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

Thursday, 04 February 2016

BBC News

• Transport hub lands first tenantA £5.2m transport interchange in Galashiels lands its first office space tenant around six months after it opened.
• Council cuts 'threat' to bus servicesMany rural bus services in England and Wales face being wiped out by council budget cuts, campaigners warn.
• Last stop for Ballymena-built bus?Iconic London bus is famous NI export but could new order be the last?
• Wrightbus set to get £60m orderCounty Antrim firm Wrightbus is set for an order worth £60m, after London Mayor Boris Johnson got the green light on financing the deal.
• 115 jobs created at International AirportOne hundred and fifteen jobs are being created by six businesses at Belfast International Airport.
• Tram fares frozen for another yearTram fares across Greater Manchester will be frozen at 2014 prices for another year.
• Leader questions cycle lane worksA multi-million pound scheme to overhaul Manchester's cycle lanes may not be the best way to improve safety, the city's council leader says.
• VIDEO: Reflecting on the privatised railwayAs South West Trains marks the 20th anniversary of the first mainline privatised passenger train since the takeover from British Rail, BBC South Today takes a look back at what has changed.
• RMT to recommend Night Tube dealThe Rail, Maritime and Transport union will recommend its members accept a pay and conditions deal for the Night Tube service, its executive decides.
• VIDEO: Using water to improve lorry designsExperts at Cambridge University have developed a new trailer design that makes lorries more aerodynamic - cutting fuel consumption and pollution by around 7%.
• Bird 'photobombs' railway webcamIt was a case of beak-a-boo when a bird "photobombed" a web camera mounted at a railway station in north west Wales.

Department for Transport

• First South Western Trains Ltd and Stagecoach South West Ltd have been shortlisted to run the South Western rail franchise in June 2017.The Department for Transport has today announced the 2 train companies that have been shortlisted for the South Western franchise competition, after submitting an expression of interest.

Financial Times

• Union deal clears way for Night TubeService to be launched in months if members back pay proposal
• Delta chief retires in leadership reshuffleRichard Anderson ends tenure as longest-serving head of a US airline

The Guardian

• London mayor: cut price deal could signal end for 'Boris Bus'Boris Johnson has ordered more of his New Routemaster buses, but none of his potential successors seem keen on his signature public transport vehicle
• EU parliament fails to close loopholes in controversial car emission testsMEPs fail to veto proposal that will allow cars to emit twice the limit of NOx pollution following pressure from pro-car industry countriesMEPs have failed to veto loopholes in air pollution limits on new diesel cars, despite public anger in the wake of the Volkswagen emissions scandal.Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions will now be allowed at twice the EU’s 80mg per km limit from 2019 and 50% more from 2021, despite the exemptions being deemed unlawful in a separate vote by the parliament’s legal committee last night. Continue reading...
• How to slow down traffic: ditch kerbs, keep potholes, plant treesRemoving white lines may make us more cautious drivers. And it’s not the only counter-intuitive traffic-calming method …White lines are being removed from the middle of roads in London and other parts of the country, including Norfolk, to slow traffic. What other surprising methods can make our roads safer? Continue reading...
• Why my cycling clothing company uses models without helmetsThe debate about helmet use is too often toxic, puts off new riders and obscures more important issues, argues the founder of VulpineLet me begin with a story.Last night I walked into a pub and spotted a guy with two empty pint glasses in front of him. He had a lovely fresh third pint poised at his trembling lips. Fantastic, just what I was looking for. Continue reading...
• London mayor: cut price deal could signal end for 'Boris Bus'Boris Johnson has ordered more of his New Routemaster buses, but none of his potential successors seem keen on his signature public transport vehicle

The Herald

• Forth Road Bridge fault could not have been foreseen, Holyrood committee toldThe fault which led to the closure of the Forth Road Bridge could not have been reasonably foreseen, experts have told MSPs.

The Telegraph

• Blind commuter takes wrong train nearly every day for 14 weeks because announcements are so poorSouth West Trains passenger forced to stop travelling on her own after fault with announcement system leaves her stranded
• Night tube: Breakthrough as RMT urges members to accept dealRail, Maritime and Transport union clears big hurdle for an all-night Tube before vote on February 11

Daily Record

• Forth Road Bridge: Experts say fault that closed the bridge 'could not have been foreseen' A HOLYROOD committee heard from bridgemasters who said that the incident could not have been determined after a seized pin caused a crack.

Belfast Telegraph

• Wrightbus due to get order for 200 new Routemaster buses: London Boris Johnson gets finance green lightTransport for London has approved finance of tens of millions of pounds for a further order of Routemaster buses from Ballymena firm Wrightbus.

Birmingham Mail

• HS2 high speed rail's national headquarters opens in Birmingham Birmingham council leader John Clancy says HS2 high speed line will "super-charge" Birmingham as the national HQ, which will employ 1,000, is officially opened in the city.

Bolton News

• Company needs help to fund comfy cycling saddle which could rid riders of saddle sores and male impotency A BOLTON company is appealing for help in bringing a product which promises to revolutionise cycling to market.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Watch RAF Typhoon pilot fly through the Mach Loop in fantastic cockpit footage The footage was filmed by James Reid through the valleys famous as a training area for low-level fast jets

London Evening Standard

• Bosses put 'left luggage' wheelie bin on train, taking up seats as paying customers stand nearbyCommuters shared their train carriage with a "VIP" passenger after a wheelie bin took up two seats on a busy rush hour service.
• Night Tube: RMT union tells staff to agree to deal over pay and conditionsThe biggest union representing London Underground workers has told members to accept a deal that would pave the way for the start of the Night Tube.
• Pedestrians risk their lives by running across busy south-west London level crossingPedestrians are "putting their lives at risk" by running across a level crossing on a major rail line in south west London.
• Rush hour cyclists set to outnumber motorists in central LondonRush hour cyclists in central London are set to outnumber drivers within the next few years.
• All London black cabs to accept card payments by OctoberPassengers travelling in any London black cab will soon be able to pay by card.
• Londoners 'spending thousands on cars they rarely use'Londoners are "hostages" to their cars, spending thousands of pounds every year taxing, maintaining, insuring and parking vehicles they rarely use, according to new research.

Manchester Evening News

• Vandals smash tram window at Edge Lane station Technicians were called to fix the tram, causing delays to Ashton-under-Lyne services

Sheffield Telegraph

• South Yorkshire transport budget cut by �8.5millionA further £8.5million is to be slashed from South Yorkshire’s transport budget – but fares for the elderly and disabled will remain unchanged.

Wales Online

• Welsh rail services and train stations could soon be run from England under UK Government plans Warning comes after UK Government pledged not to split cross-border services
• Say hello to this blue tit as it photobombs a railway station's new webcam Staff at the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society were pleasantly surprised when they took a look at the pictures on the new camera

Yorkshire Evening Post

• YEP Says (Feb 3): Is an ‘m-ticket’ just the ...ticket?Could it be farewell to the machines and to those familiar orange tickets that tend to bury themselves away in the hidden parts of your jacket - just when the rail conductor steps into the carriage?

Burnley Express

• Paper train tickets on the way out - now they’ll have to punch your smartphoneThe end of the orange paper train ticket could be as step closer as plans are unveiled to allow passengers to travel anywhere in Britain using their smartphones.
• ‘Save our buses’ petition gathers 1,500 namesResidents living in the Clifton Farm area of Burnley have stepped up the fight to keep their number 65 bus service by handing a petition to county councillor Jeff Sumner.

Kent Online

• Bus shelters are being removed in MaidstoneNow you see them, now you don’t.

North Wales Live

• Jaguar Land Rover trial brings driverless cars a step closer Luxury car maker and government collaborate on tests for connected and autonomous vehicles

Other Regional Press

• Fylde’s trains of the future revealedRail passengers got the first hint of what train travel could look like under the new Northern Rail franchise.
• Lydd Airport £55m investment ‘set to create 200 jobs’ Hundreds of new jobs could be created in an airport expansion - but a raft of planning conditions have delayed it for a year, say bosses.
• Shropshire bus service facing the axe... againA south Shropshire bus service which was reinstated after a campaign is back on the chopping block as funding is set to dry up next month.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Minsterley Motors opt for Optare MetrocityMinsterley Motors have added five Optare Metrocity buses to their fleet.  The 11.5m, Euro 5, Metrocity buses seat up to 44 and join two Optare Solos already in service with Minsterley Motors, operating the Ludlow Park & Ride and town services.   The new Metrocity buses will operate on routes between Shrewsbury & Bishops Castle. John Jones, Managing Director, Minsterley Motors said, “We already operate a number of Optare Solos and our experience of these vehicles has been excellent.  We have also been extremely pleased by the dedication and high level of the produc...
• Mayor launches world-leading bus safety programme The Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL) have today launched a world-leading programme to drive major improvements in safety across London's bus network. Although the Capital's bus fleet is one of the safest in the world, with 2.5 injuries for every million passenger journeys, the Mayor and TfL are committed to reducing collisions further and have created this brand new six-point programme to improve safety. The programme will bring together the newest technology, training, incentives, support, reporting and transparency right across the network, contributing to TfL's work towards ...
• Ipass signs Panasonic deal to offer wifi on 23 airlinesWifi network provider Ipass has partnered with Panasonic to bring inflight Internet access to 23 international airlines. The deal means Ipass, which provides connectivity across any mobile device, will be available on more than 747 Panasonic-equipped aircraft that fly more than 32,000 routes monthly. Ipass, which has agreements with several inflight connectivity providers, now offers service onboard more than 2,700 aircraft. “Inflight wifi is critical for our business customers, and our partnership with Panasonic extends Ipass’s inflight footprint to many of the world’s le...
• CILT appear before the Transport Select Committee to discuss driver shortage crisisThe Transport Committee recently conducted an inquiry into skills and workforce planning in the road haulage sector. The objective of the Committee is to investigate what action Government has taken to address industry concerns about a lack of skilled drivers in the sector and to assess how effective the Government’s response has been. The Institute submitted a written response to the inquiry and this week was called to appear before the Committee to give evidence. Jolyon Drury FCILT, Chairman, Public Policies Committee, CILT represented the Institute and was joined by Adrian Jones, Nati...

Rail Magazine

• Full electric service won’t start on GWML until CP6Full introduction of electric services on the GWML will not now take place until Control Period 6 (CP6, 2019-2024).
• Late-February debut for Gatwick Express Class 387/2sClass 387/2s will begin running between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport on February 29, replacing the Class 442s that currently operate these trains.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Sulzer Shortlisted for Two UK Rail Industry Awards Sulzer has been shortlisted for two UK rail industry awards for its apprenticeship development scheme and recruitment excellence.

Railway Gazette

• UK and Thai universities form railway partnershipINTERNATIONAL: The UK’s University of Birmingham and Thailand’s Suranaree University of Technology...

Aviation Industry

• O’Leary: Ryanair will overtake Wizz Air in Central Europe by 2018 Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary expects to overtake Wizz Air in Central Europe to become the largest carrier in these markets by 2018. read more
• US airlines back Shuster’s ATC plan, but opposition mountsUS airlines—minus Delta Air Lines—quickly lined up behind a proposal to separate US air traffic control (ATC) from FAA, but others, including the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), expressed misgivings. read more
• Delta CEO Anderson to retire from role; Bastian to be new CEODelta Air Lines CEO Richard Anderson will retire from his current role on May 2, when Delta president Ed Bastian will assume the CEO role and EVP Glen Hauenstein will become president. read more
• British Airways announces daily flights to IranService to Tehran resumes following lifting of economic sanctions

Other News Sources

• Have your say on City Deal transport proposals at special meetingA special meeting of Cambridge City Council’s North Area Committee is being held to discuss proposals for significant changes to transport on two important roads in the city.
• Rural bus services ‘at risk from council cuts’Many rural bus services are being wiped out and more are under threat from local budget cuts, according to campaigners.