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

Tuesday, 25 July 2017

BBC News

• 'Responsible customers' can take licensed firearms on SleeperRupert Soames tweeted on the matter after the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) raised concerns about ScotRail's ban on guns.
• Working overnight at one of London’s busiest Tube stationsThe Travel Show goes behind the scenes at Oxford Circus Tube station in the early hours.
• FTSE 100 lower as airline shares fallAirline shares fall as comments from Ryanair raise the prospect of a price war this summer.
• Ryanair makes 'non-binding' offer for AlitaliaThe Italian airline could be wound up unless a buyer can be found by the autumn.
• Ryanair warns of airline fares war this summerThe airline says it might cut fares as much as 9% on some routes as competition intensifies.
• Crossrail 2: City mayors criticise government backingGreater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham says the go-ahead for London will cause

Financial Times

• London’s £30bn Crossrail 2 project moves a step forwardGovernment to support railway line as long as private sector pays half construction cost
• Ryanair bids for Alitalia ahead of tender launchCarrier confirms it has submitted non-binding offer as it reports 55% rise in profits
• Ryanair: altitude sicknessValuation of Europe’s leading low-cost carrier already incorporates plenty of hope
• The UK government is losing ambition and drive in the northUpgrading rail infrastructure is vital for rebalancing the economy, writes Sebastian Payne
• Uber and Deliveroo to face Commons grilling, Rachel Reeves warnsNew head of business committee to focus on working conditions in gig economy

The Guardian

• UK’s rail network suffering from lack of joined-up thinking [Letters]Readers respond to news of scrapped rail electrification plans and the folly of HS2
• VW calls crisis meeting to discuss EU cartel inquiry, source saysGerman auto industry accused of collusion after claims VW, Audi, Porsche, Mercedes and BMW discussed pricing at meetingsThe whiff of scandal around the German car manufacturing industry may be set to intensify, as Volkswagen prepares to hold a top-level meeting to discuss allegations that carmakers colluded to bring down the cost of components – including some used to control diesel emissions.Volkswagen confirmed it is to hold a special supervisory board meeting on Wednesday but declined to give further details. A source familiar with the matter told Reuters the meeting would address claims it...
• Transport secretary's backing for Crossrail 2 sparks anger outside LondonChris Grayling’s support for rail line prompts claims government has abandoned ambitions to rebalance economyThe transport secretary, Chris Grayling, has declared his support for Crossrail 2, alleviating fears in London that the project could be shelved but sparking anger outside the capital after he announced last week that rail electrification schemes would be cut elsewhere.
• EasyJet to hire more than 1,000 cabin crew staffBudget airline announces largest cabin crew intake in its 21-year history, taking total to 8,100EasyJet has announced the largest cabin crew intake in its 21-year history, with plans to hire more than 1,000 staff. More than 1,200 men and women will be given permanent and fixed-term positions at the budget airline. This will increase its total number of cabin crew to 8,100.Earlier this year, the Luton-based carrier revealed that it was recruiting more than 450 pilots and providing opportunities for its first officers to be promoted to captaincy roles. Continue reading...

The Independent

• Why Northerners are in a huff about London’s Crossrail project It is more than 180 years since Stephenson’s Rocket – with its smokestack chimney and wooden wheels – began carrying passengers from Liverpool to Manchester on the world’s first first inter-city train line.
• Japan encourages remote working trials to combat burnout and overcrowding during 2020 OlympicsPlans to introduce a more flexible working culture might not just lead to less busy roads around the 2020 Olympic Games
• Ryanair challenges Transport Secretary to explain 'how it's going to be right on Brexit night'Ryanair's finance chief has lambasted the lack of progress on aviation rules after Brexit, saying: “We’re hearing an awful lot about it all be right on the night. But nobody can actually tell me how it’s going to be right on the night.”

City AM

• Ryanair tables non-binding offer for Italy's flag carrier AlitaliaIrish airline Ryanair confirmed today it has made a non-binding offer for Italian airline Alitalia, which went into administration in May.
• Channel tunnel operator Eurotunnel remains positive on post-Brexit UK prospectsChannel tunnel operator Eurotunnel reiterated a target for underlying profit of €530m (£474m) for this year as it revealed an optimistic view on business in the UK.
• Night czar Amy Lame plans London-wide women's night safety charter to help cut down on harassmentLondon's night czar Amy Lame has unveiled plans to publish a women's night safety charter in the next year, for venues, clubs and businesses to sign up to, and develop measures to combat harassment.

Daily Record

• Rail bosses slammed for targeting children with unbearable high pitch noiseOpponents says the anti-loitering device discriminates against under 25s because it affects all young people, not just those causing trouble.
• Troon train booze ban as cops and rail bosses fear repeat of teen beach chaos as Scotland sweltersWith temperatures soaring to 25 degrees in Glasgow, police want to avoid similar scenes to last week's when 6,000 teenagers descended upon the beach.

Mail Online

• Backlash in Hong Kong over China rail linkA plan for mainland border staff to be stationed on Hong Kong soil as part of a new rail link to China sparked a backlash Tuesday as concern grows about Beijing's reach into the city.
• Ryanair accuses families of making toddlers drag suitcases The budget airline said that some of its passengers were taking advantage of its ‘generous’ allowances and it might have to increase checks at boarding gates.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Fresh fears for prospects of electrifying Transpennine and Calder Valley rail lines as schemes face the axeTHE Government's North-South divide on transport spending has been branded a "national scandal", after the future of a key trans-Pennine rail upgrade was plunged into doubt.

London Evening Standard

• RMT union demands inquiry into 'disastrous' job cuts on London Underground after man dies at stationThe RMT union is calling for an independent inquiry into "disastrous" job cuts on London Underground following the death of a passenger.
• Waterloo station delays: Travel chaos continues through rush hour as unfixed track problems cripple servicesTravel chaos for passengers travelling through Waterloo mainline station continued on Monday evening after an ongoing track fault crippled services during the morning peak.
• Pilots welcome Government crackdown on drones after spike in near misses at HeathrowPilots have welcomed a Government crackdown on rules for flying drones amid a spike in potentially catastrophic near misses with passenger planes at Heathrow airport.

Manchester Evening News

• Billions for London, uncertainty in Manchester - Tory broken promises over rail are an insult to our cityTwo years ago ministers promised a fully electrified Manchester to Leeds rail line would be ‘at the heart’ of the Northern Powerhouse.
• When will Metrolink stop breaking down? New operators promise a brighter future following their first weekend of chaos

The York Press

• Train move ‘slap in face’ for York YORK rail passengers will lose out after it emerged that part of the TransPennine route will not be electrified, an MP has claimed.

Wales Online

• 'Sort it out!' Passenger groups' plea to council over Cardiff bus station farce The new interchange was supposed to open next summer

Yorkshire Post

• Government credibility will be shattered if it breaks its promises on northern transport links “We have no intention of suddenly throwing away all the commitments we have made. There will be a new flavour to the manifesto when it comes, of course there will be, but the reality is that we’ve made promises and we endeavour to keep our promises.”
• Leeds Bradford Airport launches unique 'travel bucket list' flights to Arctic cityLeeds Bradford Airport is to offer specially chartered flights to a top 'travel bucket list' destination.

Cambridge News

• New technology to reduce fatalities on Cambridgeshire's level crossingsThe new technology will alert people using mobile phones they are approaching the tracks

Get West London

• New director of Back Heathrow claims expansion will 'effectively eradicate youth unemployment in west London'Parmajit Dhanda believes an expansion will be hugely beneficial to the local community

Sleaford Standard

• Crossrail funding angers North mayors after electrification cutsGreater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham says the region won't take the decision to cut rail electrification plans "lying down".

Other Regional Press

• Teesside rails electrification plans 'at risk', claims MPPlans to scrap the electrification of key lines could have 'ramifications' for the Northallerton to Teesport line, claims Andy McDonald
• Longer train journeys ‘not good news for passengers’, says West Norfolk MP Passengers are being urged to back up criticism of plans for longer rail journeys between West Norfolk and London before a public consultation closes this week.
• Does Virgin Trains have a platform to extend London service to Cleethorpes?Talks have signalled that there could be a possibility of Virgin Trains running a London to Cleethorpes service by extending at least one service from Lincoln
• The newly refurbished TransPennine Express trains that could be heading to Middlesbrough soonTransPennine Express will eventually refurbish all 51 of its trains, some of which run from Middlesbrough Station
• South West Norfolk MP Elizabeth Truss urges public to join consultation on new Fen Line timetablePassengers are being urged to have their say on changes to the King’s Lynn to London rail timetable, which could see 10 minutes added to the journey.
• Rail services between Newport and Cardiff to be reduced for up to two months RAIL services between Newport and Cardiff will be reduced for over two months to allow for electrification upgrades.
• Crossrail 2 to go ahead after backing from Transport SecretaryCrossrail 2 will go ahead after a “productive meeting” between the Transport Secretary Chris Grayling and the Mayor of London last week.
• Stopping distances in the Highway Code are wrong says road safety charityBrake says drivers need far longer to think and react

Buying Business Travel

• Ryanair puts Brexit ‘contingency’ plans in placeAirline concerned about “uncertainty” over UK-EU flights from 2019
• First class could be axed on commuter trainsTransport secretary wants to reduce the number of first-class carriages
• Bidders line up for Alitalia saleReports say that airline’s administrators have received 10 bids

Rail Technology Magazine

• RSG partners with RDG to give supply chain clearer and more independent voiceA new partnership between the Rail Supply Group (RSG) and the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) has today been announced with the aim of co-ordinating shared objectives and giving the supply chain a stronger voice. The move will strengthen relationships between the two organisations and will look to...
• Devolved rail bodies boast better performance and satisfactionDevolved rail networks have driven improvements in performance, reliability and passenger satisfaction since transport powers were handed to local regions from Whitehall, it has been claimed. Based on these findings, a new report released by the Urban Transport Group, called Rail Devolution...
• Five more Class 319 bi-modes expected in Wales next yearThe Welsh government has this week announced that it will add five extra four-carriage trains to boost rolling stock provision and capacity in the country. The Class 319 flex bi-mode trains have been funded with £1.9m investment from the Welsh government, supported by £1m of extra...

Railway Gazette

• Studies still underway for trans-Pennine electrificationUK: No decision has been taken on the scope of the project to electrify the trans-Pennine route from Stalybridge near Manchester to Leeds, York and Selby, the Department for Transport told Railway Gazette on July 24.

Railway Gazette

• Work begins to electrify CaltrainUSA: California Governor Jerry Brown was among those present at a ceremony at Millbrae station on...

Aviation Industry

• Ryanair reports 55% net profit jump in 1QIreland-based low-cost carrier (LCC) Ryanair reported a 55% jump in net profit for the first quarter of its 2018 financial year, with the post-tax figure rising to €397 million ($453 million), compared to €256 million a year ago. read more
• US removes all PED restrictions on all US-bound flightsAll personal electronic device (PED) restrictions for flights to the US have been lifted by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which said airlines and airports around the world are complying with new security requirements for all US-bound flights. read more
• EasyJet to recruit more than 1,200 new cabin crew UK low-cost carrier (LCC) easyJet will recruit more than 1,200 new permanent- and fixed-term cabin crew positions—the largest cabin crew intake in its 21-year history—as the LCC continues to grow. read more
• FAA fines Frontier, American & Delta for consumer protection violationsThe US Department of Transportation (DOT) fined American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Frontier Airlines July 21 for violations of DOT consumer protection rules that occurred between 2014 and 2015. read more

Green Miscellany

• An illuminated halo for your bicycleWhile the evening are still long, you can afford to be a bit more creative with your bike lights. And in any case, your bicycle does such a good job of keeping you fit, reducing congestion and safeguarding the environment that it deserves its very own halo. The VeloHalo uses loops of LED lights to transform your wheels into ethereal… The post An illuminated halo for your bicycle appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• TRAIN STATION COFFEE GROUNDS RECYCLING BRANCHES OUT FURTHER TO FUEL HOMESA coffee recycling partnership between Network Rail and bio-bean which reprocesses the waste from coffee into Coffee Logs, a fuel for the home, is set to expand across the UK, and has received a Highly-Commended award for the Circular Economy Project of the Year at the BusinessGreen Leaders Awards, and was also shortlisted for recognition at the National Recycling Awards.
• Mesmerising flight path video reveals south east airspace to be one of the 'busiest' globally A two-hour flight path visualisation from Monday (July 24) shows hundreds of aircraft circling the South East
• Crossrail 2 construction to be fair for taxpayer claims Chris Grayling London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Secretary of State Chris Grayling will work together in making sure a Surrey rail line will remain 'affordable'