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

Sunday, 16 July 2017

BBC News

• First Bristol bus operator's restrictions removedRestrictions on bus operator First Bristol which were put in place almost 30 years ago have been removed.
• Air France jet in emergency landing at Prestwick AirportAir France says a plane was diverted to Prestwick after
• Southwold railway enthusiasts adopt old locomotiveThe group trying to re-establish the railway line between Southwold and Halesworth have taken delivery of an old steam locomotive.

The Guardian

• British Airways cabin crew strikers prepared for long haulMixed fleet staff have fought for better pay for six months but, despite plans for further action, the airline won’t settle
• ITV closes in on naming easyJet's Carolyn McCall as CEOMcCall is understood to be ITV’s preferred choice to take over from Adam Crozier who left the company last month

The Independent

• Birmingham loses only US scheduled flight as airlines trim loss-making routesPoor ticket sales have triggered the closure of key international air links this winter. Birmingham’s only American connection is to be grounded, while British Airways will stop flying from Heathrow to western Norway’s two biggest cities.
• UK plans to halt production of petrol cars by 2040'The Government has a manifesto commitment for almost all cars and vans on our roads to be zero emission by 2050. We believe this would necessitate all new cars and van being zero emission vehicles by 2040'

The Scotsman

• Edinburgh Airport drop-off charges most expensive in ScotlandHolidaymakers at Edinburgh Airport face the most expensive drop-off charges in the country with skyrocketing prices forcing some to fork out as much as £5 for a 15-minute stay.

The Telegraph

• A consumer revolution is coming, and not just to Southern RailThe endless dispute between the unions and Southern Rail is going nowhere.But what of the commuters, those suffering most as a result of this shambles? We’ve heard all the understandable grumbles of people whose year has been tainted by cancelled trains, missed family dinners, and even the loss of their jobs.

Times Online

• Parking at Luton? That’ll be £98, please[subscription]If you’re flying from Luton airport, be sure to put an extra £98 in your holiday fund. Leave your car there for a week this summer and you’ll be paying the highest airport long-stay parking charge in Britain.
• Parking at Luton? That’ll be £98, please[subscription]If you’re flying from Luton airport, be sure to put an extra £98 in your holiday fund. Leave your car there for a week this summer and you’ll be paying the highest airport long-stay parking charge in Britain.
• All systems go for second launch bid at spaceport [subscription]A second consortium has unveiled a bid to send satellites into space from a remote spot on the north coast of Scotland.
• Building of HS2 to cost £403m a mile [subscription]The HS2 high-speed rail line will cost more than £400m per mile, making it the most expensive railway in the world, according to new calculations for the government.

London Evening Standard

• First Great Western passengers could see train delays cut by 15 per cent thanks to system updateTrain delays could be cut by 15 per cent thanks to a system upgrade, Network Rail has said.
• Rail bosses release shocking footage of trespassers taking photos and lying down on train tracksShocking footage has been released of teenagers lying on train tracks as railway bosses launched new technology to warn people approaching level crossings.

Wales Online

• MP calls for action on Wales' 'creaking transport system'Jonathan Edwards believes more should be spent on rural roads, rather than concentrating investment in south east Wales

Get West London

• Crossrail services for Elizabeth line increased by Transport for London as new map revealedTransport for London (TfL) has announced services on the new Elizabeth line are going to be more frequent then originally planned.

Other Regional Press

• Rail users urged to have their say on ambitious rail plans linking Droitwich to LondonRAIL-USERS will have the chance to have their say on an ambitious project which aims to improve links between Droitwich Spa and London.
• Perth could play central role in Scotland’s transport systemA campaign to have Perth placed at the heart of Scotland’s transport system as the country’s passenger and freight rail hub is gaining momentum.
• The rise and fall of county's biggest independent bus company Nowadays, we associate the age of private bus companies with the deregulation of the 1980s. However, just decades before, small private bus companies ran throughout Leicestershire.
• Major operation at Ferguson's shipyardFERGUSON’S shipyard is involved in a major engineering operation this weekend to install Chinese-made equipment for the UK’s first ferry to use environmentally friendly fuel.
• Hampshire County Council calls for changes to railways ahead of First MTR South Western takeoverHAMPSHIRE County Council (HCC) has called for major improvements to the railways before a new franchise takes over next month.
• Council calls for changes to railwaysHAMPSHIRE County Council (HCC) has called for major improvements to the railways before a new franchise takes over next month.
• Oxford Bus Company unaware of council leader's 'bus trials'OXFORD Bus Company has confirmed it is not carrying out trials into electronic vehicles which Oxfordshire County Council leader Ian Hudspeth this week said he was supporting.
• Work starts on £18m Halton Curve to restore rail link between Liverpool and North WalesWORK has started on the Halton Curve rail track to restore the line through Runcorn that will link North Wales and Liverpool.
• David Drew, Labour MP for Stroud: Passengers deserve better on the trains...God’s wonderful railway turned into a woeful ride because with Paddington shut we were forced to journey via Waterloo to get to Reading, and then faced by total uncertainty on whether we could get any further.
• All aboard for Gobowen station revampThe doors to Gobowen’s derelict station buildings have been opened for the first time in more than a decade.

Railnews

• All change at Metrolink as KeolisAmey takes over The operator of Manchester Metrolink changed at 02.00 on Saturday morning, as KeolisAmey took over the concession to run the city�s tram services from RATP Dev. The concession, which is awarded by Transport for Greater Manchester, will run for up to ten years. The changeover is the latest in a series of landmark moments on Metrolink this year. Work started on building the Trafford Park extension in January, the Second City Crossing avoiding Piccadilly Gardens opened in February and the system�s 25th anniversary was celebrated in early April.

Other News Sources

• The RMT Announce More Southern Rail Strike ActionThe RMT are planning to join Aslef in striking during August because of safety concerns on Southern Rail trains.
• Heathrow Airport Introduces AR TechnologyAR app featuring children's book characters Mr Men and Little Miss launched at Heathrow Airport.
• London Heathrow runway process delayed yet againA further delay in providing a third runway at London Heathrow Airport has been discovered, because of a quirk of UK parliamentary procedure.
• Arriva Bus & Coach saves 40 hours per week with r2c OnlineSince adopting r2c Online’s digital compliance management platform, Arriva Bus & Coach have reduced its administration time by 40 hours per week, amongst a host of other benefits.