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

Saturday, 30 July 2016

BBC News

• Rail works 'will cause huge disruption' in OxfordshireTrain lines through Oxfordshire will be blocked from Saturday as two major engineering projects coincide.
• Nearly 100 cases of laser pens aimed at South East pilots this yearNearly 100 cases of laser pens being shone into the cockpits of planes using Heathrow and Gatwick airports are reported to police since January.
• M74 to close at J3A Daldowie for three weekendsA busy junction of the M74 which sits on the boundary between Glasgow and South Lanarkshire is to close for three weekends to allow for upgrade work.
• Driving a Crossrail trainThe BBC's Transport correspondent Richard Westcott gets to drive one of London's new Crossrail trains.
• How to build a train - in 30 secsTimelapse footage shows how the new trains for London's Crossrail project are built by Bombardier.
• BA owner IAG's profits hit by weak poundAirline group IAG, the owner of British Airways and Iberia, says currency movements cost it €148m in the latest quarter of trading, mainly due to the weak pound.

Financial Times

• Garden Bridge pushes back accounting yearBackers shift reporting date to avert collapse of �175m project on the Thames
• BA’s parent warns of uncertain outlookLow fuel prices and Aer Lingus acquisition boost IAG’s net profits

The Guardian

• Tesla considering two theories that may explain fatal Model S crashTesla is considering whether the radar failed to detect the truck or detected it but ‘tuned it out’ as a structure such as a bridge to avoid triggering brakingTesla Motors told the US Senate commerce committee staff it is considering two theories that may explain what led to the 7 May fatal crash that killed a Florida man who was using the car’s Autopilot system, a person familiar with the meeting told Reuters on Friday. Tesla staff members told congressional aides at a briefing on Thursday that they are still trying to understand the “system failure” that led to the crash, the source said. Co...
• Airline pilots complain of dangerous fatigue in leaked documentsExclusive: Records of hundreds of Flydubai flights show pilots say they are being pushed too hard Read the leaked documentsFlydubai’s response to the documentsAirline pilots describe being pushed to the limit and warn about the impact on flight safety in a cache of leaked documents that give a unique and occasionally hair-raising insight into the aviation industry.Crews complain about fatigue and potentially dangerous schedules at a leading budget airline, which is already under pressure following a crash on 19 March that killed 62 passengers and crew. Continue reading...

The Mirror

• ISIS terror threat to Channel ferries: Security fears over jihadists boarding UK-bound ship and executing passengers Reinforcements have been moved to Calais after intelligence service warnings that ferries sailing to Britain are at heightened risk of an Islamic State atrocity
• Breakdowns caused by pothole damage have doubled since 2006 as hard times hit road repair RAC chief engineer David Bizley says: “The condition of our local roads has deteriorated drastically in the last decade”
• 'Over-tired' FlyDubai pilots flag concerns about working 'too many hours' The budget airline was involved in a fatal crash as company states first priority is safety

This is Money

• Bus and train operator National Express buys up Balaeric bus operator in Ibiza to help drive international salesBus and train operator National Express headed to Ibiza by buying up a Balearic bus operator to boost international sales.

Birmingham Mail

• Midland Metro trams halted near New Street after 'suspicious package' discovered Police confirm incident 'resolved' after alert which saw trams halted between Grand Central and St Paul's

Birmingham Post

• Birmingham Metro city centre extension closed for three weekends - just TWO MONTHS after it opened Trams will stop at Snow Hill over the next few weekends due to engineering works

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Drunk Leeds Bradford Airport passenger handed �12,000 bill for causing flight diversion A PASSENGER has been given a bill for��12,000 after his

London Evening Standard

• Transport Secretary Chris Grayling to probe £15m backing for Garden BridgeTransport Secretary Chris Grayling has demanded a dossier of financial data about the Garden Bridge before making a final decision on whether the Government should continue supporting the £175 million project.
• First look inside new Elizabeth line train ahead of Crossrail launchThese are the first images of a new Elizabeth line train ahead of the launch of the £14 billion Crossrail project next May.
• Revealed: London's dirtiest Tube lines and Underground stationsLondon's dirtiest Tube lines have been revealed - with the Northern line coming out as the filthiest of them all.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Did you know about the 'secret' bus fares that could save you £432 a year?Nottingham City Transport has been accused of 'conning people' into buying higher fares that could cost a daily commuter £432 a year.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Stafford bus deport: Services put at risk in closure planStafford bus depot is to close with the loss of several routes, the Express & Star can reveal.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Airline ban and �12,000 fine for drunk passenger, 21, after Leeds flight divertedAn airline passenger whose drunken behaviour forced a flight from Leeds Bradford Airport to be diverted has been banned from flying with Jet2.com for life and fined £12,000.

Yorkshire Post

• YP Letters: Leeds Bradford Airport deserves its reputationFrom: Thomas Black, Denton, Ilkley.
• Tom Richmond: Time �750,000 high-speed rail chief faces the publicIF HS2 chief executive Simon Kirby is worth £750,000 a year, it is time that Britain’s highest paid civil servant started earning his salary.

Bucks Free Press

• Fed-up residents 'attacked from all sides' by road closures and new rail link Fed-up residents say they are being

East Anglian Daily Times

• Level crossing fault between Stowmarket and Diss causing delays for rail passengersA fault with barriers at a level crossing between Diss and Stowmarket is causing trains to run at a reduced speed on all lines.

Get West London

• Transport for London unveil first images of new 'state of the art' Elizabeth Line trains ahead of Crossrail launchThe trains are set to launch in May 2017 and will run between Reading and Heathrow to Shenfield and Abbey Wood

Peterborough Telegraph

• Hampton residents urged to swap cars for sustainable transportResidents in Hampton are being urged to swap their car for a bike or the bus when making journeys in the city.

Forbes

• Mercedes-Benz Demonstrates Self-Driving BusMercedes-Benz parent company Daimler isn’t just preparing for a future of self-driving cars. Because the German manufacturer produces everything from passenger vehicles to commercial trucks, it’s spreading automation across its offerings, which now extends to city buses.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• TfL plans Camden Town’s track upgrade throughout AugustTube passengers that change or pass through Camden Town station may experience disruption from the end of July and throughout August as essential track replacement work is carried out. The modernisation work, set to begin from this weekend, will result in a swifter and more reliable service, according to Transport for London (TfL). David Hughes, London Underground's director of strategy, said:

Rail Technology Magazine

• HS2 appoints interim construction commissionerHS2 has appointed an interim commissioner to mediate in disputes arising from the construction of the high-speed rail. Gareth Epps’ role will include ensuring that people affected by HS2 know who the construction commissioner is and what they do, mediating in unresolved disputes...
• Campaigners call for 'right decision' on delayed East Anglia awardThe government must make the “right decision” when awarding the now delayed East Anglia franchise, the Great Eastern Mainline Taskforce has said. A decision to award the franchise was meant to be made in June, but following the political upheaval after the EU referendum vote and the...
• Rail leaders call summit to discuss ticketing issuesThe Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents Network Rail and train companies, is bringing together industry and government leaders to discuss ticketing and fares. The RDG said it wants to see reform of the fares system, new rules for rail journey planners to include slower and cheaper...
• Virgin reaches halfway point on east coast fleet refurbishmentVirgin Trains East Coast’s fleet refurbishment programme will reach the halfway point this weekend when the twenty-third train to be completely revamped rolls out of Craigentinny, Edinburgh. Last November, the operator announced that it would be investing £21m to fully refresh its...
• NR may take training assessment back in-house over safety concernsThere is a possibility that Network Rail may take the audit and assessment of rail skills training back in-house because of concerns that providers are not following safety standards. The infrastructure owner currently delegates responsibility for assessing and accrediting skills providers on...
• Is Pokemon Go a rail safety risk?For the past month, Pokemon Go mania has swept around the world. It’s impossible to go out at the moment without spotting people walking around staring at their phones – not to send texts, but to catch animated creatures in the popular game. However, Network Rail has warned that the...
• GTR seeks brokered talks with RMT in bid to stop fresh strikesGovia Thameslink Railway (GTR) is calling on RMT to cancel a five-day strike on the troubled Southern line and has invited Acas to broker fresh talks. Acas first tried brokering talks last month, but they failed to reach a resolution in the ongoing dispute over GTR’s plans to introduce...
• TransCityRail TransCityRail North once again brings together the leaders responsible for delivering the Northern Powerhouse Rail for a lively and engaging conference and networking dinner which focuses on ‘Supply Chain Engagement’. The event has been developed in partnership with Network Rail and Transport for the North (TfN) to engage with supp...

Aviation Industry

• British Airways owner IAG trims capacity after BrexitAirline group to review spending after profits hit by weak pound

Other News Sources

• Watch: Shaping the future of bus travel servicesWest Yorkshire Combined Authority, in partnership with bus operators First West Yorkshire, Arriva and Transdev, is working to produce new 20-year West Yorkshire Bus and Transport strategies.
• Freight transport group calls for PM to prioritise logistics transport Association (FTA) boss David Wells has urged Prime Minister (PM) Theresa May to prioritise the logistics industry in Brexit talks with the EU.
• Bombardier unveils first train for new £14.8 billion London Crossrail lineThe first of 66 trains has been unveiled for the new Crossrail line in London.
• Train-ing exerciseWest Midlands firefighters will be teaming up with London Midland on Saturday 30 July for a training exercise.
• Cheaper Train Fares On The Way With Planned Ticket Overhaul Train travellers should be able to more easily pick the cheapest fares for their journey under proposals for a shake-up of ticket prices, it has emerged.
• Eurostar: Brexit and terror attacks hit business travel salesRail operator reports ‘challenging’ second quarter results
• Calls to scrap ‘wasteful’ HS2 projectTaxpayers Alliance says the business case has ‘fallen apart’