Paris could be cut to under two hours as airlines set up rival rail services to take on Eurostar (links below.)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/2778462/Trains-from-London-to-Paris-could-take-under-two-hours.html

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23553734-details/London+to+Paris+by+rail+in+two+hours/article.do

A railway enthusiast with a terminal brain tumour has auctioned a lifetime's collection of memorabilia for charity (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/7609898.stm

About 1,250 rail workers on Southeastern routes are to strike for 48 hours in two separate disputes (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7611227.stm

Forum link on the Channel Tunnel fire.
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=3418.msg26556#msg26556

Kathryn Findlay article on the Forth Rail Bridge (link below.)
http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=431&storycode=3122064&c=1

The Bure Valley Railway is hosting the Super Power Gala on Saturday and Sunday (link below.)
http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/WhatsOn/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=WhatsOn&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=WhatsOn&itemid=NOED11%20Sep%202008%2009%3A53%3A05%3A017

A rail commuter who launched an online petition calling for an inquiry into services between East Anglia and London said 600 people have now signed up (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7611819.stm

Forum link on the Channel Tunnel fire.
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=3418.msg26556#msg26556

The Association of Train Operating Companies has announced that it has appointed Steve Howes as Managing Director of Rail Settlement Plan Ltd (link below.)
http://www.atoc-comms.org/dynamic/atocpress-story.php?atoc=997865

Thetrainline.com has appointed Murray Hennessy as its new chief executive officer (link below.)
http://www.abtn.co.uk/Trainline_appoints_new_ceo

Forum link on the Channel Tunnel fire.
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=3418.msg26556#msg26556

A union has accused London Midland of "ripping off" passengers by bringing in a "backdoor" increase in fares of 5% (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7616212.stm

Network Rail is to start work on the track between Blackburn and Clitheroe to increase the current speed limit of 20mph to 45mph (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/7616407.stm

City of York^s council leader floats tram-train idea (link below.)
http://www.thepress.co.uk/news/3673224.Train_tram____would_ease_car_problem___/

The new ^8 million Telford rail freight line will be ready to roll out its first services in 2009 (link below.)
http://www.shropshirestar.com/2008/09/15/rail-line-ready-to-roll-out-in-2009/

Better management of demand for road travel and additional rail capacity will increasingly do more to reduce the cost of East Of England congestion in the long term, according to a report by Steer Davies Gleave (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7620055.stm

RMT supports TSSA colleagues in dispute at Arriva Trains Wales (links below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/09/rmt_supports_tssa_colleagues_i_1.html#more

http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/09/rmt_supports_tssa_colleagues_i.html#more

Forum link on the Channel Tunnel fire.
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=3418.msg26556#msg26556

Investigators studying a train collision in California are examining whether one of the drivers was distracted by his mobile phone (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7618503.stm

Shepherds Bush overground station will open on 28 September and provide a new stop between Willesden Junction and Kensington Olympia, west London (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7618263.stm

The North East must not be excluded from proposals for a new high-speed rail network, business chiefs have warned (link below.)
http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/conference-special/local-conference-news/2008/09/16/high-speed-rail-call-for-north-east-61634-21830932/

Passengers are being asked to recount details of their commuting experiences to the London Assembly to help an investigation into overcrowding (link below.)
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23556087-details/Assembly+asks+train+passengers+to+help+banish+%27cattle-trucks%27/article.do

Eco-Friendly uniforms for Virgin Trains staff (link below.)
http://www.bharattextile.com/newsitems/2008018

Network Rail is planning a series of late night improvement works at Manchester Airport railway station in order to complete the proposed third platform (link below.)
http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080916/FREE/809160553/1006/RSS01&rssfeed=RSS01

Campaign for Better Transport - New money for rail freight dwarfed by road costs (link below.)
http://www.bettertransport.org.uk/campaigns/traffic_reduction/blog

The Department for Transport has published National Statistics on public transport in Public Transport Statistics Bulletin: Great Britain 2008 Edition (link below.)
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/public/annualbulletins/publictransportstatsbul08

Also, the following release includes statistics on perceptions and experiences of anti-social behaviour and crime on public transport (link below.)
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/trsnstatsatt/antisocialcrime

Designs showing how Birmingham's New Street Station will look after a ^598m revamp have been unveiled (links below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/7623039.stm

http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-transport-news/2008/09/18/whitby-hails-stunning-plans-for-new-street-station-65233-21850897/

http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-transport-news/2008/09/18/birmingham-new-street-station-s-new-look-is-unveiled-65233-21847922/

http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/general/2008/09/18-birmingham-new-st.html

The Department for Transport has announced the allocation of an additional ^15 million for a new strategic research programme to be managed by Rail Safety and Standards Board (link below.)
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=379126&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=False

Fears that lives will be ^at risk^ when trains cross a main road at Porthmadog have been denied by the Welsh Highland Railway (link below.)
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2008/09/18/porthmadog-rail-track-putting-lives-at-risk-55578-21843724/

A Dance world premiere will turn Crewe Railway Station into a medium to make art (link below.)
http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-life-features/liverpool-arts/2008/09/18/crewe-station-to-stage-dance-show-64375-21844192/

An Inverness councillor has warned that by choosing a city-centre location for the proposed Highland gallery and museum, the last opportunity to build an integrated bus and rail passenger transport hub could be lost (link below.)
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/844692?UserKey=

Work has begun on an ^8.5 million two-month project to reconstruct Mill Lane Junction near Bradford Interchange to increase line speeds in the area (link below.)
http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/general/2008/09/18-bradford-interchange.html

Merseyrail and Merseytravel are increasing morning and afternoon peak hours capacity between Liverpool Central and Southport by 30 per cent and to and from Hunts Cross by 25 per cent, providing an extra 1,200 seats a week (link below.)
http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/business/2008/09/18-merseyrail-seats.html

The Rail Safety and Standards Board has instigated a ^50,000 scientific research project to investigate the risks of deep vein thrombosis to rail passengers travelling in crowded conditions (link below.)
http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/general/2008/09/18-rssb-dvt.html

Balfour Beatty Rail Projects, in association with Maunsell and Evans & Peck, has been awarded a ^4 million electrification contract by New Zealand Rail Authority ONTRACK for traction design, technical support and procurement for electrification of its Auckland suburban rail network (link below.)
http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/international/2008/09/18-nz-balfourbeatty.html

The Platform Blackridge group met on Tuesday and is urging the Scottish Government to make a formal commitment now to build Blackridge station (link below.)
http://icwestlothian.icnetwork.co.uk/courier/news/tm_headline=west-lothian-station-fight-now-on-track&method=full&objectid=21842950&siteid=92284-name_page.html

Hitachi has developed a battery system that it claims will allow designers to develop much faster self-propelled railway vehicles (link below.)
http://www.theengineer.co.uk/Articles/Article.aspx?liArticleID=308054

Response of the Department for Transport to the competition commissions provisional findings report into the rolling stock leasing market and notice to possible remedies (links below.)
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/strategyfinance/strategy/reponse.pdf

http://railwayeye.blogspot.com/2008/09/accessory-after-fact.html

http://railwayeye.blogspot.com/2008/09/savaged-by-dead-sheep.html

First ScotRail has been named train operator of the year following a 20% increase in passenger numbers and customer satisfaction since 2004 (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7625272.stm

The Ffestiniog Railway Company is set to cut nine full-time posts, and reduce the hours of three other workers (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7624070.stm

Forum link on the Channel Tunnel fire.
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=3418.msg26556#msg26556

Translink needs to work to improve value for money on its Metro bus service and its rail service, the Consumer Council has said (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7628327.stm

Police have said the actions of vandals who made repeated attempts to derail Leeds area trains could have been "catastrophic" (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/7630305.stm

Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson has announced a programme of improvements to mark 25 years since the founding of the ScotRail network (links below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7629118.stm

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2008/09/22/new-look-design-for-scotland-s-rail-services-revealed-for-anniversary-86908-20748318/

Bombardier Inc has won orders from German leasing company Railpool for 58 locomotives in contracts worth about 192 million euros (link below.)
http://uk.reuters.com/article/tnBasicIndustries-SP/idUKN2228283820080922?feedType=RSS&feedName=tnBasicIndustries-SP

The chairman of the judging panel appointed to recruit an architect to design Birmingham^s refurbished New Street Station has hit out at ^whingers^ who question whether the ^600 million project will be a success (links below.)
http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-transport-news/2008/09/22/new-street-judge-hits-back-at-gateway-whingers-65233-21874223/

http://railwayeye.blogspot.com/2008/09/600m-sticking-plaster.html

The Minister for the West Midlands has ruled out proposals for a brand new railway station in Birmingham, arguing that New Street Station will remain the heart of the rail network for up to 30 years (link below.)
http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-transport-news/2008/09/22/byrne-says-new-street-will-be-big-enough-for-birmingham-65233-21877544/

Middleton Railway in Leeds celebrated 250 years of railway history at the weekend (link below.)
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/VIDEO-Leeds-railway-celebrates-250.4514016.jp

After a fatal commuter train collision, the US Congress is hurrying to pass new laws that would limit hours engineers work, mandate technology to stop trains on a collision course and enact the rail industry's first other major reforms in 14 years (link below.)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26844219/

Rail services on three lines in the Highlands are to be temporarily suspended to allow for work to reduce the risk from rock falls (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7631567.stm

Rail Industry can drive down carbon footprint (link below.)
http://www.ballard.co.uk/press_releases/company_releases.aspx?lang=English(uk)&story=1267

Plans to build a huge rail freight terminal between Cumbernauld and Glasgow, creating 1,000 jobs and removing hundreds of HGVs from the roads, are to be considered by councillors shortly (link below.)
http://www.roadtransport.com/Articles/2008/09/23/131750/glasgow-rail-freight-terminal-plans-considered.html

After much debate and two false starts, the partial flotation of Deutsche Bahn is now moving ahead (link below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/09/deutschebahns_tentative_steps.html#more

New Zealand's rail operator and tracks will be overseen by one state-owned enterprise (link below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/09/new_zealand_reunites_rail_unde.html#more

Train services were suspended on the West Coast Main Line as police investigated a firearms incident near Rugby station (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/7634708.stm

A Eurostar train stopped unexpectedly in the middle of the Channel Tunnel for almost an hour this morning (link below.)
http://railwayeye.blogspot.com/2008/09/publish-and-be-damned.html

Network Rail has awarded a ^60m contract for the Airdrie to Bathgate rail link to Balfour Beatty Rail Projects (link below.)
http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5214&PHPSESSID=52c313e2f38bfb8ea9d32a36146d8894

Richard Bowker has told the Government to back a high-speed link for the North (link below.)
http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2008/09/25/government-told-to-back-high-speed-rail-plans-61634-21896676/

Strahspey Railway moves closer to its aim of extending to Grantown (link below.)
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/853890?UserKey=

Bicycles abandoned at York Railway Station are to be given a new lease of life, refurbished and sold on to new owners ^ unless their owners claim them by the end of the month (link below.)
http://www.thepress.co.uk/news/3698173.Reclaim_your_bike_or_lose_it/

Plans to reopen a rail link between Fleetwood and Poulton have moved one step closer (link below.)
http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Rail-link-dream-moves-forward.4520372.jp

Fining motorists who leave their cars running at level crossings or in town centres in the Adur area has been considered by the county council, it has been revealed (link below.)
http://www.westsussextoday.co.uk/ws/Waiting-times-at-level-crossings.4518540.jp

Russian Railways has said that it would submit a bid to buy up to 5 percent of Deutsche Bahn when the German state-owned railroad network is partly privatized this year (link below.)
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/24/business/rail.php

The first of 30 PowerHaul diesel-electric locomotives, ordered last year by Freightliner Group Ltd., has been displayed by builder GE Transportation at InnoTrans 2008 in Berlin (link below.)
http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/freight/2008/09/24-freightliner-new-loco.html

National Express is taking on new revenue management software worth millions of pounds to maximise the revenue it gets from its two biggest rail franchise operations (link below.)
http://www.itpro.co.uk/606459/national-express-to-optimise-rail-revenue

Residents who live along the London-Hertford rail line are upset with Network Rail's policy of chopping trees to prevent leaves on the tracks (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7636066.stm

Edit note: Further to Lee's post above, the BBC have also added a video item to the subject of Network Rail cutting down trees:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7636141.stm
Chris.

Network Rail has unveiled its ten-year strategy for meeting the increasing demand for rail services between Scarborough, York, Leeds and Manchester (links below.)
http://www.thepress.co.uk/news/3708442.Firm_is_on_track_for_longer_trains/

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=3919&NewsAreaID=2

Police have carried out a controlled explosion on a suspect vehicle at London Victoria (link below.)
http://www.teletext.co.uk/news/national/fca6273c3f9fb29e8c6c1f46da2c641a/Rail+station+evacuated.aspx

At the InnoTrans exhibition in Berlin, H^bner announced the sale, with effect from January 1, 2009, of its rail vehicle door division to Knorr-Bremse's IFE automatic door systems division (link below.)
http://www.railway-technology.com/contractors/brakes/knorr_bremse/press12.html

Deutsche Bahn has said that its rail-operating unit DB Mobility and Logistics (DBML) will be floated on the stock market on October 27, a decision intended to show the group and the government will not be blown off course by global financial turmoil (link below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/09/_german_railway_starts_privati.html#more

Network Rail say they will be making a statement about East Midlands Parkway on Monday, amid fears that the new station wont open on time (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/7638744.stm

Proposed Revised Safeguarding of the Abbey Wood to Gravesend and Hoo Junction Route Consultation (link below.)
http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/abbeywoodtohoojunctsafeguarding/

In the UK, Knorr-Bremse are based in our area ...

http://www.knorr-bremse.co.uk/frameset_templates/schiene/frm_schiene.php?language_code=uk&language_id=25

Part of the platform at Whitehead Railway Station in County Antrim has collapsed, public transport company Translink has said (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7638845.stm

A third runway at Heathrow airport would be scrapped by a Tory government that would instead build a ^20bn TGV-style high speed rail link between London, Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds (links below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7641094.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7642190.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7641688.stm

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/sep/29/toryconference.transport

http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-transport-news/2008/09/28/tories-backing-high-speed-rail-link-from-birmingham-to-europe-65233-21918687/

http://railwayeye.blogspot.com/2008/09/jurys-out.html

The cost to the public purse of giving London^s police officers a free ride on the railways has risen to ^24 million a year (link below.)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article4842434.ece#cid=OTC-RSS&attr=797084

Shepherd's Bush Overground station on the West London Line has opened to passengers after contractors completed finishing touches to the site over the weekend (link below.)
http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5221

Reassurance sought about Network Rail^s future ^vegetation management^ (links below.)
http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/letters/display.var.2453602.0.Reassurance_sought_about_Network_Rails_future_vegetation_management.php

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lincolnshire/7641613.stm

National Express East Anglia has honoured its ^station adopters^ at Cantley, Yarmouth, Brundall and Reedham who work to improve the environment and appeal of the station (link below.)
http://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/content/yarmouthmercury/news/story.aspx?brand=GYMOnline&category=news&tBrand=GYMonline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED25%20Sep%202008%2014%3A43%3A48%3A703

The RMT has warned of "severe disruption" to Scotland's rail network after hundreds of signallers voted to stage two 24-hour strikes (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7642660.stm

Greengauge 21, the not-for-profit organisation established to promote the case for high speed rail in Britain, has appointed legal specialist Bircham Dyson Bell as its consultation advisers for its 2008/09 high speed rail development programme (link below.)
http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5220

A chronic shortage of apprenticeships in building trades could make it difficult for a Conservative Government to fulfil a pledge to build a high speed rail link between Birmingham and London, the Shadow Secretary for Skills admitted. The Conservatives were also accused of snubbing the North East and Scotland by backing plans for a new high-speed rail link that excludes those areas (links below.)
http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-transport-news/2008/09/29/birmingham-london-rail-link-pledge-under-threat-from-skills-shortage-65233-21924963/

http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-east-news/todays-news/2008/09/29/region-will-miss-out-on-20bn-rail-link-plans-61634-21919073/

http://www.snp.org/node/14325

Extra train services between Edinburgh and Dunbar could be secured within a month following the results of a consultation study (link below.)
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinburgh/Hopes-high-for-more-trains.4536976.jp

Travel specialist Amadeus has enabled travel agents to book Heathrow Express tickets via its selling platform as part of a wider strategy to bring all rail services onto a single booking system (link below.)
http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2227121/amadeus-expands-rail-booking

East Midlands Parkway station will not be opening on time, Network Rail has confirmed (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/7645030.stm

US rail freight article link.
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/09/us_rail_freight_business_stays.html#more

Eurostar may be looking to procure new trains (links below.)
http://railwayeye.blogspot.com/2008/09/almost-new-trains.html

http://railwayeye.blogspot.com/2008/09/missing-point.html

Vernon Barker, boss of First TransPennine Express, whose passenger numbers have nearly doubled since 2004 has won a national customer service award (link below.)
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/business/s/1069672_fast_track_to_success?rss=yes

Train fails to stop at Cottingley station because it was "long for the platform" (link below.)
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/39Wrong-kind-of-train39-upset.4542371.jp

A Joint study by West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority, Centro and Network Rail into sharing the planned extension of the Midlands Metro tram system with freight trains is showing positive results (link below.)
http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/metro/2008/09/30-midlands-metro.html

Three senior Network Rail departmental heads have been elevated to full board status as executive directors in a move by the company to strengthen its top level team (link below.)
http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/business/2008/09/30-network-rail-appointments.html

Euston station is set to be transformed at an estimated cost of between ^400^500 million (link below.)
http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/general/2008/09/30-euston-facelift.html

A fatality Hotline has been set up on which train drivers involved in non-suspicious fatality incidents can make a direct report, with a view to restoring rail services more quickly (link below.)
http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/general/2008/09/30-fatality-hotline.html

As controversy continues over East Midlands Trains^ plan to install auto-gates at Sheffield, the station has won a prestigious Railway Heritage Trust award for its improvement and restoration (link below.)
http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/general/2008/09/30-sheffield-station.html

Interview with First Capital Connect MD Elaine Holt (link below.)
http://www.railnews.co.uk/opinions/interviews/2008/09/30-elaine-holt.html

The dramatic arrival of an RAF Chinook helicopter at First GBRf^s Wellingborough freight depot in Northamptonshire signalled the naming of a Class 66 locomotive (link below.)
http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/freight/2008/09/30-chinook-gbrf.html

NXEA food review (link below.)
http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/EatingOut/story.aspx?brand=ENOnline&category=EatingReviews&tBrand=ENOnline&tCategory=EatingReviews&itemid=NOED29%20Sep%202008%2016%3A39%3A04%3A877

Cat Hobbs CANBER article link.
http://canber.co.uk/?q=node/41

Dozens of rail commuters were evacuated from Birmingham New Street after an escalator overheated setting off alarms (link below.)
http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-transport-news/2008/10/01/new-street-station-evacuated-after-escalator-overheats-65233-21944278/

The U.S. Congress has passed legislation to boost funds for Amtrak and expand passenger rail services at a time of record ridership (link below.)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122291010872896757.html?mod=rss_Politics_And_Policy

The introduction of the first tram-trains in the UK has moved a step closer as train operator Northern Rail issued an Invitation to Tender (ITT) to build and maintain the modern, lightweight vehicles (link below.)
http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=3937&NewsAreaID=2

Train companies are blocking moves to give Metropolitan police free travel on the railways (links below.)
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23562922-details/Rail+firms+say+no+free+travel+for+Met+police/article.do

http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/10/cutting_free_police_travel_wil.html#more

Second award for station master Daniel Opoku (link below.)
http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/people/2008/10/01-daniel-award.html

Network Rail and train companies are to introduce a ^lighter^ West Coast winter timetable lasting six weeks from 14 December to allow for the huge upgrade to bed down (link below.)
http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/general/2008/10/01-west-coast-mainline.html

ORR should continue to focus on core regulatory role says ATOC (link below.)
http://www.atoc-comms.org/dynamic/atocpress-story.php?atoc=997869

The chairman of Network Rail will step down next year (links below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7649957.stm

http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/10/top_network_rail_chiefs_to_go.html#more

Talks aimed at averting a rail signalling strike will resume on Monday (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7649275.stm

Network Rail has put up security fencing around renovation work to a York bridge after yobs used it as a platform to terrorise a quiet residential street (link below.)
http://www.thepress.co.uk/news/3728009.Bid_to_deter_rail_bridge_vandals/

Virgin Trains has appointed Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy to its ^6m integrated advertising account (link below.)
http://www.mad.co.uk/Main/News/Articlex/b005fe7cf0da4ec7863b9abe83571884/Virgin-Trains-appoints-MCBD-to-6m-account.html

Rail services were disrupted after a man fell onto the tracks at Seaforth and Litherland station (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7652641.stm

Eurostar services to and from Brussels and Lille will be cancelled on Monday because of a strike by Belgian workers (links below.)
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?Strike_affecting_Eurostar_services&in_article_id=338924&in_page_id=34&in_a_source=

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7653551.stm

Talks aimed at resolving the dispute between Network Rail and some 450 RMT signallers and supervisors in Scotland will resume on Monday morning (links below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/10/talks_to_resume_on_monday_octo.html#more

http://news.scotsman.com/uk/Bitter-divisions-within-RMT-union.4559818.jp

Construction of Network Rail's new East Midlands Parkway station is running behind schedule requiring the planned opening this autumn to be deferred until next year (link below.)
http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5233

The head of rail delivery at Transport Scotland will address a meeting of train campaigners in Edinburgh next week (link below.)
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinburgh/Railway-chief-talking-transport.4559219.jp

East Midlands Trains says its punctuality stands at 90.9 per cent, the highest level since it took over from Midland Mainline in November last year (links below.)
http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Trains-meeting-tight-timetables.4558929.jp

http://www.stagecoachgroup.com/scg/media/press/pr2008/2008-10-03/

Stagecoach has placed a ^3 million order for new state-of-the-art vehicles to operate on the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway (built on the former St Ives railway line, link below.)
http://www.stagecoachgroup.com/scg/media/press/pr2008/2008-10-06/

Campaigners for disabled access at Wivenhoe railway station have received a massive boost for their cause (link below.)
http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/3724439.North_Essex__better_access_for_railway_station_is_made_a_top_priority/

Highways chiefs have snubbed suggestions that the Wensleydale Railway could help take some of the strain out of a multi-million project to upgrade a stretch of the A1 (link below.)
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/3728007.Road_builder_snubs_rail_chiefs_over_upgrade_work/

Talks aimed at averting strike action by Network Rail signalling workers have broken down without agreement (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7654853.stm

Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive Nexus has invited tenders for a ^5m contract to complete the redevelopment of Sunderland National Rail and Metro station (link below.)
http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5238

First Minister Alex Salmond has been accused of being "astonishingly silent" over his commitment to the proposed ^200million Crossrail scheme between Inverurie, Aberdeen and Stonehaven (link below.)
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/872849?UserKey=

As part of the autumn timetable, a number of Northern Rail services will be scheduled to take a few minutes longer to account for falling leaves, enabling trains additional time on potentially hazardous stretches of rail. Particularly hit is the Oldham loop route, where changes will mean that only two services will call at Shaw and Oldham Mumps stations every hour - instead of the usual four (link below.)
http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/business/2008/10/06-leaves-nothern-rail.html

A runaway horse died on railway tracks and three people trying to catch it were put at risk of electrocution last week after railway managers refused to turn off power to the live rail (link below.)
http://railwayeye.blogspot.com/2008/10/integrated-control.html

Article links related to the Scotland rail signal staff strike.
http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.2457933.0.rail_chaos_as_signal_workers_begin_stoppages.php

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7656784.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7656893.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7655997.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7657523.stm

Virgin Trains fares between Liverpool and London are being slashed to mark a new timetable (link below.)
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2008/10/07/virgin-slashes-tickets-prices-100252-21981260/

Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson will be pressed to confirm Scottish Government backing for the ^200million Aberdeen Crossrail project (link below.)
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/874650

The King George V steam loco is set to arrive at the National Railway Museum later this week ^ but only after a tortuous journey to York from Swindon (link below.)
http://www.thepress.co.uk/news/3733554.___Royal____loco_joins_railway_museum/

The opening of Corby's rail link to London could be delayed because there are no trains for the new service (link below.)
http://www.northantset.co.uk/news/No-trains-for-new-station.4564525.jp

The planned part-privatisation of German state railway^s Deutsche Bahn Mobility and Logistics (DBML) may be postponed because of the world financial crisis (links below.)
http://www.railnews.co.uk/news/business/2008/10/07-db-privatisation.html

http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/10/crisis_puts_german_rail_ipo_in.html#more

Passengers should be main focus says ATOC Chairman at Railway Forum Annual Conference (link below.)
http://www.atoc-comms.org/dynamic/atocpress-story.php?atoc=997870

The Port of Felixstowe's rail division handled 9,111 containers in the week ending 28 September. The previous record was 8,984, in September 2007 (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/suffolk/7659103.stm

A second 24-hour Scottish rail strike due to start at midday on Thursday has been suspended (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7657523.stm

The RMT has called for an urgent safety probe into reports that a signalling blunder at Edinburgh Waverley station on Tuesday afternoon could have resulted in a head-on collision between two passenger trains (link below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/10/rmt_calls_for_urgent_investiga_1.html#more

Railcorp will be scrapped and New South Wales train services returned to direct control of the State Government in a move Premier Nathan Rees says will improve services (link below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/10/australian_state_to_take_back.html#more

Iowa Pacific Holdings plans to reinstate all of the Weardale Railway's 18 miles of track by the end of 2009 (link below.)
http://railwayeye.blogspot.com/2008/10/visions.html

Railcorp will be scrapped and New South Wales train services returned to direct control of the State Government in a move Premier Nathan Rees says will improve services (link below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/10/australian_state_to_take_back.html#more
[/quote]
According to an Australian friend of mine, when this privatisation was being pushed through, the main argument of the opposition was "we don't want to end up with a rail system like the British one!".

More train services on the West Coast Main Line and the prospect of longer trains in the near future has prompted Network Rail to spend ^15m on new facilities at the Traincare Centre in Edge Hill, Liverpool (link below.)
http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5239

Transport policing teams are to be permanently stationed at 30 bus and rail interchanges in London following the success of Hub Team trials covering Canning Town, Wood Green and West Croydon (link below.)
http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5240

Officials have promised to 'fight tooth and nail' to get Corby's railway station open on time after the revelation there were no trains to run from it (link below.)
http://www.northantset.co.uk/news/Vow-to-secure-Corby-station.4567805.jp

Freightliner Group Ltd and GE Transportation have launched images of the new 'PowerHaul' locomotive being developed for the UK market at the InnoTrans show in Berlin (link below.)
http://www.hub-4.com/news/1415/the-first-of-its-kind

Wrexham-Bidston passengers are dumped off prematurely-terminated trains in North Wales, according to the Wrexham-Birkenhead Rail Users^ Association (link below.)
http://www.wirralglobe.co.uk/news/3735262.Rail_group_asks__Why_is_Wirral_so_poorly_served_/

The campaign for hourly direct trains between Lowestoft and London has stepped up after National Express East Anglia backed a scheme for a passing loop at Beccles (link below.)
http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=edponline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED07%20Oct%202008%2020%3A50%3A10%3A653

Construction began has begun on a high-speed rail link between Beijing and Shijiazhuang, capital of China's Hebei province (link below.)
http://www.building.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=284&storycode=3124460&c=1

A team of railway experts from the United Kingdom were impressed with Indian trains (link below.)
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mumbai/Railways_efficiency_and_punctuality_is_impressive/articleshow/3575105.cms

St Pancras International took the top honours at the British Construction Industry Awards 2008 (link below.)
http://www.nce.co.uk/bcia/2008/10/st_pancras_wins_major_project_award.html;jsessionid=D441F90D998FBC8363300F0112A56515

Surrey County Council has pledged ^630,000 to subsidise rail travel and help teenagers continue their education (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/7661113.stm

Article on Pendolino regenerative braking (link below.)
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/features/Virgin-train-that-puts-its.4573328.jp

All major transport decisions should be taken out of the hands of politicians and made instead by an independent panel, Tavish Scott, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, has suggested (link below.)
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/latestnews/Lib-Dems-Don39t-let-.4578953.jp

Commuters on Merseyrail^s packed Northern Line could see a second station built in Maghull to ease pressure on the overcrowded terminal (link below.)
http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-news/regional-news/2008/10/09/land-swap-plan-to-create-new-station-for-maghull-64375-21996985/

North-east MSPs have turned up the pressure on the Scottish Government to back Aberdeen Crossrail (link below.)
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/879068?UserKey=

A north-east MSP has called for integrated bus and train tickets to be introduced to encourage more use of public transport (link below.)
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/878513

Campaigners have made fresh calls for the York to Beverley railway to be re-opened, after the latest fatality on a major road that links the city and the market town (link below.)
http://www.thepress.co.uk/news/3741124.Campaigners_in_railway_demand/

Burnley MP Kitty Ussher has discussed a fast train link from Burnley to Manchester with Andrew Adonis (link below.)
http://www.burnleyexpress.net/burnleynews/MP-to-meet-with-Railways.4571787.jp

Four graffiti vandals have been jailed after admitting causing an estimated ^50,000 of damage to trains and chaos to services in the South East (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7663352.stm

Financial market turmoil dealt a potentially fatal blow to Germany^s biggest privatisation in eight years when Berlin was forced to postpone the sale of a quarter stake in the train operating unit of Deutsche Bahn (link below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/10/berlin_delays_privatisation_of.html#more

Dutch Socialist Party article on the European railway system (link below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/10/neglected_railways_need_more_i.html#more

Emergency services were scrambled after a freight train derailed in Jarrow (link below.)
http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/Freight-train-jumps-off-tracks.4580672.jp

Transport for London is increasing the penalty fare for non payment on its services to ^50 from 11 January 2009 (link below.)
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/10025.aspx

Boston - Wireless Internet access will soon be available on every coach traveling on the MBTA^s commuter rail lines (link below.)
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1124793&srvc=rss

Football fans travelling to Hampden for Scotland's crucial World Cup qualifier against Norway faced travel disruption due to rail works related to the new Airdrie-Bathgate rail link (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7663785.stm

Consultancy firm Deloitte has admitted that the loss of a laptop containing BSkyB staff pension details also included information about pension scheme members from Network Rail and British Transport Police (link below.)
http://www.vnunet.com/computing/news/2228038/deloitte-laptop-loss-spreads

Northern Rail has announced that its drivers in the North West have suspended plans for strike action for Monday and a normal timetable will be in operation (link below.)
http://www.crainsmanchesterbusiness.co.uk/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081010/FREE/810109969/1070/rss01&rssfeed=rss01

Article on extra carriages for Transpennine Express (link below.)
http://www.thepress.co.uk/news/3748711.Longer_trains_for_commuters/

Engineers had to work into the evening to lower parts of the new Corby railway station into place (link below.)
http://www.northantset.co.uk/news/Corby-station-arrives.4582994.jp

The Clun Road railway bridge in Craven Arms is being gritblasted to remove any rust, graffiti or flyposters before being repainted. The B4368 is closed until the early hours of Monday to allow the work to take place (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/shropshire/7665272.stm

Thanks, Lee!

The 'unsightly' bridge at Nailsea & Backwell station should be on the list for a bit of gritblasting, please, Network Rail!  ;)

Related FOSBR links.
http://www.fosbr.org.uk/magazine.php?magid=0000000143

http://www.fosbr.org.uk/news.php?newsid=0000000169

The signalling blunder story interests me. How could a modern signalling system let that happen? Surely it wouldn't permit a signaller to set two conflicting routes?

The Chair of the Commons Transport Select Committee has said the cost of rail travel may price passengers off the Railway (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7664938.stm

Crossrail is set to receive ^100m from property developers after Tower Hamlets council granted planning consent for the Wood Wharf development in London's Docklands district. The money will be used to pay for construction of the Isle of Dogs Crossrail station and is part of a planning agreement worth ^153m, including a private developer section 106 contribution (link below.)
http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5249

SPT identifiers are to be removed from trains and stations (link below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/10/scotlands_rail_transport_is_mo.html#more

Deutsche Bahn DBN.UL is assessing the sale of stakes in its DB Mobility Logistics unit to institutional investors in private placements, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung has reported (link below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/10/deutsche_bahn_mulls_private_sh.html#more

The first train to originate in Skipton and go all the way through to Colne for 38 years will run on 7 December 2008 (link below.)
http://www.selrap.org.uk/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=97

An MSP has called for the new Tweedbank station to be renamed Abbotsford in recognition of the area's link to Sir Walter Scott (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/south_of_scotland/7667289.stm

An underfunded transport network is threatening Wales' ability to sustain economic growth, a report says. Although the report welcomed improvements to north-south train services, it said more money was needed to allow rail capacity to meet rising demand (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7667599.stm

Rail passengers face longer journeys as train operators adjust their timetables to allow for leaves on the line (links below.)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/3189566/Trains-delayed-as-autumn-leaves-on-the-line-timetable-comes-into-force.html

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23571942-details/It%27s+autumn+and+leaves+on+the+line+delay+trains+again/article.do

Liverpool South Parkway station is now being used by more than 26,000 passengers a week - more than double the patronage of Garston and Allerton - the two stations it replaced (link below.)
http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5253

The Sittingbourne and Kemsley light railway is due to close on 26 December, and an early pre-stressed concrete viaduct destroyed, unless parts of the land can be protected from redevelopment into a shopping centre (links below.)
http://www.nce.co.uk/news/2008/10/heritage_railway_under_threat_from_developer.html;jsessionid=2BFC433073384CA9F3DF80F83A822CC7

http://railwayeye.blogspot.com/2008/10/finn-soup.html

The RMT is to seek an apology from transport police after two track workers arrested in connection with the Grayrigg crash and kept under caution for eleven months were finally cleared today (links below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cumbria/7670182.stm

http://railwayeye.blogspot.com/2008/10/freed.html

A report commissioned by the South East Scotland Transport Partnership said there was an economic case for re-introducing Levenmouth rail services (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7670217.stm

Campaign for Better Transport have sent a letter to chief executives of all county councils, unitary authorities, metropolitan borough councils and PTEs in England (excluding London) regarding the RFA2 process (link below.)
http://www.bettertransport.org.uk/system/files/RFA_letter_to_authorities_1.pdf

Here we go again with journalists making easy copy out of the leaf-fall situation and a travelling public seemingly baffled by a fairly sensible scientific explanation from Network Rail. I expect my non-railway mates will have a pop at me down the pub this weekend again!

thanks fo rthese round ups Lee.  As usual an interesting mix of stories

The ICE has launched its State of the Nation report on transport, calling for a 30-year plan to reduce national congestion (links below.)
http://www.nce.co.uk/news/2008/10/ice_calls_for_the_government_to_get_back_on_track_with_its_10_year_transport_plan.html;jsessionid=73CCB811F56C0E2C83049B697F3714EA

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/7668519.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7668759.stm

http://www.thepress.co.uk/news/3754165.New_body_would____improve_railway_line___/

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/3754421.Keep_docks_traffic_moving__urges_ICE/

Thameslink plans would mean thousands of passengers who board at stations including Streatham, Tooting, Mitcham, Wimbledon, South Merton and Sutton would no longer have a direct link to City Thameslink, Farringdon, St Pancras and stations beyond (link below.)
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23572365-details/Commuters+face+losing+their+direct+Thameslink+route+to+City/article.do

Plans for the much-anticipated Todmorden Curve are going in the right direction, said Burnley MP Kitty Ussher after a meeting with Lord Adonis (link below.)
http://www.burnleyexpress.net/burnleynews/MP-39positive39-on-Manchester-link.4584506.jp

Virgin Trains will extend its E-ticketing print-your-own-ticket scheme to all advance purchase tickets by the end of October (link below.)
http://www.businesstravelworld.com/page.cfm/action=Archive/ArchiveID=6/EntryID=1197
 
Blog post on Platinum Trains, who lodged an application with the ORR last month to operate non-stop Anglo-Scottish trains using the East Coast Main Line (link below.)
http://leytr.blogspot.com/2008/10/platinum-trains.html

Train operators are working hard to push rail ticketing into the 21st century says a leading rail ticketing expert (link below.)
http://www.atoc-comms.org/dynamic/atocpress-story.php?atoc=997871

About 500 rail passengers were trapped in a tunnel in south London after their train split in two. The 1745 BST Victoria to Rochester train left the platform at Sydenham Hill station at 1830 BST when the connection between carriages broke (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7672721.stm

A series of concessions have been announced as part of controversial plans to install ticket barriers on Sheffield train station's footbridge (link below.)
http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/news2/Station-footbridge-row-concessions.4600223.jp

Four people were killed and another three were in a critical condition after a train crash 30km southeast of Budapest (link below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/10/rail_disaster_kills_four_in_hu.html#more

New Zealand Railways Corporation acting CEO, William Peet, has laid out his roadmap (link below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2008/10/nz_rail_boss_outlines_1_billio.html#more

A music venue will be demolished and a Tube station refurbished as part of the Crossrail scheme (link below.)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7675922.stm

"The Man in Seat 61" recommends six of his favourite winter rail journeys (link below.)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2008/oct/18/railtravel-shortbreaks

National Express East Coast is removing teacups and saucers from its carriages after complaints about the noise made by spoons rattling against them, replacing them with "quiet mugs" (link below.)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/3216895/End-of-the-line-for-cups-and-saucers-on-trains.html

First ScotRail sees an opportunity to capitalise over the ending of the 6.05am flight from Glasgow to Heathrow (link below.)
http://www.theherald.co.uk/business/news/display.var.2461382.0.sleeper_all_set_to_take_over_from_the_early_riser_as_shuteye_trumps_redeye.php

A film of the entire Liverpool dock complex is to be beamed on to the city^s historic waterfront. Terminus takes viewers on a journey as witnessed from the famous Liverpool Overhead Railway line which stretched from Dingle to Seaforth (link below.)
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/local-news/2008/10/17/overhead-railway-returns-in-film-spectacular-100252-22054287/

FirstGroup has put its support behind the efforts of volunteers to reopen a section of railway between Milton of Crathes and Banchory in Aberdeenshire (link below.)
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/894121?UserKey=

Most of the proposed Borders rail link should be axed and the rest replaced with a tram line, Edinburgh's tram developers have urged ministers (link below.)
http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Edinburgh-tram-backers-want-to.4605682.jp

Bombardier Transportation has received an order from the leasing company Railpool for the delivery of 45 double-deck coaches valued at approximately ^75m (^58m). The trains, capable of service speeds up to 160km/h, are intended for service on lines operated by Danish State Railways (link below.)
http://www.theengineer.co.uk/Articles/Article.aspx?liArticleID=308438

Save The Woodhead Tunnel campaign updates (links below.)
http://savethewoodheadtunnel.blogspot.com/2008/10/yes-minister.html

http://savethewoodheadtunnel.blogspot.com/2008/10/save-woodhead-tunnel-october-2008.html