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

Wednesday, 07 June 2017

BBC News

• Cyclists in 'silent protest' over Edinburgh tram track deathZhi Min Soh, 23, was hit by a minibus on Edinburgh's Princes Street, at its junction with Lothian Road.
• Airlines set for 'head-to-head' on Highlands and Islands routesLoganair says it is
• Qatar row: Saudi revokes Qatar Airways' licenceSaudi Arabia's aviation authority formally withdraws Qatar's licence to land and fly in the country.

Financial Times

• Head of BA parent blames human error for bank holiday shutdownWalsh says engineer inadvertently switched off power supply and caused systems outage
• Kenya offers guarantees to national airlineGovernment move will help lossmaking airline raise additional capital for recovery
• IT experts bemused by BA’s blame gameQuestions over how electrical engineer was able to bring down critical systems
• Uber fires more than 20 employees after harassment probeRide-hailing company attempts to respond to claims of aggressive workplace culture
• Driverless vehicles learn to get along with city transportQuestions remain about whether technology will ease urban traffic or make it worse
• Blown off course: Emirates flies into turbulenceGulf airline’s president and founder pledges to ‘tough it out’ as profits plummet

The Guardian

• Uber fires more than 20 employees after sexual harassment investigationCompany has been taking steps to change culture following scandals that appeared to demonstrate aggressive business practices and a toxic workplaceUber has fired more than 20 employees after a company investigation into sexual harassment claims and workplace culture.The terminations were announced at a company-wide meeting on Tuesday, details of which were first leaked to and reported by the New York Times and Bloomberg News. Uber confirmed the departures to the Guardian. Continue reading...
• Existing transport is failing disabled people, but new tech may helpBetter accessible transport may come from collaborations between disabled people and tech startups like Wayfindr and Uber
• The Lib Dems promise to ‘halt the decline in bus services’Liberal Democrats All councils would gain powers over transport, housing and skills, with more revenue-raising powers.
• Guardian experts give their view on the main parties’ public service manifesto pledges. Here, our writers look at what’s in store for Scotland, Wales and Northern IrelandWales The UK parties each include distinctive polices for Wales. The Tories pledge to modernise rail infrastructure, set-up a UK shared prosperity fund to replace EU aid, a “growth deal” and give more powers to the Welsh government post-Brexit.

The Scotsman

• Scotland in running for futuristic Hyperloop transport linkNine proposed routes, including one from Glasgow to Wales, have been unveiled by Hyperloop One, the firm aiming to revolutionise public transport.

City AM

• Saudi Arabia has now revoked Qatar Airways' licence as diplomatic row rages onSaudi Arabia's aviation authority has formally revoked Qatar Airways' licence to fly and land in the country, as a rift among the Gulf countries intensifies.
• Here are Hyperloop's plans to connect Europe: The nine shortlisted routes revealed including three in the UKHyperloop One has unveiled its shortlist of European routes being considered for its transport shake-up, after encouraging people to pitch in routes that would be deemed technically doable, as well as economically sound.
• Europe's airports record soaring passenger traffic growth in April as Turkey bounces back to "full recovery"European airports recorded a surge in passenger traffic in April, growing by 14.1 per cent compared with the same time last year.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Justice Secretary backs T&A Stop the Danger Drivers campaign after witnessing speeding drivers in BradfordJUSTICE Secretary Liz Truss has praised a Telegraph & Argus campaign calling for the scourge of dangerous driving to be tackled.

Liverpool Echo

• Cruise terminal hails biggest-ever turnaround ship - and there could be more to comeMore ships starting voyages here would be good news for city

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Commuters facing major travel disruptions as busy train lines close due to floodingCommuters are being warned to expect major disruptions this morning after rail operators were forced to close a busy transport route.

The York Press

• New ‘hopper’ minibus service to link up villagesA NEW service providing much needed affordable transport is being launched.

Wales Online

• New images reveal how Swansea city centre could look in the near futureMajor plans to reshape Swansea have been given the green light

East Anglian Daily Times

• Greater Anglia shows off mock-up of InterCity trains for London routeRail company Greater Anglia has shown off mock-ups of the inside of its new InterCity trains for the main line between the region and Liverpool Street station.

Other Regional Press

• Construction of rail technology centre on track in WidnesPROGRESS on the construction of Alstom’s £21 million rail technology centre continues as its company logo is erected at the entrance of the building.
• Lincoln train services to be cancelled for Network Rail works Commuters in Lincoln are being urged to check their train times ahead of major works which will see a number of journeys cancelled.
• Colne Valley candidates on education, rail fares and the EU Five candidates hoping to be the next MP for the Colne Valley speak at public hustings
• Talks to be held with bus passengers ahead of changes to Dundee servicesDundee’s largest bus provider is set to meet with the public to discuss possible changes to its services.
• New station opens on old Stratford-Cheltenham lineA NEW station has opened on the old Stratford-upon-Avon to Cheltenham railway line.

C.N.N.

• Uber fires 20 employees over sexual harassment probeUber is acting swiftly on the findings of a report into allegations of harassment at company following bombshell sexism claims earlier this year.

Airportwatch

• Clipping the wings of Qatar Airways [Subscription]The tentacles of Qatar spread deeply into the British aviation establishment. Not only is the state-owned Qatar Airways a big user of airports in London and Manchester, it is the largest shareholder in IAG, the British Airways owner, with a stake of 20 per cent.

Buying Business Travel

• IATA calls for 'alternatives' to laptop banAviation body wants to see “more intense screening” at airport gates
• Qatar’s diplomatic row with neighbouring countries escalatesSaudi Arabia closes airspace to Qatar Airways and shuts down airline’s offices

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• First UK University to gain ELA accreditationCranfield is the first University to receive accreditation from the European Logistics Association (ELA) in recognition of the high standards of teaching on the logistics and supply chain masters programmes delivered by Cranfield School of Management. Richard Wilding OBE, Professor of Supply Chain Strategy at Cranfield and Chairman of CILT (Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport) commented:  “This is great news for Cranfield and for the students of our logistics programmes. European recognition is increasingly important for our students, who come from all over the world to s...

Global Rail News

• Alstom to modernise Los Angeles’ Metro light rail fleetLos Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has awarded Alstom a contract to perform the midlife overhaul of its P2000 light rail vehicles (LRVs).

Rail Magazine

• Greater Anglia unveils interior plans for new trainsDesign freeze on Greater Anglia's Stadler trains expected at end of month as operator consults on interiors

Rail Technology Magazine

• Greater Anglia's revamped Class 321s set to enter passenger serviceGreater Anglia’s newly refurbished Class 321 Renatus rolling stock is being prepared to enter service for passengers very soon, boasting a number of features that make the carriages more modern and energy-efficient than before. The operator launched the new trains at the end of last year...
• Guidance published to manage risk of signalling transitions for driversGuidance has been released this week to help the rail industry prepare drivers for transitions between Class B (AWS and TPWS) and ETCS (European Train Control System) signalling systems. In research released yesterday, the RSSB interviewed drivers who transition between different signalling...
• Northern calls on passengers to share opinions on station upgradesNorthern has this week called on passengers to voice their opinions on its station modernisation programme and how it can improve facilities in the future. The operator has launched a survey to garner the views of passengers on a number of facilities that have been improved including Adlington...
• TOC marks anniversary of railway safety education programmeLearning to travel independently on the railway and how to be safe around trains is an essential life lesson for any young person. And today, one operator has announced that its programme aimed at teaching children about the railway has reached thousands of young travellers over the past...

Aviation Industry

• ICAO, IATA: Aviation emissions accord still on track ICAO and IATA officials are moving quickly to spread the message that the withdrawal of the US from the Paris climate agreement does not derail the aviation emissions agreement adopted by ICAO last year. read more
• IATA: Air cargo recovering slowly The air-cargo industry, buffeted by the 2008 global financial crisis, is beginning a slow climb to returning to historic norms of growth, the IATA said at its AGM in Cancun. read more
• Hawaiian, JetBlue CEOs say open skies must be protected Although the three largest US carriers are stepping up their lobbying efforts with the new administration to curtail Gulf carriers’ access to the US, the CEOs of two smaller US airlines are resolute in their continuing support for US open skies policy. read more
• Next step in airline transformation is digitization, analysts say US airlines have emerged from years of losses and bankruptcy to being among the most profitable in the world, but rising costs could derail them from this trajectory unless further transformation happens, consultants say. read more
• United’s Munoz says frequent fliers are impressed with airline service The CEO of United Airlines, which attracted a barrage of public criticism over its bumped passenger incident, said this week that those who fly regularly are impressed with airline service. read more
• Bombardier looks to convince airlines on CSeries at Paris Air Show Two years after Bombardier reintroduced the CSeries with a new senior management team at the 2015 Paris Air Show, the Canadian manufacturer hopes to build off the aircraft’s successful service entry to win new orders for the aircraft at the 2017 Paris Air Show later this month. read more

News from Europe

• Dutch team builds Europe’s first hyperloop trackA Dutch company based at TU Delft has built a section of hyperloop track in the first stage of a bid to connect two cities in the next four years.