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

Thursday, 16 June 2016

BBC News

• Rural bus users face pricing problems to access servicesBus users in rural areas face increased prices and reduced availability as they try to access local services, says Citizens Advice Scotland.
• NI manufacturing: Almac and Thompson Aero Seating post profit risesTwo of Northern Ireland's most successful manufacturers report significant jumps in profits.

Financial Times

• Virgin Australia raising more than A$1bnEtihad is carrier’s only major shareholder yet to commit to taking part in rights issue
• London commuters caught up in rail disputeBrighton protest highlights frustration at intractable dispute between Govia and RMT

The Guardian

• London road congestion: causes, effects and what happens nextHow will Transport for London and the new mayor’s transport deputy address the heavy pressures on the capital’s road space and the strong passions they arouse?
• EgyptAir flight MS804: Egypt says it has spotted wreckage of planeVessel ‘had identified several main locations’ of the wreckageSearch team will draw up map for distribution spots based on discoveryEgyptian investigators say they have found the wreckage of flight MS804, which crashed into the Mediterranean last month with the loss of all 66 people on board.In a statement released late on Wednesday night, the investigation committee said that the John Lethbridge – one of two ships contracted by the Egyptians to hunt for the wreckage – had found “several main locations” on the sea floor between Crete and the Egyptian coast. Continue reading...

The Scotsman

• Strikes at ScotRail loom closer after peace talks failThe threat of disruption to passengers loomed closer today after peace talks to avert a strike by 550 ScotRail conductors broke up without agreement.
• Scotland has one of highest MoT failure rates in UKScotland is among the worst areas of the UK for unroadworthy vehicles, new figures have revealed.

The Telegraph

• Heathrow warns Northern Powerhouse 'at risk' if third runway not builteathrow has sought to pressure the Government into giving a controversial third runway the go-ahead by warning that ministers’ much-heralded “Northern Powerhouse” idea is “at risk” if the airport if not expanded.

Birmingham Post

• Connectivity and demographics are key drivers for investorsCity Council director Waheed Nazir looks at the potential Birmingham has to offer as a destination for foreign investors
• How doing business in Birmingham can be better than London - according to Turkish Airlines' regional boss Turkish Airlines' General Manager Selim Ozburk reveals passion for city ahead of sponsoring BPBA 2016

London Evening Standard

• Southern Rail: Row over union official's 'prepare for war' commentA Minister today condemned a trade union hardliner for declaring it was time to "prepare for war" in a dispute over train staffing including on London commuter services.
• Delay HS2's Euston plans, says ex-civil service headHS2 plans for the London terminus at Euston should be put on hold, according to the former head of the civil service.

Manchester Evening News

• Third Heathrow runway to boost north west economyIn a speech at the International Festival for Business (IFB2016), Heathrow chief executive says not building the runway was putting the future of the Northern Powerhouse at risk.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Northern Powerhouse at risk unless Government acts on airport expansion, report saysReport highlighted by Heathrow says that the North East economy would gain £230m a year if a third runway is built

Sheffield Star

• Making more time to draw up cycle safety proposals in SheffieldA new plan is to be drawn up to improve conditions for cyclists in Sheffield.
• Routes change on Sheffield bus servicesChanges to some bus routes into the city centre came into force this week.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Copdock Interchange traffic lights repaired after lightning strikeThe traffic lights at Copdock Interchange have been repaired – after being struck by lightning.

Other Regional Press

• Mobile rail ticketing system being extended to Swansea A MOBILE ticketing system which allows rail passengers to pay and download fares to their smartphone is to be extended to Swansea.
• Council uses compulsory purchase powers to carry on A43 dualling after land negotiations stallTwo landowners along the route of the A43 in Northampton are being issued Compulsory Purchase Orders so the county council can make the whole route a dual carriageway.
• Rail commuters leave customers at Northampton industrial estate with nowhere to parkNorthampton rail commuters are filling customer parking spaces at an industrial estate before the businesses are even open.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Bombardier Wins Contract to Provide 43 TALENT 2 Trains to AbellioRail technology leader Bombardier Transportation has won a contract to supply European rail operator Abellio Rail Südwest GmbH with 43 BOMBARDIER TALENT 2 multiple unit trains. The order is valued at approximately 215 million euro ($244 million US). Starting in June 2019, the new electric multiple units will gradually enter passenger operation on the Stuttgart regional network in Baden-Württemberg’s Neckar Valley region in Germany. Bombardier will supply all 43 trains to Abellio by June 2020. The multiple-unit trains will be built at the Bombardier site in Hennigsdorf, Germany...
• Arriva and Icomera announce next steps towards the digital trainArriva UK Trains and Icomera have announced the signing of a new framework agreement for the provision of onboard Internet connectivity solutions. This long-term agreement reaffirms Arriva’s commitment to providing an industry-leading onboard passenger experience. As one of the largest providers of both rail and road public transport in the UK, Arriva passengers have been enjoying Icomera passenger Wi-Fi across Arriva’s Chiltern Railways and Grand Central services as well as 700 Arriva buses for a number of years. Icomera will be the preferred supplier for Arriva UK Trains provid...

Rail Technology Magazine

• Hyperloop: Slovakia takes centre stage Ever since Elon Musk outlined an idea of a new high-speed transport system called the Hyperloop in 2013, questions have been asked regarding its likelihood. Now, one organisation, Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, has announced plans to make Sl…
• RMT organises GTR lobby despite strike talksGovia Thameslink Railway (GTR) repeated their calls for RMT to accept plans to expand driver-operated only (DOO) access on trains following brokered talks to try to resolve the dispute. After a day of talks at the offices of Acas yesterday, and strike action in April and May, the RMT executive...
• Stations to be cut from Access for All CP5 works to be revealed in summerDecisions about which stations will be affected by the deferred Access for All scheme, designed to improve accessibility across all stations by installing lifts and ramps, will be made later this summer, rail minister Claire Perry MP has said. In a response to a parliamentary question from Tom...
• NR review could further delay Sheffield to Rotherham tram-train The Sheffield to Rotherham tram-train pilot scheme could be delayed further because of a Network Rail review, transport minister Andrew Jones MP has confirmed. In response to a question from MP Greg Mulholland, Jones said that Network Rail had initiated a review of the programme of works needed...

Railway Gazette

• Herrmann backs Brenner Base Tunnel linkAUSTRIA: Visiting the construction face for the Brenner Base Tunnel near Innsbruck at the start of...

Aviation Industry

• Flybe alters E-Jet and Q400 deals UK regional carrier Flybe will now take only 15 Bombardier Q400s from US-based Republic Airways, down from the 24 originally agreed, and it has deferred delivery of four Embraer E175s. read more
• IAG’s Walsh: Additional A380s depend on ‘right pricing’As International Airlines Group (IAG) prepares to take delivery of its 12th and final Airbus A380 for British Airways, IAG CEO Willie Walsh told ATW that any further A380s the group considers may be second hand. read more
• Search vessel finds main locations of EgyptAir wreckageThe Egyptian Ministry of Civil Aviation said investigators probing the disappearance of EgyptAir flight MS804 have identified several main locations of the wreckage. read more
• Heathrow and Gatwick battle for regional supportAirport bosses appeal for backing from other parts of the UK

Green Miscellany

• Bikebuzz over free cycle schemeBikebuzz is the young pretender of urban bicycle share – a scheme that allows you to use a stylish city bike for months at a time for free as long as you use it frequently enough. Cycle schemes should of course be an integral part of every city, but there’s always been a mismatch between London cool and the rather… The post Bikebuzz over free cycle scheme appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• Commuters slam Rail Minister response to rail crisis as 'utterly pitiful' COMMUTERS have hit back at Rail Minister Claire Perry, describing her response to the train chaos as
• Strikes called for Scotrail and Southern servicesBoth rail franchises facing industrial action by staff later this month
• Virgin Trains launches new portal for SMEsRailblazers is being promoted as a “one-stop shop” for business bookings