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

Saturday, 14 May 2016

BBC News

• Flying Scotsman Borders trip cancelledPlans to run the newly-rebuilt Flying Scotsman steam locomotive on the Borders rail line are stopped at the last minute by Network Rail.
• VIDEO: London delivery bots 'by end of year'An Estonian startup builds a fleet of delivery robots that it hopes will be dropping off takeaway dinners in London by the end of 2016.
• Mayor to review ticket office closuresLondon Mayor Sadiq Khan sets out his transport priorities for his first 100 days in office including a review of ticket office closures.

Financial Times

• Do we still need to build a third runway at Heathrow?The government’s alternatives for increasing UK airport capacity

The Guardian

• Borders trip off as Flying Scotsman’s wings clipped by Network RailSteam locomotive’s visit to Scotland will not go ahead as planned after last-minute cancellation
• When rail companies claim their trains are ‘on time’ – but you know they aren’tAngered by delays, cancellations and claims that 82% of his trains were on time, Matt Steel kept a record of his travels. The real punctuality figure? Just 37%It all started when I was glancing idly at a Southern Railway performance poster while waiting for a delayed train. The posters are displayed around the network and proudly demonstrate how rail companies have hit their target for service performance – or at least how they have run close to it. But as I stared at the poster I wondered how more than 80% of trains were supposedly running on time, yet my experience was nothing like that.At f...
• Sadiq Khan to more than double size of London's clean air zoneNew mayor of London calls air pollution ‘our biggest environmental challenge’ and plans to bring the increased ultra low emission zone into force earlyThe new mayor of London Sadiq Khan has made his first major policy announcement, unveiling plans to substantially increase the size of London’s clean air charging zone to tackle the capital’s illegal air pollution levels.The Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) - which could also now come into force earlier than planned - will require drivers of the 2.5m oldest and dirtiest vehicles to pay a charge. Owners of cars that fail to meet the standards will...

The Telegraph

• Is this the worst airport security line in the world?�

Daily Record

• Angry residents claim Network Rail are putting "costs before lives" by steaming ahead to use yard in ClelandAngry residents claimed Network Rail are putting “costs before lives” by steaming ahead to use a yard in Cleland as a base to electrify the Glasgow to Edinburgh line.

The Mirror

• Hythe ferry crash: 23 people rescued after vessel collides with pier in Hampshire The vessel struck the Hythe pier, severely damaging the wheelhouse, although there are not thought to be any serious injuries

Birmingham Mail

• Watch what happens when you go on an open top bus tour around BirminghamThe Big Brum Buz is back – offering a glorious open top tour of all the things that made Birmingham great. But what do you get to see?

Birmingham Post

• Nissan launches vehicle-to-grid charging Leaf owners will soon be able to sell surplus electricity back to the nation – for a potential £600 a year

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Extra services between Bradford and London approved by rail regulator VIRGIN East�Coast was�today given permission by the Office of Rail Regulation to run a service every two hours from Bradford to London starting in 2019.

London Evening Standard

• Lea Bridge station to reopen after 31 years to benefit 352,000 passengers a yearA mainline rail station reopens on Monday after being closed for 31 years — raising hopes of a property and economic boom for a large part of east London.
• Rail fares from London to Edinburgh to fall to just �25Fares between London and Edinburgh will drop to just �25 within five years following a ruling by rail watchdogs.
• Commuters reveal the 'craziest' things they've seen on London's transport... including a man eating prawn salad with his bare handsFrom commuters in gimp suits to men vomiting into their own top hats, Londoners have been revealing their strangest commuting experiences.
• Sadiq Khan backs 'bus-hopper' race across LondonSadiq Khan has backed the idea of holding a race to see who can get the furthest with his new bus-hopper ticket.
• Moment heroic driver saves passengers as train crashes intro truckThis is the dramatic moment a group of terrified passengers ducked for cover as their train crashed into a truck.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Northern Rail faces investigation over fears lack of competition is driving up passenger faresThe Competition and Markets Authority is concerned that Sunderland-based Arriva PLC also runs buses

Sheffield Star

• Bus window smashed in ‘shooting’ in Nether EdgeA Sheffield bus had its window smashed in an alleged ‘shooting’ as it made its way towards Meadowhall.

The York Press

• Debate over bus cuts in York DECISION day for subsidised bus services in York has been put off by a fortnight after Green councillors forced a debate on the issue.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Passengers hot under the collar over Midland Metro air conditioningPeople who regularly use the Midland Metro tram line to get around the West Midlands have complained about the lack of air conditioning in the carriages during hot weather.

Blackpool Gazette

• Resort rail depot on movePlans to bring Blackpool’s rail services into the 21st century are moving further down the track.
• Blaze halts rail servicesTrain services from Blackpool have been disrupted by a major lineside blaze.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Next stop Leiston for Portillo’s Great British Railway JourneyA well-known locomotive lover steamed into a Suffolk town for a whistle-stop tour of its famous engineering landmark.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Vintage buses and classic cars at festivalThe Fenland Busfest returns on Sunday with free vintage rides and a classic car show.

Bus and Coach.com

• Leeds trolleybus scheme rejected by transport secretary

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Wildlife and passengers to benefit from Oxford railway upgradeA major railway upgrade in Oxford is set to benefit both train passengers and wildlife in the surrounding area next to the line. In partnership with Chiltern Railways, Network Rail is helping to create purpose-built habitats for newts, badgers, bats and swallows beside the railway. Chiltern Railways is set to launch services from Oxford to London from December this year and by then it's hoped there will be 10,000 square metres more of trackside habitat. This will include 11,000 trees, wildflower grasslands and hedgerows, among other natural additions. Passenger benefits include 5km of two-trac...

Rail Magazine

• �250 million Leeds Trolleybus scheme is axedThe Government has accepted recommendations not to proceed with the proposed �250 million trolleybus scheme in Leeds.
• New interim chairman for Rail Supply GroupGordon Wakeford, Managing Director, Mobility Division for Siemens plc, has been appointed interim industry chairman of the Rail Supply Group (RSG).

Rail Technology Magazine

• Free station wi-fi: shouldn't we all have it by now?Passengers on Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) can now browse the internet on free wi-fi at 105 of the operator’s stations. The service, provided by O2, is available on Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express routes, all of which are owned by GTR. Charles Horton, GTR CEO...
• UK rail has worst performance figures in a decadeUK rail performance fell to its worst since 2006 in the last year, the latest figures from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) show. The national performance and punctuality measure (PPM) in 2015-16 was 89.1%, the lowest since 88.1% in 2006-07. The individual operator with the worst PPM was Govia...
• Hendy to deliver keynote speech at UKRIA 2017Network Rail’s chairman, Sir Peter Hendy, is to deliver what will undoubtedly be an enjoyable and lively keynote address at the 2017 edition of the UK Rail Industry Awards (UKRIA). Sir Peter, who replaced Richard Parry-Jones at the organisation last year, published his much-anticipated...
• DfT rejects calls for greater role in improving airport rail connectionsRecommendations from MPs that the DfT takes a more active role in improving rail connections to airports have been rejected. In a report, published in February, the Transport Select Committee said that rail connections were crucial for improving access to airports and urged the government to do...
• RAIB flag up recurrent safety concerns after near missesDangers associated with track worker safety, track quality, freight train condition and platform interface on British railways all need to be reviewed, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has warned in its corporate report. The RAIB identified a number of areas which repeatedly...
• Alstom to install ETCS on Grand Central Class 180Angel Trains have signed a contract for Alstom to design and install the Atlas 200 European Train Control System (ETCS) on an East Coast Main Line (ECML) class 180 train. If the installation goes well, the ETCS will be installed on all 14 class 180s, which are diesel units operated by Grand...
• Getting an aerial viewEdd Fowler from the Rail Infrastructure Network Model (RINM) team at Network Rail discusses the roll-out of the company's aerial survey data, and the benefits it will deliver.

Aviation Industry

• Ryanair would cut investment in UK if it leaves EUDUBLIN: Ryanair would withdraw some investment if Britain opts to leave the EU and air fares could fall in the short term due to the
• American, United airlines enter no-frills fare competitionStung by competition from ultra-discount carriers , American Airlines and United Continental are striking back with cheap, no-frills tickets of their own. By year-end, the pair plans to lure budget travelers with basic-economy fares -- inexpensive tickets that don't include typical benefits like an assigned seat before you get to the airport.
• Bombardier expects steep-approach test flight certification in 3Q Bombardier will begin steep-approach test flights in Wichita, Kansas, next week, focusing on final validation by July, Bombardier VP-CSeries Rob Dewar told ATW in Montreal. read more
• Ryanair calls on Google to ban 'deceptive' eDreams adsAirline says ads are misleading consumers
• Cityjet cancels London City-Cork serviceRoute axed due to poor demand

Other News Sources

• Where in Europe is rail quicker than flying?Study from GoEuro analyses time differences between rail and flight travel