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

Tuesday, 17 May 2016

BBC News

• Seaweed farm part of biofuel studySeaweed farm to look at potential for using algae as biofuel
• Do not wreck M4 plans, says MP FlynnParty political games must not wreck plans for an M4 relief road in south Wales, a Labour MP warns, as talks resume to break the deadlock over electing a first minister.
• Welsh road 'one of most polluted in UK'Residents on a road which has some of the UK's highest pollution levels say they fear for the health of local children.
• Images celebrate 80 years of GatwickPictures of the Queen, US president JFK and Pope John Paul II are released to mark 80 years of scheduled flights from Gatwick.
• 'Refusal to talk' ahead of rail strikeSouthern rail conductors due to go on strike accuse operator Govia Thameslink of refusing to take part in talks.
• British Airways 'mulls meal charges'British Airways customers could be charged for meals on short-haul flights to help the airline compete with budget rivals, according to media reports.

Financial Times

• Uber growth leaves taxis needing a liftThousands of drivers opt for app-based service over traditional private-hire
• Ex-Alphabet team target driverless trucksStart-up Otto aims to make inroads in $700bn US market

The Guardian

• Heathrow airport executives need to fly straight on bonuseseathrow airport’s campaign for a third runway comes covered in a Union flag. It is conveyed by the logo – a stylised flag with arrows pointing in all directions – and rests on the patriotic argument that expansion would bring economic benefits.

The Scotsman

• MPs push for summer decision on new runway A cross-party collection of 66 MPs is urging UK government ministers to make a final decision on a new runway for the south-east of England by the summer recess.

The Telegraph

• Financier questions Heathrow's ability to finance third runwayThe City financier behind an independent proposal to expand Heathrow has claimed the airport will find it difficult to fund its controversial plans for a £17.6bn third runway in the private markets.
• Boris Johnson accused of hiding study linking air pollution and deprived schools
• 'Excessive sunlight' causes delays for commuters on the Tube

Mail Online

• London Underground blames rush hour delays on 'excess sunlight' stopping drivers A Piccadilly line train was delayed at South Harrow station this morning with commuters told the glare from the sun was stopping the driver seeing platform CCTV monitors to pull away safely.

Birmingham Mail

• Birmingham Airport is most complained about for damaged luggage A Freedom of Information request has found passengers are more than 10 times as likely to have their baggage lost or damaged in Birmingham than Bristol Airport

Birmingham Post

• Work starts on 20mph zones in Birmingham city centreSigns are going up ahead of new zones throughout the city centre and beyond

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Operation Steerside is ‘part of the vocabulary’ in Bradford THE officer leading a police crackdown on dangerous driving in Bradford said the name of the operation had become part of the city’s vocabulary.

Liverpool Echo

• Liverpool John Lennon Airport one of country's best for looking after passenger luggage JLA only bettered by Bristol and East Midlands for keeping a safe eye on your bags

London Evening Standard

• Tube delays caused by 'excess sunlight' hitting drivers' rear view TV monitorLondon Underground has blamed rush hour delays hitting Tube commuters on "excess sunlight" .
• Heathrow third runway: Sadiq Khan told to do everything he can to stop expansionA dozen MPs, eight town hall leaders and other politicians urged Sadiq Khan today to do "everything in your power" to stop a third runway at Heathrow.
• Lea Bridge station reopens after 31 years... and is hit by rush hour train delays A station which was closed down 31 years ago finally reopened to passengers today – and was almost immediately hit by rush hour train delays.
• Letters to the editor: Heathrow promises cannot be trustedThe Heathrow management has finally found a way of getting past the barriers to building a third runway by banning night flights [May 11]. But Heathrow has not earned its licence to operate with the local community and has repeatedly broken promises. Worse still, its emissions have greatly reduced the health and life expectancy of many people. Rarely do corporate entities truly change and Heathrow has shown little evidence of this over the past 20 years — its promises are all too little and much too late. Dr Michael Cross
• Set your alarm later... soon you might be able to spin your way through your London commuteA bus has been transformed into a mobile spinning studio for busy commuters - and it could soon be picking you up and taking you to work

Manchester Evening News

• Should every bus in Manchester be an electric one? Battle to cut Manchester's 'dangerous' pollution levels continues

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Driverless cars as pioneered by Nissan to be the focus of Queen's speechNissan is leading the way in self-driving cars and has said the Sunderland-built Qashqai will be its first car equipped with the technology

Sheffield Star

• Minister urges Labour to “sort out” row over HS2 station in SheffieldSheffield could miss out on an HS2 station altogether if it can’t unite behind one location, business minister Anna Soubry warned.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Tom Richmond: The Trolleybus scandal. Leeds humiliated by breakdown of transport leadershipAND still there is no public apology to taxpayers. Five days after the transport strategy for Leeds hit the buffers, “sorry” still appears the hardest word of all to say.

Yorkshire Post

• Bus and interchange damaged in suspected arson attack in RotherhamARSONISTS are suspected to have started a blaze which damaged a bus and part of the building at Rotherham’s interchange on Sunday night.
• Transport links could be hit by mayoral dealGEORGE OSBORNE has been warned that the Northern Powerhouse will be undermined if his head of the National Infrastructure Commission increases his political responsibilities and public duties by becoming London’s deputy mayor.
• Bye bye trolleybus, hello HS2: Why high-speed rail is key to better public transport in Leeds, and vice versaJust days after the £250m Leeds trolleybus project was scrapped, a major transport study reveals why Leeds must now look to HS2 to truly galvanise its rail and road revolution.

Blackpool Gazette

• Airport college is not just for shale says MPGordon Marsden has hit out at the Government saying they were trying to pass off Blackpool’s energy college as “fracking central”.
• New bus stop eases ‘dangerous’ trafficBispham residents are celebrating the opening of a new bus stop.

Get West London

• Heathrow third runway decision must be made by July, say MPs pushing government ministersA cross-party group of 66 MPs have come together to push ministers on whether Heathrow or Gatwick should be expanded

Other Regional Press

• 4,000 turn out to see 'warships' and shunters - and grab a cream tea! A RECORD-breaking number of passengers made tracks to a heritage rail event.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Transport Minister views plans to boost Port of LiverpoolTwo options to reduce congestion on the A5036 will help the Port of Liverpool grow and deliver a Northern Powerhouse. A major upgrade to roads around the Port of Liverpool will help boost economic growth and deliver a Northern Powerhouse, Roads Minister Andrew Jones said today (16 May 2016). The minister viewed plans to reduce congestion on the A5036 and help deliver thousands of jobs across the region. The Liverpool2 port development is expected to create 1,000 new jobs in the area and could create up to 5,000 more in the wider supply chain, according to Peel Port who run the site. An upgra...
• London looks to roll out driverless carsIt seems that by later on this year, Londoners will be able to enjoy the use of driverless cars around the city. Known as the Gateway Project, it will see the capital of England become one of the first cities in the world to have this mode of transport, reports New Scientist. Exact numbers and routes are still to be decided, but the pods, as they're called, will be autonomous and they'll take you along public roads to your destination. This is something of a revolution when it comes to transport and the vehicles are going to be piloted in small urban areas of the United Kingdom. Testing the ef...

Rail Magazine

• Extra Exmouth-Exeter trainsExtra trains now run on the Exmouth branch.
• HS2 cities should work together to maximise benefitsSecretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin launches a new report into the regeneration and transport benefits of high-speed rail.
• Pressland to lead DB HR projectDB Cargo has appointed Dr Amy Pressland as a specialist HR Project Manager.
• New station opens at Lea BridgeTrains started serving a new station at Lea Bridge (Leyton, East London) on May 16.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Nord-Lock Washers: The Original Wedge-Locking Solution Since the Nord-Lock Group began operations in 1982 we have focused on providing the world's most effective bolt securing system.
• Rail accessibility: a transport network for all A pattern emerges when asking about the rate of progress in making the UK’s railways open for everyone in society: steady, but a long way to go. Opening up the sector is not just the moral thing to do, however. It also makes good business sense.
• Airquick-Train Washing Plants Click here to read about Airquick CET (controlled-emission toilets).Airquick began trading as a compressed-air engineering company in May 1974, and quickly became established with British Rail in the...
• The New Filter Fan Plus Optimum usage of space is always important in systems with electric or electronic components.
• Bombardier opens Crossrail testing facility in DerbyBombardier will test and commission its Crossrail trains at a new facility in Derby, which formally opened on Friday. The 10,000 square metre site has been built to support the production of 66 new Aventra nine-car class 345 EMUs.
• WYCA to invest Leeds trolleybus money in rail after McLoughlin blocks proposalsThe money earmarked to build a new trolleybus system in Leeds will be reinvested in transport in the region, including rail, after permission for the scheme was denied. Patrick McLoughlin, the transport secretary, denied approval for the scheme, ruling that on the basis of a public inquiry...
• �11.6m development fund allows Lea Bridge station to reopen after 31 yearsTrains are running today from Lea Bridge in Leyton, East London, the capital’s latest station, as it reopened ahead of time. Lea Bridge is situated on the line between Bishops Stortford and Stratford and offers six-minute journeys to Stratford and Tottenham Hale, compared to the 40-minute...
• Rail upgrades promised as part of Port of Liverpool developmentsRail links to the Port of Liverpool will be upgraded as part of a scheme to improve the port’s capacity. The Department for Transport will invest in adding a second line on the Bootle to Port link, increasing the line speed and improving signalling at Earlestown West. The schemes are due...

Railnews

• Network Rail set to replace 'sensitive' electrification A stretch of recently installed electrification gantries on the Great Western Main Line is set to be replaced in response to vigorous environmental objections, but Network Rail has yet to confirm that funding will be available. The affected stretch of four track main line runs through two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and Network Rail has revealed that it has given specialists a 'high level brief' in a bid to evolve an alternative design. However, a spokesman told Railnews that any replacements 'must meet our specifications around reliability, safety, and efficiency'.

Railway Gazette

• Light rail extension opens in StuttgartGERMANY: A new section of the Stuttgart light rail network was inaugurated on May 13 by Lord Mayor...
• European Commission investigates Wabtec's planned acquisition of FaiveleyEUROPE: Having been formally notified of the proposed transaction on April 4, the European...

Aviation Industry

• Ryanair boss issues warning over ‘Brexit’CEO Michael O’Leary calls for “Remain” vote in referendum
• France national strike to hit travel plansTransport workers including air traffic controllers due to take industrial action

Other News Sources

• 66 MPs urge Ministers to make final decision on new runway by summer recessSixty six MPs representing the length and breadth of the UK and from right across the political spectrum are urging Ministers to make a final decision on a new runway by the summer recess saying that a decision is “vital for the prosperity of the nations and regions of the UK”.