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

Wednesday, 27 September 2017

BBC News

• Wales rail franchise bids formally invited 'this week'Rail companies will be able to bid for the next Wales and Borders franchise this week, BBC Wales understands.
• Dyson to make electric cars from 2020The firm known for vacuum cleaners and fans will challenge the industry with a battery-powered car.
• Search on for personal flying machineBoeing offers $2m to any team of engineers, students or hobbyists who can design a flying machine.
• Northern to cancel more than 50% of trains on strike daysNorthern Rail says only 46% of its normal timetable will operate on both strike days
• Rail bosses to 'look again' at needle exchange closureScotRail Alliance bosses agree to
• Alstom and Siemens to create 'European rail champion'Merging the high-speed train makers will create 'a European champion in the rail industry', the firms say.
• Bombardier describes tariff ruling in Boeing row as 'absurd'The aerospace firm employs more than 4,000 people in Northern Ireland, but fear jobs may be under threat.

Financial Times

• US backs Boeing in fight with Canada’s BombardierCommerce department slaps preliminary tariffs of up to 219% on sales into US
• Siemens, Alstom agree to merge rail operations
• Siemens and Alstom seal deal to form European rail ‘champion’Groups hail merger to create company capable of resisting Chinese challenge
• Boeing invests $33m in Comac joint venture: China Daily

The Guardian

• James Dyson to invest £2.5bn on 'radically different' electric carBritish inventor, whose company has been working on vehicle since 2015, says it will launch in 2020British inventor Sir James Dyson has announced plans to build an electric car that will be “radically differentâ€� from current models and go on sale in 2020.The billionaire who revolutionised the vacuum cleaner said 400 engineers in Wiltshire had been working since 2015 on the £2.5bn project. Continue reading...
• Northern Ireland jobs at risk as Bombardier jets hit by huge US trade tariffCanadian aircraft maker, which employs 4,000 in region, suffers major blow after US imposes punitive 219% levy. One of Northern Ireland's largest employers faces paying a punitive tariff on its exports of passenger jets to the US after losing the first stage of an international trade dispute.

The Herald

• Edinburgh Tram Inquiry: Chief admits he didn't know who was in chargeEDINBURGH’S tram project lurched along rudderless and a senior councillor was “imploredâ€� not to raise concerns in public about the botched development, an inquiry has heard.

Times Online

• French rail merger is ‘sell-out to Germans’ [Subscription]President Macron faced fury yesterday as Siemens, of Germany, won control of Alstom, the maker of France’s famous high-speed trains.
• Mayor right to ban Uber, almost half of voters say [Subscription]Almost half of London voters support the decision to remove Uber’s licence in the city, a poll for The Times indicates.

Reuters News

• Alstom, Siemens to merge rail businesses to counter China's CRRC German industrial group Siemens AG (SIEGn.DE) and French rival Alstom SA (ALSO.PA) agreed to merge their rail operations, creating a European champion to better withstand the international advance of China’s state-owned CRRC Corp Ltd.

City AM

• It's official: Siemens and Alstom announce rail merger to form 'European champion'Germany's Siemens has confirmed that it will merge its rail operations with France's Alstom to create "a new European champion in the rail industry".

Mail Online

• Nissan Qashqai and Ford Mondeo 'top dirty diesels league' Tests found some of the poorest performing vehicles were those with the most up-to-date – and supposedly cleanest – engines, including the Nissan model, pictured.

Network Rail

• Rail industry is working together to remind people in Wales and the borders to stay safeNetwork Rail is teaming up with Arriva Trains Wales, British Transport Police, and other partners to remind the public to stay safe on and around the railway in Wales and the borders.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Car styling firm looks to biggest new vehicle market in world A CAR-styling company, which helps adapt well-known models, has contracted overseas trade specialist, Chamber International, to help it create new sales partnerships in China.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Trespassing on the railway and the shocking footage that will make you think twiceFigures show more people are walking onto dangerous railways, risking life and limb to save time or for a deadly thrill

North Wales Live

• Bus drivers in Liverpool vote for industrial action Stagecoach drivers vote overwhelmingly for action in pay row while Arriva drivers are now voting
• Commuters left fuming after being “abandoned on the platformâ€� during Wirral line signalling problems Some people trying to get home reported being stuck at stations for an hour and a half

Other Regional Press

• “To me, to you” – Labour and SNP likened to Chuckle Brothers ahead of Leven rail link debateLabour and the SNP have been accused of behaving like the Chuckle Brothers as they pass the buck on plans for a Levenmouth rail link.
• MP supports rail development for access to airportAN MP has shown her support for a rail access scheme which would see direct services running to London Paddington via Heathrow.
• Electric car charging points coming soon to Helensburgh and Cardross rail stationsCHARGE points for electric vehicles are coming to Helensburgh Central and Cardross railway stations in the next few weeks.
• The 'best small railway station' in the country is right here in Oxfordshire THE new-look Bicester Village train station has been crowned small station of the year.

Buying Business Travel

• Air Berlin negotiates with Lufthansa and EasyjetPartial take-over bids accepted by troubled airline
• Ryanair issues update on cancellationsAirline says 97% of customers received reroutes or refunds

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Heathrow’s food and drink pre-order service takes flightHeathrow has partnered with leading US provider Grab to launch a food and drink pre-order service. Hosted within the Heathrow app, passengers will now be able to enjoy fantastic food before they fly.  The service trial has launched with at least one restaurant per terminal, with a view to extending to all restaurants across the airport in coming months. Putting delicious food at passengers’ fingertips, the app allows users to pre-order, check turnaround time and collect from a dedicated collection point when they arrive. The UK’s only hub airport has partnered with Grab, which...
• Government launches urgent review into cycle safetyTransport Minister Jesse Norman has announced an urgent review into cycle safety, following a series of high profile incidents involving cyclists. The review will look at whether a new offence equivalent to causing death by careless or dangerous driving should be introduced for cyclists, as well as wider improvements for cycling road safety issues. Transport Minister Jesse Norman said:
• PD Ports wins 3-year logistics contract with global bicycle manufacturerPD Ports has signed a contract at its Felixstowe-based warehouse operation to handle the UK warehousing for one of the world’s largest bicycle brands. Specialized, a US-headquartered bicycle and accessories manufacturer has appointed PD Ports as one of its preferred logistics partner to serve its UK retailers. As one of the UK’s major port groups and portcentric logistics specialists, PD Ports will handle and store a vast range of Specialized’s cycling accessories including helmets, shoes, spare parts, and clothing which will be imported largely from the Far East.  Th...
• UK firms challenged to cut freight emissionsRoads Minister Jesse Norman has called on UK businesses to lead research into low emission technology for lorries, as well as cars and vans. The projects could see materials which make vehicles lighter, or improve the efficiency of engines or batteries. Roads Minister Jesse Norman said:
• Get informed: Make sure you’re ready for the T-ChargeTransport for London (TfL) has issued a helpful summary to provide guidance to road users during the first week of the T-Charge.  The T-Charge (Toxicity Charge) is part of a package of actions being taken by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, to help clean up London’s dangerously polluted air, especially nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. Both of these contribute to thousands of early deaths in London each year and impact our health over the course of our lives – leading to smaller lungs in our children, and greater risk of dementia and stroke when we get older.   ...

Rail Magazine

• VIDEO: BTP & Northern heroes recognised at National Rail Awards 2017Full video of the presentation made to recognise rail staff for their services and bravery during the terror attacks earlier this year.
• VIDEO: Tony Walsh reads National Rail Awards poemRAIL commissioned a poem to celebrate how British railways changed the world and to salute the men and women who keep the railway, and this country, moving.
• Nationalisation: “a dead-end argumentâ€�MICHAEL HOLDEN explains why he believes a fully public railway won’t work, drawing on his experience as chairman of the Government-run East Coast service
• New trains - coming to a line near you…Billions of pounds’ worth of new trains are on order, with many more in the pipeline. RICHARD CLINNICK rounds up what’s on order and where they will all go.

Railway Gazette

• Electro-diesel multiple-unit to be developed for regional routesPOLAND: A letter of intent for the development, construction and testing of a prototype electro-diesel multiple-unit was signed on September 19 by regional train operator PolRegio, investment and leasing company Polski Tabor Szynowy and rolling stock manufacturer Fabryka Pojazdów Szynowych H Cegielski, which will co-operate on the project with the IPS Tabor railway research institute.
• DB Cargo UK tests ‘jumbo’ trainUK: DB Cargo UK operated a trial 660 m long ‘jumbo’ train of 34 wagons from ABP Port of Cardiff to Acton in London on September 20, carrying 2 300 tonnes of limestone from Cemex’s Wenvoe and Taff’s Well quarries.

Aviation Industry

• IAG still working on Aer Lingus-Ryanair connections International Airlines Group (IAG) CEO Willie Walsh is hoping to finalize a connecting deal between group carrier Aer Lingus and Irish LCC Ryanair at their Dublin hub before summer 2018. read more
• Lufthansa Group approves $1.2 billion growth plan for EurowingsLufthansa Group’s supervisory board has approved a €1 billion ($1.2 billion) investment to purchase and lease up to 61 aircraft for its LCC subsidiary Eurowings as the bidding process for parts of the insolvent airberlin continues. read more
• Airline wish list includes flexible seat configurations Airline panelists speaking at World Routes in Barcelona would like to see electric aircraft enter the market and—in the shorter term—to have the ability to reconfigure aircraft during turnarounds. read more

Other News Sources

• Volvo’s electric bus on UK demonstration tourVolvo’s fully electric bus has embarked on a demonstration tour throughout the UK. Starting in Manchester at an event attended by new Mayor for Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, the trial features ‘OppCharge’ opportunity charging via a pantograph for the first time in a major British city.
• Green light for multi-million pound rail projectWORK to create the world’s leading research and innovation centre for very light rail is set to go ahead after a multi-million pound funding bid was approved.