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

Monday, 20 November 2017

BBC News

• London buses to be powered by coffeeOil extracted from the city's annual 200,000 tonnes of coffee waste is blended with diesel.
• Jaguar Land Rover tests driverless cars on public roadsThe UK's biggest car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover is testing driverless cars on public roads.
• Hammond: Driverless cars will be on UK roads by 2021The chancellor says the country must embrace new technologies in order to succeed.

Department for Transport

• Record boost to R&D and new transport fund to help build economy fit for the futureThe UK will see its biggest ever increase in research and development investment and a new fund to transform transport connections within city regions across the country, the PM announced on Monday 20 November.

The Herald

• New lifeline for multi-million pound Glasgow Airport tram-train linkFALTERING plans to connect Glasgow Airport to the rail network have received a major boost after the Transport Minister confirmed the scheme retains his full support.
• Have Glasgow political tribes reached a truce on over airport rail link?So Scotland’s transport minister has given his backing to the Glasgow Airport Access Project or GAAP. Well, kinda.
• Bus journeys drop as Scots change habits of a lifetimeRISING car use, congestion, changing shopping habits and reduced government investment have all contributed to a six per cent decline in bus use in Scotland over the last four years, a new report has claimed.

The Telegraph

• Rival Heathrow expansion consortium upbeat as Government opens door to competitionthe Government looks to have given a rival bid to develop Heathrow’s third runway a lift after stating for the first time it welcomed competition in the construction of the nation’s airports.

Times Online

• Theresa May to pledge billions for research into new technology [Subscription]Theresa May will commit the government today to a ten-year multibillion pound programme to reverse Britain’s underspending on technological innovation and make the economy “fit for the future” after Brexit.
• Kevin Maher: Putting numberplates on bikes — what good would come of that? [subscription]I want to ride my bicycle,” sang Freddie Mercury in the Queen hit Bicycle Race from 1978, a paean to the liberating joys of two-wheeled self-propelled travel.

City AM

• Easyjet set to land profitable year as boss McCall disembarksEasyjet boss Carolyn McCall will present her final results on Tuesday before bowing out and taking over as ITV chief executive.
• Aerospace sector faces £1.5bn Brexit bill from customs checks, says leading MP committeeBrexit could cost Britain’s aerospace sector £1.5bn from increased customs checks, says a leading committee of MPs.
• Theresa May unveils spending plan for research and transport connectionsTheresa May will today visit the West Midlands to launch spending commitments for research and development, and transport links between cities.
• Wizz Air has just announced big expansion plans for London and five new routes to Cyprus, Slovakia and EstoniaHungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air has this morning announced it is ramping up its presence at its London base in Luton, and unveiled five new routes spanning Cyprus, Slovakia and Estonia.

Birmingham Mail

• Jeremy Clarkson issues driverless cars warning amid budget plans to boost sector The Grand Tour host said he drove an autonomous car recently which twice over a distance of 50 miles made mistakes which could have killed him
• Theresa May announces £250 million for major Midland Metro extension and moreWest Midlands will get £250 million for transport, including a major expansion of the Midland Metro from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill in the Black Country

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• High-speed rail campaign "will continue" as key transport board is presented with confidential plansDRAFT proposals for a new high-speed rail line across the Pennines have been put to a key board of transport bosses.
• Passengers asked to get involved with latest designs for £17m Forster Square station revampMEMBERS of the public will be asked how they would like a major £17m revamp of Bradford Forster Square station to look.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• If you're flying economy soon, DON'T watch this Airbus videoAirbus has offered a glimpse inside the luxurious cabin of one of its private jets

Liverpool Echo

• Arriva bus strike and why an argument over 2p means it will continue into next monthUnion says pay offer is 'insulting' - but Arriva insists a deal is fair

London Evening Standard

• 'Mr Smooth': Commuters hail 'Barry White of the DLR' for hilarious silky-voiced train announcementsA train announcer dubbed the "Barry White of London's transport network" has been delighting commuters with his silky voice and daily quips.
• All-night service to begin on London Overground from December 15East London's night-time economy is set for a festive surge when London Overground launches a round-the-clock weekend service ahead of Christmas, it was revealed today.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Transport Secretary ignores letter from North East MPs about the Tyne and Wear MetroIt's been four months since 10 MPs wrote to the Government about the Tyne and Wear Metro but they still haven't had a reply

Wales Online

• Fears of £1.2bn bill for just 12 miles of dual carriageway That could make the next phase of the A465 Heads of the Valleys road widening project more expensive than the M4 relief road

Peterborough Telegraph

• Inquiry to look at new railway proposals in PeterboroughA public inquiry looking at plans to create a new stretch of railway track in Peterborough will begin next week after objections were raised by residents.

Other Regional Press

• Minister quizzed over rail contractQUESTIONS 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.
• If you travel between Slaithwaite and Marsden you need to read this!Public meeting to discuss changes to rail travel from May 2018