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

Thursday, 11 February 2016

BBC News

• Legal breakthrough for Google carGoogle's self-driving technology should be considered a legal driver, the US highways authority says.

ITV News

• Transport boss confirms disputed £1.9bn cost of Labour's promised fares freezeLondon's transport boss today publicly confirmed for the first time the disputed £1.9bn cost of Labour's promised fares freeze.

Department for Transport

• New Buses Bill to deliver a better deal for the publicReforms are set to make bus travel more passenger-friendly and give councils more freedom to improve services.

Financial Times

• M6 Toll road goes on the blockBritain’s only pay-to-use motorway could be sold for up to £1.9bn as banks looks to recoup debt
• Maersk warns on business conditionsDanish conglomerate hit by slump in both oil prices and container freight rates
• Maersk: freight nightDanish shipping conglomerate’s results last year were hardly acceptable

The Guardian

• Black cabs bring London to a halt in Uber protest – videoThousands of London’s traditional black taxis bring the streets around Westminster to a standstill during a protest against car-sharing service Uber and government pressure on their regulatory body on Wednesday. Len Martin from the United Cabbies Group says Uber needs to be subject to the same regulations as black cabs Continue reading...
• Elon Musk says he 'feels good' as Tesla forecasts first profitsAfter several ‘excruciating’ financial months that included $67m in unplanned costs, the electric car maker says it will start making money this yearElon Musk, chief executive of electric luxury car maker Tesla Motors, promised investors on Wednesday that the company will start making money this year, sending its shares up sharply despite a wider fourth-quarter loss. Tesla shares rose more than 10% in after-hours trading after the company forecast a 60-80% increase in vehicle sales this year, and promised it would turn a profit on an adjusted basis. It will start generating positive cash flow ...

The Herald

• Model train: life-size replica of ScotRail's new Hitachi 38 goes on display at Edinburgh WaverleyPASSENGERS have been invited to step inside a life-size replica of the latest trains set to join the ScotRail fleet.

The Huffington Post

• London's Black Cabbies Stage Noisy Westminster Protest Over TfL And Minicab App UberLondon’s black cab drivers staged a noisy demonstration in Central London on Wednesday, halting traffic as part of an ongoing protest against Transport for London and the popular minicab app Uber. Arguing that the technology is threatening their livelihood, cabbies descended on Westminster, tooting their horns to start a 90-minute protest. The United Cabbies Group, who accused the government of failing to regulate the industry, organised the action. Claiming the app gives minicab drivers a “competitive advantage,” cabbies says they have seen takings drop by 30 percent.

The Telegraph

• Gatwick to start tendering process for second runwayThe West Sussex airport is to seek expression of interest from consulting firms to help it develop its mooted expansion plans

Daily Record

• Daily Record reporter joins veteran lorry driver in 'test run' over recently refurbished Forth Road Bridge REPORTER Alan McEwen joined HGV veteran Stevie Dickson in a "test run" designed to evaluate the bridge’s response to the lorry's weight.

Mail Online

• IEA report calls for Network Rail to be privatised to minimise delays and improve services� Supporting the rail industry cost the taxpayer almost �5billion in 2014/15, according to the Right-leaning Institute of Economic Affairs, which called for Network Rail to be privatised.
• Can Princess Anne save the hovercraft named after her? Last month, ownership of the Princess Anne and her sister hovercraft - based at Lee-on-Solent - was past to the Homes and Communities Agency. They now want to get rid of it.

This is Money

• Gatwick puts more pressure on Heathrow as it unveils £2.5bn expansion plans Gatwick has heaped further pressure on Heathrow by unveiling aggressive expansion plans worth £2.5billion. Britain’s second-largest airport lost out when a report by Sir Howard Davies recommended building at Heathrow to improve the UK’s airport capacity rather than expanding Gatwick.

Network Rail

• Network Rail appoints new chief financial officerNetwork Rail today announced that Jeremy Westlake will join the company as chief financial officer on 15 February.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Airbus starts final assembly of first A350-1000 aircraft The firm, which has a wing-making plant at Broughton, says it will take its first maiden flight before the end of the year

Manchester Evening News

• Addleshaw Goddard to advise MAG on �1bn transformationThe 10-year project is said to be the biggest single construction project in Greater Manchester, and will see Manchester Airport more than double the size of Terminal Two and link it to an improved Terminal Three.           

Sheffield Star

• Rotherham MP calls for hate crime guidance for public transport operatorsRotherham MP Sarah Champion has written to the Government calling for national guidance for transport operators when dealing with hate crimes.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Highways workers facing axe in Staffordshire Highways workers face in Staffordshire face being axed prompting concerns over the future state of the roads.

The Shields Gazette

• East Coast Main Line reopens after major gas leak in Durham halted trainsDurham Railway Station was evacuated and train services were halted after a major gas leak in Durham City this afternoon.

Other Regional Press

• Rail Minister : 'We won't let Westcountry down' [Claire Perry]Last year, the Chancellor made a commitment: that the government will invest billions to transform the South West’s roads and railways. This commitment to the South West was also written into the Conservative Party’s election manifesto, where we made improving the region’s transport a priority for boosting the economy, jobs and tourism.
• Network Rail slams "mindless" fly-tippers after �250,000 clean-up mission THOUSANDS of tonnes of unwanted junk was dumped by
• Rail Minister : 'We won't let Westcountry down' [Claire Perry]Last year, the Chancellor made a commitment: that the government will invest billions to transform the South West’s roads and railways. This commitment to the South West was also written into the Conservative Party’s election manifesto, where we made improving the region’s transport a priority for boosting the economy, jobs and tourism.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Port of Ayr expands with commercial property dealPort operator Associated British Ports is expanding the Port of Ayr with the acquisition of more than three acres of commercial property. The London-based company – whose Scottish ports at Ayr and Troon handled 250 ships carrying in excess of 400,000 tonnes of cargo in 2015 – said the site had room for expansion with additional office and warehouse units available for rent. “This property will provide the Port of Ayr with a mix of industrial space for local businesses as well as a range of flexibly-sized office units on York Street, all of which are within close proximity t...

Rail Magazine

• Network Rail seeks enthusiastic apprenticesNetwork Rail wants more apprentices to join the railway, with the infrastructure company’s Advanced Apprenticeship scheme offering 150 places nationwide.
• Government responds to HS2 property concernsGovernment responds to concerns raised by the House of Commons Select Committee regarding compensation for property owners affected by the construction of HS2.
• Women In Rail role models soughtWomen in Rail is searching for the Most Inspirational Women in Rail. It wants shortlist of 20 women who have made an outstanding impression on the industry.

Aviation Industry

• Finnair swings to $100.7 million net profit in 2015Finland flag carrier Finnair has reported a full-year net income of €89.7 million ($100.7 million) for 2015, reversed from a €82.5 million loss in the year-ago period. read more
• Finnair swings to $100.7 million net profit in 2015Finland flag carrier Finnair has reported a full-year net income of €89.7 million ($100.7 million) for 2015, reversed from a €82.5 million loss in the year-ago period. read more
• Gatwick to start tendering process for second runwayAs decision on airport expansion looms airport confirms it has opened talks with contractors
• Gatwick to start tendering process for second runwayAs decision on airport expansion looms airport confirms it has opened talks with contractors
• Gatwick to start tendering process for second runwayAs decision on airport expansion looms airport confirms it has opened talks with contractors