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

Wednesday, 13 May 2015

BBC News

• VIDEO: Train upgrades create 30 new jobsTrain upgrades taking place in Wolverhampton are creating at least 30 new jobs, Virgin Trains says.
• Tram inquiry head seeks public helpThe man in charge of the Edinburgh tram inquiry calls for help from the public.
• Johnson will not quit over HeathrowLondon Mayor Boris Johnson says he would not resign as an MP if a third runway at Heathrow is approved - saying he would be better off staying in Parliament to fight it.
• Busiest-ever April for airportsScotland's two biggest airports experienced their busiest-ever April last month, with many people travelling over the Easter break.

Financial Times

• Heathrow concessions may sway protestersGrowing expectations that Davies Commission will recommend extra runway
• EasyJet shares fall on weak profit outlookFlight cancellations in third quarter due to air traffic control strike to trim full-year results
• UK faces first major train strike in 20 yearsRMT union says an ‘overwhelming majority’ of their 16,000 employees voted for a walkout over pay

The Guardian

• National rail strike possibility grows after RMT union ballotMembers overwhelmingly vote for action after rejecting four-year, inflation-limited pay deal from Network RailA national rail strike has moved a step closer after RMT union members voted firmly in favour of industrial action in a pay dispute with Network Rail. On a 60% turnout of the 16,000 members eligible, 80% voted to strike and 92% voted for action short of a strike, the union announced. Related: RMT members to vote on strike action after rejecting Network Rail pay offer Continue reading...
• Philadelphia train crash: at least five deaths in Amtrak derailment on 188 lineMayor describes ‘disastrous’ scene with dozens more injured in train wreck on north-eastern service between Washington DC and New YorkAt least five people were killed and dozens more injured when an Amtrak passenger train crashed in Philadelphia on Tuesday night.The Northeast Regional 188 service was carrying 243 people including five crew when it went off the rails between Washington DC and New York City. The front of the train was going into a turn when it started to shake, according to passengers.pic.twitter.com/GvooK8lq58 Continue reading...

The Herald

• Victory for cycle campaigners as petition to turn Glasgow into '20mph city' referred to council policymakers A PETITION calling for Glasgow to become Scotland's second

The Telegraph

• Millions face chaos over first Network Rail strike for 20 yearsDavid Cameron says he is 'determined' to push through tough new anti-strike laws as rail unions threaten chaos

Mail Online

• National Rail strike as RMT union votes for action over pay Hardline RMT general secretary Mick Cash, pictured, said the decision to reject the pay offer from Network Rail was an 'overwhelming mandate for action'.

The Mirror

• Striking French air traffic controllers wipe £25m off Easyjet's profitsThe budget airline had to cancel more than 600 flights last month and bookings also suffered after the Germanwings disaster in March
• Philadelphia train crash: Five dead and dozens injured after carriages overturn near major US cityThe Amtrak train was carrying 243 passengers and crew when it left the tracks near Philadelphia

Birmingham Post

• Chiltern Railways and Samara Scott join forces for Moor Street artworks The work, called Still Life, is a collection of images that have emerged from Scott’s research into landscapes

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Cabbies face insurance crackdown amid concerns over licensing loophole A CRACKDOWN has started on a licensing loophole which Council bosses believe could leave some minicab drivers not fully insured.
• Union warns further bus driver strikes lined up after talks collapse A UNION chief has warned more - and possibly longer - bus strikes could be staged in Bradford after talks to resolve a dispute with transport firm First collapsed.

London Evening Standard

• UK Rail strike: Commuters face disruption as Network Rail workers plan walkout Rail workers today voted for the first national strike in 20 years just hours after controversial laws to curb walk-outs were confirmed by the new  Business Secretary.
• Taxi drivers announce fresh protest and vow to ramp up central London blockades 'until TfL acts' The cabbies' trade association behind last month's taxi protest in Oxford Street has vowed to ramp up its blockades of central London unless TfL acts over a damning GLA report.
• Philadelphia train crash leaves five people dead and scores injured Five people were killed and at least 65 were injured after a commuter train derailed in a Philadelphia suburb in the United States last night.
• Boris Johnson warns of congestion charge at Heathrow if airport expands A congestion charging zone could be brought in around Heathrow if plans to expand the airport are given the go-ahead, Boris Johnson warned today.
• Jim Armitage: Go easy on easyJet shares, McCall’s airline is flying straight and level EasyJet’s share-price slump this morning was overdone.
• 48,000-ton cruise ship squeezes through Thames Barrier on entry to London as part of maiden voyage A massive 48,000-ton cruise ship squeezed through the Thames Barrier today as part of its maiden voyage.

Sheffield Star

• Rail staff vote to strike in row over payNetwork Rail workers threw down the first big industrial relations challenge to the Government when they voted overwhelmingly in favour of going on strike over pay.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Leeds bike library is just the ticket for cycling star LizzieOlympic cycling star Lizzie Armitstead is backing a new project that aims to get more people in Leeds to sample life in the saddle.

Yorkshire Post

• Campaign against HS2 vows to carry on the fightCampaigners have vowed to continue the fight to stop HS2 going ahead despite the fact that a Conservative election victory should ensure a smooth path for the £50 billion high-speed rail project, which will connect London with Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds.
• Rail workers vote for strike actionNetwork Rail workers threw down the first big industrial relations challenge to the Government when they voted overwhelmingly in favour of going on strike over pay.

Bucks Free Press

• Elections had no HS2 'effect', says councillor A re-elected independent councillor believes legislation allowing HS2 to be built is a formality due to a lack of 'effect' in last week's elections.

Doncaster Free Press

• Rail staff vote to strike in row over payNetwork Rail workers threw down the first big industrial relations challenge to the Government when they voted overwhelmingly in favour of going on strike over pay.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Parents take their protest on school bus changes to County HallAngry parents mounted a protest outside County Hall yesterday as they demonstrated against changes to school bus services.

Other Regional Press

• ‘North’s voice will be heard’ - Harrogate’s MP on transport roleHarrogate’s MP Andrew Jones has said he will ensure the North’s voice is heard after he was appointed a junior minister for the Department of Transport today.
• Manston airport: CPO 'will not work' say owners Trevor Cartner and Chris Musgrave after Ukip council pledges to buy the siteThe owners of Manston airport say council plans to buy the site and reopen the runway will fail - and they are prepared to fight for

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Port of Felixstowe adds new rail cranesThe Port of Felixstowe is expanding capacity with the introduction of two new rail-mounted gantry cranes Co-financed by the European Union Trans-European Transport Network programme, the Liebherr cranes will be used at the port's North Rail Terminal and will further cement Felixstowe's position as the biggest port in the UK. A total of 890,000 TEU passed through the port's three rail terminals during 2014 and chief executive officer Clemence Cheng said its frequency of rail services makes it
• New app launched for Santander Cycles usersThe fleet of bicycles-for-hire located around London has switched from blue to red, as Santander has taken over sponsorship from Barclay's. However, the change of sponsorship isn't the only thing in store for users of the so-called Boris bikes. A new mobile app has also been launched, making it even easier to borrow one of the cycles. The app can be used to find the nearest docking point, plan cycling routes and even pay for the rental using a debit or credit card - and the details can be scanned in, meaning that users don't have to type in lengthy credit card numbers. Developed by Corethree, ...
• Supply chains risks 'close to record high'The Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) has warned that the risk to supply chains is running at an almost record high. According to the CIPS quarterly risk index, risk increased sharply last year in Latin America, eastern Europe, Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite supply chain risk falling in North America and western Europe, the index's overall

Rail Magazine

• Disabled rail passengers test ‘Turn up and Go’ schemeSix-month scheme at London stations

Rail Technology Magazine

• New Hitachi Interior Designed With Pedal Powered Traveller Appeal For its new class 800/801 series train, Hitachi Rail has risen to the challenge of accommodating the differing needs of rail passengers, including 'pedal powered' commuters and travellers.
• Selectron-Rail Automation Solutions for TCMS, Vehicle Control, Safety, Support, Design, Engineering and Training Selectron offers Vehicle Control systems (VC) and Train Communication Management Solutions (TCMS) and Safety related products.
• Artesyn Embedded Technologies-Fail-Safe Computer Systems for Railways Artesyn Embedded Technologies (Artesyn) supplies commercial off-the-shelf (COTS), fail-safe computer solutions to rail system integrators and application providers.Artesyn's ControlSafeâ„¢ Platform (CS...

Railnews

• Network Rail condemns RMT strike call as 'ransom' bid The RMT union said its members have voted in favour of industrial action in a pay dispute with Network Rail. The company said it had already revised the offer once, and that it was fair 'given our financial pressures', while the newly reappointed transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said he 'condemned' any industrial action which caused disruption to transport.

Railway Gazette

• Westbahn to order more trainsAUSTRIA: Plans to order 10 additional Stadler Rail double-deck electric multiple-units were...

Aviation Industry

• EasyJet posts record 1H results, but warns of 2H turbulenceUK-based low-cost carrier (LCC) easyJet announced its best-ever first-half figures Tuesday. read more
• Bombardier: Paris Air Show to be a ‘big step’ in CSeries sales effortBombardier plans to build on recent “momentumâ€� in the CSeries program to increase sales totals for the aircraft, according to Bombardier Commercial Aircraft president Fred Cromer. read more
• Luton airport passenger numbers riseWork to start on £100m redevelopment programme
• Pilots union calls for tougher drone lawsSurvey shows half of British people think prison is appropriate punishment

Other News Sources

• Cyclists get HGV driver’s eye view at FTA conferenceCyclists can get an HGV driver’s eye view of the road at the Freight Transport Association’s Managing Freight in London Conference sponsored by ...
• RMT members vote for first big showdown with Tory governmentNetwork Rail workers vote overwhelmingly for a strike over pay as the government pushes ahead with plans to make it harder for public sector workers to stage walkouts.
• Rail workers vote to strike Network Rail workers have voted 4-1 to go on strike across UK in row over pay.
• Travelport and Etihad renew full content agreementGulf carrier signs up for tech firm’s Rich Content and Branding offering