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

Tuesday, 18 July 2017

BBC News

• London bus operators 'should be set safety targets'The recommendation comes after 25 people were killed by or on London's buses in the last two years.
• Train punctuality to be measured accurate 'to the minute'The rail industry is publishing much more precise average national punctuality statistics from today.
• HS2 route to destroy new homes in YorkshireThe government's preferred routes for the HS2 high speed railway north of Birmingham have been confirmed.

ITV News

• Decision due on Westgate bus ban plansA decision over plans to pedestrianise one of Oxford's busiest streets is due to be announced today.
• Ballot over possible strike action on Greater Anglia linesThe RMT rail union says it is over the potential introduction of driver-only operated doors on trains.

Department for Transport

• Huge economic boost for the north of England as Transport Secretary confirms HS2 routesConfirming high speed rail lines between Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and the East Midlands.

Financial Times

• Why China’s global shipping ambitions will not easily be containedPush for control of strategic assets trumps short-term commercial logic
• Emirates Airline joins forces with FlydubaiDeal between Dubai’s two state-run carriers comes after economic struggles
• easyJet: doors to manualDame Carolyn’s successor will have to navigate Brexit
• Carolyn McCall wins over critics in 7 years at easyJetOutgoing chief has brought passenger numbers to record highs and quadrupled share price
• Coming through: the estate homes facing demolition for HS2Residents angry at revised plan to push high-speed line through their town
• Chris Grayling forced into late-night defence of HS2Minister appears in Commons to face MPs angry over handling of £56bn rail project

The Guardian

• Cost of car insurance in UK hits record high after 11% jump in 12 monthsChanges to compensation rules and rise in insurance premium tax blamed, as drivers pay £484 on average for annual policyThe cost of car insurance has soared by 11%, nearly four times the rate of inflation, over the past year, taking the cost of motor cover to a record high.UK drivers are paying an average £484 for an annual insurance policy, up £48 in the last 12 months, according to the Association of British Insurers. It laid much of the blame on changes to compensation rules and an increase in insurance premium tax.
• HS2 supporters boast of benefits – but costs keep going off the rails | Nils PratleyIs spending £55.7bn on the high-speed railway really the best way to ‘rebalance the economy’ and deliver a ‘jobs bonanza’?‘HS2 was always designed to be much more than just a high-speed railway and today we can see the opportunities it brings right around the country – spreading prosperity, acting as a catalyst for investment and rebalancing our economy 10 years before the railway even opens,” said David Higgins, chairman of the high-speed railway, as the first construction contracts were awarded on Monday.We’ll have to get used to self-serving boasts in this style. The most irritating part is...
• Polluted air 'poisoning thousands' across north of England, warns reportAir pollution is ‘the tobacco of the 21st century’ says report, which calls on government to introduce radical measures to improve air qualityDangerous levels of air pollution in towns and cities across the north of England are threatening the health of hundreds of thousands of people and stifling economic growth, according to a new report.The analysis by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) North describes air pollution as “the tobacco of the 21st century” and says that while there has been a growing concern about the problem in London, many residents in regional towns and cities a...
• Rail firms to be judged by 'to the minute' train punctualityPerformance measure allowing ‘on time’ services to be 10 minutes late will be replaced by exact timings at each stationRail companies are to start accounting for the punctuality of trains to the exact minute, as the industry commits to becoming more transparent about delays. Train operators have been criticised by passenger and consumer groups for not always counting the true level of delays, with official measures allowing a five- to 10-minute cushion for lateness.

The Herald

• Subsidise rural bus servicesFINALLY I've made it up and down Ben A'an in The Trossachs, no mean feat given the dire public transport situation in the area, as mentioned in my letter of July 6.
• Homes to be demolished to make way for HS2 routeNew homes in South Yorkshire will be demolished after the Government confirmed the route of HS2.
• Scotland will benefit from HS2, vows Chris GraylingScotland will benefit from a new high-speed rail line which will create business opportunities, jobs and skills, according to UK Transport Secretary Chris Grayling.

The Independent

• Newly-built homes in Yorkshire face destruction, as Government reveals HS2 routesHigh-speed trains will run from London to Birmingham and then on to Manchester and Leeds beginning in 2026

The Scotsman

• HS2 will benefit Scotland and its businesses, says Chris GraylingScotland will benefit from a new high-speed rail line which will create business opportunities, jobs and skills, according to UK Transport Secretary Chris Grayling.

The Telegraph

• HS2 track plans: Brand-new homes to be bulldozed as final plans are revealed

Times Online

• Ten-minute rail delays will no longer be called ‘on time’ [Subscription]Rail bosses are preparing to scrap rules that allow trains to be classed as “on time” despite running almost ten minutes late.
• Amid rising costs, official figures for the cost of HS2 seem way off track [subscription]The question is not so much what the final bill will be for HS2 — no one really knows — but how long the Department for Transport and its agency, HS2 Ltd, will keep clinging to their current estimates.
• Carillion wins defence and HS2 contracts [Subscription]Shares in Carillion renewed their climb this morning as the embattled construction and support services group won two defence infrastructure contracts worth a combined £158 million.

Mail Online

• HS2: Newly built homes wil be demolished for rail link Furious residents have been left 'angry and distressed' after learning that the HS2 rail link will pass through their newly built £200,000 homes.
• BA passengers haven't received compensation Almost two months after the British Airways IT fiasco which saw 800 flights cancelled or delayed, passengers are still waiting to get their money back.

The Mirror

• 'I love my home and I don’t want to leave it': Residents' fury after being told their homes will make way for HS2 Sixteen houses on the newly-built Shimmer Estate in Mexborough will be bulldozed for the final phase of the route
• HS2 has divided the nation - but what are the arguments for and against the high speed railway The 250mph route will slash journey times, boost regional business and ease overcrowding with supporters claiming it will close the North-South divide

This is Money

• Carillion shares rally after securing £1bn HS2 contract Shares in Carillion rallied yesterday after the crisis-hit construction company won contracts to build part of the HS2 railway.

Birmingham Post

• London Midland wins franchise extension on key Birmingham route Rail operator will continue running busy commuter service across the city after government misses deadline to award new franchise
• Balfour Beatty and Carillion scoop £4bn HS2 contracts Companies behind troubled Midland Metro extension and Library of Birmingham development land major projects on high-speed line

Bristol Live

• Plants at Parson Street station so overgrown train drivers cannot see the platformVegetation which has been left to grow on the platform of a south Bristol railway station for more than a decade is a safety risk, residents fear.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Welsh rail services to get 20 more coaches to increase capacity on crowded services Five trains have been purchased as part of a £2.9m deal between the Welsh Government and Arriva Trains Wales

London Evening Standard

• Rail fares 'will not rise higher than inflation,' says Chris GraylingRail fares will not rise higher than the rate of inflation next year, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has told the Evening Standard.
• New bus safety targets 'needed urgently' after 25 London deaths in two years, transport report saysUrgent safety targets should be imposed on bus operators, a report says, after it was revealed that 25 people have been killed in bus fatalities in the past two years.
• Nine million cars set to pack UK roads for end of term getawayNearly nine million cars will pack roads this weekend for one of the busiest summer holiday getaways ever.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Two bus services to combine together to deliver a ‘more consistent route’ Two of Trentbarton's bus services are combining to deliver a more direct route.

Wales Online

• These commuters have shared their experiences of overcrowded valley linesOne university student has been left on the station eight times due to overcrowded trains

Cambridge News

• Great Northern aren't making up for lack of seats on new trains, says number-crunching commuterCommuter says no - Andrew Booker dedicated hours to analysing the differences between Great Northern's old and new trains

Doncaster Free Press

• Inconceivable to suggest cost of HS2 set to spiral, says Chris GraylingTransport Secretary Chris Grayling has said it is "incredible, inconceivable and simply nonsense" to suggest the cost of HS2 is set to spiral.
• MP Ed Miliband to fight minister's decision to route HS2 through Doncaster countrysideThe Government has announced its planned route - with a spur leaving the main line just before Chesterfield, and then going through Sheffield city centre, before linking back with the main route further north.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Calls for scheme to protect cyclists travelling on Suffolk’s roads following hit and run incidentsCyclists in Suffolk are pushing for the introduction of a scheme to reduce dangerous overtaking of bikes by motor vehicles on the county’s roads.
• New night flight rules at Stansted Airport are a missed opportunity, says campaign groupNew night flight rules at Stansted Airport do not go far enough to tackle the impact on sleep disturbance for residents, according to a campaign group.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Quiz Highways England staff about Peterborough roadworksResidents and motorists will be able to quiz Highways England officers about roadworks in Peterborough at an event this week.

Other Regional Press

• Shocking report says London bus drivers 'can work 16 hours straight'Bus drivers in London could be working for too many hours without adequate rest breaks, leading to high levels of stress and fatigue, according to a new report.
• Fuelling pupils’ dreams as Easyjet pilot drops by Hitchin school for flying visitA Hitchin school played host to an Easyjet pilot who spoke to children about their experiences with the airline and life in the cockpit.

Buying Business Travel

• Emirates and Flydubai unveil new partnershipDubai-based carriers will use deal to “accelerate growth” of new routes

Rail Technology Magazine

• A win-win procedure for buyers and suppliersDavid Clarke, technical director at the Railway Industry Association (RIA), argues that a new partnership procurement mechanism might just be the key to developing innovative, transformational and truly sustainable solutions for the sector. RTM's Luana Salles reports.
• 'In the rail business, we're leading the way'Andy Milner, the chief executive of Amey, tells RTM about the transformation programme that has been taking place in the company since his takeover, and what its future in the rail industry looks like.
• Rail freight: part of the solutionThe limitations of rail freight dictate that it can never be the total solution to supply chain challenges, but Chris MacRae, rail expert at the Freight Transport Association (FTA), argues its many benefits are often overlooked by shippers as a cost-effective and efficient link in the logistics chain.
• 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.
• Victoria Line: pinnacle of excellence in railway engineeringFollowing the May timetable change, the Victoria Line has been running 36 trains per hour during the peaks. Mark Wild, managing director of London Underground (LU), discusses the lessons learned throughout the project.
• Govia gets West Midlands franchise extension after DfT misses contract deadlineThe current West Midlands franchise will be given an eight-week extension, the DfT has today decided. Operated by London Midland, an arm of Govia, the franchise was originally expected to end in October this year, but now will be extended to 10 December. A further eight-week extension to 4...
• Grayling confirms HS2 phase 2 routeThe route that HS2 will take from Birmingham and onto Manchester and the north as part of phases 2a and 2b has today been confirmed by DfT. It has been revealed that Phase 2b will run towards the East Midlands Hub, then on to Chesterfield and Leeds, before joining on to the existing network to...

Railnews

• HS2 contractors named The Department for Transport has named the contractors who will carry out work worth £6.6 billion on Phase 1 of HS2 between London and Birmingham, creating 16,000 jobs. Full construction is now set to start next year. HS2 Ltd, meanwhile, has named the companies who are on the shortlist to develop the four stations on Phase 1. The DfT said the invitations to tender for the station design services contracts for Phase 1 and the �invitation to participate in dialogue� for the Euston Master Development Partner have been released to the shortlisted bidders. Preparatory work has already started on P...
• West Midlands award slips back again The delayed West Midlands franchise award has slipped back once again, and the present London Midland franchise could now continue until February 2018. The replacement franchise should have been awarded last month for an October start, but transport secretary Chris Grayling has asked LMs owner Govia to continue for the time being. The London Midland franchise began in 2007 as a partial replacement for Silverlink and Central Trains, and the original end date was to be 19 September 2015.
• HS2 Phase 2 plans revealed The government has published its plans for the next Phases of HS2, which comprise lines to Manchester via Crewe and also to Leeds via the East Midlands and South Yorkshire. A controversial decision to take Phase 2 east of Sheffield, which means demolishing a recently-built housing estate, has been included.

The Business Desk

• Derby IT firm lands national rail contractDerby-based IT specialist Altius VA has landed a national contract to supply assurance services to Network Rail, Transport for London and other rail companies.

Aviation Industry

• LOT completes initial phase of long-haul renewalLOT Polish Airlines has taken delivery of the final aircraft of its batch of eight Boeing 787-8s, as the Polish national carrier eyes the arrival of the larger -9 model next year. read more
• Air France secures pilot backing for BoostFrench Skyteam member Air France is expecting to formally sign an agreement with its pilots July 17, paving the way for the launch of its Boost new airline project in fall 2017. read more
• CEO: Brussels Airlines aims to reduce costs a further 15% Lufthansa subsidiary Brussels Airlines must continue to reduce its cost base as it faces growing competition from low-cost carriers (LCCs) in its home market, CEO Bernard Gustin told ATW. read more
• SWISS CSeries prepares for London City debutSwiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has undertaken one of the final steps before the start of its Bombardier CSeries services to London City Airport (LCY) Aug. 8. read more

Other News Sources

• £30million pound rail investment in Blackburn creates more than 100 new train jobsMORE than 100 new jobs are to be created as Northern Rail revealed its plans to invest £30million in East Lancashire.
• Extra Trains Announced to Help Boost Services & Improve Rolling Stock Across WalesFive new trains to help boost services and improve the rolling stock available in Wales will be operational from next year.
• HS2 backlash as Chris Grayling chooses route to Manchester and Leeds Chris Grayling has been accused of making a “wrong and perverse” decision to demolish new homes to make way for Britain’s £56bn high-speed railway line in an announcement that has sparked a furious backlash from Labour MPs.
• Gatwick Airport 'carnage' after burst tyre lands plane and cancels flights during runway closure One passenger described hearing a loud bang and enduring a bumpy ride after the incident
• FTA says Brexit talks must make rapid progress to prevent disasterAs the second round of Brexit talks get underway today (17 July), the Freight Transport Association (FTA) – Britain’s biggest transport trade ...