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

Thursday, 23 July 2015

BBC News

• Minister admits rail electrification 'challenges'Members of the House of Lords have been trying to find an answer to one of the big unanswered questions of the moment: when will the rail line from Swansea to London be electrified?
• Bus youth discount scheme launchedAll 16 to 18-year-olds in Wales will be able to save a third off the price of adult bus fares from September.
• PM to chair key Heathrow committeeCampaigners against Heathrow expansion have claimed critics of a new runway have been "excluded" from a new cabinet committee which will decide the issue. Justine Greening, Theresa Villiers and Philip Hammond will not attend meetings to be chaired by the prime minister.
• Translink and Unite agree on savingsTranslink and the Unite trade union reach an agreement which will allow the transport company to save around £6m.
• More action planned over night TubeA rail union is taking extra industrial action in the dispute over the new night Tube.
• Bust up over bike lane bus stopA Glasgow cyclist has voiced his anger after a bus stop was placed across a city bike lane.
• Billionaire eyes major new shipyardBillionaire businessman Jim McColl is considering a takeover of one of Europe's largest dry docks, on the Clyde.
• Boeing profits hit by tanker chargeUS aerospace firm Boeing has reported a 33% fall in quarterly profit after taking a charge over delays to a military refueling aircraft.
• New York backs down in Uber fightNew York City has backed down in a row with taxi hailing app Uber, dropping plans to limit the number of cars it operates in the City.
• UK car production at 'seven-year high'UK car production hit a seven-year high in the first half of the year, the industry's trade body has said.

Department for Transport

• Lord Ahmad sees Richmond’s cycle plan in actionTransport Minister sees how cycling investment is improving journeys in one of London’s most popular cycling boroughs.
• Boost for 8 cities’ bid for share of £20 million plug-in taxi prizeCities shortlisted for scheme to support greener transport options. Eight cities today (23 July 2015) received a huge boost in their bid to win part of a £20 million fund to increase the number of plug-in taxis.

Financial Times

• Airport committee snubs Heathrow criticsPM to chair ministerial group containing strong advocates of third runway option
• Eurotunnel hit by Calais security costsChannel tunnel operator warns of risk to profits without government action
• Uber fights off New York City curbsAds and celebrities help fend off mayor’s attempt to limit numbers as the two sides agree truce
• EasyJet revenues hit by strikes and fireAirline warns of uncertain outlook after Tunisia attack and Greek crisis

The Independent

• Southern trains set to roll back its trolley service as business lost to coffee shops and food outletsFor the harassed commuter it was a lifeline. Having just managed to catch their train and find a seat or, more likely, a piece of floor to stand on, they could rely on the on-board trolley service for the cup of coffee and snack they just didn’t have time for earlier.

The Telegraph

• Eurotunnel seeks £7m compensation from British and French governments after migrant crisis forces up security costsThe Channel Tunnel operator has racked up a €13m security bill because of the damage caused by migrants in Calais

City AM

• Strongest UK car production in seven yearsUK car makers are racing ahead this year, with sales to confident Brits steering production to a seven-year high. The number of cars rolling out of British factories jumped 5.4 per cent in June to 143,759, according to figures published this morning by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). So far this year, Britain has produced 793,642 cars – 0.3 per cent higher than the same period in 2014 and the most since 2008. The growth is partly an indication of the strength of the economy, with sales to the domestic market up 13.7 per cent. The unemployment rate has plumme...

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Pressure group calls for new railway station to be open by Christmas MEMBERS of a pressure group in south Bradford say all they want for Christmas is their new railway station.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• LOOK: Airbus' £30m Beluga station ensures wind does not halt play The aerospace giant took action at Broughton to stop them losing crucial loading and unloading time during high winds

Derby Telegraph

• Derby Telegraph published Train crash: Derby man arrested after Burton level crossing smashDerby man Jonathan Mather has been arrested after a train crashed into a car on a level crossing.Mather, of Pearl Close, Oakwood, was arrested at the scene of the incident on Monday night at the Clay Mills crossing in Burton.The Vauxhall car was destroyed by the train, which was carrying 39 passengers and three staff, as it made its way to Cardiff.The 35-year-old was initially arrested on suspicion of obstructing the railway.A British Transport Police spokesman said:

Liverpool Echo

• Is this how a new Liverpool city centre rail station could look?Proposals designed for St James - the station Merseytravel is due to study the viability of

London Evening Standard

• Revealed: 1,000 cyclists injured and two killed in London hit-and-runs in last year alone More than a thousand London cyclists were injured and two were killed in hit-and-run collisions last year, figures revealed today.
• Stephen Greenhalgh challenges rival mayoral candidates to match Tube fare cuts pledge Stephen Greenhalgh is nothing if not gutsy. When the deputy mayor announced he would cut Tube fares by three per cent a year to launch his bid to succeed Boris Johnson at City Hall, he ruffled feathers among his Tory colleagues.
• Felicity Kendal and Trevor Eve join fight to stop Crossrail station on King’s Road TV stars Felicity Kendal and Trevor Eve are backing a campaign to stop a £1 billion Crossrail 2 station being built in Chelsea.
• First glimpse of new London Overground trains to be launched in 2018 This picture gives a sneak preview of London Overground's new £5.7 million trains due to launch on routes across north-east London from 2018.
• Tube workers urged not to work on trains that have 'not been prepped within previous day' Tube services could be thrown into turmoil next week after two unions encouraged its members not to work on trains that had “not been subject to safety checksâ€�.
• Ryanair bans duty-free alcohol on Ibiza flights Budget airline Ryanair has banned passengers from taking duty-free alcohol aboard flights from the UK to Ibiza.

This Is Local London Network

• £50m roadworks programme underway Work is underway on a £50m programme to improve Barnet’s roads and pavements over five years.
• Bakerloo line extension to Croydon 'will be considered', says TfL Transport for London (TfL) has said it will consider proposals to extend the London Underground network to Croydon.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• The HS2 Midlands dream revealedA £3.3 billion vision for HS2 was today revealed that would create 52,000 jobs, extend the Midland Metro line and bring super-fast electric buses to the Black Country.

Yorkshire Post

• Peer: Have ministers pulled plug on Yorkshire electric trains?A LABOUR peer has challenged the Government to explain “just what ‘on pause’ means” over delays to the electrification of key rail lines.

Bucks Free Press

• Anti-HS2 campaigners disappointed after tunnel plan is rejected Anti-HS2 campaigners have been left disappointed after the “devastatingâ€� decision not to tunnel underneath the Chilterns.

Burnley Express

• Project to build new car park at busy train station hits buffers A PROJECT to build a new car park for Burnley’s busier Manchester Road railway station has hit the buffers.

Doncaster Free Press

• KAPOW! Vigilante superhero strides into Doncaster railway stationA vigilante superhero will be striding into Doncaster Railway Station on mission next month.

East Anglian Daily Times

• ‘Mindless’ vandals target Mid Suffolk Light RailwayA coach at a Suffolk heritage railway museum has been targeted by vandals.

Other Regional Press

• Meet Titan, the 8ft robot who sings, dances and flirts with bus passengersWatch the video to see the cheeky 8ft robot entertain crowds at a launch of new wi-fi equipped buses in Kirklees
• Campaigners vow to keep up fight for rail linkA group campaigning to bring a rail link back to Levenmmouth is stepping up its efforts ahead of a key report being completed.
• 50mph speed limit introduced on Sheppey Crossing after deaths of Deborah Roberts and son MarshallA new 50mph speed limit has been introduced on the Sheppey Crossing - just weeks after an inquest report recommended it.
• Eurotunnel bosses press British and French governments to pay £7m security costsNew delays are building at Eurotunnel today - as firm bosses call for governments to foot the £7m for extra security.
• New routes for Bournemouth Airport PASSENGER numbers at Bournemouth Airport could significantly rise this winter thanks to a number of new flights.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• More than 50 all-electric buses to enter service in LondonTransport for London (TfL) has today (Wednesday 15 July) announced that two further bus routes, the 507 and 521, will operate entirely with electric buses from autumn next year, lowering carbon emissions and helping to improve London's air quality. The 5-year contract to operate the routes has been awarded to Go Ahead following a competitive tender process, and will mean that 51 electric buses will operate across the two routes that will become the second and third pure electric bus routes in the Capital. Go Ahead will confirm which manufacturer will supply the buses in due course. By 2020 al...
• SPT invest in 14 Optare Solos Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) has purchased 14 Optare Solos to be used on various subsidised local bus services across the area, including on its demand-responsive service MyBus.  The 7.9m, Euro 5, Slim line, Solos are all fitted with leather seats and seatbelts,  the six MyBus Solos feature two wheelchair bays and 17 seats, making them ideal for use on MyBus, a bookable bus service offering door-to-door transport in urban and rural areas. The latest vehicles will be used by operators First Glasgow on mainstream routes in Motherwell, Larkhall and Wishaw, joining other...
• Claire Perry celebrates Newcastle Station improvementsRail minister tours £22 million ongoing transformation of Newcastle Station and surrounding area, and sees plans for future improvements. Rail minister Claire Perry visited the north east today, Wednesday 22 July 2015, to see how government investment is giving passengers better journeys and boosting the local economy. The minister travelled to Newcastle Station, where a major upgrade is transforming the building and surrounding area. The improvements, worth a total of £22 million, have to date involved creating a new pedestrianised space at the front of the station and building ...

Rail Magazine

• Chiltern Railways MD to stand downRob Brighhouse to leave operator at end of the year

Rail Technology Magazine

• Global Transport Forum-Specialist Organiser of Railway Industry Events The Global Transport Forum produces specialised events for the transport industry. The company runs six established events every year.
• Warwood Tool-Forged-Steel Hand Tools for the Railway Track Maintenance Industry Warwood Tool manufactures forged-steel, hand tools for the railway track maintenance industry. The company has an extensive line of railway track products ranging from claw bars and spike pullers, to...
• Zonegreen Wins Siemens Supplier Recognition Sheffield-based Zonegreen has received recognition for its technological expertise and high-quality performance from one of the world's largest rail industry companies.

Railway Gazette

• Russian tram funding approvedRUSSIA: The federal government has approved the allocation of a total of 384m roubles to eight...
• High speed line concessionaire TP Ferro in administrationEUROPE: TP Ferro, the company which holds the concession to build, operate and finance the high...
• Moscow metro tunnel breakthroughRUSSIA: On July 21 Robbins tunnel boring machine Elena completed the first bore of the 1·7 km...

Aviation Industry

• Rome Fiumicino Airport regains full capacity after fireRome’s Fiumicino-Leonardo da Vinci Airport has returned to its full passenger capacity after a major fire in the facility’s Terminal 3 in early May. read more
• ALPA president: ‘Please call 911’ on people shining lasers into skyAir Line Pilots Association (ALPA) president Tim Canoll said the wider public has to be educated about the threat laser pointers pose to aircraft and help law enforcement catch people shining lasers into cockpits. read more
• Boeing Commercial delivers solid 2Q as demand remains strongBoeing remains confident that it will not have to cut its 777 production rate as part of the transition to the 777X and maintains that overall demand for its commercial aircraft line continues to be rock-solid, dismissing unevenness that saw first-half orders lag behind deliveries. read more
• Easyjet sales hit by strike action and airport fireAirline reports better than expected results

Green Miscellany

• Car headlights that detect cyclistsFord is developing car headlights that detect cyclists and illuminate them automatically. Conventional car headlights do a good job of illuminating the road directly ahead, but on a roundabout the driving direction changes in such a way that the light does not light up the road ahead in time. The post Car headlights that detect cyclists appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• Northern Rail bombarded with complaints after Blackburn to Manchester train replacement launch NORTHERN Rail has been bombarded with complaints as its train replacement from Blackburn to Manchester was launched.