Railway news

Quite why the government should issue good news in the Christmas recess beats me..

Three items:

One of the platforms at London Waterloo, vacated when Eurostar moved to St Pancras, is to be opened for use by commuter trains. Eventually all the platforms will be re-opened.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/8980693/Eurostar-platform-returned-to-London-commuters.html


Southern is to acquire 130 new carriages to be built by Bombardier at Derby.  Good news for Derby and Southern commuters.

http://nds.coi.gov.uk/clientmicrosite/Content/Detail.aspx?ClientId=202&NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=422673&SubjectId=36

The final piece of good news (potentially) is that the government is seeking to decentralise planning of local rail services. Whilst go ahead local authorities (for example Coventry City Council and Warwickshire County Council) will be responsive to local need, I fear for the people of East Sussex as East Sussex CC is not as railway supportive as it should be.  Hopefully Brighton & Hove Council will exert pressure to improve commuter and local services to and from the city.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/8925552/Voters-could-get-say-in-local-train-services.html

Two stories relating to problems.

The first is about concerns that hackers could infiltrate computer systems which are used by the railway to control movements.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16347248

Finally, a story relating to the problems that HS2 will bring in its wake at London Euston. The growth of passenger numbers, both from HS2 and the historic railway, will put the Underground station at Euston under such pressure it will have to close for safety reasons, which rather negates the time saved hurtling from Birmingham to London in 50 minutes. 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/8960899/No-space-in-London-stations-for-high-speed-passengers.html