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

Wednesday, 17 May 2017

BBC News

• Cities need 'hedges rather than trees' for environmentHedges are often better than trees at soaking up air pollution among tall buildings, research has suggested.
• EasyJet half-year loss widens on weaker poundThe airline reports a bigger loss, partly due to the fall in sterling and timing of Easter.
• Fresh rail strikes announced for 30 MayGuards and drivers at three rail companies will hold strikes on 30 May, the RMT union confirms.

Financial Times

• EasyJet’s losses widen on sterling weaknessLow-cost airline’s shares fall as pound and Easter timing weigh on half-year profits
• EasyJet sends right signals, but investors say talk to the handBulls hoping for earnings upgrades disappointed by airline’s half-year loss

The Guardian

• RMT train crews to stage further 24-hour walkout after UK bank holidayUnion confirms strike on Southern, Northern and Merseyrail on 30 May in ongoing dispute over future of conductorsTrain staff in the RMT union will stage another 24-hour strike across three rail networks in the ongoing row over the future of conductors or guards. Crew on Southern, Northern and Merseyrail services will go on strike on Tuesday 30 May, the day after the next UK bank holiday. Continue reading...
• Uber faces legal threat from union over London licenceGMB says it will seek judicial review if Transport for London does not guarantee more rights for driversUber has come under further pressure in London after a union threatened legal action if the capital’s transport authority renews the taxi app’s licence without guaranteeing more rights for drivers.In a legal letter sent this week, the GMB union warns Transport for London (TfL) that failure to impose conditions which guarantee income for Uber drivers while limiting their number in the city and the hours they can work would “breach the relevant standards of reasonableness and would accordingly...

Times Online

• Laptop ban looms on Australia flights [Subscription]Australia appears likely to follow the United States in banning laptop computers and other electronic devices on incoming flights.
• On-board catering service hits the buffers [subscription]For many travellers, no rail journey is complete without buying a stale sandwich and overpriced packet of crisps from the buffet cart. But the era of on-board catering appears to be coming to an end.
• Green light for traffic signals that give priority to buses and bicycles [subscription]Intelligent traffic lights that use the technology from driverless cars to identify bicycles and buses and give them priority over vehicles including lorries are under development as part of the first system of its kind.

Daily Express

• SpaceX successfully launches its heaviest satellite EVER into orbitELON Musk’s SpaceX has successfully launched its heaviest satellite to date, but was unable to land the rockets as the load was too much.

Birmingham Mail

• Labour manifesto: Jeremy Corbyn pledges to improve rail and bus services by putting Government and councils in chargeTaking bus and rail services back into public control is a key part of Labour's manifesto, which also includes £48.6bn extra spending every year

Birmingham Post

• Aston Expressway bomb: This is how much it cost Birmingham Business leaders estimate the road closures as a result of discovering the undetonated bomb would have a series impact on the region's economy

Bolton News

• Rail staff set to strike againBOLTON commuters are set to be hit by the fourth day of strike action since the start of March.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• UPDATE: Further 24-hour rail strike announced WORKERS at three train operators, including Arriva Rail North, will stage a fresh 24-hour strike on the same day in the bitter disputes over staffing and driver-only trains.

Derby Telegraph

• More than 100 Alvaston residents sign petition against Arriva bus route change Plans for a bus service to be re-routed in Alvaston have been slammed by residents who say the changes will create "utter chaos" and could risk children's safety on the road they live in and use to get to school.

London Evening Standard

• Southeastern to increase off-peak fare prices Southeastern rail passengers are facing higher fares on off-peak journeys from the end of this month.
• Chiltern Railways axes all on-board cateringFans of railway buffet car fare were dealt a blow today after yet another train company announced it was ending on-board catering services.

Manchester Evening News

• Manchester Airport is TRACKING your progress through terminals - using your mobile's wi-fi signalAirport bosses are using wi-fi signals to see how long you are queuing - and it could lead to 'live' queue time boards in future

The York Press

• Bike hire scheme is planned for city A CITY-WIDE cycle hire scheme, overhauls to bike lanes and help for cycling commuters could all be on the way for York if funding decisions are confirmed this week.

Wales Online

• Normal service resumes following evacuation at train station after suspicious package found nearbyCaerphilly train station was closed after a suspicious package was found at Caerphilly bus station

Other Regional Press

• Citybus to unveil new £3.5m bus fleet at Devon Business Show Award-winning transport firm Plymouth Citybus has been named as lead sponsor of the forthcoming Devon Business Show – and will use the show to give a sneak preview of its £3.5million low-emission buses.
• Congestion builds on Oxfordshire roads TRAFFIC is building on roads around Oxford as commuters make their way to work.
• Speeding Bedfordshire drivers are millions of pounds out of pocketThousands of drivers heading through Bedfordshire have been caught speeding by smart motorway cameras between junctions 10 and 13 on the M1, leaving them millions of pounds out of pocket.

Buying Business Travel

• Flight Centre invests in travel technology company3Mundi agrees 25% sale of business
• Labour pledges taxi reformsManifesto promise to introduce national set of standards for safety, quality and employment rights
• Easyjet losses deepen on weak poundAirline reports pre-tax loss of �212 million

Rail Technology Magazine

• Weighwell Provides Full Car Weighing system for 'Chocolate' and 'Cheese' Trains in Switzerland Weighwell recently installed a Full Car Weighing System that provides our Switzerland-based customer Compagnie Du Chemin De Fer Montreux Oberland Bernois SA (MOB) with the ability to weigh their various trainsets.
• WW2 bomb closes Birmingham New Street-Lichfield line for second day An unexploded World War II bomb has caused chaos on the line between Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley as services will not run on the tracks for a second day. The bomb was found at Witton, close to Erdington and Aston Villa yesterday, and has led to nearby homes and businesses...
• Virgin begins hunt for innovating rail start-ups Virgin Trains has this week called on the next generation of innovative start-up businesses to pitch original ideas to solve a set of rail industry challenges. The company has partnered with PlatformX – a business accelerator programme to discover the next big innovators who will sculpt...
• Metro mayors call on government to prioritise HS3 over Crossrail 2 plansThe two newly elected metro mayors of Greater Manchester and Liverpool City Region have called on the government to prioritise rail investment in the north by committing to building the HS3 rail link, alternatively known as Northern Powerhouse Rail, before work begins on Crossrail 2. The pair...

Railnews

• New Southern talks fail to reach agreement Talks between Govia Thameslink Railway and the RMT have broken up without agreement once again. Both sides met yesterday to discuss the continuing dispute over driver-controlled operation on Southern but there was no agreement, with both sides reported to be now �considering their positions�.
• Three new RMT strikes called over DCO The RMT has announced walkouts on Merseyrail, Northern and Southern on 30 May after talks to resolve the long-running driver-controlled operation disputes failed again. Operators said they were 'disappointed', but the RMT has spoken of its 'anger and frustration'.

Railway Gazette

• Ukrainian Railways plans five-year investment programmeUKRAINE: National railway UZ has presented its five-year development strategy for 2017-21. This...
• Alexa 'Skill' for train times and fares released UK: Independent ticket retailer RedSpottedHanky.com can now be accessed via Amazon Echo and Echo...

Aviation Industry

• EasyJet 1H losses deepen, but outlook improvingUK-based low-cost carrier (LCC) easyJet reported a net loss of �192 million ($247.8 million) in the first half of its financial year, widened from a net loss of �15 million for the same period last year. read more
• London’s Gatwick Airport to maximize existing capacityLondon Gatwick Airport is preparing to invest £240 million ($309 million) in 2017, as part of a five-year development plan, after London hub Heathrow won government support for expansion. read more
• Boeing delivers first 737 MAX to Malaysia's Malindo AirBoeing delivered the first 737 MAX 8 to Malaysia’s Malindo Air May 16 at Boeing’s Seattle Delivery Center in Washington state. read more

Other News Sources

• NEW RECORD FOR HEATHROWAlmost 200,000 people a day used Heathrow last month to make it the most successful April in its history – and providing yet more support for the third runway.
• Southern Rail: Date announced for the next 24-hour strike The RMT has announced workers will stage another 24 hour strike on Tuesday May 30
• New £25 billion rail line between Brighton and London in Labour manifesto A Labour government would invest more than £25 billion in creating a second rail link between Brighton and London.
• Rail operator accused of “sneaking through” fare risesA RAIL operator has been accused by public transport campaigners of “sneaking through” a rise in fares.
• Minister accused of electioneering over pledge for A27 improvementsNEW £3 million funding for the widening of the A27 has been slammed as “blatant electioneering”.