15th November 2013
- Return of third class travel
- High Speed Two: parliament questions
- Southeastern franchise extension
This week
Third class travel could be brought back to the East Coast Main Line after Transport Minister Stephen Hammond admitted that new private bidders for the franchise would be “free to consider such initiatives” in a bid to make the route profitable. [The Scotsman]
A Midland Metro tram line between Coventry and Birmingham could be built to coincide with the arrival of HS2. [BBC News]
Consultants KPMG will again be called before parliament to defend their report into the regional benefits of High Speed Two which claimed the high speed rail line could boost the economy by £15bn a year. [The Guardian]
The former chairman of Eurostar will try to woo train operators to back the heavily criticised railway project. [The Independent]
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin faces a grilling from MPs over a contested report predicting the HS2 rail project could benefit the UK by £15 billlion a year. [Evening Standard]
Lord Heseltine has backed the HS2 rail project to “rebalance” the UK by linking London with the North and Midlands. [Evening Standard]
[BBC News] asks “Is Labour right behind HS2?”
Southeastern, which provides services between Kent, East Sussex and London, has had its franchise extended. [BBC News]
The Jubilee line is Londoners’ favourite on the Underground, according to a new survey of passengers. [Evening Standard]