Task force submits northern electrification priorities to DfT

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Task force submits northern electrification priorities to DfT                  Twelve rail lines across the north of England have been given the highest priority for electrification in a report submitted to Patrick McLoughlin. The Calder Valley, Leeds to York via Harrogate, and Liverpool to Manchester via Warrington Central lines were among those listed as ‘tier one’ priorities. The report has been produced by the Northern Electrification Task Force, set up by the transport secretary to advise the government on which areas it should focus its investment. Thirty-two routes were examined, and grouped into three prioritisation tiers based on their ability...more > Transport for the North should get £15bn devolved funding – IPPR North The government should commit to devolving a £15bn transport funding package over 10 years to local authorities ‘to make the Northern Powerhouse a reality’, according to IPPR North. The think-tank has produced its ‘Transport for the North’ report, the launch of which RTM attended in Manchester today where we heard from Simon Kirby, chief executive of HS2 Ltd, and Vernon Everitt, TfL’s managing director of Customer Experience, Marketing and Communications, about the plans. The report is a blueprint for the north to take greater control over its own transport decision-making via the Transport for the North (TfN)...more >

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Updated: Northern Rail electric Class 319 passenger services begin > ‘Metro-style’ clause in Northern ITT could allow converted LU stock > RMT union urges Network Rail workers to reject pay offer > Train performance improves in February > Network Rail deems North Wales electrification ‘poor value for money’ > Urgent action called for after crowd chaos at London Bridge > TOCs, not DfT, should be in charge of buying new trains > HS2 has to dovetail into HS3 – Kirby > Harbury landslip line to reopen next week >

Slow electrification means up to 500 more diesels needed > Major rail schemes push workers’ pay up by 74% since 2012 > First stages of South Wales electrification set to start > Northern’s Class 319s take to the rails > Garrandale awarded contract to help deliver Crossrail trains > Virgin East Coast unveils new livery as eight-year franchise begins > Transport for the North should get £15bn devolved funding – IPPR North > Government to sell Eurostar stake for £757m > Eversholt Rail sells entire freight wagon fleet >

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FOLLOW US: A blueprint for an integrated transport system in the north?        RTM is heading to the launch of IPPR North’s flagship ‘Transport for the North’ report today, which we’ve been told provides a blueprint for how the north can move towards an integrated transport...more >

YOUR VIEWS From: Mikey B Subject: Who will build the new DMUs? Re: New Northern franchise to include fleet of ‘newly built’ trains      It would be excellent to have a fleet of new-build DMUs in service by 2020 but one question needs to be answered – who is likely to build them? Will Bombardier be prepared to re-open their Turbostar line for what will only be a short run of 120 vehicles, or can they produce a diesel version of their new Aventra design? Alternatively, will the new train be an improved version of Siemens’ Class 185 or a totally new design from, say, the merged CSR/CNR builders in China? It is surely going to be at least a couple of years before the new franchisee...more >

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