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

Wednesday, 01 June 2016

BBC News

• World's longest and deepest rail tunnel to open in SwitzerlandThe world's longest and deepest rail tunnel is to be officially opened in Switzerland, after almost two decades of construction work.
• Rail route beats forecast usage by 22%Figures for the Borders Railway show nearly 700,000 people travelled on the line during its first six months - 22% above forecast levels.
• Op Stack lorry park decision 'hasty'Ministers need to justify a £250m lorry park in Kent

Financial Times

• HNA/Virgin Australia: buy awayStake buying is good news for Virgin but does not resolve the question of its ownership

The Guardian

• Do major transport projects only benefit wealthy commuters?HS2, Crossrail and other infrastructure projects are hailed for delivering economic growth, but critics say they don’t do enough for poor communities
• 'Northern powerhouse' depends on productivity not rail links: thinktankCentre for Cities says plan is too focused on intercity transport rather than improving performance of individual citiesCities in the north of England must become more productive if the chancellor is to realise his vision of a so-called “northern powerhouse”, a thinktank has said.The Centre for Cities said George Osborne’s plan to bridge the economic gap between the wealthier south and the poorer north was too heavily focused on intercity transport links, and not enough on improving the performance of individual cities. Continue reading...
• World's longest rail tunnel to open in Switzerland under AlpsEU heads to take 57km maiden voyage in €11bn Gotthard base tunnel on WednesdayMeasuring 57 km in length, situated 2.3km deep under the Alps and having cost €11bn to complete, Switzerland’s Gotthard base tunnel is more than just the world’s longest and most expensive tunnelling project.At a time of rising nationalism and closing borders, European leaders will also hope it can serve as a reminder that the continent can still smash barriers when it manages to pull together. Continue reading...
• Egyptair flight 804: future black boxes should eject in crash, says AirbusEngineering chief says ‘deployable’ flight recorders that launch from an airliner and float rather than sinking with wreckage would speed up search and recoveryThe crash of an EgyptAir jet has strengthened the case for ejectable “black boxes” that are launched out of an aircraft in an accident, making them easier to find, the most senior engineer at Airbus has said. Investigators are searching in some of the deepest waters of the Mediterranean for flight recorders from an EgyptAir Airbus A320, which crashed on 19 May, killing 66 people. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Glasgow commuters facing widespread rail disruptionCommuters are facing major transport disruptions in and around Glasgow due to line problems on several routes.

The Scotsman

• Speeding doubles on parts of A9 after being cut by cameras Speeding on parts of the A9 has doubled after being significantly cut by average speed cameras, official figures showed today.
• Borders Railway on course to smash passenger target The Borders Railway is on course to smash its passenger target after attracting nearly 700,000 trips in its first six months, it was announced today.

Times Online

• Giant lorry park may be waste of £250m [subscrption]A £250 million lorry park the size of ninety football pitches that was planned in response to the migrant crisis in Calais may be a waste of money.
• Borders railway more popular than predicted [subscription]Nearly 700,000 passengers travelled on the new Borders Railway in its first six months, a fifth more than expected.

The Mirror

• Texting and other distractions causes six out of ten crashes involving teenage driversOne in eight accidents­ are because the driver is fiddling with a smartphone­, while talking to someone in the car causes 15%, research suggests

Bolton News

• Bus company admits the re-routing of a Great Lever bus service was 'wrong' A BUS company has admitted it made an error when it re-routed a vital service away from town centre amenities.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• 2,500 snared as police crackdown on Bradford's danger drivers A POLICE crackdown on dangerous driving in Bradford will be extended for the

London Evening Standard

• Heathrow Express peak fares increase by almost nine per centBritain’s most expensive train journey per mile is breaking its own record by raising fares.
• Eurostar delays: Hundreds of passengers stranded after man tried to bring WWII bomb on boardHundreds of Eurostar passengers were stranded overnight in Paris after a traveller tried to take a Second World War bomb onto a London-bound train.
• More than 250 miles of road in Britain now covered by average speed check camerasMore than 250 miles of road in Britain are being monitored by cameras checking drivers' average speeds, a study has found.

Sheffield Star

• The rise of average speed cameras and what you need to know about themAVERAGE speed cameras are monitoring drivers on more than 250 miles of Britain’s roads, according to a new study.

Wales Online

• The signature orange train tickets are being replaced for some commuters Arriva has introduced receipt-style tickets for passengers on board services in some parts of Wales

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Bus chaos is driving us round the bend, so we're filming it!Bus chaos in a quiet Black Country street has been caught on camera by a fed-up resident.

Blackpool Gazette

• Crust top: Blackpool bus passengers can now order Domino’s Pizza to their next stopBlackpool has a solid track record of being at the forefront of new and big ideas.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Improvement works to footpaths and cycleways through Lido gardensImprovement works to the footpaths and cycleways through the gardens near the Lido on Bishop’s Road will begin the week commencing Monday, June 13.

Other Regional Press

• Borders Railway passenger figures exceed expectationsALMOST 695,000 trips were made on the new Borders Railway in its first six months of operation – 22 per cent more than the anticipated number.
• Teesside's airport is 'a key asset' to the region, says Lord HeseltineBut a new report says owners Peel are only prepared to commit to airport for next five years
• Council leader backs �500m Jaguar Land Rover investment and says Coventry can become UK's 'Motor City' Coun George Duggins says he is supportive of business and believes Coventry has the skills to become a hub of manufacturing

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Work planned for Wales and England railway borderNetwork Rail and its team will be carrying out essential maintenance work around Hereford station as part of its Railway Upgrade Plan. The upgrades include track renewals and significant work at Shrewsbury Station, meaning that lines between these stations will be affected for travel. Bus replacement services will be running over the six consecutive weekends that are inclusive of this weekend (Friday 3rd June) and Sunday 17th July. Paul McMahon, Wales route managing director for Network Rail, said:

Rail Technology Magazine

• First section of GWML goes live after electrificationThe Great Western Main Line (GWML) electrification project has reached a major milestone as a section of the line has been officially declared ‘energised’ for the first time, following delays. The majority of overhead electrical equipment on the Reading to Didcot line is now...
• Next stage of Midland Metro opens after delaysTrams began running across the centre of Birmingham yesterday on the extended Midland Metro, after the launch was delayed due to safety concerns. The first Midland Metro trams, which ran from Bull Street to New Street station and the Grand Central shopping centre via Stephenson Street, began...
• Over 60% of rolling stock now accessible for disabled passengersOver 60% of British rolling stock has been built or refurbished to be accessible to disabled passengers, according to an annual DfT report. The report says that 6,275 heavy rail vehicles (49% of the national fleet) and almost 2,100 non-heavy vehicles (42% of the fleet) are built to accommodate...
• Rail industry must assess impact of climate change - RSSBThe rail industry must do more to prepare for the impact of extreme weather events caused by climate change, the Rail Safety and Standards Branch (RSSB) has said in a new report. The RSSB warned in phase 1 of the ‘Tomorrow’s Railway and Climate Change Adaptation’ report that...
• Network Rail creates 'virtual route' to implement Shaw recommendationsA new ‘virtual route’ for freight and national passenger operators will be introduced as Network Rail’s ninth operational route. The route is designed to help Network Rail implement the Shaw report’s recommendations that it become more customer-focused and route-led. The...

Railnews

• Birmingham New Street tram extension opens Trams started running on the Midland Metro extension to New Street on the late May Bank Holiday Monday, without any prelaunch publicity. The project to bring trams from Snow Hill into the city centre should have been completed last year, and encountered a further snag when a planned launch on 22 May was delayed again by the discovery of 'minor track anomolies'. However, it was possible to bring trams past Snow Hill as far as a temporary terminus at Bull Street in December, and passenger figures have risen in response.

Railway Gazette

• First Aarhus tram on testDENMARK: The first tram for the light rail network under construction in Aarhus has been unveiled...

Aviation Industry

• Economic and environmental concerns about Scottish Government’s Air Passenger Duty plansAEF has responded to a consultation on the Scottish Government’s plans to reduce and replace Air Passenger Duty (APD), challenging the potential economic benefits and highlighting the environmental impacts. APD is being devolved to the Scottish Government under the Scotland Act 2016. The …
• Airbus’ Leahy: Boeing ‘Mad MAX’ concept of no concernAirbus COO, customers, John Leahy is not concerned about considerations that Boeing reportedly is giving to stretch the 737 MAX further using higher-thrust CFM International LEAP-1A engines that have been developed for the Airbus A320neo. read more
• France braced for travel chaos as rail and airport strikes loomStrikes in response to changes to labour laws
• Airline lobby group slams Norwegian air passenger taxNorway plans to introduce an €8.50 duty to all flights

Other News Sources

• Joanna Lumley at Heathrow Airport to mark its 70th birthday Take a trip down memory runway as airport marks 70 years of welcoming famous faces, aircraft and worldwide passengers
• Will the Pact of Amsterdam strengthen the UK's air quality regulations? With Britain's crucial European Union (EU) referendum just weeks away, a major new EU-wide initiative has been launched to introduce more ambitious measures to improve air quality and implement closed-loop business processes, in an effort to create smarter, greener cities within EU Member States.