Transportinfo.org.uk - today's transport news in the uk, hand picked for you each morning

Tuesday, 24 November 2015

BBC News

• Airport posts record passenger numbersManchester Airport records the highest passenger numbers in its 77-year history.
• Shipyard gets �1m for 'jobs and growth'Ferguson shipyard is awarded a �1m grant to refurbish its Port Glasgow premises and help fund new jobs.
• VW cars 'also cheat EU emissions tests'A lab test carried out for the BBC shows that VW diesel cars programmed with a

Financial Times

• Italy plans privatisation of rail groupStake of up to 40% could be sold in group that owns country’s rail lines and its train operator Trenitalia
• Regional airports back Heathrow expansionFillip comes just before government decides where to add air capacity in the south-east
• Watchdog finds works limit rail franchisesNational Audit Office warns of risks to achieving value for money

The Guardian

• British Airways chief: build toll roads to help foot 'outrageous' Heathrow billWillie Walsh criticises Airport Commission’s £17.6bn cost estimate for third runway and calls for new ways to pay for improved road and rail links
• BA pilot's eye damaged by 'military' laser shone into cockpit at HeathrowHalf of all pilots targeted in past year but latest incident involved laser used in weaponry, says pilots’ association A British Airways pilot has reportedly been left with significant damage to his eyesight after a “military-strength” laser was shone into the cockpit of his plane landing at Heathrow, in what appears to be the most serious laser attack to date in the UK.The pilot suffered a burned retina in his right eye and has not worked since, according to the head of the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa). Continue reading...

The Herald

• Police probe death threat as mystery Bearsden resident threatens to A MYSTERY death threat targeted at council employees involved in a controversial cycle lane development is being probed by police.
• Glasgow airport selling alcohol in sealed bags to cut disruption on planesSome UK airport shops are selling alcohol in sealed bags in a bid to reduce disruption caused by drunk passengers, the aviation minister has said.

The Independent

• Rail franchises still face ‘uncertainty and volatility’, says NAONetwork Rail has struggled because passenger numbers are increasing at a rapid rate

The Telegraph

• Bidding for West Coast rail franchise faces further delaysVirgin Trains is set to run London to Glasgow services until at least 2018 after bidding for the next contract was postponed
• BA pilot's eyes damaged in Heathrow laser attack'Military strength' device shone into cockpit during landing prompts warning over growing threat

Mail Online

• Volvo unveils service allowing internet purchases to be delivered to your boot Technology means shoppers can opt for an 'in-car' delivery, with couriers given an electronic key allowing one-time access to the car. Shoppers just have to say where they're parked.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• West Yorkshire transport body introduces its new boss THE super-council in charge of West Yorkshire's public transport and economic growth has unveiled its first managing director.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• AMs back calls for Boxing Day train services in North Wales The region should follow the lead taken by Merseyrail and introduce limited service
• Transport police step up Pwllheli line patrols after reports of train staff being abusedInspector Dai Davies says officers 'will not hesitate to take action' against those who 'overstep mark' with Cambrian Coast railway workers 

Derby Telegraph

• Derby Telegraph commented Trolleybuses could be far better than trams - reader's letterI have just read the article in the Derby Telegraph concerning a proposed new tram network, "New tram network could boost our economies and lead to end of unpopular plans for housing". I have never quite understood the justification for trams. Has anyone ever produced a detailed analysis of the build and running costs of the tram versus the trolleybus? Installation of a trolleybus system is primarily holes in the pavement for the support poles. Installation of a tram system...
• Derby Telegraph published Arriva could pass on its savings to buy brollies - reader's...The problems encountered by passengers of Arriva buses in Babington Lane are not new. They have been faced by those using the 40/41 and 32 services for years but, since October 25, they have become much worse and potentially dangerous. The councillors of Blagreaves ward raised the issues with Arriva a year or two ago and were told there were no problems in Babington Lane. This reply was hardly surprising since Arriva's senior management seems to be based in Leicester or even Luton and...

London Evening Standard

• Bin lorry on collection round hogs brand new cycle superhighway route designed to protect cyclists from HGVsCyclists are furious after council rubbish collectors drove a lorry along Boris Johnson’s flagship cycle superhighway to bypass traffic during rush hour.
• Revealed: BA pilot 'left with severe eye damage after 'military strength' laser attack near Heathrow'A British Airways co-pilot was left with severe eye damage after a “military strength” laser was shone into his cockpit, a union boss has claimed. 
• Bars and restaurants to move into Waterloo railway arches made famous by BanksySome of the UK’s newest restaurateurs will be looking to open underneath new railway arches space in Waterloo, made famous by Banksy art in 2008.
• Airports begin selling alcohol in sealed bags to quell wave of boozy passengersA pair of UK airports have begun selling alcohol in sealed bags that cannot be opened in-flight in the hope of cutting disruption caused by boozy passengers.

Manchester Evening News

• Metrolink services were suspended after car drives onto track at Holt Town again The spot, near New Islington, is a common place for cars to drive onto the track – but transport bosses insist signage in the area is adequate

Northern Echo

• Go-Ahead for transport firm's Singapore £230m bus dealA NORTH-EAST bus operator is driving into Singapore after securing a £230m deal. The Go-Ahead Group has been awarded a five-year contract to run services in the Asian country.

The York Press

• York bus changes take effect today on routes 1, 4, 6 and 10: See what it means for you BUS passengers in York are reminded that changes to several services take effect today.�

Yorkshire Post

• Northern Rail MD says North needs 30-year transport strategy Managing director Alex Hynes told The Yorkshire Post that it is a “national tragedy” that the North has not had a region-wide smart ticketing scheme like Oyster card in London

Other Regional Press

• Authorities admit they are ‘unable’ to enforce speed on danger roadHighways bosses have admitted they are not able to enforce speed limits on a busy country road.
• Wheelchair users ‘often left behind by bus drivers’Disabled people in wheelchairs are struggling to get on buses and are often left behind at bus stops, a charity said.
• Airport opens new prayer roomLondon Luton Airport (LLA) has opened a new multi-faith airside Prayer Room which is available for staff and departing passengers to use around the clock.

Rail Magazine

• Capacity usage is key as Smith states case for freightGB Railfreight Managing Director John Smith has called for efficient usage of capacity.
• ON THIS DAY: 'Thunderbirds' Class 47s launched22 years ago today (November 23 1993), Intercity launched East Coast trains 47/520 and 47671/3/5 at Kings Cross
• Rail franchising: risks to DfT achieving value for moneyBut National Audit Office says DfT has addressed weaknesses in management of franchise competition

Rail Technology Magazine

• Australia and Tasmania spend $85m on revitalising freight rail The Australian and Tasmanian Governments have jointly awarded the single largest tender of the A$119.6m ($85m) Tasmanian Freight Rail Revitalisation Project to VEC Civil Engineering for track works on the Melba and Western line.
• Samsung wins $391m contract to build rail infrastructure in Singapore Samsung C&T has secured a S$555m ($391m) contract from the Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) for Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) (East Coast stretch).

Railnews

• �30,000 reward for conviction of signal cable arsonists A reward of �30,000 has been offered for the conviction of arsonists who disrupted train services in the West Midlands a week ago today. Two fires were started at Canley in the early hours of 16 November which damaged signal cables and delayed hundreds of trains as a result, including intercity and local passenger services as well as freight. It was the second incident of its kind in the area this year, because there was a similar fire in May. British Transport Police said the attack had caused 'misery' to many delayed passengers.
• Funding approval means green light for Croxley Link Transport for London has confirmed that it has secured full funding for the Croxley Link extension of the Metropolitan Line, closing a funding gap of �2.73 million which had been revealed a few weeks ago, casting fresh doubt over the future of the long-discussed scheme. TfL said work on the new link is to start next year and will be completed by 2020, creating more than 6,500 jobs and boosting the local economy by �2 billion.

Railway Gazette

• Metropolitan Line Extension funding agreedUK: The funding package for the Metropolitan Line Extension project has been finalised, London...

Aviation Industry

• IAG open to LCC tie-ups, further acquisitions International Airlines Group (IAG) CEO Willie Walsh is open to further airline acquisitions and low-cost carrier partnerships, he told delegates at the UK Aviation Conference 2015. read more
• United Airlines, pilots agree on contract extensionUnited Airlines and its pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), have reached an agreement in principle for a contract extension covering more than 12,000 pilots. read more
• IAG looking for more acquisitionsWalsh expects “more consolidation” within European airline sector
• Lufthansa cabin crew set for new strikeUnion calls for stoppage later this week as pay dispute continues

Other News Sources

• Hundreds stranded in Blackburn as rail work halts trains EAST Lancashire commuters were left stranded and frustrated yesterday morning after a number of services were cancelled and delayed due to overrunning track repairs.
• IN PICTURES: Blackburn's delayed £4.7m new bus station gets new arrival date BLACKBURN’S delayed £4.7 million new bus station has a new arrival date – Easter next year.