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

Tuesday, 11 July 2017

BBC News

• Nine-day closure during Kilmarnock to Carlisle rail workThe rail line between Kilmarnock and Carlisle is to shut for nine days for upgrade work along the route.
• Clyde waterfront and Glasgow Airport bridge plans take step forwardIt is hoped the projects will regenerate part of the Clyde waterfront and improve the area around Glasgow Airport.
• Air India: No chicken in cattle classThe airline says serving only vegetarian meals is a cost-cutting measure, not a political statement.

Financial Times

• CMA opens investigation into First Group and MTR
• China underlines shipping ambitions with $6.3bn takeover of HK groupDeal by state-owned Cosco would create Asian competitor to market leader Maersk
• Cosco takeover of Orient Overseas affirms China’s trade ambitionsThe $6.3bn deal puts Chinese group on track to become world’s biggest container line
• Rail strikes hit commuters across northern EnglandGuards fight plans to allow drivers to close doors after same issue blights Southern rail for months
• Cosco/OOIL: banking on an upturnState financing has enabled a pivotal transaction

The Guardian

• First Tesla Model 3 rolls off production line ... into the hands of Elon MuskLower-cost electric car begins delivery with first model to company chief executive as first 30 customers to get vehicles at 28 July partyThe first of Tesla’s highly anticipated lower-cost electric cars, the Model 3, has rolled off the production line to its new owner, Tesla chief executive Elon Musk.The one-man marketing machine, who also took on a large, high-profile battery project in Australia and a runs a privateer space company Space X, shared a couple of photos of the Model 3. Continue reading...
• Major rail disruption looms in August as stations are closedNetwork Rail plans biggest ever bank holiday engineering works, while Waterloo will be half closed for three weeksRail passengers have been warned to prepare for unprecedented disruption on journeys into London this August, with thousands of trains cancelled or delayed as engineering works closes some of Britain’s biggest stations.

The Telegraph

• Commuter who pays £4,500 for annual rail season ticket is fined after falling asleep and missing stop

Times Online

• Work from home to avoid August hell, say rail chiefs [Subscription]Commuters have been advised to work from home over the summer as the country’s busiest station faces a three-week partial shutdown in an unprecedented wave of engineering work.

Reuters News

• UK market regulator raises competition concerns in FirstGroup, MTR contract(Reuters) - UK market regulator Competition and Markets Authority raised concerns on Tuesday about the lack of competition on one train route, between London and Exeter, which is part of the new South Western franchise awarded to FirstGroup and Hong Kong's MTR.

City AM

• FirstGroup and MTR facing investigation by competition watchdog over South Western franchise concernsThe competition watchdog has raised concerns over the award of the South Western franchise to FirstGroup and MTR, after investigating the development since May.

Birmingham Mail

• Birmingham trucker fined for driving too close to cyclist after undercover police operation Almost 200 offenders have been pulled over during the sting

London Evening Standard

• London drivers 'should be charged 8p per mile during rush hour,' says leading City economistDrivers in London should be charged 8p a mile to use the capital's disastrously clogged roads with Uber-style "surge pricing" during the rush hour, a leading City economist said today.
• Commuter who missed his stop by seconds threatened with £1,000 fineA commuter has spoken out after he was threatened with court action and a £1,000 fine after he fell asleep and missed his stop.
• Airline chiefs: £15 charge to drive to Heathrow airport is just 'another tax on travel'Airline chiefs today hit back against proposals for an "H-charge" to cut toxic air around Heathrow as part of plans for a third runway.

Other Regional Press

• Revealed: The man who will take charge of the region's new rail franchiseTHE man who is to take the helm of the region’s new rail franchise has been named.
• Is it farewell to Oxford's black cabs as new electric cars to be brought in?THE city’s black cabs will be phased out by the end of 2018 to make way for new electric taxis in a bid to tackle air pollution.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Transport planners discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the profession (Image Source:Kitty Wheeler Shaw Photography) Leading speakers from across the sector gathered at Nottingham Conference Centre, 28th-29th June, to identify the challenges facing transport planners and what this means for the profession.  The event’s opening plenary session involved a lively panel debate about the major challenges that face transport planners. Concerns raised included accommodating for a growing population, addressing health issues, transport planning in London and the need to improve quality of life. David Metz, University College London, said: ‘It’s...
• Innovative vehicle to grid technology to receive £20 million The new investment will support vehicle-to-grid projects as part of the government’s Industrial Strategy and create a smarter energy system, while increasing the numbers of electric cars on UK roads. The projects will investigate technology that allows plug-in electric vehicles to not only draw power from the grid when charging but return it to people’s homes or back to the grid. There are already 100,000 electric cars and 11,000 chargepoints thanks to government support. As this number grows they become a resource for a smart electricity grid – bringing benefits for driv...

Rail Magazine

• New Chairman for GEML TaskforceWill Quince to lead Great Eastern Main Line Taskforce
• GB Railfreight in 'locomotive acquisition' talksGBRf is discussing the possibility of purchasing locomotives with various companies, though no deal is yet in place.
• Designs confirmed for GA’s new Stadler trainsDesign for the new Stadler trains for Greater Anglia finalised
• Revamp of Doncaster station plannedCould Doncaster station have a new look?
• £200m track and signalling upgrade at DerbyNetwork Rail plans a 79-day programme of work at Derby as part of a £200 million track and signalling upgrade in the area.
• Rail investment channelled into UK economy boostGovernment determined to ensure investment in the rail network benefits the UK economy - Maynard

Rail Technology Magazine

• Alstom and Eurostar donate two power cars to UK's National College for High-Speed Rail Alstom is working with high-speed railway service Eurostar to donate two power cars to the National College for High-Speed Rail (NCHSR) in England.
• Use the apprenticeship levy opportunity to attract better talentRecently, larger organisations were hit with the apprenticeship levy. In the rail industry, where apprenticeships are already popular, this will encourage further employment of apprentices. But, argues Nigel Eagers of NSAR, they're the lucky ones! Smaller organisations might lose out - and so may potential apprentices if we don't treat this as a...
• Cambridge north: More than just a stationEliane Algaard, director of route asset management at Network Rail, reveals how the brand-new Cambridge North station came to life right in the heart of the region's science and biology-themed surroundings.
• Images of Doncaster station redevelopment unveiled New images of how Doncaster station could look after a multi-million pound transformation have today been released. The designs aim to make the station entrance more welcoming and accessible, as well as create a modern gateway to the growing town. Part of the plans include moving the car park...
• A development opportunity across the national networkSimone Bailey, asset management director at Abellio Greater Anglia, talks to RTM about overcoming the different challenges facing stations of varying sizes.
• Greater Anglia finalises new Stadler FLIRT train designsGreater Anglia has finalised designs for its new Stadler rolling stock that will be phased into service from 2019-20. A month ago, the company unveiled what the new FLIRT trains would look like, and opened up the plans for a consultation so that passengers could submit their views about the...
• Railway bridge condition monitoringLiam J Butler and Nicholas de Battista, from the Cambridge Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction (CSIC) at the University of Cambridge, discuss their innovative work on the Stafford Area Improvements Programme to condition monitor two railway bridges.
• RAIB to investigate as child almost falls through floor of moving trainA mother and her child narrowly avoided falling through the open floor a toilet compartment on a South Devon Railway (SDR) train, prompting an investigation by the RAIB. In a statement today, the RAIB said it was investigating the incident after the passenger and her child entered the lavatory...
• Reducing congestionNew figures show rail freight is far better at reducing congestion than previously thought, writes Philippa Edmunds, Freight on Rail manager at the Campaign for Better Transport (CBT).

Railnews

• High Speed students to learn from Eurostar Two of the first-generation Eurostar power cars which entered service in 1994 are finding a new role -- as demonstrators for students at the National College for High Speed Rail. The two power cars have been retired by Eurostar as more of the new Siemens Velaro sets take over, and are being refurbished by their builders Alstom before moving to new homes on the High Speed Rail college campuses in Doncaster and Birmingham. Students will be able to study recent high speed train technology in depth, said Alstom.

Railway Gazette

• XRL trainset arrives in Hong Kong by railCHINA: The signalling and communications systems on the Hong Kong and Mainland sections of the...
• Prime Minister inaugurates Stockholm CitybananSWEDEN: Revenue services began operating through the new Stockholm Citybanan tunnels at 05.00 on...
• Five rolling stock proposals for rail motorway to SpainEUROPE: Five proposals have been received for wagons to carry lorries on a future rail motorway...

Aviation Industry

• Lufthansa trials ‘SmartDepart’ gates in MunichLufthansa will introduce “SmartDepart” gates to expedite passengers flying from Munich to Düsseldorf, Berlin/Tegel, Frankfurt and Hamburg airports, from Oct. 31. read more
• Cathay Pacific agrees to buy DHL stake in Air Hong KongCathay Pacific has reached an agreement to buy DHL’s minority stake in cargo carrier Air Hong Kong, which would shift it from a joint venture to a full subsidiary of Cathay. read more

Other News Sources

• New rail vision could mean 13,000 new jobsUNBLOCKING bottlenecks at East Croydon station and the complex junction north of the station could release up to eight new trains an hour on the Brighton Mainline.
• FirstGroup and MTR invited to address South Western franchise concernsThe Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it has been investigating the award of the new South Western franchise to FirstGroup and MTR since May
• MEP ‘scared witless’ about potential environmental impact of Brexit AN MEP said she is “scared witless” of the potential environmental impact of Brexit during a public debate at Brighton’s i360.