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

Wednesday, 15 March 2017

BBC News

• Forth Road Bridge reopens after lorry closureThe Forth Road Bridge reopens after a lorry which overturned in high winds is safely removed.
• Night Tube drivers vote to go on strike in row over jobsUnions claim drivers are being blocked from applying for full-time jobs.
• Oil prices fall after Opec stocks riseOpec reports a rise in oil stocks and a surprise jump in output from Saudi Arabia.
• Cathay Pacific sees first annual loss in eight yearsThe airline is struggling with overcapacity and increasing competition from Chinese carriers.
• Driverless cars 'could lead to complacency'People may be too slow in taking back control of driverless cars in an emergency, peers warn.

ITV News

• Million pound renovation for Sussex rail stationA £2m scheme to renovate a West Sussex railway station starts next month. The project will see the building at Bognor Regis refurbished.

Financial Times

• Cathay Pacific dives to first annual loss in 8 yearsHK flag carrier dented by tougher competition and lower demand for premium tickets

The Guardian

• Transport for London admits liability over Croydon tram crashSurvivors and victims’ families taking legal action after crash that killed seven and injured 51 others when a tram derailed at high speed
• First class could be axed in next Southeastern rail franchiseDepartment for Transport considers scrapping compartments in attempt to create more space on commuter trains

The Independent

• Could first class rail travel be about to hit the buffers?Government floats the idea of ending class distinction on the South Eastern network

The Scotsman

• Police chief warns over ‘complicated’ Transport Police mergerMerging British Transport Police (BTP) with Police Scotland would be
• Calls to act on rule flouters after Forth Road Bridge closureThe second lorry to be blown over on the Forth Road Bridge in two months has prompted new calls for action against drivers who flout high-wind restrictions.

The Telegraph

• Driverless cars could cause accidents because they will enable motorists to sleep at the wheel, peers warn

Mail Online

• Chris Grayling suggests cutting First Class carriages Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has suggested cutting first class carriages and changing seating to be metro-style in a bid to combat the overcrowded trains during rush hour.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• 'Disruptive passengers' cause train cancellation DISRUPTIVE passengers have caused train operator Northern Rail�to cancel a train from Skipton to Forster Square tonight.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• End North Wales' 'third class' rail service, say campaignersHywel Williams MP is among those calling on Westminster to set a date for electrifying the line between Holyhead and Crewe
• Move to clear Queensferry A494 bottleneck with �200 million scheme could end traffic misery Two options are on the table to improve congestion on one of the region's busiest roads

London Evening Standard

• First class 'to be scrapped' in radical overhaul of Southeastern's London commuter trainsFirst Class on London commuter trains is facing the axe under a rail revolution to tackle overcrowding, delay and poor service, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling announced today.
• Night Tube strike: Drivers vote to walkout in row over pay and conditionsNight Tube drivers have voted for strike action in a row over pay and working conditions, just months after the service was launched.
• Passengers' fury as British Airways flights 'run out of food''British Airways has come under fire from hungry travellers after running out of food on short haul flights from London.
• Transport for London 'beginning to accept liability over Croydon tram crash'Transport for London (TfL) has begun to admit liability in relation to compensation claims from the Croydon tram crash.

The York Press

• Rail passengers in Selby face delays due to signalling fault TRAIN passengers in Selby are facing delays this morning due to a signalling problem.

Other Regional Press

• Stop feeding Felix the Huddersfield Station Cat, fans toldHuddersfield Railway Station cat Felix is being given too many treats by fans
• MP Rushanara Ali has long wait at Whitechapel for next train on Elizabeth lineMP Rushanara Ali (right) has been on a fact-finding tour of Crossrail’s station complex under construction in her east London constituency, deep beneath Whitechapel.
• County battles to boost Rasen rail services Lincolnshire County Council has confirmed it is pushing for improvements to be made to rail services in the Market Rasen area - including an end to overcrowded trains.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• South Eastern franchise consultation launchedPassengers in south east London, Kent, the Medway towns and East Sussex are on track to get improved journeys, as the Department for Transport (DfT) seeks views on a new franchise in the south-east. South Eastern handles 640,000 passenger journeys on 1,900 train services every weekday. The government is keen that passengers, local councils and anyone with an interest in improved service on the South Eastern franchise take the opportunity to shape what the next operator will deliver. The Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling said:
• Midlands Engine to roar ahead with ambitious new strategyThe Midlands Engine Strategy includes significant investment in skills, connectivity and local growth, while it sets out how the government plans to drive the region’s huge potential and promote it to the world. This builds on plans set out in the government’s modern Industrial Strategy which includes the offer of additional support for industries – including those in the Midlands – through sector deals. The government has also set out a series of reforms to technical education, backed by an investment of more than £500 million, to ensure young people receive the...

Rail Magazine

• Flex... and flexibilityPorterbrook’s plan to run converted Class 319 electric multiple units as hybrid units by fitting diesel engines could be realised by the end of the year.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Two in five TOCs record significant delays on over 5% of servicesAlmost 40% of operators in England and Wales have recorded significant delays of over half an hour, or cancellation altogether, on 5% or more of their services in the latest period, Network Rail figures have shown. Statistics for period 12, which spans from 5 February to 4 March, revealed that...
• New routes, trains and alliance working mooted for South EasternNew routes, high-capacity Metro-style trains, integrating train and track operators through an alliance and even getting rid of First Class seating on the busiest routes are all ideas that have been put forward today in the DfT’s South Eastern franchise consultation. The 41-page...
• TOCs and suppliers come together as RSSB names innovation competition winnersSix successful projects focused on innovation have been given the green light as part of a £4m RSSB competition, meaning TOCs will now take them forward to the next stage of development. The projects, competing to win a share of the fund as part of the RSSB’s Train Operator...
• RMT votes overwhelmingly in favour of Night Tube strikeThe RMT union is due to announce the result of a ballot this afternoon for either strike or action short of a strike on the Night Tube, meaning the capital’s 24-hour service could be plagued with further delays just six months after its opening date. Night Tube members of the Aslef union...

Railnews

• Underground drivers vote for Night Tube strikes The RMT says Night Tube drivers have voted �overwhelmingly� for strikes and action short of a strike in a dispute over job opportunities. London Underground has been accused by the union of �imposing� a �block on career progression�, but LU responded that �Night Tube services have been running since August last year in line with agreements reached with the unions�.
• Underground extension at risk with ��50m shortfall� Conservatives on the Greater London Assembly have claimed that the extension of the London Underground Metropolitan line to Watford Junction over the former Croxley Green branch is running out of money and could fall victim to a �50 million shortfall. A proposed extension of tram services to Sutton in south London has already been threatened after �100 million was withdrawn from that project in December. The Croxley Link had been planned for many years and work is now under way. But it has been a victim of soaring costs and is running late, with its original budget rising from �116 million to...

Aviation Industry

• European Court annuls UPS, TNT merger rulingThe General Court of the European Union has annulled a European Commission ruling, which blocked a 2012 merger between express delivery companies United Parcel Service (UPS) and TNT. read more
• American to include main cabin meals on transcontinental flightsAmerican Airlines will provide meals at no extra cost for all main cabin seats on two transcontinental routes, beginning May 1. read more
• Berlin airports cancel 90% of flights on TuesdayBerlin’s Tegel and Schönefeld airports have canceled hundreds of scheduled flights from March 13-15 because of an ongoing ground staff strike over wages. read more
• Oman Air reacts to overcapacity, begins Lufthansa codeshare Gulf carrier Oman Air and Germany’s Lufthansa will begin codesharing from March 26, on the Omani national carrier’s daily Muscat-Frankfurt and Muscat-Munich services. read more

Other News Sources

• Tube strike 2017: London Underground Night Tube drivers vote to walk out Members of the RMT union voted for strike action, with 96% in favour
• Stunning time-lapse video shows sun rising and planes landing at Heathrow Airport Watch the mesmerising footage of planes landing and the sun rising over the London transport hub
• Bus company launches contactless payment system to allow faster boardingSafeguard buses is looking for people to give feedback on the system, which is currently being trialled
• UK operator strengthens shortsea fleetUK shortsea specialist Scotline is set to boost its owned fleet with a 10th dry cargo vessel suited to both its north European liner service network and general trading.