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

Wednesday, 26 October 2016

BBC News

• New Heathrow runway may be built above the M25The third runway at Heathrow Airport could involve planes taking off from a "ramp" over the M25 motorway, the transport secretary says.
• 'Lets not kid ourselves' over Heathrow third runway impactA Plaid Cymru MP says it is vital Wales gets its fair share of public money spent on the Heathrow third runway.
• Heathrow: Wales funding call after third runway decisionFirst Minister Carwyn Jones welcomes a decision to build a third runway at Heathrow - but calls for funding to flow to Wales as a result.
• Boris Johnson in Heathrow 'city of planes' warningLong-time opponent of Heathrow expansion Boris Johnson warns that London looks set to become known as the
• Grayling: Heathrow expansion 'right call for the country'Transport Secretary Chris Grayling tells the BBC building a new runway at London Heathrow airport is
• Put to flightThe construction of a third runway at Heathrow Airport will lead to one village being flattened and others partly demolished. Now that the decision has finally been made, how are people coping?
• How the cost of delays stacks upThe decision to opt for a new runway at Heathrow is the latest chapter in a 50-year saga - but how much have the delays cost the UK economy?
• Why is it taking so long?The government has given the go-ahead to a third runway at Heathrow, but why has it taken 50 years to decide on expanding London's main airport?
• The history of London's Heathrow airportA look back at how Heathrow grew from an airfield where passengers waited for flights in tents, to a major hub with about 75 million people passing through it each year.
• Zac Goldsmith quits as MP over Heathrow third runwayConservative MP Zac Goldsmith resigns over the government's support for a new runway at Heathrow.
• Growing up under Heathrow's flightpathAt busy times planes fly over Hounslow Heath Infant and Nursery school every minute.
• Heathrow's tricky landing - in 60 secondsBBC News explains the bumpy ride that lasted over a decade, eventually leading to Heathrow airport getting approval for a third runway.
• The Heathrow deal, in numbers...Richard Westcott takes a look at some of the big numbers behind the Heathrow third runway decision.
• Judge approves VW's record US emissions settlementA US judge approves the record $14.7bn (�12bn) settlement that Volkswagen will pay in the country over its diesel emissions scandal.
• Third runway at Heathrow cleared for takeoff by ministersThe government takes the

Financial Times

• Top Tories lead challenge to May on Heathrow planBoris Johnson and Zac Goldsmith dig in for fight to block third runway
• Conflict of interest fears raised over HS2 chiefControversy flares over links to company bidding for millions of pounds of contracts
• Heathrow faces �1.5bn housing bill over third runwayRise in house prices in has pushed the potential cost up by �55m in the last year
• Heathrow expansion plan still faces significant obstaclesLegal, planning, environmental and financial issues could bog the project down
• National Express pulls plans to run German trainsCompany’s decision is a blow for efforts to inject competition into rail services
• Will passengers end up paying for Heathrow’s expansion?BA parent IAG warns that increasing charges could make investment self-defeating
• Kyushu Railway jumps 15% on first day of tradingJapan’s biggest IPO of the year paves the way for sale of more state assets
• Heathrow third runway secures government backingWest London airport sees off competition from Gatwick and rival Heathrow Hub proposal
• Top Tories lead challenge to May on Heathrow planBoris Johnson and Zac Goldsmith dig in for fight to block third runway

The Guardian

• Local residents on Heathrow's third runway: 'I would lose my house, community and friends'People living in Harmondsworth, Sipson and Harlington share their views on how they will be affected Heathrow will get a third runway after the government gave the go ahead on Tuesday, paving the way for hundreds of thousands more flights a year at the airport in west London.In a long-awaited response, ministers have endorsed the recommendation of the Airports Commission to expand Heathrow rather than Gatwick airport, which had hoped to build a second runway. The move comes six years after the Conservative-led coalition scrapped previous plans for a third runway at Heathrow. Continue reading....
• The decision to back a third runway at Heathrow is a grotesque folly | John SauvenBusiness flights are declining, CO2 levels are climbing, and the cost of expansion is staggering. Only shameless cynicism can explain this outcome The government’s decision to back a third runway at Heathrow has been informed by a mishmash of misinformation and missing information. To take just one example, business flights are in decline. They’ve been in decline for years. And yet the debate is conducted as though they were not only increasing, but increasing at a rate that our current infrastructure is unable to cater for, and our economy is suffering as a result. But they’re not, they’re de...
• This much scrutiny for a strip of tarmac? That’s democracy | Rafael BehrThe Heathrow runway debate is a rebuttal to conspiracy theories that insist politicians are in hock to corporate interestsCentral Riga is one of the architectural charms of Europe – a cobbled medieval labyrinth enclosed in a belt of art nouveau houses. But during the mid-1970s, when Latvia was a Soviet republic, the skyline was blighted by a multi-storey concrete shell that became, after many delays, the Intourist hotel.This eyesore was the subject of a local joke: a tour guide is showing a group of westerners around the city. One asks about the monstrosity looming over the city and is told th...
• 'We feel betrayed': Harmondsworth residents furious at Heathrow decisionSix years after Cameron vowed no third runway, people in village set for part-demolition angry government now backs airport’s expansion
• Zac Goldsmith quits as MP over 'doomed' Heathrow expansion decisionRichmond Park MP’s resignation on day of government go-ahead for third runway forces difficult byelection for Theresa May

The Herald

• 'Truly momentous' Heathrow Airport expansion approved, Government confirmsA third Heathrow runway has been given the go-ahead, the Government has confirmed.
• Zac Goldsmith quits as Tory MP to stand again in protest against Heathrow expansionZac Goldsmith has quit as a Conservative MP and will stand as an independent in the by-election he has triggered in protest over Heathrow expansion.
• Third runway at Heathrow 'will bring significant benefits to Scotland'The decision to build a third runway at Heathrow Airport will bring significant benefits for Scotland, the Scottish Government has said.
• High-profile Tory MPs quits over HeathrowA high-profile Conservative dramatically quit as the decision to build a third runway at Heathrow opened up another damaging rift within the Tory party.

The Huffington Post

• Heathrow Expansion And The Turbulence Ahead For Zac Goldsmith, Boris Johnson And Theresa May function onPlayerReadyVidible(e){'undefined'!=typeof HPTrack&&HPTrack.Vid.Vidible_track(e)}!function(e,i){if(e.vdb_Player){if('object'==typeof commercial_video){var a='',o='m.fwsitesection='+commercial_video.site_and_category;if(a+=o,commercial_video['package']){var c='&m.fwkeyvalues=sponsorship%3D'+commercial_video['package'];a+=c}e.setAttribute('vdb_params',a)}i(e.vdb_Player)}else{var t=arguments.callee;setTimeout(function(){t(e,i)},0)}}(document.getElementById('vidible_1'),onPlayerReadyVidible); Zaxit means Zaxit and Theresa May is trying to make a success of it. Nevertheless, the UK...

The Scotsman

• Heathrow runway boost will be a long time comingThe decision to approve a third runway at Heathrow to expand UK airport capacity has got to be welcomed - if for no other reason than it is a decision.

The Telegraph

• Chris Grayling:�Heathrow expansion will not be 'at any cost' to local people
• Sadiq Khan: Heathrow expansion is 'wrong decision for London and Britain'
• Heathrow airport expansion: What will it look like, when will it start, and why is it needed?
• Theresa May faces 'Brexit by-election' over Heathrow third runway
• Zac Goldsmith's Heathrow gamble could end in tears if the Lib Dems make it about Brexit

Times Online

• Unprepared for Take‑Off [Subscription]Theresa May is right in thinking Britain needs to invest in big infrastructure projects, but she is wrong in thinking a new runway at Heathrow is one of them
• Thousands of Vauxhall jobs at risk from Brexit [subscription]Thousands of jobs at Vauxhall factories are at risk after the carmaker’s American owner warned that it could shut plants and cut capacity across Europe after taking a $400 million hit from the Brexit vote.
• Heathrow runway could be built over motorway [subscription]●Elevated airstrip would be as high as houses ● Zac Goldsmith quits in protest at expansion

Daily Record

• Third runway at Heathrow 'will bring significant benefits to Scotland' THE Scottish Government have supported the expansion and say it could create an estimated 16,000 new jobs in Scotland, as well as an increase in direct flights.

The Mirror

• Bus services under privatisation have been a failure say campaignersOn the 30th anniversary of bus deregulation, MPs are urged to act to stop government banning councils from running their own services

Belfast Telegraph

• Secretary of State James Brokenshire: Airport expansion will boost Northern Ireland's economy in the long haulThe imminent Government decision to expand Heathrow or Gatwick will have significant implications for Northern Ireland for decades to come.
• Airlines welcome Heathrow decision but caution over costsThe boss of British Airways' parent company expressed relief at the announcement, and that the Government has insisted the airport should aim to " deliver a plan for expansion that keeps landing charges close to current levels".
• Conservatives in turmoil over Heathrow third runway decisionTheresa May's decision to back Heathrow expansion plunged the Conservatives into turmoil as Cabinet ministers hit out at the move and a prominent MP quit.
• Bombardier 'could seek bailout from Stormont' to tackle job cuts impactCash injection needed to soften blow of job losses. The Canadian plane maker announced a further 7,500 staff cuts globally, prompting fears of hundreds of job losses here in Northern Ireland.
• 45 new buses to be ordered in Stormont spending agreementThey will be purchased from Ballymena-based Wrightbus and other operators after the Executive allocated £10 million for the new spending.

Birmingham Mail

• Massive expansion of Birmingham Airport could double passenger capacity to 55 million After the Government backs a third runway at Heathrow, West Midlands politicians want to expand Birmingham Airport - and that's likely to mean a new runway

Birmingham Post

• Manchester mayor candidate Andy Burnham complains the Midlands is replacing the Northern Powerhouse The Government used to focus its attention on the Northern Powerhouse - but now it cares more about the Midlands, according to one of the North's most senior politicians
• Massive expansion of Birmingham Airport could double passenger capacity to 55 million After the Government backs a third runway at Heathrow, West Midlands politicians want to expand Birmingham Airport - and that's likely to mean a new runway

London Evening Standard

• Climate change activists stage protest over Heathrow expansionClimate change protesters staged a "runway blockade" outside parliament this morning ahead of the announcement on runway expansion.
• Heathrow airport expansion: third runway unanimously backed by ministersA third runway at Heathrow was backed by Theresa May and the Cabinet today — but the decision was immediately met with a storm of protests and legal challenges.
• Zac Goldsmith resigns as Richmond MP in protest over Government move to back third runway at HeathrowZac Goldsmith has quit as a Conservative MP in protest at the Government's decision to back a third runway at Heathrow.
• Sadiq Khan: Heathrow expansion is 'wrong decision for London and Britain'Mayor of London Sadiq Khan today launched a scathing attack on plans to expand Heathrow Airport.
• Mesmerising animation reveals how 24 hours of London's air traffic looksAn astonishing video animation depicts the air traffic operating out of London's five major airports in just one day.
• Essex backs expansion at Heathrow airportPlans to build a third runway at Heathrow Airport in west London have been hailed by council leaders in Essex.
• Zac Goldsmith: Tories vow not to field candidate in Richmond Park by-election after MP quits over HeathrowThe Conservative Party will not fight the by-election triggered by its former MP Zac Goldsmith after he quit in protest over plans to expand Heathrow.
• Jessica Ennis-Hill cycles around London to launch new safety lasers on Santander CyclesOlympian Jessica Ennis-Hill led a group of female cyclists through London to mark the introduction of safety lasers on "Boris bikes".

Manchester Evening News

• Metrolink rolls out final tram - and say they're ready for Second City Crossing and Trafford line First upgraded model arrived seven years ago... and now there are over one hundred
• Morning news headlines: Conservatives in turmoil over Heathrow third runway decision; Calais jungle clearance to continue The latest news from Britain and around the world

Sheffield Star

• Doncaster MP says third Heathrow runway is 'good for the north'Doncaster MP Caroline Flint says the approval of plans for a third runway at Heathrow is 'good for Britain, good for Doncaster,' but adds that more investment must be now given to airports in the north.

The York Press

• Rail group to celebrate 50th anniversary with special trips on Moors Railway THE North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group will celebrate its 50th anniversary with special trips on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway next weekend.

Wales Online

• Carwyn Jones demands a direct rail link to Wales as Heathrow's expansion is approvedWales' First Minister Carwyn Jones welcomed the announcement but made several key demands.
• Five years of promises and prevarication, the story of Wales' direct rail link to HeathrowThe £500m direct rail link was first revealed in September 2011
• Transport Secretary Chris Grayling argues Heathrow expansion is good for WalesIn his own words, Mr Grayling makes the case that a busier Heathrow will boost Wales' economy

East Anglian Daily Times

• Long time Heathrow expansion critic Essex MP James Cleverly will back third runway planEssex MP James Cleverly has said he will back the expansion of Heathrow despite being a long term critic of the plan.

Reading Evening Post

• Could London-style double deckers speed up Reading's number 17 buses?Reading Buses is  looking "at all possible ways of reducing journey times"
• Morning news headlines: Conservatives in turmoil over Heathrow third runway decision; Calais jungle clearance to continue The latest news from Britain and around the world

Other Regional Press

• Third runway at Heathrow 'is great news for Wales' THE NEWS that a third�runway at Heathrow Airport has been given the go-ahead by the Government has been welcomed by the�Secretary of State for Wales.
• Heathrow gets a third runway but what about the North? Mid Yorkshie Chamber of Commerce chief Martin Hathaway said the Heathrow decision must not mean neglecting the regions
• Network Rail chief reminds politicians they must decide on rail electrification to Swansea The electrification of the rail line from Cardiff to Swansea has been raised in clear and succinct language by Network Rail chairman Sir Peter Hendy, but are we any closer to getting any answers? Politicians hold the key,
• MP hits out at bus service axeing A local MP has joined unhappy passengers to complain about a popular local bus service being cut.
• MP backs ‘talking bus’ campaign A North-east politician has backed a campaign to make audio-visual announcements on new buses compulsory....
• Changes to Stagecoach and EYMS Hull bus timetables revealed Bus passengers in Hull are being warned of several changes to services in the city, which come into effect next week.
• It’s a thumbs up for Heathrow runwayThe Government’s decision to approve a third runway at Heathrow, announced today, has been welcomed by Luton based easyJet.

Rail Magazine

• CrossCountry extension a “lost opportunity”Transport lead of West Midlands Combined Authority says recent Direct Award for CrossCountry franchise is a “lost opportunity” to boost passenger capacity.
• Network Rail lights plan for Anglia crossingsWarning lights will be installed at three level crossings in East Anglia where no warning systems or barriers are in place.
• First new-look Northern DMU in trafficNorthern unveils its first refurbished train.
• Brodie-owned DMU enters traffic with ScotRailBrodie returns a Class 156 to traffic after it was badly damaged by floods. It's first '156' owned by a company other than Porterbrook or Angel Trains.
• Mayor of London presents business case for TfL taking on new routesDevolving inner-suburban services to TfL would deliver the equivalent of �4.30 for every �1 spent says business case submitted by Sadiq Khan.
• GB Railfreight set to be sold to Swedish firmAn irrevocable offer had been submitted by EQT Infrastructure II to buy GB Railfreight from Groupe Eurotunnel SE.
• Flexible seating plans for West MidlandsBidders for the West Midlands franchise will be able to remove seats from trains providing they meet certain criteria.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Sqills-Booking, Reservation, Ticketing and Revenue Management Software Sqills has a long history of complex projects in the railway industry. Our extensive experience in fare, booking and revenue management engines has formed the foundation of our rail industry-leading ...
• STECONFER-Rail Infrastructure, Overhead Catenary Lines and Signalling Systems STECONFER is a global railway construction company providing track works, overhead catenary lines, and rail-based signalling systems.
• If the Midlands makes the most of HS2, the UK will get most out of the MidlandsMaria Machancoses, programme director at Midlands Connect and director at Midlands Engine, writes for RTM about the opportunities HS2 will create for the region and the country. According to transport secretary Chris Grayling, the first phase of HS2 is set to be completed in the next 10 years....
• 'Entirely new approach' to transport as TfN submits statutory body planTransport for the North (TfN) is formally seeking permission from the DfT to become the first sub-national transport authority in England. If transport secretary Chris Grayling approves the proposals, submitted on 20 October, they will then need to go through Parliament to grant devolved powers...
• Public sector body 'ready to take over' ScotRail if issues persistThe Scottish government stands ready to take over the ScotRail franchise through the development of a new public sector body if problems with its performance continue, it has emerged. ScotRail’s moving annual average (MAA) for performance has fallen from 90.3% to 89.6% since Abellio took...
• ATOC adopts Rail Delivery Group nameThe Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) adopted the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) name yesterday. ATOC was founded following privatisation in 1993, but has worked closely with the RDG since it was established in 2011 to fulfil the McNulty report’s recommendation for a...
• 'Major improvement' needed in rail links to airports following Heathrow decisionbetter rail links to all of the capital’s airports, London TravelWatch has said. The government announced the controversial and substantially delayed decision today, with transport secretary Chris Grayling saying it “delivers the greatest economic and strategic benefits”. But...

Railnews

• National Express pulls out of German franchise National Express has walked away from operating a German franchise which could have been worth �1 billion to the Group, saying that there was a risk of 'prohibitive additional cost'. The stumbling block is the introduction of new trains, which were a core element of the deal. The delays caused by a legal challenge from DB mean that these trains can no longer be delivered by December 2018, when the contract would have begun.

Railway Gazette

• Safeguarding the competitiveness of light railOver the past 30 or 40 years, many cities around the world have invested in trams and light rail,...
• DB and Siemens launch predictive maintenance pilotGERMANY: Deutsche Bahn and Siemens have launched a 12-month pilot project to provide data to...

Aviation Industry

• Dark day for communities and for the UK’s chance of tackling climate change, as Heathrow announcement shows reckless disregard for environmental targetsPRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The environmental NGO, Aviation Environment Federation [1], which represents communities around the UK’s airports, has strongly criticised the Government’s decision to back a third runway at Heathrow. Cait Hewitt, AEF Deputy Director, said: This is …
• What answers has the Government found to the environmental hurdles facing a third runway?With the Government now having officially announced its support for a new runway at Heathrow, despite having slashed the Airports Commission’s claim of a £147 billion benefit to the UK by almost 60% (referring instead to a benefit over sixty …
• Emirates to install Thales IFE on new Boeing 777X fleetDubai-based Emirates Airline will equip its upcoming fleet of 150 Boeing 777X aircraft with Thales’ AVANT inflight entertainment (IFE) system, the two companies announced Oct. 25. read more

Green Miscellany

• All-wheel drive bicycles conquer winterFor most of us, preparation for winter riding means a set of mudguards, but for Kate Leeming, it involves commissioning �all-wheel drive bicycles�capable of tackling the wilds of Antarctica. Kate aims to make the first bicycle crossing of the Antarctic continent via the South Pole – a task that requires as much technical assistance as she can muster. Christini Technologies… The post All-wheel drive bicycles conquer winter appeared first on ETA.
• This bicycle light is a belterThe Aura Belt bicycle light is the perfect way to mark the end of British Summer Time this weekend. The�Aura�is a nylon webbing belt with a flexible LED and fibre optic lighting system embedded within. It can be set to emit a constant glow, slow pulse or a strobing flash. Bicycle light discount code You can bag a better-than-half-price deal… The post This bicycle light is a belter appeared first on ETA.
• Third runway at Heathrow increases our carbon billA third runway at Heathrow airport has been approved following a cabinet committee meeting�today, a decision described as catastrophic by Tory MP Zac Goldsmith who plans to now resign and stand�as an independent candidate in his southwest London constituency. The transport secretary, Chris Grayling, claimed�the economic benefits would be worth up to �61bn. However, the economic expansion of Heathrow was… The post Third runway at Heathrow increases our carbon bill appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• Heathrow expansion 'not enough' claim, as MPs and Spelthorne council support decision Surrey Chambers of Commerce CEO Louise Punter said she believed a third runway at Heathrow "must not be the only new runway built in Britain"
• Heathrow third runway backed: Gatwick Airport and campaign groups speak out on government decision Gatwick chief executive Stewart Wingate said the decision to build a third runway at Heathrow was "not the right answer for Britain" - but anti-Gatwick campaigners have expressed their delight
• Heathrow expansion - the right choice for industry says FTAThe decision to increase capacity at Heathrow is the right choice for the UK economy, the freight industry and the nation, according to the ...
• FTA says grants will encourage green truck take-upThe Freight Transport Association (FTA) says the Government’s plan to extend its Plug-In Van grant scheme to trucks is a positive step to ...
• Council’s weird bus survey asks people if they’re transgender or have HIV For some reason, a council thought it was relevant to ask people if they were transgender or had HIV during a survey about bus stops.
• STAGECOACH EAST SCOTLAND MANAGING DIRECTOR MOVES ONStagecoach announced today (25 October 2016) that Andrew Jarvis, Managing Director of Stagecoach East Scotland, is leaving the company after 10 years with the business.