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

Thursday, 01 June 2017

BBC News

• Tube tunnel wi-fi plan to be launchedCommuters can currently use their phones at station concourses and platforms but not in tunnels.
• Lane restrictions to end on central Scotland motorwaysDaytime lane restrictions on the M8, M73 and M74 are due to be lifted over the next few days.
• BA's owner launches new trans-Atlantic budget airlineBA's owner IAG launches its new trans-Atlantic budget airline, Level, out of Barcelona

Financial Times

• BA’s computer meltdown: how did it happen?IT and electricity experts sceptical of airline’s explanation of events
• US improvements drive profit increase at Firstgroup

The Guardian

• Skeletons, chamber pots and hippo sandals: the lost treasures of Crossraile have a view of the Victorians as being po-faced and strait-laced, and it’s quite funny to think of someone having that under their beds,” says Jackie Keily, a curator at the Museum of London. She’s talking about a Victorian chamber pot comically depicting a man with his hair standing on end, with text that reads: “Oh what I see I will not tell.”
• British Airways IT failure caused by 'uncontrolled return of power'Cause of outage has not been revealed but BA says it was not due to an IT shutdown and was not linked to job outsourcing
• Labour promises to save average rail commuter £200 on season ticketJeremy Corbyn says party could deliver promise by forcing rail companies to cap fares at lower gauge of inflation than currently used
• TfL gets closer to offering full mobile coverage on the tubePhone calls could soon be possible on the underground in move Sadiq Khan says will bring London in line with other major citiesMobile phone calls on the London Underground could soon be possible under plans by the mayor and Transport for London.Informal talks have been held with telecoms infrastructure companies and TfL is expected to invite bids in the weeks after the general election.

The Herald

• Tram network blamed for death of female cyclist in EdinburghEDINBURGH'S tram network has been blamed for the death of a cyclist who fell after her wheel became trapped in the tracks and was hit by approaching traffic.

The Huffington Post

• Plan To Renationalise Railways Will Cut Costs For Commuters, Says Labour Renationalising the railways will cut costs for commuters, Labour has promised.  The party says its plan to bring the system into public ownership will see passengers save an average £1,014 on their season tickets a year.  Rail costs have risen by 27.1% over the last seven years and Labour says a decision by the Tories to cap fares at the Retail Price Index rather than the Consumer Price Index means inflation is over-estimated and consumers pay more.  It has promised to cap prices at the Consumer Price Index and introduce further reductions ‘as more services come i...

The Telegraph

• British Airways IT crisis mystery as energy suppliers say there was no power surge

Times Online

• Transport of Delight [Subscription]Revenge is a dish best served with song. “It takes a lot to laugh,” Bob Dylan wrote. “It takes a train to cry.” And so it goes. After the tears of rage shed across the Southern Rail network by commuters last year comes the laughter, or at least the therapy, of a new musical written by those who suffered.
• ‘Slasher’ Willie Walsh comes out fighting [Subscription]Willie Walsh has never liked the “Slasher” soubriquet. And no doubt the IAG boss likes it even less now, after the weekend meltdown at the airline group’s main brand, British Airways. The renowned cost-cutter has given his critics all the ammo they need.

Daily Record

• 'People should be jailed for this' Road bosses ignored warnings over killer tram tracks before cyclist's death The 24-year-old woman suffered horrific injuries in the rush-hour accident in Edinburgh city centre.

The Mirror

• Ever wondered why the trains get delayed because of the hot weather? Here's the reasons why When those temperatures rise above normal, some areas can be more vulnerable to rail breaks, and speed restrictions are put in place

Belfast Telegraph

• Brexit will not affect Derry-Dublin road upgrade, Transport Minister saysIreland's Transport Minister has vowed there will be no pulling back from an upgraded Derry to Dublin road link as a result of Brexit.
• Bus corridors at heart of overhaul of Dublin's public transport systemDublin's public transport system is to be radically overhauled with 17 new bus corridors, transport chiefs have vowed.

Birmingham Post

• High Speed 2 is transforming Birmingham and beyond - find out how here Discover all the opportunities HS2 offers the West Midlands at the National Rail Conference

Bolton News

• 'Unprecedented' investment in Bolton's rail network will pay off soon, promises Transport Secretary Chris Grayling

London Evening Standard

• British Airways boss Alex Cruz explains what went wrong in catastrophic IT meltdownThe boss of British Airways has explained what went wrong in the catastrophic IT meltdown which caused chaos for thousands of passengers.
• Londoners 'commute for 16 days a year with some journeys up to four hours'Londoners are spending up to 16 days each year commuting with some losing up to four hours a day travelling to work, a survey has found.
• British Airways Bank Holiday meltdown was caused by 'uncontrollable return of power' after outage, airline revealsThe British Airways Bank Holiday computer meltdown was caused by an "uncontrollable return of power" after an outage, the airline has said.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Electric bus on trial in ObanWest Coast Motors is currently using the Optare Solo bus on routes around the town centre and to some outlying villages.

Wales Online

• There will be no trains between Newport and Cardiff during the August bank holiday weekend Electrification work is being carried out

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• New railway stations and Midland Metro link tabled in transport proposals New railway stations could be opened and a Midland Metro connection added in proposals being commented on in a public consultation ending next month.
• Deadline looms for public to have its say on future of transport in the West Midlands The people of the West Midlands have just a few days left to give their views on a transport blueprint for the next decade.

Blackpool Gazette

• Bus vandals force chiefs to pull the plug on internet connectionsPersistent vandalism means passengers will no longer have access to high-tech facilities on board Blackpool buses.

North Wales Live

• Regional Business Awards 2017: John Lennon Airport backing for key honours event'RBA is now the established event to highlight and celebrate business success' - Robin Tudor

Other Regional Press

• Bus shake up will see £8m investment from Essex county CouncilA TOTAL of £8 million is being invested by Essex County Council as part of a shake up of bus services.
• BE BIKE SAFE CAMPAIGN: How many cyclists wear helmets? We went to find outMORE than half of the cyclists riding along one of Oxford’s busiest commuter routes chose not to wear a helmet when the Oxford Mail took to the streets as part of our Be Bike Safe campaign.

Rail Magazine

• Report presses commercial case for extended Borders linkNew report by the Campaign for Borders Rail (CBR) makes the case for re-opening the line from Tweedbank to Mossband Junction.
• Delayed start for first Crossrail AventraElizabeth Line Aventra misses original start date. No confirmed date for entry into traffic.
• Greater Anglia given deadline to confirm ticket office plans by RMTRMT issues Greater Anglia with a deadline of June 19 to confirm that ticket offices and jobs will be kept open for the length of the current franchise.

Rail Technology Magazine

• RMT gives Greater Anglia deadline to reverse alleged ticket office closures The RMT has today handed Greater Anglia an ultimatum to confirm that all ticket office jobs and windows will be kept open on its franchise by 19 June – or face a formal dispute. It comes after the union stated that it will fight alleged plans from Greater Anglia to close ticket offices...
• ScotRail Alliance launches new Rail74 community rail partnershipA new community rail partnership (CRP) will be officially launched in Scotland this Friday 2 June by the ScotRail Alliance. The project, called the Rail74 Partnership, will cover the route between Rutherglen and Hamilton Central, with the aim of bringing communities together to improve and...
• TfL closer to offering mobile phone coverage on the TubeCommuters could soon be able to make phone calls and surf the internet anywhere on the Tube network, it has been reported, Currently, Virgin Media supplies wi-fi at station platforms, but this connection does not cover tunnels, meaning that passengers cannot connect to the internet when the...

Railway Gazette

• UK railway news round-upThe High Court has upheld a May 2016 decision by the Office of Rail & Road rejecting Heathrow...

Aviation Industry

• More airlines seek connectivity deals with RyanairRyanair said it has been approached by 10 airlines since the Irish low-cost carrier began selling flights for Spanish leisure carrier Air Europa, but plans for wider connectivity with Norwegian are progressing at a “glacial” pace. read more
• United to offer lie-flat seats on Boston-San Francisco flightsChicago-based United Airlines will transition Boston-San Francisco flights to “premium transcontinental” service from July 1, offering 28 lie-flat business-class seats on each flight between the cities. read more
• Russian aluminum manufacturers to promote aircraft seatsRussia’s Aluminum Association and the aerospace branch of aluminum producer RUSAL will jointly promote seats manufactured by Vemina Aviaprestige, the association said in a May 31 statement. read more
• Airberlin widens net loss in 1QGerman leisure carrier airberlin reported a first-quarter net loss of €293.3 million ($315 million), widened from a €182.3 million net loss in the year-ago period as a result of turnaround measures. read more

Other News Sources

• Abellio loses out to other bus operators as Surrey County Council chooses not to renew tenderThe bus operator said there would not be any job losses after rivals were awarded tenders in Surrey
• "Vital" bus routes under threat after company deregisters services across west DorsetBUS routes through Bridport, Beaminster and Lyme Regis could be axed after a company deregistered services.
• Hybrid bus promises fewer emissions and improved efficiencyA hybrid bus running on diesel and liquid nitrogen has completed a series of trials that bring the vehicle closer to use on the road.
• ENGIE Ineo acquires IcomeraENGIE announces the acquisition through its subsidiary ENGIE Ineo of the Swedish company Icomera, specialist in onboard communications solutions for public transport. Icomera’s offering fully complements the strategy of transformation of ENGIE, the energy revolution pioneer working for smarter and greener mobility.
• Election 2017: What are the parties promising on transport?Transport is important. I am assuming, dear reader, from the fact you are on this website at all that you are well aware of this. Our political leaders, though, often neglect transport. It’s lower on voters’ priority lists than hospitals or schools, capital investment is easier to cut than revenue spending and, anyway, if a minister throws all their energy into getting a new railway line built, some other government will get to snip the ribbon in about 15 years time.
• High-performance hoses for modern rail transportEU transport politicians envisage that by the year 2030, 30% of road freight covering distances of over 300 kilometres will have shifted to transport operators such as the railways.