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

Friday, 06 January 2017

BBC News

• New car registrations rise in ScotlandThe number of new cars registered in Scotland last year edged up from the 2015 total, to 220,906.
• Disqualified drivers: Road Safety Authority wants database in IrelandThe Road Safety Authority (RSA) in the Republic of Ireland wants to establish a formal database of drivers who are disqualified in a court of law.
• RMT's Mick Cash 'to meet Chris Grayling' on Southern disputeRMT union leader Mick Cash is to take up
• UK car sales at record high in 2016The number of new cars sold in the UK hit an all-time high of 2.7 million last year, the industry says.
• Trump says Toyota will face tariffs on cars made in MexicoPresident-elect Trump tweets that Toyota will face hefty tariffs on cars imported from Mexico.

Department for Transport

• Rail regulator to set out national safety framework for train dispatchTransport Secretary welcomes the independent Office of Rail and Road report into safety of driver-operated trains.

Financial Times

• Ghosn seeks clarity from Trump for carmakersRenault-Nissan chief wants clear policy from president-elect who has targeted industry
• New car sales drive UK borrowing boomSurprising surge in consumer spending after Brexit vote
• Safety fears at root of Southern rail strike dismissedDispute centres on closure of train doors and changing role of guards

The Guardian

• Old, overcrowded and underfunded: it is time to overhaul our railwaysTrains move people and goods safely and cost-effectively – so now is the time to invest more in our creaking infrastructure
• Diesel cars are 10 times more toxic than trucks and buses, data showsStricter EU emissions testing for large vehicles means modern diesel cars produce 10 times more NOx per litre of fuelModern diesel cars produce 10 times more toxic air pollution than heavy trucks and buses, new European data has revealed.The stark difference in emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) is due to the much stricter testing applied to large vehicles in the EU, according to the researchers behind a new report. They say the same strict measures must be applied to cars. Continue reading...

The Telegraph

• Rail unions urged to end strike after regulator dismissed concerns over train safety
• Modern diesel cars produce double amount of toxic gas than new lorries and buses, study shows

Mail Online

• Southern Rail commuters to sue company over rail shambles that has seen some lose jobs Hundreds of furious commuters are planning a group compensation claim against Southern Rail after the train strikes left them out of pocket, having to pay thousands for taxis, hotels and childcare.

The Sun

• LIGHTNING POD What is the Hyperloop, how fast can Elon Musk’s futuristic transport go and is it coming to the UK?The cutting-edge tech could take passengers from London to Edinburgh in half an hour – here is what you need to know

This is Money

• New Silk Road: Ancient trading route revived with a freight train from China to Barking Chinese goods are coming to London by freight train for the first time in history. A diesel engine has set off from the town of Yiwu in east China with �4m of socks, clothes, bags and suitcases in tow.
• Some 7m UK motorists don't adapt their driving to winter conditions Temperatures dropped as low as -8c on Thursday morning - the lowest they've been this winter - resulting in numerous crashes on UK roads, but many drivers don't take heed of risks.

Network Rail

• Response to UK government announcement re reform of railMark Carne, chief executive of Network Rail, said:We strongly welcome these plans to bring more joined up working within the industry. We have already devolved Network Rail into route-based businesses closer to customers, and the proposals announced today will build on the alliances we have created between these route businesses and train operators. We also strongly believe there should be better alignment of incentives between train companies and Network Rail. That is why we now align the performance incentives for all of Network Rail’s 35,000 staff, around targets agreed jointly with train o...

London Evening Standard

• Tube strike: Passengers warned most Zone 1 stations will shut during 24-hour walk-out as talks adjourned againTube passengers have been warned to prepare for a "severely reduced service" as talks aimed at averting a 24-hour London Underground strike were adjourned again.

Manchester Evening News

• Severe delays on two Metrolink lines after trams vandalised and a medical emergency Vandals have attacked two trams on the East Didsbury line, and a passenger became ill on the Airport line

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Passengers face major rail disruption due to upgrades to Durham Railway StationWork to extend platform one at the station will take place during the first three weekends of January

The York Press

• New campaign to highlight problems with rail service A CAMPAIGN to highlight the poor state of the railway has been launched in Selby.

North Wales Live

• Free parking plan for Birkenhead "unfair" on other parts of boroughWirral Council is scrapping car parking charges in the town centre on each Saturday in January

Other Regional Press

• Free park and rides "not enough" to improve Cambridge public transport, says Lib Dem bossA free park and ride service in Cambridge is "not enough" to improve our public transport system, says the leader of the Lib Dems on the city council.

politics.co.uk

• Chris Grayling urges unions to cancel strikes as inspectors give green light to driver-only trainsTransport Secretary Chris Grayling has called on trade unions to call off train strikes after the rail safety regulator declared driver-only trains were safe.

Bus and Coach.com

• Bus Users chairman defends concessionary bus pass from NHS-inspired attack
• New Surrey service for Stagecoach
• Lucketts orders six new Scania Interlinks
• Bristol boasts lead in Euro 6 buses
• National Express completes acquisition of Clarkes of London

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• TfL signs new �500 million deal with three contractors to deliver complex civil engineering projectsTransport for London (TfL) has signed a four-year deal with Costain, Morgan Sindall and Skanska to deliver some of its more complex, large scale, civil engineering schemes which will improve London’s road network for all. The new £500 million framework will see the trio working with TfL to design and build some of London’s most high profile and complex road improvement projects. The framework will help deliver a wide range of projects to transform highways, reduce dangers on the roads, improve journey reliability and encourage cycling and walking. Schemes delivered using the ...

Rail Technology Magazine

• LU station staff strikes set to go ahead after talks break downTalks between London Underground (LU) and rail unions have failed to reach an agreement, meaning a 24-hour strike of station staff is expected to take place on Sunday 8 January. RMT and TSSA called the strikes of station and revenue workers, which will affect all routes, in protest at ticket...
• IMechE calls for Digital Railway and ERTMS to be fast-trackedDigital Railway and other innovations must be fast-tracked to deliver sufficient capacity on British railways, according to a new report from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). IMechE argued that British rail is “in heavy catch-up mode” after nearly 100 years of...
• ORR joins RSSB in saying DOO services 'can be operated safely'The ORR has concluded that Govia Thameslink Railway’s (GTR’s) proposed use of driver-only operation (DOO) on its trains will allow services to operate safely, albeit once the plans have undergone slight improvements. DOO has been at the centre of attention of late due to its role in...
• Khan pledges 'major' passenger benefits if TfL devolution goes aheadLondon mayor Sadiq Khan has pledged ‘major benefits’ to the city’s suburban rail passengers if commuter services are eventually devolved, including a match of TfL’s fares freeze until 2020. The other five pledges made by Khan are reduced waiting times and faster journeys...
• RMT to ballot members on Northern Rail strike actionThe RMT union has announced today that it will be balloting its members working on Northern Rail whether they wish to take strike action over an “unacceptable” pay offer from Arriva Rail North. Arriva was awarded the Northern franchise in December 2015 after it committed to the...
• Durham station to close for Azuma platform extensionA Durham station platform is to be extended to allow Virgin’s longer Azuma trains to travel through the station. Network Rail engineers will make platform one 40m longer so that all carriages of the Azuma trains fit into the station when they are introduced on the east coast route in...
• Porterbrook and Northern to develop bi-mode Class 319sA number of Northern’s Class 319 electric trains will be converted to bi-mode operation thanks to a new unit from leasing company Porterbrook. The Class 319 Flex will be fitted onto eight of Northern’s 32 four-car Class 319 fleet, with a view to completing the first units by spring...
• Unions agree to meet with Grayling to discuss Southern disputeA glimmer of hope has appeared in the industrial dispute on Southern Rail after unions accepted transport secretary Chris Grayling’s invitation for a direct meeting. RMT has held a series of strikes on Southern to try to stop the introduction of driver-only operation (DOO), which removes...

Aviation Industry

• Stockholm Arlanda Airport introduces biofuel as standardStockholm’s Arlanda Airport has begun to mix biofuel with normal jet kerosene in its fuel bunkers as standard procedure. read more
• China Airlines to shift Tigerair Taiwan capacity to charter operationsTaipei-based China Airlines Group will shift part of the capacity of low-cost carrier (LCC) Tigerair Taiwan to charter operations after taking full control of the budget airline this quarter, aiming at improving capacity utilization. read more
• A350 pilot training triggers Finnair A330 lease extensionFinland flag carrier Finnair has extended the lease on an Iberia Airbus A330 until May 31 because of A350 crew training delays. read more

Green Miscellany

• All aboard the world’s largest busWith a capacity of 300, the latest bus unveiled by Volvo is world’s largest and promises a seat for every passenger. The Gran Artic 300 is bi-articulated – its three sections measuring a total of 30 metres in length. The vehicles are so long that they require their own dedicated lanes. Dubbed bus rapid transit (BRT), the giant vehicles provide… The post All aboard the world’s largest bus appeared first on ETA.
• The electric bikes with onboard musicCommuters in�the near future will glide to work astride sleek electric bikes soothed by sounds from built-in onboard speakers. At least that’s the vision conjured by Noordung with its latest range of electric bikes. The Noordung Angel Edition is an exotic handmade urban bike that offers a glimpse of what is possible when the designers of electric vehicles start with… The post The electric bikes with onboard music appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• ASLEF's reponse to ORR reportMick Whelan, general secretary of ASLEF, the train drivers’ union, today responded to the ORR report on DOO. Mick said: ‘Despite what Southern Railways is disingenuously claiming, the report from the Office of Rail and Road does not give driver only operation a clean bill of health. It doesn’t say it is safe, merely that it can be safe.