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

Friday, 29 January 2016

BBC News

• FirstGroup shares hit by profit warningFirstGroup's share price fell sharply on Thursday morning after the transport giant lowered its full-year profits outlook.
• Airbus signs $25bn Iranian plane dealIran has signed a deal to buy 118 Airbus planes worth $25bn in one of the biggest deals signed since Western sanctions were lifted against Tehran.
• London's first driverless cars revealedA driverless 'pod' that will take to the streets of London in July has been shown off for the first time.

Financial Times

• Boeing grapples with production challengesGroup disappointed market with targets on aircraft manufacturing and profit in 2016

The Guardian

• London's black-cab drivers: 'Four cabbies pay more tax than Uber'Licensed Taxi Drivers Association weighs up court action claiming app’s licence should be reviewed over its corporation tax payments
• Planes? Trains? Apart from the wings, who can tell the difference?The blogger who flew from Sheffield to Essex via Berlin to save on the rail fare was behaving logically. Trains are as much hassle as planes and can be more expensive
• Planes? Trains? Apart from the wings, who can tell the difference?The blogger who flew from Sheffield to Essex via Berlin to save on the rail fare was behaving logically. Trains are as much hassle as planes and can be more expensive
• London mayor race: Lib Dems announce plans to fight road congestionMayoral candidate Caroline Pidgeon would increase the capital’s congestion charge and explore introducing a new zone around Heathrow
• Driverless bus trial in Netherlands is first on public roadsWePod shuttle carries handful of people on 200m journey in first trial of its kind – with hopes to extend systems to cargo trucks

The Huffington Post

• BBC Question Time: Transport Secretary Patrick McCloughlin Served Zinger On Google Tax Migrants RowConservative Transport Secretary Patrick McCloughlin had his defence of the government's controversial tax deal with Google rubbished - after it was pointed out that the internet giant could have helped finance more places for refugees. Thursday evening's BBC Question Time programme included heated discussion of Google's tax affairs followed by an emotional debate about the migration crisis. Placing the two issues together, an audience member addressed McCloughlin rejection of those arguing more refugees should be allowed into Britain. The audience member also criticised disparaging descri...

The Scotsman

• Alastair Dalton: Young should be shown delights of transport British Transport Police officers were talking to pupils at a Glasgow primary school, minutes away from a busy railway station in the city. They were surprised to learn – as was the class teacher – that few of the six-year-olds had ever been on a train.

Mail Online

• Bats put a halt to plans to develop former Welsh coal tunnel into cycle route Tourist chiefs hope the former coal rail line s will get a new lease of life as a subterranean cycle route but plans have come to a screeching halt. The project may be delayed to build roosting areas.

Birmingham Mail

• Green campaigners call for car free days in Birmingham city centreScheme has been suggested to reduce air pollution

Birmingham Post

• Uber launches new taxi service in Birmingham App is attempting to broaden its reach with new uberASSIST which aims to help those with disabilities and access needs
• New Birmingham HS2 college set for green light 'City fully endorses' government's decision to locate new college on city science park as planners expected to give scheme the go ahead
• Midlands' version of Transport for London a step closer New devolution legislation means a joined-up transport authority for the West and East Midlands can be set up

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Romantics hit in pocket as survey finds Valentine breaks to Paris from Leeds-Bradford Airport are most expensive in country ZUT alors!

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Airbus signs deal to sell 118 planes to Iran The multi billion pound deal includes an order for 12 superjumbo A380s

London Evening Standard

• Tube workers vote for more strikes... just days after walkout avertedMaintenance workers on the Tube have voted in favour of strike action in the long-running dispute over plans for an all-night service.
• Virgin Trains to guarantee a seat to all pregnant womenVirgin Trains has said all pregnant women will get a seat on its services.
• Crossrail row deepens over plan for station in ChelseaThe row over a proposed train station in Chelsea deepened today as campaigners against the plan claimed many of its high-profile supporters did not represent the local area.
• First Group warns on profits after UK floods and US passenger declineTransport firm FirstGroup warned on profits after a grim third quarter in which floods and bad weather in parts of the UK led to a severely depleted number of passengers on its buses.
• c2c delays: late night crush on trains so busy 'businessmen wet themselves'Driver shortage and smaller trains led to rush-hour 'carnage' up to 11pm
• Heathrow shuttle pods 'could be tested as first driverless vehicles for London roads'Shuttle pods used at Heathrow Airport will be adapted to become the first driverless vehicles to be tested on London roads.

Northern Echo

• Smart transport ticketing a step closer after Act of Parliament passedSMART ticketing using microchips rather than paper tickets is a step closer to being introduced across the North of England after new laws were passed.

Sheffield Telegraph

• BUSES: Sheffield services ‘improving’ after changes to tackle cuts, transport chiefs sayBus chiefs say that Sheffield services are ‘improving’ with more running on time after they were forced to make changes to drastic cuts following a public outcry.

Wales Online

• Passengers made a record number of rail journeys to and from Wales last year Concerns over overcrowding, punctuality and value for money remain but growing numbers go back to railways
• Pregnant women to be guaranteed seats on select Welsh train services - and some will be in first classVirgin Trains says if no seats are available in standard class, mums-to-be will be seated in first class

Blackpool Gazette

• Transport boss calls it a day on decade-long dream to link Fylde to North West by hovercraftA transport boss was left feeling deflated after calling it a day on his decade-long aim to link Fylde to other parts of the North West by hovercraft.

Bucks Free Press

• MP 'concerned' over removal of direct London trains The Maidenhead MP has slammed the decision to stop direct trains to London from Marlow in anticipation of the introduction of Crossrail.

Burnley Express

• Plans to cut free bus passes would be ‘disastrous’A group of adults with learning disabilities have been left devastated over plans to cut their free bus passes.

Doncaster Free Press

• Doncaster rail operator tops passenger satisfaction surveyHull Trains, which operates rail services between Doncaster and London, has topped the National Passenger Rail Survey for satisfaction for the second year running.

Western Daily Press

• Peter Clough of Osborne Clarke - Smarter transport can drive West Transport is rarely out of the headlines in the South West, so when George Osborne announced changes to the South West's rail system in November's Autumn Statement businesses across the region breathed a sigh of relief, writes Peter Clough of Osborne Clarke.

Other Regional Press

• 'Lifeline' bus service in Botley makes a trial return PASSENGERS in Botley are celebrating the reinstatement of a “lifeline” bus service.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• TfL launches freight programme to deliver improved air qualityMike Brown MVO, London’s Transport Commissioner, today (Wednesday 27 January) launched a new industry-led programme to reduce the emissions of London’s freight and fleet operators. The five-year programme is set to work across the industry to increase the availability and uptake of low emission vans and lorries. It will bring together freight and fleet operators, vehicle manufacturers, fuel providers and the public sector. It will create new environmental operating standards and contractual clauses for procurement bodies to easily adopt. LoCITY will also demonstrate, through resea...
• Network Rail to assess damage to Cumbrian coast lineNetwork Rail has closed its railway between Whitehaven and Workington where the sea wall has been breached in three places. The sea wall that protects the railway and the heavy stone, which provides the foundations for the railway track have been heavily damaged by the high tides caused by Storm Jonas. Representative from Network Rail Ian Joslin said:
• Transport for the North welcomes Cities and Local Government Devolution ActTransport for the North (TfN) has today (Thursday 28 January) welcomed the passage of the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act following the announcement of royal assent. This is a significant step forward in TfN’s plans to deliver improved connections for businesses and commuters across the north. The Act paves the way for a new statutory basis for the organisation, enabling the north of England to draw down powers and resources from central government to deliver improvements to transport across the Northern Powerhouse region.

Rail Magazine

• Engineers save Lamington Viaduct from total collapseLamington Viaduct was “in a total state of collapse” before being rescued from the waters of the River Clyde, reports the leader of the repair project.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Supeo Denmark Announces New CEO Former Regionstog A/S CFO Benny Esmann Jensen has been selected as the CEO of Supeo Denmark, a subsidiary of the Supeo Group.

Aviation Industry

• Lufthansa to develop commercial applications for drone technology Lufthansa Aerial Services (LAS) has signed an agreement with Chinese drone manufacturer DJI to develop commercial applications for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or drone technology, for key customers. read more
• SWISS’s Boeing 777-300ERs to offer Internet in all three classesLufthansa Group subsidiary Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS), which will take delivery of the first of nine Boeing 777-300ERs on Jan. 29, has unveiled details on its Internet connectivity in all three cabin classes. read more
• Cathay’s first A350 delivery delayed by seat production issuesCathay Pacific’s first Airbus A350 delivery has been affected by seat production issues, and appears likely to be delayed by a few months. read more
• Swiss introduces wifi and mobile phone roaming on B777sNational carrier to offer first class customers 50MB of free data

Green Miscellany

• Freygeist: The electric bicycle that changes cycling foreverThe Freygeist electric bicycle is indistinguishable from a conventional bike, weighs only 12 kg and has a range of up to 100 km. The post Freygeist: The electric bicycle that changes cycling forever appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• Airparks’ night workers trial Lumie lightsAirparks’ night workers are benefiting from Lumie light therapy as part of its new wellbeing initiative running in January. Cambridge-based light therapy specialists Lumie have loaned their most powerful light box Lumie Brazil for use in the company’s restrooms at Airparks’ car park sites at Luton and Birmingham Airports.