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

Friday, 27 November 2015

BBC News

• Cashless payment in London black cabsCard and contactless payment could become mandatory in all London black cabs from October 2016, Transport for London says.
• Five arrested after Heathrow protestFive environmental activists are arrested after blocking a traffic tunnel at Heathrow in protest at plans for a third runway.
• Glasgow Airport rail link plan revivedPlans for a rail link between Glasgow Airport and the city centre are revived with two options in the frame.
• Number of untaxed UK vehicles doublesThe number of vehicles without road tax - Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) - doubled to 560,000 after the paper tax disc was abolished in October 2014.
• AirAsia shares slide on poor earningsShares in Asia's biggest budget airline, AirAsia, fell as much as 7% on Friday after the firm posted a loss in the three months to September.
• Network Rail misses punctuality targetNetwork Rail reports a fall in half-year profits and admits that train punctuality is inadequate after failing to reach its 90% target.

The Guardian

• Network Rail misses punctuality target as profits fallRailway operator Network Rail has narrowly missed its own punctuality target as more than one in 10 trains arrived late.
• Ministers lose £80m in revenue after scrapping car tax discsDVLA decision found to have backfired as figures show government has lost as much as eight times as it hoped to save The government looks to have lost as much as £80m of revenue as a result of its decision to scrap car tax discs a year ago. The move has also led to a doubling in the number of unlicensed vehicles on British roads.The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) ended the need for drivers to display a valid tax disc in October 2014, saying that the move would save the taxpayer £10m a year by making the system more efficient. However, that decision looks to have...
• Boeing 737 makes crash-landing at Mexico City airportLanding gear collapses on Magnicharters plane, say authorities, causing scare but no injuries for 144 passengers and crewThe landing gear collapsed on a Boeing 737 as it landed at Mexico City’s international airport, authorities have said.Emergency crews rushed to the runway after the plane’s left-side wheel strut apparently buckled as it touched down. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Ministers accused of trying to A FRESH row has broken out between the SNP and Labour over the future of a rail link at Glasgow Airport as ministers were accused of trying to derail it before it has begun.

Times Online

• Network Rail warns of three-year delays [subscription]Substantial upgrades to Britain’s railways will be delayed by up to three years and costs will soar by £2.5 billion, Network Rail has warned.
• End of car tax disc costs £80m in unpaid dutyThe decision to axe the car tax disc appears to have dramatically backfired after it emerged yesterday that the reforms have led to a doubling in the number of unlicensed vehicles on Britain’s roads.

City AM

• London airport expansion: Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson MSP puts pressure on Cameron over HeathrowThe top Conservatives in Scotland and Wales are today supporting a third runway at Heathrow, urging the government to make a quick decision to back the Airports Commission’s recommendation.

The Mirror

• Why passing your driving test at third attempt is safer than first timeStudy has shown that drivers who pass first time around are more likely to be in a car accident

Conservative Party

• Sponsored Post: Philip Davies MP: Heathrow expansion would be worth billions to Yorkshire and the HumberLong before the Airports Commission delivered their unanimous recommendation to expand Heathrow, the market had delivered the same unambiguous response. The airport has been full for a decade. There’s a queue of airlines wanting to put on more flights from Heathrow but there simply isn’t the space.

Network Rail

• Passengers to Manchester and Birmingham advised to plan their travel during Christmas crowdsWith Birmingham and Manchester’s famous Christmas markets underway, and millions of visitors expected to visit the cities over the festive season – increasing pressure on the local rail network – Network Rail is urging passengers to plan their journeys and allow more time to catch their trains.
• £14.7m upgrade planned for Carlisle stationCarlisle station will have a £14.7m makeover as part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Transport Minister sparks further A55 fury after stating she's 'unencumbered' by delays North Wales's AMs accuse Ms Hart of either being "very luck" or "arrogant"
• Broughton Airbus chief named Business Person of the Year at Daily Post Business Awards Paul McKinlay took the award - sponsored by Bangor University - at the glittering event 

Derby Telegraph

• Derby Telegraph commented Reader's letter: Trolleybuses are inefficient alternative to...As an inhabitant of Leeds, where we are being threatened with a trolley bus scheme, I would like to take issue with the writer of the letter you published under the headline "Trolley buses could be far better than trams" (Derby Telegraph, November 24). There is a national pressure group that specialises in spreading this idea with pretty pictures of trolley buses in empty streets. But those of us who sat through a 72-day public inquiry here know that it is entirely...

London Evening Standard

• 'Plane Stupid' Heathrow protester ripped to shreds live on radioA Heathrow protester was torn apart on live radio this morning when he attempted to defend his group's actions.
• Piccadilly line: Tube bosses blame leaves on the line for nearly two weeks of delaysHundreds of thousands of Tube commuters have suffered repeated delays on the Piccadilly line – with Tube bosses blaming leaves on the line.
• Lorries are involved in more than half of cyclist deaths in London despite making up tiny fraction of trafficHGVs are involved in 57 per cent of London cyclist deaths despite making up just 3.5 per cent of traffic, research revealed today.
• Winning design for Nine Elms to Pimlico Thames cycle bridge unveiledThe winning design for a proposed �43million Thames crossing for pedestrians and cyclists has been unveiled.�
• 'Plane stupid' protesters charged after demo against Heathrow Airport expansionThree people have been charged with unlawfully blocking a tunnel at Heathrow during a protest against the airport's expansion.

Manchester Evening News

• Network Rail blasted for 'poor cost estimating' and 'inadequate planning' behind bungled TransPennine route The company will have to 'sell depots' and 'borrow £700m from taxpayer' to fund projects like Manchester-Leeds electrification, according to a new report

The York Press

• York's Dial and Ride bus service expands A NEW bus service is giving passengers more opportunity to travel into York's shopping parks.

Wales Online

• Arriva Trains Wales drivers to be re-balloted for strike action after talks break down againASLEF union has accused Arriva Trains Wales of 'reneging' on the deal

Bucks Free Press

• Cllrs say they are 'staggered' at £250,000 cost of pedestrian crossing outside school Councillors say they are “absolutely staggered” that a new pedestrian crossing on a road where cars have been found to speed at 70mph could cost up to £250,000.

East Anglian Daily Times

• No news is good news, insist rail campaignersCampaigners seeking to improve rail services between East Anglia and London have insisted that the new report into infrastructure is good for the region – because it makes little reference to the route.

Other Regional Press

• Chiltern adds to its trains following complaints CHILTERN Railways has added more carriages to its morning trains from Bicester North after complaints about a lack of peak-time services at the station.
• Electrification to Oxford delayed by four years WORK to electrify the railway into Oxford has been set back by four years, it was confirmed tonight.
• ‘Big disappointment’ as train station revamp faces a delay WORK to electrify the railway into Oxford has been set back four years, throwing the redevelopment of the city’s station into doubt.
• Manston airport: Stone Hill Park owners say plans are vital for Thanet social and economic need ahead of latest public consulationThe owners of the former Manston airport say their proposals to build 2,500 homes and create 16,000 jobs are vital for the local economy.
• Kanye West station name bid launched by Southeastern commuter in CanterburyA campaign is calling for rail firm Southeastern to name one of its train stations after American rapper Kanye West.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Trade body warns coal closures threaten rail freightIndustry body GB Railfreight has warned the government that its plans to close down all UK coal-fired power stations could be damaging to the nation's rail freight industry.� This comes in response to an announcement by energy secretary Amber Rudd that coal power stations will be phased out by 2025.� Managing director of GB Railfreight John Smith said this leaves the industry at a crucial crossroads and raises considerable challenges.� He acknowledged that a reduction in coal output has been anticipated for some time now and that it is important to help meet UK carbon targets.� However, he emp...
• FTA Multimodal 2016 award nominations open as John Sergeant named as hostNominations for the FTA Multimodal 2016 awards are now open, featuring five new categories to reward best in class across all modes.                      Innovation, training, and environmental best practice will also be recognised, with the winners announced at a gala dinner on May 10th 2016, presented by renowned broadcaster and journalist John Sergeant at the Vox Conference Centre in Birmingham.                       A new dedicated awards portal hosted on the Multimodal web site, a...
• London Underground’s David Waboso named President of the Association for Project ManagementDavid Waboso CBE, London Underground’s Capital Programmes Director, has today been announced as the new President of the Association for Project Management (APM), and will assume the part-time role in the New Year alongside his current position.  As President, he will lead the APM’s commitment to provide industry-leading knowledge and resources, helping to improve project management across the country. With over 21,150 individual and 550 corporate members, the APM is the largest professional body of its kind in Europe.   David Waboso is an internationally renowned enginee...
• FORS answers call for UK-wide fleet compliance standardFORS, the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme, has responded to the call from the transport industry for a single, UK-wide compliance standard, “FORS is already in place,” says John Hix, FORS Community Partnership Director, “the scheme is now a UK-wide concern and, importantly, with 3,500 companies now on-board, its position is already cemented within the operating community. Put simply,” he says, “FORS is the ‘go to’ standard ensuring compliance and best-practice.” The results of a study announced at the recent Freight in the City event, revealed...

Rail Magazine

• ORR to be “fundamentally reviewed”DfT responds to Dame Colette Bowe’s report into CP5 enhancements planning

Rail Technology Magazine

• Future Rail: Issue 32 In this issue: Times of change for Deutsche Bahn, Australia's switch to digital signalling, Network Rail's mobile maintenance trains, Scotland's new rail line, meeting urgent demand for rolling stock in the UK, and more.
• China wins $1.6bn contract to support Hungary-Serbia high-speed rail The governments of China and Hungary have signed an agreement on the development, construction and financing of the Hungarian section of Hungary-Serbia high-speed railway.
• RZD International wins €1.2bn rail electrification deal in Iran Russian Railways subsidiary RZD International has signed a €1.2bn contract with Iranian Islamic Republic Railways (RAI) to electrify a rail line that connects north-central Iran to the northeastern border with Turkmenistan.
• Network Rail to upgrade Carlisle station in England The UK's Network Rail (NR) will replace the roof and rebuild all eight platforms at Carlisle station in Cumbria.
• CBTC Connectivity Solutions The overall performance of a rail rapid transit system depends largely on the performance of the automatic train control (ATC) system employed. A communication-based train control (CBTC) system is devised by adding modern communication technologies t…

Railnews

• Network Rail 'in new tight financial envelope' Network Rail chairman Sir Peter Hendy has warned that the company no longer enjoys a 'flexible and accommodating financial regime', and will have to live within its means in future. He was speaking to Railnews in the wake of publishing his report into the fate of its delayed enhancement projects, which concludes that most can go ahead although some will only be completed in the next Control Period CP6, which will run from 2019 to 2024. Great Western electrification remains a priority, but the Midland Main Line will only be electrified as far as Kettering and Corby by 2019, and the Transpennin...

Railway Gazette

• Hendy revises Network Rail project timescales as costs riseUK: The cost of Network Rail’s infrastructure enhancement programme for 2014-19 has increased from...
• Eversholt awards ETCS First in Class contract UK: Leasing company Eversholt Rail has awarded Alstom’s signalling business SSL a contract for the...
• RZD International signs Iranian electrification contract IRAN: Russian Railways subsidiary RZD International signed a contract to electrify the 495 km...
• Rio tram starts test runningBRAZIL: Test running with passengers started on the central section of the VLT Carioca tram route...
• Alstom buys stake in South African rolling stock businessSOUTH AFRICA: Alstom announced on November 26 that it had signed an agreement to buy a 51% stake in...

Aviation Industry

• What aviation means for the fifth carbon budgetThe Committee on Climate Change (CCC), the official body advising the Government on climate change policy, has today published its advice on the fifth carbon budget, including a restatement of its recommendation that aviation emissions should be no higher in …
• Global events weaken airline passenger forecastIATA study shows how current political issues are impacting passenger numbers

Other News Sources

• Cameron promise to oppose Heathrow expansion 'must be honoured' David Cameron's promise to oppose Heathrow expansion must be honoured as a Government-commissioned report contains "342 pages of ifs and buts", MPs have heard.
• A London Mayoral candidate used Donald Trump's hair to attack his rivalThe Conservative London mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith has accused his Labour rival Sadiq Khan of being "about as authentic as Donald Trump's hair" during a lively debate in Parliament this afternoon.
• Heathrow Airport hires Ricardo to monitor black carbonHeathrow Airport has selected Ricardo Energy & Environment to support the monitoring of black carbon levels within the vicinity of the airport. The information will be used to develop environmental policies related to the level of emissions.
• New ‘Horizon Scan’ report sets out how forward thinking cities can respond to rapid technological and social change Wednesday, November 25, 2015 -    Report identifies four key trends to watch for urban transport – Topic:  Bus Regional Rail Tram Cycling Funding Governance Social inclusion Sustainability Public health Freight Smart ticketing
• Logistics needs Government support to achieve decarbonisation, says FTAThe logistics industry needs the full support of the government in order to achieve decarbonisation, the Freight Transport Association has said, ...
• Government ignoring LGV driver training not good enoughThe Government has once again ignored the urgent need for vocational training investment within the logistics sector, a decision that is simply ...
• CWT warns of higher costs over Lufthansa distribution approachCWT says it sees no viable option to avoid the €16 fee without resulting in increased costs for clients