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

Monday, 25 July 2016

BBC News

• Heathrow passport queues: Staff brought in from portsChannel border staff are redeployed to Heathrow Airport where passport workers
• Dover delays: Queues ease but delays 'could last for weeks'Lengthy delays for motorists travelling to Dover ease but Kent Police warn that some disruption at the port could last for weeks.
• The world's first graphene car is unveiled in ManchesterThe world's first car made with graphene in its bodywork is unveiled in Manchester.
• Airport expansion decision needed 'urgently' - MPsThe government must make an

Department for Transport

• Government awards £30 million funding for cleaner, greener bus journeysThirteen winners receive share of low emission bus fund to add 326 new buses to their fleets.

The Guardian

• HS2 and the garden bridge are vanity projects – it's not too late to scrap both | Catherine BennettTheresa May should call time on the wasteful follies that have become nothing but politicians’ playthingsIt said much about Boris Johnson’s eight-year performance as mayor of London that when the reviews came in, the highlight was often a fleet of buses. Designed by Thomas Heatherwick to satisfy some nostalgic, icon-hungry mayoral whim, they were widely taken at their instigator’s word to be an awe-inspiring success story, as well as one in the eye for “doubters”.“They said I was mad,” Johnson crowed in 2013, in one of the Telegraph columns in which he would occasionally conduct an auto work a...

The Herald

• Details of Glasgow Airport tram-train talks kept secret 'in the public interest'DETAILS of ongoing discussions over a possible tram-train link at Glasgow Airport cannot be made public because it would deter those involved from putting forward

The Independent

• Theresa May warned by MPs ‘urgent’ decision on Heathrow expansion is neededThe Prime Minister said in 2009 that 'we need a better Heathrow, not a bigger Heathrow'

The Scotsman

• Labour urges action ahead of rail strikeLabour has urged the Transport Minister to intervene and broker a deal between unions and ScotRail to head off planned industrial action over driver-only trains.
• Passengers hit by fresh disruption as rail strikes continueRail passengers were hit by more travel disruption across Scotland yesterday after the RMT union held another one-day strike in its ongoing dispute with ScotRail.

The Telegraph

• Inquiry launched into 'rip-off' rail ticket machinesThe rail watchdog is launching an investigation into “rip off” rail machines after a Telegraph investigation revealed

Times Online

• Worst rail firm leaves disabled ex-rugby star trapped on train [Subscription]Alastair Hignell, the former England rugby union player who is disabled and uses a wheelchair, has told how he was left trapped on a train run by Britain’s worst-performing rail firm after it failed to provide anyone to help him get off at his destination.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• First West Yorkshire Unveil New Fleet A 25 strong fleet of "new" luxury eco buses costing more than £5 million will make their debut on routes between Bradford and Leeds on Monday

Daily Post (North Wales)

• North Wales £1bn rail vision backed by Liverpool and ManchesterLiverpool mayor Joe Anderson and Manchester City council leader Sir Richard Leese back electrification campaign
• Campaign against Anglesey nuclear train transporting radioactive waste The People against Wylfa B (PAWB) group leafleted railway stations across North Wales

London Evening Standard

• Dover delays: motorists trapped in 'horrendous' queues as food and water run outMotorists trapped in huge tailbacks heading to Dover have described their frustration as they found themselves running out of food and water.
• Taxis 'must be allowed in Oxford Street even after it's pedestrianised'Taxis must be allowed to continue to access Oxford Street even after it is pedestrianised, the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association has said.

Manchester Evening News

• Shocking picture shows pensioner allegedly putting young boy into armlock British Transport Police and Northern Rail have confirmed they are looking into the alleged incident on Friday

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Make sure you pack a brolly - bus shelters across Newcastle could be axedWaiting for a bus in Newcastle could soon mean a battle against the elements as a deal for new shelters has not been reached
• If HS2 comes to Newcastle you may have to sell your homeNo formal plan has yet been adopted but city leaders are calling for the line to run through the North East up to Scotland

Sheffield Star

• New ticket system better for customersThousands of South Yorkshire commuters are benefitting from better ways to buy public transport tickets, following a shift to smart technology at Travel Interchanges.

Wales Online

• State-of-the-art training facility to prepare engineers for the electrification of the Severn TunnelThe facility at Coleg Y Cymoedd in Nantgarw comprises of a life size mock-up of the overhead line equipment that will be used to power the new fleet of electric trains through the tunnel
• This is what it's like dealing with anti social behaviour on a train, according to British Transport Police Officers are cracking down this weekend and next weekend, too

Blackpool Gazette

• �22m tramway dream moves a step closerTransport chiefs have now formally asked the Government to approve a £22m extension to the Blackpool tramway.

East Anglian Daily Times

• New Anglia LEP to urge Suffolk and Norfolk businesses to back case for devolutionBusinesses in Suffolk and Norfolk will this week be urged to put their weight behind plans for a devolution deal with the Government, giving the region greater powers to boost growth and employment.

Peterborough Telegraph

• How devolution could help transport - Peterborough City Council leader John HoldichLast week I shared with you what I think are the benefits for residents and businesses of our proposed devolution deal with government from the perspective of education and training.

Other Regional Press

• Here's what London mayor Sadiq Khan would do to improve Southern Rail if he took over the franchise The mayor of London has continued to blast Southern Rail for an 'unacceptable' and 'disgraceful' service, outlining what he would do if he was given the franchise to operate instead.
• DVLA reports �93m lost revenue following ditching of tax disksThe RAC has raised concerns over the reduction in revenue to the DVLA following the abolition of paper tax disks last year.
• Dover traffic 'back to normal' for summer getaway season say Kent PoliceQueues of vehicles trying to get to Dover are now normal for busy summer period after a traffic weekend from hell.
• Why Turkish Airlines wants to reward leading businesses spreading the spirit of enterpriseMidland General Manager of Turkish Airlines selim Ozturk reveals why his company is supporting CTBA 2016

C.N.N.

• The world's most-loved airlines on TripAdvisorTripAdvisor has launched a new airline reviews platform, where individual flights are rated for comfort, customer service and in-flight amenities

Bus and Coach.com

• Operators take on routes following GHA collapse
• West Yorkshire consultation on future bus strategies
• Low Carbon nominations for bus operators and manufacturers
• Record fines for truck makers’ cartel
• New premium fleet for Glasgow airport service
• UTG welcomes new secretary of state for transport
• Commons transport committee calls for evidence on Bus Services Bill

Construction Enquirer

• Firms on alert for £700m South Wales Metro prequalTransport for Wales is preparing to open prequalification for the construction of the £700m South Wales Metro transport project

Railway Gazette

• Seamless station-to-train wi-fi roaming goes liveUK: ‘Seamless’ wi-fi which enables passengers to move from station to on-train networks without needing to reconnect their devices was launched by Chiltern Railways on July 25.

Railway Gazette

• Three Chinese metro plans approvedCHINA: The National Development & Reform Commission has approved metro plans in three...

The Business Desk

• Big push for £1bn of rail improvementsSENIOR figures from Manchester and Liverpool have joined forces to back a campaign to secure £1bn of rail improvements across North Wales and Cheshire.

Other News Sources

• New train station for Colchester
• Opposition to Heathrow runway among Ascot area residents remains firm
• ICE President Sir John Armitt to lead new Brexit infrastructure groupThe Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has announced the creation of a special leadership group to inform Brexit negotiators on the key risks, challenges and opportunities the infrastructure industry faces.