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

Friday, 16 October 2015

BBC News

• What's it like to answer angry tweets about trains?Every day people use social media to vent their spleen about delays, overcrowding and cancellations on the rail network. So who are the people responding to these irate comments?
• Land to be set aside for new stationLand for a new railway station in Cheshire is to be earmarked by a council following a campaign.
• No timetable for London's Night TubeThe London mayor backs away from a timetable for the opening of the Night Tube service.
• 'Poor' London trains takeover call"Poor" train services in London should be moved from central to local government control, a report by City Hall has claimed.
• Why is Ford's hi-tech factory using ostrich feathers?Take a look inside car maker Ford's hi-tech 'mega factory'

Financial Times

• Air France suspends staff over attackFrench flag-carrier takes action after labour grievances spill over into staff scuffle

The Guardian

• Abandoned airports around the world – in picturesUrban growth, sporting events, financial crashes and political turmoil have left a trail of city airports and airfields deserted around the globe. While some lie abandoned or face redevelopment, others are being creatively reusedFlushing: New York’s forgotten airport – and most contested development site Continue reading...

The Herald

• Heathrow in private talks with SNP over third runwayEXECUTIVES from Heathrow are in private talks with the SNP leadership in their bid to win support for the controversial plan to create a £19 billion third runway at London airport.

The Telegraph

• Why do Tube unions hate ordinary Londoners?Delaying the Night Tube is at the expense of millions of low paid workers who can only dream of the pay and conditions that Tube staff enjoy

Times Online

• £6bn ‘black hole’ in Heathrow expansion (subscription)Plans to expand Heathrow airport were dealt a blow yesterday when the government confirmed it would not pay for new road and rail links, leaving a £6 billion “black hole” in the proposals.

City AM

• London airport expansion: Gatwick confronts Heathrow over £6bn “black hole” in funding for third runwayGatwick has called on Heathrow to explain how it intends to fill a £6bn “black hole” in funding for its third runway. The airport said its rival had not factored in the costs of nearby road and rail improvements associated with the expansion, and that this had resulted in a large gap in financing.

Mail Online

• Tesla Model S is waiting for approval for 'autopilot' capacity on British roads Autopilot – which only will feature on the firm’s Model S saloon – is recommended for use on motorways and allows the car to automatically change lanes.

Bolton News

• Key road to open one month EARLY after Network Rail completes bridge works ahead of schedule A KEY road which has been closed since July as part of work to electrify the railway in the borough will reopen today — four weeks ahead of schedule.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Arriva Trains Wales drivers' strike now backed by RMT The union has joined ASLEF in announcing a 48 hour action next week that will hit train services in North Wales

London Evening Standard

• Extra Heathrow runway ‘would give just 4-hour break from noise’Tens of thousands of Londoners could face a respite from noisy planes of just four hours of their waking day if Heathrow expands, MPs have been told.

Manchester Evening News

• Planes around Manchester Airport suffering from at least one laser pen attack a weekIt's extremely dangerous thing to do, says bosses as they reveal  a dozen incidents in three months

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• The Northern Powerhouse is a challenge and an opportunity - let's take it Journal business editor Graeme Whitfield on why the the North has embraced the Government's Powerhouse agenda

Wales Online

• Arriva Trains Wales drivers to strike for 48 hours in pay dispute Members of the RMT union working are set to go on strike next week with the company accused of 'dragging its heels' over a revised pay offer

Yorkshire Post

• All change at North Yorkshire Moors RailwayHe has been responsible for a succession of major developments which has seen a rail route carving through some of Yorkshire’s most beautiful countryside become the most successful heritage line in the world.

Blackpool Gazette

• ‘Enterprise zone is now our final hope’A year ago today Blackpool Airport faced its darkest hour as owners Balfour Beatty pulled the plug on an operation it said was costing it £1.5m in losses every year.

Bucks Free Press

• Angry commuters slam 'hopeless' South Bucks bus service Angry commuters in Marlow have slammed the ‘hopeless’ bus service, as concerns rise for the elderly and school children as winter looms.

Daventry Express

• New train station planned near Daventry International Rail Freight TerminalA new rail station near DIRFT has been given the green light by Warwickshire County Council.

Other Regional Press

• Digital tags fitted at West Yorkshire bus stops for live bus timesThousands of bus stops across the region are being fitted with digital tags for passengers to scan for live departure information on mobile phones.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Swindon hub officially opened by TNTTNT has opened a new logistics hub in Swindon to service firms in the south-west of England. This could be a major boost for the estimated 467,000 local organisations, as the new facility brings with it dramatic improvements to delivery services. Companies operating all over the UK stand to benefit too, as the new facility frees capacity elsewhere in TNT's network. Purpose-built sorting technology is the main feature of the state-of-the-art 101-door building - and this technology is capable of processing more than 650 items per minute.� Managing director of TNT UK Marianne Culver said the Sw...

Rail Magazine

• TfL plans Camden Town rebuildTransport for London is planning to rebuild Camden Town Underground station
• Perry tours Siemens site at ChippenhamClaire Perry visited Siemens Rail Automation’s offices in Chippenham

Railnews

• Three Bridges depot opens its doors One of two major depots for future Thameslink services has been opened in Sussex by transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin. The depot at Three Bridges, which has created 150 jobs, is planned to be followed by the second new Thameslink depot at Hornsey in July next year. The first two Class 700 units have already arrived from Germany at Three Bridges, and many more will now follow over the next few months.

Aviation Industry

• Delta cements Heathrow presenceUS carrier buys six Heathrow slots

Other News Sources

• Network Rail warns of insufficient capacity for ECML open-accessBRITISH infrastructure manager Network Rail (NR) has cast doubt over plans for more open-access inter-city passenger services on the East Coast Main Line (ECML), claiming there is insufficient capacity on the London - Edinburgh route to accommodate the required eight long-distance trains per hour.
• The flaws in the case for HeathrowThe Airports Commission model was flawed and risks steering the Prime Minister towards the wrong answer—and if Heathrow is picked, saddling customers with higher costs
• Department for Transport launches air quality innovation grantsThe UK Department for Transport is calling for proposals on “novel ideas for dealing with air quality challenges resulting from transport”, having launched the first of two funding schemes this week (October 12).
• Priority Pass unveils refreshed benefits and appsAirport lounge access provider launches new website and digital membership