Breaking News
'Lack of interest' in rail franchises
Taxpayers could end up out of pocket because not enough companies want to bid to run rail franchises in England and Wales, a group of MPs warn.
Heathrow criticised over Crossrail levy plan [Subscription]
The rail regulator criticised Heathrow yesterday over plans to make Crossrail trains pay a huge levy to use track that the airport owns.
Scrapping air passenger tax in Wales would cost England's south west region millions, warns airport boss
Bristol Airport claims the abolition of APD in Wales would cost the South West economy £843m and more than 1,500 jobs
Crew shortages cause rail delays with service through Huddersfield badly hit
1.9m service disruptions logged last year
Transport for London misses out on South Western rail franchise
First South Western Trains Ltd and Stagecoach South West Limited are to battle it out for the South Western franchise
Friday, 12 February 2016
BBC News
- Train crew shortages causing delaysTrain crew shortages have caused almost one in 10 rail delays over the past few years, the BBC learns, with London Midland having one of the highest rates.
- Bridges in public ownership 'by 2017'The Severn crossings could revert to public ownership as early as autumn 2017 an MP says.
- Why did the half-plane, half-helicopter not work?Why has mass helicopter transport never taken off?
- UK's first toll motorway for saleThe loss-making M6 Toll road is put up for sale for nearly �2bn, the BBC understands.
- Dublin Luas tram two-day strike beginsThousands of people who use the Luas tram service in Dublin are facing disruption as a two-day strike begins.
- Lufthansa boss denies errors over crashThe boss of the airline Lufthansa, Carsten Spohr, has told the BBC that there was nothing that Lufthansa could have done to prevent the Germanwings crash last year.
- 'Lack of interest' in rail franchisesTaxpayers could end up out of pocket because not enough companies want to bid to run rail franchises in England and Wales, a group of MPs warn.
Financial Times
- Diversion from traditional taxis in ParisLike Uber, ride-hailing app Heetch angers established cab drivers and its model faces a legal test
- Maersk stumble highlights sluggish tradeSeveral freight markets look weak, including air and dry bulk ships
- Uber to pay $28m over ‘safe rides’ suitPlaintiffs had argued company misled passengers about safety practices
The Guardian
- Uber’s human drivers are mapping out the system ahead of self-driving carsUber built a following quickly because it was cheap and easy to book - if only its drivers weren’t protesting against their treatmentThere is a distinct but now amusing memory I have from a little over seven years ago of looking through all the apps in the iPhone app store, which was then brand spanking new. It seems unfathomable now, but in late 2008 apps were very far from the mainstream, and lacking the imagination and ubiquity of today. The success and pervasiveness of mobile computing, symbiotically, helped popularise them. And arguably the most successful app of all is Uber — now the mos...
- Rail franchising could cost more due to lack of competition, MPs sayPublic accounts committee warns that taxpayers may lose out because fewer companies are bidding to run train servicesBidding for rail franchises could soon shortchange the taxpayer because fewer firms are competing to run train services, a committee of MPs has warned. In a report into how the rail franchising system has recovered since the West Coast debacle at the Department for Transport in 2012, the public accounts committee (PAC) said there were still gaps in the department’s ability to manage the process effectively. Continue reading...
The Herald
- Critics slam Edinburgh airport over 'disingenuous' flightpath reportAIRPORT bosses have been accused of downplaying community opposition to a trial flightpath after blaming a handful of local residents for the majority of complaints.
The Scotsman
- Electric taxi firm trebles cars in drive to be UK’s biggestA Scottish firm will boast the UK’s largest fleet of electric taxis when it trebles its number of vehicles to 100 this summer, The Scotsman has learned.
The Telegraph
- New 20mph limits lead to 50pc boom in speed bumpsGrowth of 20 mph speed limits has driven up spending on speed bumps by 50pc despite police refusing to prosecute speeding drivers
Times Online
- Whitehall ‘putting off bidders for railways’ [Subscription]Stifling micromanagement and the strategic incoherence of transport ministers and bureaucrats are deterring train operators from bidding for new rail franchises, a committee of MPs has concluded.
- Heathrow criticised over Crossrail levy plan [Subscription]The rail regulator criticised Heathrow yesterday over plans to make Crossrail trains pay a huge levy to use track that the airport owns.
Mail Online
- British Airways customer told she can't get a full refund unless she is DEAD EXCLUSIVE: Jahmila Kelly, 32, from Bethnal Green, east London, has been left distraught after being told she cannot get a refund for BA flights to St Lucia despite being diagnosed with a tumour.
Birmingham Post
- Taxi drivers claim victory after New Street charges are dropped The RMT union had been campaigning against what it claims were increased costs for taxi drivers at the newly-redeveloped station
Daily Post (North Wales)
- Bus chiefs pull Conwy Valley service leaving hundreds of rural passengers stranded Arriva Buses Wales will no longer run Conwy Valley number 19 service from May 1
- A55 traffic jams 'holding back' Holyhead port Stena and Irish Ferries have urged the Welsh Government to improve the expressway to boost marine economy
London Evening Standard
- The new cycling technologies on show at the London Bike Show this week The UK's largest cycling show returns to ExCeL with a raft of new innovations
The York Press
- Bus stop changes announced for York TEMPORARY changes are to be made to key bus stops in two city centre streets as the first step towards a number of improvements later this year.
Wales Online
- Scrapping air passenger tax in Wales would cost England's south west region millions, warns airport bossBristol Airport claims the abolition of APD in Wales would cost the South West economy £843m and more than 1,500 jobs
Get West London
- Back Heathrow hope David Cameron will 'swipe right' on their Valentine's Day propositionPro-Heathrow expansion group sends Prime Minister a cheeky Valentine's message to the "commitment phobe" in the style of dating app Tinder
North Wales Live
- Bike & Go rail scheme hailed by TripAdvisor division Holiday Lettings praises bike hire operation in list of top seven operators
Other Regional Press
- Crew shortages cause rail delays with service through Huddersfield badly hit1.9m service disruptions logged last year
Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport
- Consultation to improve rail between Swindon and WestburyThe government is opening a consultation to the public for them to have an input on local rail services in Wiltshire. It is community groups and passengers who will have more say in aspects of design and the operation of their local rail services between Swindon and Westbury, according to the Department for Transport. The government is consulting on this 32-mile TransWilts line and plans to designate it as a community rail service. By doing this, the local community will be able to design train services to reflect the local demand, which the government hopes will translate to increased passeng...
- 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. councils will be given more freedom to run their own bus services Oyster-style ticketing could be rolled out across the country new bus travel apps possible as companies are made to share more details about services Bus travel is to be made more passenger-friendly as councils will be given more freedom to improve services, under measures set out today (11 February 2016). Roads Minister Andrew Jones said reforms will help deliver better journeys across the country, as he...
- Robert Goodwill tours Cornwall Airport Newquay and opens Aerohub Business ParkAviation Minister hears how Cornwall Airport Newquay and its enterprise zone are boosting economic growth in the region. Aviation Minister Robert Goodwill visited Cornwall Airport Newquay today (11 February 2016) to see how government investment is helping the airport go from strength to strength. The minister toured the airport, which generates millions of pounds for the Cornish economy per year, and officially opened the Aerohub Business Park within the already established enterprise zone — Aerohub at Cornwall Airport Newquay. Passenger numbers at Cornwall Airport Newquay increased fr...
Rail Magazine
- 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.
- Class 385 route introduction plans revealedScotRail reveals which routes brand new Class 385s will be introduced, and when.
Rail Technology Magazine
- Cybersecurity Analysis-Cyber Security Services for Passenger and Freight Rail Applications Cybersecurity Analysis is a US-based consultancy providing standards-based cybersecurity services to agencies and organisations in the rail (freight and passenger), oil and gas, and pipeline sectors.
Railnews
- London Midland hires rolling stock to plug sports gap London Midland and Wasps RFC have announced a special train service for Coventry Arena on match days, using spot hired rolling stock. Coventry Arena station opened last month, but it was the subject of controversy because the new six-car platforms alongside the Ricoh Stadium also display notices warning that trains will not call before or after major events. However, London Midland has now arranged trial services using a six-car train on two match days.
Aviation Industry
- Heathrow: record rise in passenger traffic to emerging markets5.5 million passengers passed through the airport last month
- Bristol airport: end devolution of APD to WalesCEO Robert Sinclair says move will create ‘significant disadvantage’ to rival Cardiff
Other News Sources
- Transport for London misses out on South Western rail franchiseFirst South Western Trains Ltd and Stagecoach South West Limited are to battle it out for the South Western franchise
- Skills shortage top of Agenda at FTA meeting with Secretary of StateAddressing the issue of driver shortage in the freight industry was at the top of the Agenda during a meeting between the Freight Transport ...
- FTA seminars return to Multimodal in 2016The Freight Transport Association is once again teaming up with Multimodal to put together a programme of workshops, masterclasses and panel ...
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