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

Friday, 22 April 2016

BBC News

• North Wales metro not right for north west, says Carwyn JonesLabour's plan for a north Wales metro transport system excludes Anglesey, Gwynedd and Conwy because it is an "urban concept" for heavily populated areas, the first minister has said.
• Bike couriers in legal fight over rightsFour couriers are taking their companies to a tribunal in a bid to get employed workers' rights, in what could be a landmark case affecting thousands of self-employed people.
• VIDEO: 'My sheikh has often travelled in economy'The President of Emirates Airline has told the BBC that falling oil prices are actually tough for his industry.
• Peugeot raided by emissions investigatorsPeugeot Citroen is raided by anti-fraud investigators as part of ongoing investigations on pollutants in the car industry.
• VW reaches US deal in emissions scandalVolkswagen to offer
• Daimler opens internal emissions probeGerman carmaker Daimler begins an internal investigation of its diesel exhaust emissions certification process in the US.
• Mitsubishi Motors shares sink to new lowShares of Mitsubishi Motors sink to new lows after the automaker admitted to falsifying fuel economy data earlier in the week.

Financial Times

• Daimler investigates its emissions testsUS justice department recently pressed carmaker for details about testing process
• Uber settles drivers’ class action suitCompany to pay up to $100m in deal that keeps drivers as contractors, not employees

The Guardian

• 'I cried all the way back': sexual harassment on public transportHow does it feel to be subject to unwanted sexual attention on your morning commute? Or on your way to school? We asked readers to tell us their stories of sexual harassment on public transport This time last year, Transport for London launched a hard-hitting campaign against sexual assault and harassment on its services. Accompanied by a harrowing video of a woman experiencing sexual assault on the Tube, the campaign urged anyone who experienced unwanted sexual behaviour to report it to the police. A year on since its launch, with the video boasting more than 4m views, 36% more people have re...
• Diesel cars' emissions far higher on road than in lab, tests showUK inquiry after Volkswagen scandal finds much higher nitrogen oxide levels than when vehicles are tested in laboratoryDiesel cars are producing many times more health-damaging pollutants than claimed by laboratory tests, with some emitting up to 12 times the EU maximum when tested on the road, according to a government investigation undertaken following the Volkswagen scandal.A Department for Transport (DfT) study of cars made by manufacturers such as Ford,

The Herald

• Trade union support for cyclists' 'presumed liability' campaignA CAMPAIGN to make motorists automatically liable to pay compensation to cyclists or other vulnerable road users following a crash has been backed by Scotland's trade unions.
• Self-driving vehicles to save Glasgow and Edinburgh 'up to £45m a year' by cutting crashesAUTONOMOUS vehicles will save cities the size of Glasgow and Edinburgh will save up to £45 million a year by cutting road crashes, according to a report on the future of automated transport technology.

The Telegraph

• Heathrow softens stance on night flight ban for third runwayThe boss of Heathrow has signalled the airport may soften its stance on a night flight ban so that it can win Government backing for a £17.6bn third runway.

Reuters News

• Brexit would strengthen case for Heathrow expansion, says airport bossA British exit from the EU would strengthen the case for expanding Heathrow, the UK's busiest airport, because the country would need more global trading routes, the airport's chief executive said on Thursday.
• All cars road tested by UK found to exceed lab emission limitsLONDON (Reuters) - Britain said on Thursday all 37 diesel car models it had tested out on the road exceeded the laboratory limits for polluting nitrogen oxides, but only Volkswagen had used so-called defeat devices to cheat tests.

Mail Online

• Inquiry finds ALL cars tested by the Government smash lab test pollution limits The Department for Transport tested top-selling cars to find out if they would�exceed laboratory limits for nitrogen oxide (NOx) when tested in real world conditions.

This is Money

• Take a snooze, watch TV, have sex: What people would do in driverless cars Chatting to others in the car, browsing the web and watching TV were among things motorists said they'd do while a car piloted itself - and two respondents said they'd go a lot further.

Network Rail

• Network Rail continues support for veterans’ social enterprise as Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company launchesA leading social enterprise employing injured ex-Forces personnel, part of Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI), yesterday (Wednesday 20 April) launched as Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company – and Network Rail has pledged to continue the trading partnership of more than 25 years between RBLI and the rail network.

Birmingham Post

• 'Mini Minis' production a possibility Superleggera Vision ‘playing a role’ in Mini’s plans – and Rocketman concept could be reborn as an electric vehicle.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Carwyn Jones launches Labour's five North Wales manifesto pledgesThe First Minister defends regional Metro plans, A55 and health record as Assembly election campaign hots up

London Evening Standard

• Hundreds shut out of Romford station after signal failure leads to overcrowdingCommuters faced chaos at Romford station this morning after it was closed to passengers due to overcrowding.
• Policeman argues with London cyclist after pulling him over 'for riding out of cycle superhighway'An angry policeman pulled over a cyclist who chose not to ride in a nearby cycle superhighway because it was busy.
• South West Train delays: Commuters describe 'meltdown' as signalling problems spark rail chaosLondon commuters are facing rail chaos this evening after a signalling fault sparked a raft of delayed and cancelled services.

Blackpool Gazette

• Bus firm appeal is upheldA Blackpool bus firm is free to continue operating services having had its appeal against a ban imposed by the Traffic Commissioner upheld.

Other Regional Press

• Business leaders doubt West Norfolk rail promisesTwo of West Norfolk’s most senior business leaders say they fear the area is being “misled” over efforts to improve its rail links.
• Transport Secretary: Prioritising level crossing work over Ely North Junction upgrade has benefits The Transport Secretary insists prioritising "safety critical" level crossing works in the Ely area over upgrading the Ely North Junction is the right decision.
• County Council’s Total Transport scheme goes under the microscope in public consultationCambridgeshire County Council is welcoming opinions on its proposed changes to council funded transport in the region with a public consultation.

New Scientist

• Hidden motors: cycling’s mechanical doping problem hits new low Cycling, a sport infamous for abuse of performance-enhancing drugs, must get to grips with the mechanical doping of bikes, says Lily Hay Newman

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• SPT invest in five more Optare Solos Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) has purchased a further five Optare Solos to be used on various subsidised local bus services across the area, including on the demand-responsive MyBus service.  This follows an investment in 23 Solos in 2015. The 7.9m, Euro 5, slim line, Solos are all fitted with e-leather seats and seatbelts, three of the 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. Two of the vehicles will be used by operators McGills from their Hamilton D...
• Accessible lifts transform South Tottenham stationSouth Tottenham, one of London's Overground stations, has been transformed by becoming the latest to introduce step-free access in the form of two new lifts. The installation is part of a �2.5 million programme to make refurbishment changes to the whole station. It was important for this to be one of the next stations to be fully accessible because of the 600,000 passengers who pass through it annually. The refurbishments also include new walkways, further facilitating step-free access from the platform to the street. Other improvements include a bike stand area outside the station, upgraded C...

Rail Technology Magazine

• Southern train conductors to go on strike over driver-only trainsTrain conductors on Southern routes have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a series of strikes, starting from next week, in protest at plans to extend driver-only operations (DOO). Trade union RMT, who received a 78% mandate for the strike, warned that the proposals to extend DOO, where drivers...
• Railway stations celebrate Queen's birthdayAs the Queen celebrates her real birthday today, railway stations across the country have announced plans to host celebrations of her official birthday in June. The Queen was born 90 years ago today, but traditionally also has an official birthday, marked by the Trooping of the Colour on 11 June...
• ORR exploring options for route-based regulationIncreased route-based regulation is likely to be introduced on British railways, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has confirmed in its business plan for 2016-17. The long-awaited Shaw report, published last month, recommended further route devolution, although it stopped short of recommending...
• Revised EDP still has risks, but approved to get industry 'back to business as usual'Changes to Network Rail’s regulated outputs in its revised England and Wales Enhancements Delivery Plan (EDP) could have “been clearer” but were approved to get the industry “back to business as usual”, an Office of Rail and Road (ORR) letter reveals. The regulator...

Railway Gazette

• Railway supply industry news in brief Freedom Railcar Solutions has reached an agreement in principle to establish a wagon repair and...

Aviation Industry

• FAA calls for removal of certain Zodiac seatsFAA is calling for more than 10,000 Zodiac Aerospace seats to be removed from service, citing design flaws that could cause injury if a passenger was thrown forward during a high-impact incident. read more
• Heathrow reports strong start to 2016Revenues up 3.2% for first three months of 2016
• Birmingham airport secures direct flights to ChinaBeijing Capital Airlines will launch services to Beijing and Shanghai in July
• Priority Pass reports record growth Lounge membership provider passes 900-lounge milestone

Other News Sources

• Heathrow could ban night-time flights in order to secure third runway fundingLondon's Heathrow Airport could soften its position on night time flights, in a bid to convince the Government to back a third runway, John Holland-Kaye, the airport's chief executive, said on Thursday (21 April).
• LEPs’ funding prioritises roads over sustainable transport, campaigners sayFunding for new transport is ‘heavily weighted’ towards new roads at the expense of sustainable transport, new research reveals.