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

Wednesday, 15 February 2017

BBC News

• Glasgow rail worker 'sprayed in face' on trainTransport police appeal for witnesses after a rail worker was sprayed in the face with an
• Rolls-Royce reports record loss of �4.6bnBribery settlement and the fall in the pound pushes aerospace giant Rolls-Royce to a record loss.
• Southern RMT rail dispute: Talks end without a dealTalks between the RMT and Southern rail break down at conciliation service Acas.
• VW gets initial backing from US court for diesel settlementUS court gives initial blessing to a plan for Volkswagen to settle more diesel emissions claims.

Financial Times

• Fresh disruption risk for Southern commutersTalks to end dispute with RMT drivers break up after 3 hours

The Guardian

• Solar-powered trains are closer to reality than we might thinkHow can we connect solar photovoltaics (PV) directly to railways to power electric trains? That’s the question my charity 10:10 and researchers at Imperial College’s Energy Futures Lab are trying to answer.

The Herald

• CalMac ferries carry more than 5 million passengers for first time since 1997A ferry company carried more than five million passengers in a year for the first time in two decades following the introduction of cheaper fares.
• Fears raised over planned merger of transport police into single forceSIX arrests a day were made on Scotland’s railways last year prompting claims that Police Scotland could be overwhelmed if a planned merger with British Transport Police goes ahead.

The Scotsman

• Theresa May urged to remove diesel cars from UK roadsHundreds of doctors, nurses and other health workers are calling on the Prime Minister to take action to get polluting diesel vehicles off the UK’s roads as soon as possible.

Times Online

• Bumpy ride? App instantly reports faults [subscription]Smartphones could soon be used to log comfort levels on trains and send details of any bumps, bangs and vibrations to operators to improve the quality of service and safety.
• Full steam ahead for main line service [Subscription]A steam engine embarked yesterday on its first scheduled main line service in half a century.
• Drivers face variable charges based on emissions [subscription]Drivers of dirty diesel cars could be charged a variable fee based on the pollution they emit under proposals being considered by local authorities.

City AM

• A fifth of Brits are resigned to poor rail service as more than two million complaints were made in 2016There were 2.04m complaints made regarding trains in 2016, according to Ombudsman Services' annual Consumer Action Monitor. The rail sector was responsible for 3.7 per cent of complaints last year, making up more than half of those across transport as a whole.
• More than two-thirds of the public think Heathrow expansion will signal Britain is open for business post-BrexitWhile questions remain over how the government will address air quality concerns over Heathrow expansion, for now the public backing lies very much with the third runway taking shape.

Mail Online

• Steam engine Tornado hauls service from Settle to Carlisle The Peppercorn class A1 steam locomotive, Tornado, will pass over the 'Roof of England' on the famous Settle to Carlisle line, carrying hundreds of steam enthusiasts.
• One in five passengers expect to get a poor rail service A new study found long term issues have resulted in 'high levels of disillusionment,' as complaints about shoddy rail services increased by 31 per cent to two million last year.

The Mirror

• Amazing coat can store 15kg of airport luggage in bid to beat baggage fees The Airport Jacket allows you to wear 15 kilos of luggage in a bid to beat baggage queues and reduce baggage fees

Belfast Telegraph

• Wrightbus sales in UK down by third in space of a yearThere were 503 new vehicles from the Ballymena bus-maker registered in the UK during the course of 2016. That was down by 37% on the year before, from 799.

Bolton News

• 'Our roads are crumbling' - Council could do ‘a lot more’ with reserve cash, say opposition parties OPPOSITION parties have welcomed the news that Bolton’s school crossing patrols will be saved under new budget plans, but say the council could be doing more with its money.

Derby Telegraph

• Derbyshire rail firm RES to expand premises and create 50 jobs A Derbyshire rail company is to expand its head office and take on an extra 50 staff.

London Evening Standard

• Drones for passengers to be launched in DubaiThe city of Dubai is set to introduce people-carrying drones by July, according to local authorities.
• British Airways strike: Cabin crew announce fresh four-day strike amid pay disputeBritish Airways cabin crew are to stage a fresh four-day strike in a dispute over pay.
• Southern Rail talks with RMT union end in deadlock despite deal being struck with AslefCrucial talks between the RMT union and Southern Railway in a long-running dispute over the role of conductors have collapsed without agreement.

Yorkshire Post

• Transport decisions can shape Yorkshire’s economy for generationsThe North of England’s transport system could be facing one of its most critical periods since the arrival of the railways in the 19th century, according to a senior figure at a major law firm.

North Wales Live

• New uncertainty over future of Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port plant Peugeot owner in talks to buy Vauxhall and Opel for GM

Other Regional Press

• Safety improvements on notorious stretch of road move a step closer Calls to improve safety on a notorious stretch of road have received a significant boost with Hertfordshire County Council’s highways panel promising to explore potential options.
• Potholes are set to stay despite calls to rectify 'dangerous' and 'diabolical' roads POTHOLES that continue to plague the county's roads will not be wiped out anytime soon, a transport head has warned.

Buying Business Travel

• UK rail franchise system ‘failing’ passengersMPs warn of poor performance and higher fares
• Delta eyes 49% stake in AeromexicoDeal valued at $590 million

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Mayor calls on Government to adopt diesel scrappage fundThe Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has called on government to implement his new proposals for a national ‘dirty’ diesel scrappage fund that financially compensates motorists and enables government to get a grip on killer toxic air. The Mayor has made tackling London’s filthy air a top priority and has consulted on hard-hitting plans including a ‘toxic’ charge for the most polluting vehicles, bringing forward the introduction of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), and then expanding it up to the North and South Circular Road. However, the Mayor’s powers are ...

Rail Magazine

• IEP cab to be displayed at National Railway MuseumHitachi Rail Europe has donated an Intercity Express Programme cab to the National Railway Museum.
• Mayor Khan reiterates the importance of Crossrail 2London will grind to a halt without Crossrail 2.
• Construction of the first Great Western Railway Class 802 AT300 for Devon and Cornwall is progressing in Italy.Construction of first Hitachi Rail Europe AT300 for Great Western Railway underway in Italy.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Keynote Speakers to Discuss Future Path of On-Train Wi-Fi at Trains Conference BWCS is delighted to announce a major keynote speaker for this year's WiFi on Trains Conference - Train Communications Systems 2017 (London, 7-8 June). Keith Monserrat from Network Rail Telecom will address the conference on the Future for Wireless C…
• AGICO Provides Railway Fish Plates AGICO's railway fish plates, also called rail joints or joint bars, offer a different function to other rail components. Rail joints are flat metal plates usually used to connect adjacent two rails with a number of rail bolts or railroad spikes.
• Train Communications Systems 2017: the Wi-Fi on Trains Conference The Train Communications Systems 2017 Conference will focus directly on the problems of putting Wi-Fi onto trains and on how to keep connected customers happy.
• TOCs urged to refund passengers as 20% missing out on best ticketsTOCs are being urged to refund passengers after a mystery shopper experiment conducted by the rail regulator found that 20% of buyers either selected a more expensive ticket than necessary or put themselves at risk of a penalty fare when using a ticket machine. Overall, one in five of the...
• Carne floats supplier incentive scheme for capacity improvementsRail contractors could soon be paid cash returns according to how much they are willing to invest in the network, with plans currently on the table potentially reviving elements of the public-private partnership schemes that existed under Tony Blair’s government. Network Rail boss Mark...
• Alstom completes Class 313 ETCS upgradeAlstom has finished upgrading its ETCS technology on Network Rail’s Class 313 train, meaning it is now compatible with ERTMS Baseline 3. Network Rail will now begin using the train for testing and commissioning work in order to deliver ERTMS Baseline 3 to the Paddington-Heathrow stretch of...
• Industry sets out 12 key rail priorities to 'strengthen case for funding'Rail industry experts have come together to launch the Capability Delivery Plan (CPD), which highlights the current challenges facing the railway in the digital age and outlines 12 whole-system priority areas that need to be improved in the coming years. Building on the Rail Technical Strategy...
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Railway Gazette

• InnoWaggon increases round wood capacitySWEDEN: Innofreight has handed over the first of 144 wagons which are being supplied under the...

Aviation Industry

• A4E gives first anniversary progress reportLobby group Airlines for Europe (A4E) has completed its first year of operations, bringing both successes and some ongoing frustrations. read more
• Rolls-Royce 2016 profits down 45%Rolls-Royce Holdings reported �915 million ($1.1 billion) in underlying profit before finance charges and tax for the full-year 2016, down 45% year-over-year, on underlying revenues of �13.8 billion, down 2%. read more
• Airbus applies race-yacht ‘winglet’ design lessons to Sharklets Airbus is working on a redesign of its A320 Sharklet wingtips as a result of developing a new design manufacturing process for the foil of a high-speed yacht competing in this year’s America’s Cup race. read more
• Icelandair posts $89 million 2016 net profitIcelandair Group reported a 2016 net profit of $89.1 million, down 20% from $111.2 million in net income for 2015. read more

Other News Sources

• Disillusioned passengers resigned to poor rail service, research showsOne in five passengers is "resigned to poor service" on Britain's railways, according to a new study.
• Network Rail to host Ashtead level crossing safety meeting ahead of worksThe session will be held on February 21 from midday until 6pm at the Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall