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

Friday, 19 January 2018

BBC News

• Cardiff rail upgrade value questioned by MP Glyn DaviesA senior Tory MP has questioned the worth of electrifying the Great Western rail line from London to Cardiff.
• Carillion's collapse may delay Midland Metro workBosses say the multimillion-pound Midland tram extension depends on other infrastructure projects.
• Detroit Motor Show: What the cars of the future may look likeA range of concept cars and trucks are showcased at the 2018 Detroit motor show.
• Justine Greening hits out at Heathrow expansion plansFormer Education Secretary Justine Greening has criticised the government over its plans to expand Heathrow.
• HIV positive man can become a commercial pilotAviation officials reverse a decision not to grant him a medical certificate to train with an airline.
• First Carillion task force meeting 'constructive'The group will co-ordinate efforts to support business and workers affected, government says
• Superjumbo jet future secured by Emirates orderA big order from Emirates airline saves the A380 after Airbus threatened to stop making the plane.

Financial Times

• Uber told to focus on US and Europe by SoftBankCar-booking company’s biggest investor also says it needs to ‘restock human capital’
• No top ministers met Carillion in wake of profit alertCollapsed contractor still awarded six government contracts in late 2017
• Ryanair strikes pay rise deal with UK air crewAgreement includes London’s Stansted, but not crews on the continent

The Guardian

• Bristol investigates underground system to ease congestionBristol is investigating the possibility of building an underground system to ease the city’s growing congestion problems.
• Four cities, 1 hour, 1.3m people: new northern rail plan revealedNorthern Powerhouse Rail – a fast line between Bradford, Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool – could create 850,000 jobs, says transport body
• Environmental protesters at HS2 site threatened with injunctionLetters served at Hillingdon site say government plans to seek high court injunctions to prevent further demonstrations

The Scotsman

• Plans to extend MOT-free period for cars ditched Government plans to extend the period before a car’s first MOT have been abandoned over safety fears.
• Alastair Dalton: ScotRail Alliance needs to work on its relationshipA year ago, there was a political storm over the ScotRail Alliance’s poor performance.

Times Online

• People more scared of getting on their bike [Subscription]The number of people taking to the road by bicycle has dropped amid mounting concern over traffic levels.

City AM

• HS2 has unveiled the first pictures for the major Colne Valley viaduct including "noise-reduction barriers"HS2 today unveiled plans for the 3.4km Colne Valley viaduct in Buckinghamshire, which it said will be one of the longest in the UK, aiming to address key criteria such as fitting the landscape and maintaining views.
• Train drivers' union says the RMT is blocking four-day week plans for Tube driversUnions are divided over the prospect of a four-day working week for Tube drivers, with Aslef saying the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has blocked the proposals.
• Crossrail hands over site to Derwent London for retail revamp and new West End theatre over Tottenham Court Road stationCrossrail has handed over a West End site to developer Derwent London for work to get underway to develop a major £260m project over Tottenham Court Road station encompassing offices, retail and a new theatre.
• Rail industry income from passenger fares has risen by nearly 20 per cent in five yearsThe rail industry’s income from passenger fares has surged by nearly a fifth in five years, according to figures out today from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).
• Balfour Beatty boosted by US tax reforms after blow from Carillion collapseAfter revealing it would take a financial hit from Carillion's collapse earlier this week, Balfour Beatty delivered more welcome news to investors this morning, saying it expects a boost from US tax reforms.
• Mayor Sadiq Khan's concerns over fresh Crossrail 2 delays revealed in letter to the chancellorLondon mayor Sadiq Khan’s concerns over fresh delays to the £31bn Crossrail 2 project have been revealed in a letter sent to chancellor Philip Hammond.
• Sir John Armitt named chair of the National Infrastructure Commission after Lord Adonis resignation over BrexitSir John Armitt has today been appointed chair of the National Infrastructure Commission, after Lord Adonis resigned from the role in December.
• This Tube map shows how busy each London Underground station is during the dayA new Tube map has been created to show how many passengers enter and leave the capital's Underground stations throughout the day.

Birmingham Mail

• Ryanair pilots vote to accept 20 per cent pay rise The increase will be paid next week after being accepted in bases including Stansted

Birmingham Post

• 'Almost no exposure' to rail sector if companies collapse like Carillion Transport minister moves to reassure Parliament that projects such as HS2 will be protected if other contractors follow the same fate as Carillion
• Birmingham woman Nusrat Ghani makes history as first female Muslim Government Minister in the Commons Nusrat Ghani, born and bought up in Birmingham, made history when she spoke in the Commons in her new role

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• New cycle rides for women aim to boost confidenceA NEW series of cycle rides is to begin aimed at helping women build confidence on bikes.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• The Airbus A380 deal that may have just SAVED the superjumbo The future of the giant airliner had been under serious threat which would have impacted on jobs at Broughton

London Evening Standard

• New interactive Tube map reveals how busy each London Underground station is at peak timesA data enthusiast has created an interactive map of the Tube network which shows how many thousands of passengers pass through the stations each day.
• Tube delays: Trespasser at Aldgate East causes chaos on four major London Underground lines A trespasser at a busy east London station has caused huge disruption on four major Tube lines.
• London taxi protest: London Bridge brought to a standstill as cab drivers demonstrate against TfL and UberLondon Bridge was brought to a standstill on Thursday night as black cab drivers protested against TfL and Uber.

Bucks Free Press

• PICTURES: New images show how Heathrow Airport could look if new runway given the go-aheadNew images have emerged of how Heathrow Airport might look should its third runway expansion get Government sign-off later this year.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Villagers defeat school bus cut which would have seen children walking six miles to schoolVillagers have defeated a proposed school bus cut which would have meant children walking six miles to and from school alongside a fast and busy road.
• Fresh delays on Greater Anglia trains as engineers find another tree blocking line between Stowmarket and DissCommuters using Greater Anglia trains in Suffolk and Essex are facing further disruption after the region’s rail network was brought to its knees by yesterday’s storm.

North Wales Live

• ECHO Environment Awards sponsor Merseyrail on track for major energy savings over coming yearsNew £460m fleet for 2020 will contribute a 20 per cent improvement

Other Regional Press

• Councillor claims freight is key to establishing Levenmouth rail linkAs transport officials continue to work with Fife Council to develop a robust business case for the project, a local councillor said establishing a demand for freight trains was key to its success.
• Stewart Paterson's Holyrood Week: Time for bus fare rises to be capped like trains' areIMAGINE the outrage if ScotRail announced it was hiking train fares by more than 10%.
• Colchester bus lane camera set to go live... for the first time in 10 yearsBUS lane cameras which have never been turned on are set to go live for the the first time.
• Transport bosses 'go loopy' over one-way system for OxfordTRANSPORT bosses have 'gone loopy' with a new one-way system plan that will ban buses from a number of key city centre streets, according to campaigners.
• Dewsbury rail station getting ticket gates to tackle fare dodgersTransPennine Express has installed new ticket gates at Manchester Airport and Dewsbury rail station

Bus and Coach Buyer

• The age of ‘the commute’The ‘commute’ to suggest the daily trip to work is among the more modern words in the English lexicon.
• When coaches aren’t attached to locosIs it in my imagination, or is there a concerted effort by train operation companies to ensure that a ‘rail replacement service’ is as bad a service as they can provide?
• Norman Baker leaves Big LemonThe Big Lemon’s MD and former Transport Minister, Norman Baker, has left the company having ‘achieved goals’ Former Transport Minister Norman Baker has left The Big Lemon, having become its Managing Director in March 2017. He says he will pursue new challenges, including focusing more time on writing transport columns.

Buses Magazine

• Simulation technology helps build case for DRT shuttles in BarcelonaThe Cooperative Automotive Research Network (CARNET) has used simulation technology from Germany’s PTV Group to create the first in-depth multimodal model of the Barcelona Metropolitan Area, which includes all public transport modes as well as private vehicles in an effort to meet growing mobility demands.
• Stagecoach provides hospitals with bus stops to help dementia patientsFollowing the successful response to a replica bus stop being placed in the garden of a Lincoln care home for patients suffering with dementia, the NHS is keen to introduce the idea into hospitals in Grimsby and Scunthorpe.
• New fleet for Stagecoach South East’s coastal Wave routeStagecoach has launched a new fleet of 12 Alexander Dennis Enviro400-bodied Scania N280UD double-deckers on its Wave-branded 99 service between Hastings and Eastbourne.
• Eminox upgrades over 400 London buses for low-emission zonesEminox has upgraded over 400 buses to help Arriva, Go Ahead and Tower Transit meet the requirements for accessing the Low Emission Bus Zones being introduced by Transport for London by 2020.

Coach and Bus Week

• First Bus selects Future Platforms to develop new mobile offeringFirst Bus has selected app and web developer Future Platforms to develop and evolve the mobile experience for its customers.
• Building for the futureThe team at Pelican Bus & Coach talks to Andy Izatt about the year ahead which is expected to be a particularly significant one for the business
• Baidu announces autonomous software and minibus partnership with King LongAt the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Wednesday, January 10, Chinese tech company Baidu announced an update to its Apollo autonomous driving software and revealed that the software will be used in mass-market vehicles that will start production this year, Business Insider reported.
• Stand no truckOur coaching insider highlights the challenge facing the haulage industry in London following new proposals to introduce a Direct Vision Standard
• HCT Group acquires Manchester Community TransportManchester Community Transport (MCT) has been acquired by HCT Group.
• Reading launches gas buses on flagship route 17The £5.1m fleet of 17 high-specification biogas double-deckers will be fully in service in February
• Telford & Wrekin Council renews fleet with Mellor OrionsTelford & Wrekin Council has taken delivery of five new Mellor Orion minibuses as part of a vehicle replacement programme.

Rail Magazine

• Early opening of Toton Hub to stimulate regenerationThe planned HS2 station at Toton could open several years ahead of schedule, and before the arrival of HS2 Phase 2b in 2033.
• IEP use to be decided by operatorsIt is the responsibility of franchise bidders to specify how Intercity Express Programme (IEP) trains are used, according to Lords transport spokesman Baroness Sugg.
• Grayling: "I want the first hydrogen train to operate on our rail network within a short period of time"The prospect of hydrogen-powered trains has moved a step closer after Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling said their introduction was “a priority”.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Nottingham tram operator records losses of £48m following network expansionThe operator of Nottingham’s tram network has recorded huge losses that grew from £15m to £48.5m in the year to 31 March 2017. In accounts released today by Tramlink Nottingham, it was found that the company recorded the loss despite turnover increasing from £44.5m to...
• Next phase of £150m Wolverhampton tram extension to move forward in MarchThe next phase of Wolverhampton’s £150m tram extension will kick off in March, it was revealed today. In a statement, the Midland Metro Alliance, which operates the light rail network on behalf of the West Midlands Combined Authority, announced that it will get on with work on the...
• NR to upgrade bridge to strengthen services in £1m schemeNetwork Rail will strengthen a six-span railway bridge between Ely and Littleport in February to safeguard the reliable running of services in the future. The work will enable smooth running of the railway by preventing future speed restrictions that can cause delays between Ely and Kings...

Railnews

• New Transport ministers facing ‘key challenges’THE Department for Transport ministerial team consists of mostly new faces after the New Year cabinet reshuffle, although rumours that transport secretary Chris Grayling was set to be moved by Theresa May turned out to be unfounded.
• Abellio says Welsh bid has survived Carillion collapse Dutch operator Abellio has moved to quash rumours that the collapse of engineering giant Carillion could mean the end of its bid for the Wales & Borders franchise. Arriva had already announced at the end of October that it was withdrawing from what started as a four-horse race, leaving Abellio, KeolisAmey and MTR. As the extent of the Carillion fallout continued to grow, speculation also grew about the future of the Abellio bid in Wales, because Carillion had been its contracting partner.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Mandata’s app makes walk-round checks easierTransport management technology specialist Mandata has developed a smartphone app to improve the way that drivers capture and record daily vehicle checks.
• London bus deficit to hit £1.8m a dayFalling passenger numbers, increased costs and the effects of Mayor Sadiq Khan’s fares freeze means that London’s bus operating deficit is set to rise from £599m in 2016/17 to £647m - £1.8m a day - by 2022/23, admits Transport for London (TfL).
• TC accepts Just Travel closureYork-based Just Travel, which closed in the week before Christmas, has avoided attending a Public Inquiry, scheduled for 9 January.
• Van Hool EX16M begins Grand Tour of the UKLong-awaited Macedonia-built coach starts in England; separate dates for Scotland, Wales will follow

Aviation Industry

• Lufthansa implements SmartDepart fast lanes in MunichLufthansa has introduced SmartDepart gates in Munich Airport to expedite passengers flying to Dusseldorf, Berlin/Tegel, Frankfurt and Hamburg, avoiding long waits before takeoff.
• Airbus to build A380 for another decade after Emirates dealAirbus said it will continue to build the A380 for at least another decade following a commitment from Emirates Airline to add at least 20 aircraft to its backlog.
• Ryanair's UK pilot bases vote to accept pay increasesRyanair said all 15 of its UK pilot bases had voted in secret ballot to accept pay increases of up to 20%, including London Stansted Airport, which had previously rejected the offer of improved pay, with the increases to be paid in its January payroll.

Other News Sources

• Heathrow Airport’s short-lived railway stationIn our modern age, it’s almost impossible to believe that a railway station could open in London, and close just six months later, but that is what happened, in January 1998.