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

Thursday, 26 May 2016

BBC News

• Tram network 'has never made profit'Trams running from Birmingham to the Wolverhampton have not made a profit in the 17 years since the first line opened, the BBC reveals.
• Ryanair accused of breaking electoral lawVote Leave has accused airline company Ryanair of breaking electoral law in its campaign for the UK to stay in the EU.
• Trams suspended by wrong-way driverTrams are suspended in Greater Manchester after a car gets stuck on a line and another car collides with a tram.
• Rail strike conductor sickness doublesThe rate of sickness among Southern rail conductors more than doubles since the first strike over their role, company data shows.

ITV News

• Scottish Borders bus routes facing axeEleven bus routes in the Scottish Borders could be cut by the company First Group.

Financial Times

• Adonis role in Crossrail 2 worries northFears that northern high-speed rail link might be shunted behind London project
• Low fuel costs boost profits at Wizz AirUK-listed Hungarian carrier promises to match rivals’ fare cuts

The Guardian

• France fuel strike leads to tourist anxiety ahead of bank holiday weekendDepot blockades and fuel shortages in France are set to cause chaos as the UK government and RAC issue warnings over potential petrol rationingSteph Hoy has been following the news about the French fuel strike anxiously. On Thursday evening she is driving her 1960s Morris Minor to Portsmouth to catch the ferry to Cherbourg and begin a tour across France. Her car might have stood the test of time … but it still needs petrol. And right now, France is not coming across as the most inviting destination for a road trip.“I’m pretty nervous,” she says. “If you look at the news, all you see is disgrun...
• Eurostar launches £25 fare for those who don't mind when they travelPassengers who book Snap ticket will be told only 48 hours in advance what time of day their train is leavingEurostar is to reward last-minute holidaymakers for their spontaneity with a new fare aimed at people who don’t mind what time of day they travel.The Snap ticket will allow travellers to get to Paris or Brussels for £25 each way, but time of travel will only be given 48 hours in advance. Continue reading...
• Why Elon Musk says Hong Kong will be the 'beacon city' for electric carsWith booming sales and more than 1,000 public charging spots, Tesla CEO Elon Musk predicted the city would be a leader on electric car adoption Hong Kong’s population density, efficient public transportation and general lack of space hardly provide incentive to buy a private car. High registration taxes on new vehicles – up to 115% of the price portion above HK$500,000 (£45,000) – make anyone balk. The heavy levy is meant to reduce road traffic and street level emissions, which is the main contributor to the port city’s air pollution.Yet, in the past two years, the city has seen a boom in regi...
• EgyptAir flight 804: deep-sea hunt for 'black boxes' as week passes since crashEuropean companies being hired to try and locate flight recorders that are best chance of finding out what happened to Airbus A320 flying from Paris to CairoEgypt has called in European deep-sea search crews to find the “black boxes” of EgyptAir flight 804 as the recovery effort marks one week since the plane crashed into the Mediterranean Sea.The Airbus A320 crashed with 66 people on board, including 30 Egyptians and 15 from France. Investigators on Thursday still had no clear picture of its final moments. Some wreckage and body parts have been found but the bulk of the plane and its flight r...

Times Online

• Do not give city bus plans the go-ahead, says transport group [Subscription]One of Britain’s biggest transport operators has promised to challenge legislation aimed at restoring local authority control on the buses.

Mail Online

• Abellio Greater Anglia train conductors to stop punching tickets on busy journeys Concerns over repetitive strain injury – the pain in muscles, nerves and tendons – have forced Abellio Greater Anglia to do away with the traditional clipper that punches a hole in tickets.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Manchester Airport direct link to China will boost business and tourism in North Wales Tourism, business and university bosses have welcomed the flights between Manchester and Beijing
• Thomas Cook cabin crew vote to strike - but May half-term holidays safe for now as talks planned Cabin crew were balloted for industrial action that could impact Manchester and nine other UK airports

London Evening Standard

• 'Sick-note strike': Southern rail conductors call in ill 1,000 times in a monthTrain conductors in dispute with their bosses on Southern railways have called in sick more than 1,000 times in a month, it can be revealed.
• Train firms accused of ripping off London commuters 'by pocketing compensation for delays'Train firms were today accused of ripping off commuters in London and the South East by allegedly pocketing millions of pounds in compensation for delays on the network.
• High Street Kensington evacuation: Rush hour chaos as entire Circle line suspended 'after pigeon net falls on tracks'Commuters today faced rush hour chaos on the Circle and District lines after netting to stop pigeons from roosting apparently fell onto the track.

Manchester Evening News

• Business leaders welcome stronger links to China Hainan Airlines will start flying from Manchester Airport to Beijing from June 10. It is the first ever direct service from the North to mainland China.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• First trains could run from Leeds Kirkstall Forge next monthTRAINS could start serving the new Kirkstall Forge station in Leeds as early as next month, the Yorkshire Evening Post can reveal.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Rail line to London shut again at Bank HolidayIf it’s a bank holiday, Network Rail must be closing the main line to London again!

Other Regional Press

• Bus fare hike unacceptable says city MSPGLASGOW passengers are not getting a fair deal from bus services following the latest fares hike, according to a city MSP.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Ryanair plans fare cuts of 12% Ryanair plans to cut fares by up to 12 per cent this year to boost market share as Europe’s airline competition increases. Chief executive Michael O’Leary warned rival carriers that “if there is a price war in Europe, then Ryanair will be the winner”. The planned cuts in ticket prices come after the airline reported a 43 per cent increase on full-year profits, compared to 2015. Revenue jumped 18 per cent and passenger numbers rose 18 per cent to 106.4 million. Europe’s largest airline said it will cut prices by an average of 7 per cent in its current financ...
• Bumper Year For Cargo at Manchester Airport 7% increase year on year 103,437 tonnes carried in 2015/16 £6bn of trade value delivered in 2015 from Manchester Airport Top cargo destinations include Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha Jenson Interceptor, Lamborghini and Bentleys make up the most expensive items shipped The growth in long haul flights to key markets from Manchester Airport has delivered a significant trade boost to the region, figures have revealed. The last financial year was the best for freight at Manchester Airport since 2011, with 103,437 tonnes of cargo shipped to destinations across the globe. That ...
• Councils win �21m of funding to promote green transportThroughout England, councils have won almost �21 million of funding from the government in order to help them promote greener forms of transport. Money will be given towards the instigation of 23 travel initiatives across the country that will boost local economies and offer cheap, clean and healthy travel options, according to the Department for Transport. Robert Goodwill, transport minister, said:

Rail Technology Magazine

• DGauge-Gauging Analysis Consultancy Services for the Rail Industry DGauge is a specialist engineering consultancy company that provides gauging analysis services to the rail industry.The company focuses on railway vehicle, infrastructure and electrification gauging ...
• MTM Power Fire Safety Designs Fire safety on railway vehicles used for railway transportation presents a particular challenge for manufacturers and suppliers in this market segment.

Railway Gazette

• Bulgaria completes upgrading of routes to the borderBULGARIA: Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and Minister of Transport Ivaylo Moskovski attended a...
• Acela influences Alstom’s HS2 concept trainINTERNATIONAL: Alstom unveiled a high speed train concept design at a parliamentary reception in...

Other News Sources

• Heathrow: We’re ready to buildAfter yet another record year, Britain’s busiest port is determined to continue growing and is calling in the contractors. Bryce Wilcock met with Heathrow chief John Holland-Kaye to find out more
• First London Stansted BA flights a sell outThe first British Airways flights from Stansted Airport get off to a flying start this weekend with all the summer sun destinations fully booked.
• Petition of 10,000 will see government wade into debate on Govia Thameslink Railway franchise review THE GOVERNMENT will have to respond to calls for Southern to be stripped of their franchise after more than 10,000 passengers complained about their services.
• Volkswagen invests $300m in taxi app GettGroup plans to generate large revenues from business models focused on mobile