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

Friday, 29 April 2016

BBC News

• VIDEO: Port wants alternative M4 route optionThe company which owns Newport docks wants an alternative route to a proposed �1bn M4 relief road because it would cut its land in two.
• Dublin tram drivers begin one-day strikeDrivers on the Luas tram system in Dublin begin a one-day strike over a pay dispute.
• Drone 'unlikely to have hit BA plane'A passenger plane thought to have been struck as it approached Heathrow airport was probably not hit by a drone after all, the government says.
• Lightning strikes planes over LondonA British Airways and an Icelandair plane have been struck by lightning over west London.
• Airbus profit hit in 'challenging year'Airbus reports lower profits and warns of mounting costs on its A400M military aircraft and delays to its A350 and A320neo airliners.
• Ford profit doubles on European salesFord posted a record quarterly profit following strong sales in Europe and moving more trucks in North America.

Financial Times

• Delta to buy 75 Bombardier C Series jetsCanadian aerospace group achieves target of 300 firm orders for new aircraft

The Guardian

• Heathrow plane strike 'not a drone incident'Transport secretary tells MPs that incident reported by BA pilot on 17 April is now not thought to have involved drone

The Herald

• Glasgow bus driver who filmed passenger while driving insists there was 'no malice intended'A former McGill’s bus driver who filmed a passenger as he drove through Glasgow said he will “accept the consequences” of his actions.

Birmingham Post

• Steam train company back on track after safety suspension ends Tyseley-based Vintage Trains, the firm behind the Shakespeare Express, can finally take bookings again

London Evening Standard

• Regent's Park cycle superhighway plans under fire from Westminster CouncilPlans for a controversial cycle superhighway through Regent's Park have come under fire from Westminster Council.
• Heathrow passenger jet '35m from striking drone over London'A passenger jet came within 35m of a flashing drone shortly after taking off from Heathrow.

The York Press

• Bus firms urged to help elderly residents get to new GP practice in York Patients are being moved next year to a new surgery

Yorkshire Post

• Minister quizzed over lack of timetable for work to electrify Hull to Selby rail lineA HULL MP has demanded ministers make clear why the Government continues to stall over plans to electrify a crucial stretch of rail track.

Crewe Chronicle

• German authorities to investigate Fiat emissions Post-dieselgate tests cast suspicions on NOx filtration system.

Daventry Express

• More than a quarter of taxis checked during an operation in Daventry had problemsThe safety of taxis and their customers was the focus of an operation in Daventry.

Other Regional Press

• Deal will see new �20m ferry builtA NEW ferry worth £20m will be built to serve Wightlink Ferries’ Portsmouth to Fishbourne route.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• 14 Optare low carbon Solo buses for Go North EastGo North East have added another 14 low carbon Optare Solos to their fleet. Go North East is the North East England’s largest bus company, operating a fleet of nearly 700 buses and coaches, and employing more than 2,100 people.  Over a quarter of the Go North East single deck fleet are Optare vehicles.  These recent fleet additions will bring the number of Optare Solos in the Go North East Fleet to 56, which accounts for almost 70% of the overall Go North East minibus fleet. The 9.2m, Euro 5, low carbon Solo buses have been developed with intelligent energy management, which o...

Rail Technology Magazine

• First rail milling train in UK to be used in Crossrail maintenanceThe first rail milling train in the UK will be used to support Crossrail developments after Linsinger won a £12m contract. The model MG31 train will be delivered in spring 2018 and will be located at the Plumstead infrastructure maintenance depot in south east London. It will support...
• Council leaders criticise lack of clarity over TransPennine upgrade plansDelays to the TransPennine electrification and route upgrade risk leaving the region with a “sub-optimal” service, and there are concerns about the current programme, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has warned. In papers put before the GMCA before tomorrow’s board...
• Passengers must be at heart of rail upgrades - Transport FocusPassengers’ needs must be paramount in current and future rail developments, Transport Focus has said. In its 2016-17 workplan, the watchdog said that TOCs need to provide better information during planned and unplanned disruptions, such as the ones that hit the Southern rail line this...
• Ambiguous Hendy Review puts rolling stock and local plans at riskA lack of transparency in Sir Peter Hendy’s revised enhancement delivery plan (EDP) has made it harder to plan for the future and could impact the introduction or cascade of rolling stock across the network, it has been claimed.

Railway Gazette

• Railway supply industry news in brief Ticketing technology company Parkeon has appointed Kuwait-based IT firm Coaxial as its fare...

Aviation Industry

• Aviation lobby group calls for action on rising taxesAirlines4Europe says European governments are 'shooting themselves in the foot' with air tax policies

Other News Sources

• Bus industry profits up slightly in 2013/14, says new reportProfits in the UK bus industry rose in 2013/14, bringing to an end a run of three consecutive years of falls, according to new analysis published this week by Preston-based transport specialists The TAS Partnership. The 128-page report Bus Industry Performance 2015 presents the results of its annual analysis of 120 local bus companies around the UK, in what is the 24th year of the firm’s Bus Industry Monitor project.
• Heathrow Airport plane struck by lightning in 'big flash and bang' Incredible footage captured near Heathrow shows moment lightning strikes plane on approach to airport
• British Airways flight heading to Heathrow 'not struck by drone' as suspected Transport Minister Robert Goodwill said there was "indeed some speculation it may have been even a plastic bag"
• New 10,000 seafront arena could help boost Brighton's second rail line bid THE construction of a new 10,000 capacity entertainment arena on Brighton seafront could help the city's bid for a second London-bound railway line, a leading councillor has claimed.
• Network Rail slammed as ice stops trains to London RAIL bosses failed to prevent ice at a known cold spot from causing a third day of disruption after two days of strikes.