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

Wednesday, 15 November 2017

BBC News

• Signal failure: The two words dreaded by every commuterMatthew Broad was waiting at Reading station for a train that it seemed would never arrive.
• Manchester Mobikes: Cycles taken off streets for maintenanceThe cycle hire company said the bikes were removed for upgrades but would return from Wednesday.
• EgyptAir in deal to buy 24 Bombardier C-Series planesC-Series wings are made at Bombardier's Belfast operation, providing employment for about 1,000 people.

Financial Times

• FirstGroup swings to loss even as revenues climb
• Airbus seeks earlier orders of new A380s from EmiratesAircraft manufacturer needs to clinch deal with Gulf airline to secure future of jet
• Bombardier clinches C series order from EgyptAirCanadian group’s struggling aircraft is given vote of support by flag carrier

The Guardian

• Britain wants cycle-friendly cities. Here’s how we get them | Andrew GilliganCycle lanes reduce pollution, improve health and are incredibly popular. But forget common sense: getting the go-ahead on new schemes is all about politicsAlmost four-fifths of people in some of Britain’s largest cities want road space taken away from cars and given to bikes, according to a new poll from Sustrans. I’m not at all surprised. Whenever we proposed the same thing in London, where I was cycling commissioner until last year, we got the same response. Related: What would the perfect cycling city look like? Continue reading...

The Herald

• Video: Sack Abellio ScotRail call as hundreds of staff are asked to quit Scotland's railwaysHUNDREDS of ScotRail staff have been asked to consider quitting in a cost-cutting move condemned by one union as creating a

The Scotsman

• Martyn McLaughlin: Could the US president be the saviour of struggling Prestwick Airport?The idea of Donald Trump buying the struggling Prestwick Airport is fanciful, but should not be ruled out, writes Martyn McLaughlin....

Reuters News

• Bombardier CEO not expecting short-term changes in rail divisionMONTREAL (Reuters) - Bombardier’s (BBDb.TO) Chief Executive Alain Bellemare said on Tuesday he will continue “assessing the competitive landscape,” but doesn’t expect a merger of two European rivals to drive big short-term changes in the Canadian company’s rail division.

City AM

• FirstGroup's shares slump after transport firm swings to a lossTransport firm FirstGroup's share price slumped today after it unveiled a loss in its half-year results, despite an increase in revenues.

Birmingham Post

• New rail chief appointed to oversee £1bn investment First managing director of new operator West Midlands Trains as been recruited ahead of franchise launch

London Evening Standard

• Pictured: huge crowds at Victoria and Northern Line Tube stations due to 'minor delays'Huge queues formed outside a number of south London stations as commuters complained of rush hour chaos on Tuesday morning.
• London cabbies in legal fight against TfL over 'extortionate' licence fee hikeThe capital's private hire operators have launched legal action against Transport for London in a bid to overturn an "extortionate" hike in licensing fees.
• Commuters told to strike up a conversation to prevent rail suicides in new advice campaignHealth Secretary Jeremy Hunt today backed a national campaign to prevent suicides on the rail network by encouraging passengers to talk to people in distress.
• FirstGroup attacks Network Rail over Waterloo hitchesFirstGroup slammed Network Rail on Tuesday for infrastructure failings at Waterloo in the first few weeks of its operation of the South West Rail franchise.
• Southern Rail life hack that every commuter needs to knowDrinking on trains just got even easier after one Twitter user shared a helpful life hack.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Controversial South Shields bus lane signage deemed adequate after thousands are caught out The Traffic Penalty Tribunal has ruled in favour of South Tyneside Council following an appeal against a fine on Edinburgh Road

The York Press

• Locomotive from new Paddington film set to visitPADDINGTON fans will have a chance to see the steam loco which appears in the bear’s latest movie when it comes to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway next year.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Safety inspection cancels Greater Anglia trains between Thorpe-Le-Soken and Walton-on-the-Naze in EssexNo trains are currently able to run on a rural rail line in north Essex because engineers are carrying out a safety inspection of the track.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Interim chief executive named for Cambridgeshire’s troubled local enterprise partnershipAn interim chief executive has been appointed to lead the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough local enterprise partnership.

Other Regional Press

• Concerns over possible delays to Heads of the Valleys schemeBUSINESSES along the A465 Heads of the Valleys road are suffering as a result of delays to a project converting the busy road into a dual carriageway, a Gwent AM has claimed.
• Questions raised over Arriva's withdrawal from Welsh rail bidQUESTIONS have been raised over the decision by Arriva Trains Wales to drop out of bidding to continue to run rail services in south Wales from next year.
• Eye experts call for drivers to have compulsory sight tests every 10 yearsDRIVERS should face compulsory sight tests every 10 years to stay on the road, leading eye experts have said.

Buying Business Travel

• Egyptair to buy 12 Bombardier aircraftAirline has purchasing rights for up to 24 planes
• MAG traffic hit by Monarch failureBut group continues to see growth

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• FirstGroup announce half-yearly results FirstGroup have announced their half-yearly results for the six months to 30 September 2017, with overall trading for the Group in the first half consistent with plans outlined at start of the financial year.  Financial summary • Group revenue +8.1% including new SWR rail franchise from 20 August and favourable foreign exchange; excluding these, Group revenue was +0.9% • Adjusted1 operating profit flat, with solid trading performances and favourable foreign exchange offset by c.£6m impact of severe North American hurricanes, mainly on First Transit’s three contra...

Rail Technology Magazine

• MPs ask for views on CP6 funding structures by DecemberThe Transport Select Committee is today launching an inquiry into Britain’s rail infrastructure, focusing on Network Rail’s use of public investment. This inquiry comes on the back of transport secretary Chris Grayling announcing that his department has allocated £48bn of...
• OLE installed on Midland Main Line route for first time in 40 yearsNetwork Rail’s Orange Army has reached a major milestone this week as overhead line masts for electrification were installed on the London to Corby route for the first time in over 40 years as part of the Midland Main Line electrification programme. Engineers laid 40 new masts along the...
• Merseyrail boss takes up top job at West Midlands TrainsJan Chaudhry-van der Velde has been appointed new managing director of West Midlands Trains Ltd, taking up the job from the same role at Merseyrail. The new operator, which will take over the West Midlands Rail franchise on 10 December, is a joint venture between JR East, Mitsui, and Abellio...
• HS2 Ltd names new HR directorNeil Hayward has been appointed as HS2 Ltd’s new HR director. With over 20 years’ experience under his belt, Hayward has held a number of senior human resources positions in the public and private sector – most recently as group people director with the Post Office. Welcoming...
• Looking back over HS1, 10 years onWhile the HS2 project continues to gain ground and press ahead with major contracts despite recent staffing controversies, today sees its older, considerably smaller sibling turn 10 years old. HS1, the line running between St Pancras International and the Channel Tunnel, was completed at a total...

Railway Gazette

• Increasing capacity on the BAM and Trans-Siberian routesRUSSIA: A programme to increase capacity on the Trans-Siberian and Baikal – Amur Magistral routes...

Aviation Industry

• Airbus to deploy mixed reality training on JAL’s incoming A350 XWBsAirbus, Japan Airlines (JAL) and JAL Engineering are planning to introduce mixed reality training—involving Microsoft’s HoloLens and immersive headsets—for mechanics and crew training on JAL’s incoming fleet of Airbus A350 XWBs. read more
• IATA DG: Pre-flight security interviews should be government functionThe US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is asking airlines around the world to take on a government function by mandating that carriers conduct pre-flight security interviews, IATA DG and CEO Alexandre de Juniac said. read more
• Boeing bullish on Middle East aircraft demand Boeing said Middle East airlines will need 3,350 new aircraft over the next 20 years valued at $730 billion. read more

Other News Sources

• Highways England promising 'smoother, more reliable journeys'... by installing traffic lights on one of the UK's busiest motorways Could traffic lights soon be installed on some of Surrey's own motorways - the M3, M23 or dare we even suggest it, the M25?