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

Sunday, 31 May 2015

BBC News

• Rail strike talks to enter third dayTalks aimed at averting a national strike by Network Rail workers in a dispute over pay are due to enter a third day.
• Planned rail strike talks adjournedCrisis talks aimed at averting strike action will resume on Sunday as a dispute between National Rail and its workers over pay continues.

Financial Times

• Walsh tempers tactics for Aer Lingus testVeteran airline executive faces challenge to guide takeover past regulators and then make it work

The Guardian

• Fewer rules, less hassle, more profit how being nice paid off at RyanairThe famously abrasive budget airline has made a concerted effort to soften its approach – and has been rewarded with some impressive annual resultsDespite Ryanair’s image makeover as a caring carrier, passengers remain anxious in the queue to board the airline’s 0940 flight from Gatwick to Dublin.Mainly, though, that’s because the gate display is describing it erroneously as an easyJet flight to Berlin. But there is a difference from the Ryanair queues of old: no jostling for the best seat, and a noticeable array of odd-shaped cases, second bags, shopping and oversized soft toys being carried ...
• Authors, architects and artists line up to lambast ‘abysmal’ garden bridge planCritics are speaking out against the design and funding of Joanna Lumley’s £175m scheme ahead of a judicial reviewThe £175m proposal for a garden bridge on the Thames is facing an escalating backlash from leading novelists, cultural figures and architects who have slammed the cost, location and “abysmalâ€� design of the project.Questions were raised over the procurement process last week after the Observer revealed new details on the key role played by Joanna Lumley in charming the London mayor, Boris Johnson, into backing her dream. Others argued that designer Thomas Heatherwick was t...
• Solar Impulse plane starts six-day Pacific Ocean crossing powered only by the sunSeventh and longest section of round-the-world journey will require pilot Andre Borschberg to survive on little sleep and with only a parachute for backupThe Solar Impulse 2 plane took off early on Sunday for a six-day, six-night flight over the Pacific Ocean, the most ambitious leg of its quest to circumnavigate the globe powered only by the sun.Pilot Andre Borschberg, 62, left the ground in Nanjing, in eastern China, heading for Hawaii, at about 2.40am , after extended delays awaiting a suitable weather window over safety concerns.I cross my fingers and I hope to cross the Pacific Continue r...

Times Online

• Waverley cut was based on guesswork [Subscription]Author claims costings used to justify the rail route’s closure were flawed. By Mark Macaskill

City AM

• Rail strike crisis talks continue into the eveningTalks between Network Rail and RMT bosses are continuing into the evening as the two sides try to negotiate a deal to avert strikes that will bring Britain's railways to a halt.A pay deal was rejected by union bosses on Thursday, meaning plans for a strike by Network Rail staff are back on.However, the two sides met again yesterday with the hope of agreeing a new deal and talks continued today."Your negotiating team was invited to further discussions at Acas on the Network Rail dispute at short notice this afternoon," said RMT boss Mike Cash in a letter to members on Friday."...

Mail Online

• Elon Musk's Hyperloop test track is coming to California The $16bn Hyperloop system could transport people from LA to San Francisco in 30 minutes. It was unveiled by SpaceX and Tesla chief executive Elon Musk in 2013.
• Silverdale bus driver caught TEXTING while going through busy junction The video was captured by a driving instructor who was stunned after discovering the D&G driver was looking at his phone while driving in Staffordshire (file photo from London).

Birmingham Post

• Seven JLR cleaners suspended after drink and drug tests Workers employed by Lode Lane contract operator Voith were breath-tested last week and ordered to provide urine samples as part of a crackdown
• Why the little guys were always a reliable choice for romantics The Reliant Motor Company and its three-wheelers were once proud standard-bearers for the mobility aspirations of generations of drivers who were determined to cast off post-war austerity in pursuit of new freedoms.
• New jobs after major deal with Siemens 25 posts being created after £2.7m order for electronics firm

Derby Telegraph

• Derby Telegraph published Bus passengers give their views on Arriva changes in DerbyPUBLIC opinion was split at a consultation event yesterday for plans on how bus giant Arriva will transform its service.The company is proposing major changes to several of its routes which have come under fire for their lateness and unreliability.Hundreds of people have had their say on the proposals at two events held at the Council House in Derby on Thursday and Friday.Brian and Carol Bates were among those who attended the event and who voiced concerns about the plans. The couple, of Tay...

London Evening Standard

• TfL uniform redesign unveiled in first update for 10 years Transport for London has unveiled a new uniform for staff in the first update for a decade.
• Rail Strike: Talks resume in a bid to stop national rail strike Negotiations to try and avert a potential national rail strike have resumed.
• Terrified passenger shares image of easyJet worker using TAPE on aeroplane engine moments before take-off A terrified easyJet passenger has shared an image of an airport worker sticking silver tape onto the engine of a plane moments before take-off.
• Rail strikes: Talks to avoid national strike adjourned Last minute talks aimed at averting a rail strike that could affect thousands of London commuters have been adjourned.

Sheffield Star

• First announce £5m investment in 22 new South Yorkshire busesBus passengers will travel in style after a major South Yorkshire operator announced a £5million investment in new vehicles.

Sheffield Telegraph

• Road works waiver for £7.5m of Sheffield schemes agreedMillions of pounds of roadworks in Sheffield could potentially be carried out by a single contractor after a waiver was agreed for another year.

Yorkshire Post

• Airport runway row set to take offThe increasingly bitter battle between Heathrow and Gatwick airports to be chosen as the site for a new runway serving London has intensified.

Blackpool Gazette

• Line ‘back on right track’Electric train services have led to bigger trains and more seats on some of the busiest routes in the North West, it was claimed today.

Bucks Free Press

• Heritage railway to hold free community open day A volunteer-run heritage railway is giving visitors a chance to see behind the scenes at its annual open day this weekend. 

Doncaster Free Press

• First announce £5m investment in 22 new South Yorkshire busesBus passengers will travel in style after a major South Yorkshire operator announced a £5million investment in new vehicles.
• Doncaster’s rail college ‘crucial to HS2’A new rail college in Doncaster will be key to ensuring the planned HS2 high-speed rail link is a success.

Peterborough Telegraph

• National railways display Peterborough photographers workA Peterborough amateur photographer is seeing his work displayed across major railways in the UK.

Other Regional Press

• Unwell staff force easyjet plane to return to LutonAn EasyJet flight to Tel Aviv has returned to Luton Airport after members of the crew reported feeling unwell.
• Ghost train uncovered by housing developers digging at former Ryarsh brickworksA train dating back to the 1950s has been discovered buried underground by a property developer who moved in and began digging.
• Pupils design new road signs during highways safety projectPupils at St Mary’s Primary School in Bicester took part in a safety project with Skanska’s highways team, who work on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council.
• Unwell staff force easyjet plane to return to LutonAn EasyJet flight to Tel Aviv has returned to Luton Airport after members of the crew reported feeling unwell.

Bus and Coach.com

• Buses Bill surprise in Queen’s Speech
• Manchester Quality Partnership Scheme consultation
• NCT wins European award for customer focus
• Traffic commissioner refuses Clayton Jones O licence application
• Saddleworth wins funds for ‘total transport’ pilot
• New Palladium Citaros launched in Blackpool
• Buses work with car club in Bournemouth
• Stagecoach launches Volvo B5LH/Enviro400s in Dundee
• Euro 6 and virtual electrics feature in First’s £77.7million order

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• More staff at London Underground stations sees satisfaction improveCommuters on London Underground stations now have more members of staff available to them to help them with face-to-face queries.  As a result of this, passenger surveys show customer satisfaction has increased from 81 per cent to 83 per cent at stations where ticket offices have closed. Mystery shopping reports show an even sharper increase from 92 per cent to 96 per cent.  Although more members of staff have not necessarily been recruited by Transport for London, more workers are out in ticket halls and on gate lines instead of in underused ticket offices and the back rooms of stations.  Chi...
• Solum Regeneration gains new partnerCapital & Counties Properties (Capco) has acquired Kier's share of its Solum Regeneration joint venture with Network Rail.  Network Rail established Solum in 2008 to attract private investment for its rail services.  It is also intended for the project to help bring development projects forward to regenerate underused land around major rail stations.  Property development director for Network Rail Stuart Kirkwood said Capco's expertise will help unlock further regeneration opportunities.  He added that his organisation's previous partnership with Kier has already led to major development work ...
• Siemens creates new logistics companySiemens has announced the creation of a new independent company from its Logistics and Airport Solutions division.  The new branch is called Siemens Postal, Parcel and Airport Logistics - and its main customers will include postal and parcel service providers all over the world, as well as airports.  Singapore Post has already contracted the firm to equip a new logistics hub with an integrated parcel sorting system. The business will formally go into operation in Germany from June 1st.  Chief executive officer of Logistics and Airport Solutions for Siemens Michael Reichle said he is pleased hi...
• First Glasgow announces £14 million investment in 75 new buses Order includes the most eco-friendly buses yet State of the art vehicles to hit the streets from August A total of 75 new vehicles are to be rolled out across Greater Glasgow after local bus operator First confirmed it is investing £14M in its fleet this year.  The new vehicles, which feature a mixture of double deckers, single deckers, and midis, will all come fitted with leather seats, CCTV and Wi-Fi providing customers with free internet access during their journey.  In addition to the dedicated space for wheelchair users, First will also provide extra space for p...
• Two appointments made to BITA boardStan Harris of Linde Material Handling and Jan Lorenz of Jungheinrich have been appointed to the board at the British Industrial Truck Association (BITA).  Mr Harris, who currently serves as managing director of Linde East and Scotland, will take responsibility for the BITA Academy, which runs the joint apprenticeship scheme for the industry.  He told HSS Search that he strongly believes it is vital to bring more young people into the industry - and that he hopes to achieve this by demonstrating it is an interesting and rewarding career option.  Mr Lorenz brings ten years of experience in a va...

Rail Technology Magazine

• On-Train Fibre-Optic Connectivity Applications such as on-board internet, communication-based train control and passenger information or entertainment systems require the reliable transmission of ever greater data volumes in trains.

Aviation Industry

• Aeroflot has corrected its strategyRussia’s Aeroflot Group has corrected its strategy through 2020. read more
• Germany referred to ECJ for airport security oversight breachesThe European Commission has referred Germany to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for failing to regularly monitor all aviation security measures at some German airports. read more
• Delta president: no change seen in Alitalia partnershipDelta Air Lines and Alitalia remain committed to their transatlantic joint venture and do not expect to see changes in the relationship despite the apparent split between the Italian carrier and its SkyTeam partner Air France. read more
• Heathrow expansion plans ‘unlawful’, says GatwickConsultation on air quality limits ends today

Other News Sources

• Taxi drivers slam council - authority fails to set up taxi ranks near music festival TAXI drivers have accused a council of excluding them from one of the most lucrative events in the town’s history.
• ETIHAD AIRWAYS HOSTS ANTI-SMOKING CAMPAIGN FOR STAFFEtihad Airways is hosting a week-long anti-smoking campaign among its UAE-based workforce to coincide with World No Tobacco Day which takes place tomorrow (Sunday 31 May).nbsp;The campaign...
• Solar Impulse took off from Nanjing to HawaiiSwiss Pilot Andreacute; Borschberg took off in the single seater aircraft this morning from Nanjing Lukou Airport at 2:39 am local time China (06:39 pm UTC) on May 31 2015 in the Peoplersquo;s ...