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

Friday, 26 January 2018

BBC News

• Bombardier: Theresa May holds talks with TrumpThe two leaders have held talks at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
• Watford Metropolitan line Tube extension in doubt, MP saysThe London mayor is now looking at
• CalMac signs up to pupils' plastic straw campaignThe ferries operator says it will ban use of plastic straws in support of the #NaeStrawatAw campaign.
• Scotland's railway stations to offer drinking waterCommuters at Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverly will be able to top-up using free water fountains.
• Glasgow-Edinburgh railway line reopened after repair work completedThe main Glasgow-Edinburgh line has been blocked for two days after a landslip at Winchburgh.

ITV News

• US trade body final ruling due in Bombardier disputeA final ruling is due in the ongoing trade dispute between aerospace giants Bombardier and Boeing.

Financial Times

• Carillion ran up debts to fill £217m dividend gapFrom 2012-16, the group paid out £376m but generated just £159m of net cash
• Airline boss tells investors to calm downSouthwest chief says price war fears are overblown but sector sell-off deepens

The Herald

• Heathrow expansion ‘gives strong cards to UK’s Brexit negotiators’Demands from airlines to use an expanded Heathrow give the UK “strong cards in our hand” for Brexit negotiations, Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has said.

City AM

• Here's when Night Tube services could come to the Docklands Light Railway (DLR)First it was the Central and Victoria Lines, joined by the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly Lines. Then in December, Night Tube services started on the London Overground too.
• Easyjet has revealed the next three travel startups for its accelerator programme with Founders FactoryEasyjet has announced the latest budding startups chosen to take part in its travel tech accelerator programme, with WeTrip, Car and Away and FlightSayer its picks.

Belfast Telegraph

• Derry's new transport hub 'will create a gateway' to North WestTranslink chief executive Chris Conway gave a progress report on the North-West Multi-Modal Transport Hub during a visit to the city yesterday.
• US trade body to make final ruling in Bombardier aircraft imports rowThe Trump administration has threatened to impose duties of 292%.

Bolton News

• MP pledges to ensure Bolton has 'resilient' transport network in new Government jobCHRIS Green has taken up a new role as a liaison between backbench MPs and Ministers in the Department for Transport. The Bolton West Conservative MP has been appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Transport.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Nicola Sturgeon regrets ‘difficult’ Edinburgh rail line closure Nicola Sturgeon has conceded rail passengers endured “difficult circumstances” after a landslide forced the closure of the main train line between Scotland’s largest cities.

Sheffield Star

• Closing Woodhead line a total disgrace Reading the double page spread on January 22, on the ambitious transport plan for the region, there is one issue that sticks out like a sore thumb, and that is the utter madness of closing the Woodhead railway line back in 1981.

Wales Online

• Transport for Wales to get bigger role beyond rail with Metro project on track says Ken SkatesBut an agreement on funding and transfer of the rail asset with the UK Government has yet to be reached

Other Regional Press

• Rail improvements on trackThe railway between Preston and Blackpool South is on track to reopen as planned on Monday (29 January).
• Latest Heathrow consultation launchedThe latest consultation on the Heathrow expansion has been published and one plan could move the M25 west by 150m.
• 'TIP OF THE ICEBERG' - Hundreds of drivers caught using mobiles despite tougher lawHUNDREDS of drivers have been caught risking lives by using mobiles on Oxfordshire’s roads – despite tougher new laws coming into effect last spring.

Bus and Coach Buyer

• York considers ‘progressive’ Clean Air ZoneCity of York Council met this week to consider approving plans for a Clean Air Zone which allows Euro III buses into the city centre.
• New licence sought for Express MotorsA woman whose family ran Express Motors which lost its license to operate bus services in Gwynedd appeared at a public inquiry, before Traffic Commissioner for Wales, Nick Jones, last week, seeking a new operator’s licence.
• Stephensons of Easingwold ceases running contractsIn short notice, Stephensons of Easingwold announced it would not be operating its North Yorkshire County Council contracts.
• Stourbridge-based Group Travel out of businessA long-established coach tour operator based in the West Midlands has ceased trading, leaving hundreds of customers facing an anxious wait to see whether they will get their money back for pre-paid holidays and excursions.

Buses Magazine

• New branding and new fleet are on the way for Network Warrington’s southern routesNetwork Warrington is planning a major revamp and relaunch of its services in south Warrington, with a new Chershire Cat brand and livery and an investment in 13 new single-deckers..
• Mega T-side launch forms part of new partnership between Lothian Buses and Exterion MediaExterion Media, Europe’s largest privately-held out-of-home advertising business, has entered into a new long-term media partnership with Lothian Buses to display advertising oin its 700-vehicle fleet.
• Borders Buses launches free mobile app with trackingBorders Buses launched its new free mobile app which allows customers to buy tickets and track bus journeys from the palm of their hand.

Rail Technology Magazine

• RMT prepares to ballot members over Tyne and Wear Metro strikesThe RMT is considering strike action on yet another network – the Tyne and Wear Metro in Newcastle. Following the union striking on Docklands Light Railway on New Year’s Eve and carrying out a string of strikes across five heavy rail operators in early January, RMT leadership said...

Railway Gazette

• World rail freight news round-upIsraeli cybersecurity start-up company Cylus has raised US$4·7m in seed funding from investors...

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Arriva Bus and Coach relaunches Van Hool's EXSupplier Arriva Bus and Coach took the Van Hool EX16M on tour last week. It’s a new departure for the Belgian builder, which has done major work to the EX range to reduce the total cost of ownership
• Getting engineers round the tableAs the IRTE launches its eighth annual Skills Challenge, it has pulled engineering directors from some of the UK's top bus businesses to talk about the challenges facing the sector
• Elcock Reisen kicks off 90th anniversary celebrationsTo launch its 90th anniversary celebrations, Telford-based Elcock Reisen has commissioned a special edition of handmade Merrythought of Ironbridge teddy bears to celebrate its roots in the historic gorge.
• Williams Coaches joins the Guild of British Coach OperatorsWilliams Coaches of Brecon has been accepted into membership of the Guild of British Coach Operators. John and Rose Williams receive their membership certificate and audit certificate of excellence from Guild Chairman. Guild Chairman Andrew Richmond says: “We are delighted to welcome another successful and respected operator into the Guild, lifting our membership to 24 companies, with two more soon to be announced.
• West Midlands’ Group Travel collapses as cash runs outIndependent coach tour operator Stourbridge-based Group Travel has collapsed after long-standing financial difficulties. The firm is not responding to enquiries.
• route 21 with Go North EastGo North East has invested £4.4m in 19 new Wright StreetDeck buses for its prestigious Newcastle-Chester-le-Street-Durham Angel 21 route.
• Target York’s diesel cars and vans, argues Greener Journeys, argues Greener JourneysThe biggest polluters, diesel cars and vans - which make up 71% of NOx emissions - compared with 6% for coaches and buses, should be targeted by York City Council, says Greener Journeys CEO Claire Haigh.
• Alternate fuels assessed: What's the best option?The debate rages on about where the bus industry goes post-diesel. The Gas Bus Alliance argues that there is only one economical option: Biomethane. Here’s why, according to its Technical Director
• Stephensons of Easingwold collapses without warningYorkshire-based Stephensons of Easingwold suddenly ceased trading over the weekend, leaving around 140 people without jobs, locals without 11 bus routes, 900 pupils on 27 routes without school transport and private hire customers in the lurch.

Aviation Industry

• Heathrow opens Public Consultation on proposed third runwayWhy are they consulting? Before it can proceed with construction, Heathrow needs to submit an application to the Planning Inspectorate for a Development Consent Order (DCO). This can only happen once Parliament has approved the National Policy Statement which is …
• African Open Skies to become effective Jan. 28The long-awaited opening of the intra-African air transport market is slated to become a reality on Jan. 28, when the African Union (AU) signs off the final rule-making after a renewed push for liberalization. read more

Other News Sources

• Trains fill up as 'services improve' PASSENGER numbers using Blackburn and Darwen railway stations have risen sharply, councillors have been told.
• Council criticised for scrapping 20mph limit after three-year trial COUNCIL bosses have been criticised for scrapping a pilot scheme 20mph speed limit in a residential area of Blackburn with Darwen borough.
• Towns 'left nothing' in transport improvement plan, Pendle peer claimsPROPOSED plans to shape the North's transport links for the next 30 years have ˜left nothing for smaller towns, it has been claimed.