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Wednesday, 20 July 2016

Government

• Bus Services Bill inquiry launchedThe Transport Committee launches an inquiry on the Bus Services Bill. The Bill, currently before Parliament, seeks to amend the framework for the delivery of bus services in England outside of London and provide for improvements in ticketing, open data and bus registration.

BBC News

• TrawsCymru long-distance bus ticket aims to boost tourismNew tickets offering unlimited long distance bus travel across Wales are being launched with hopes of boosting tourism and the economy.
• Cirencester to Kemble railway: Plan to restore servicesA Cotswold town could be linked to mainline rail services again if a plan for a new line is approved.
• Infrastructure 'still faces flood risk'Britain's roads, bridges, railways, hospitals, electricity, gas, water and internet remain at risk from floods, a government review will admit.
• Severn Tunnel is first to use new electrified trackThe Severn Tunnel becomes the first place in the UK to use a new electrified track as part of the electrification of the south Wales mainline.
• Driver suspended after 'runaway' bus crash in GlasgowA bus driver is suspended after a bus that appeared to have no driver crashed in Glasgow city centre on Monday.

Financial Times

• Hong Kong: One country, two economiesAs China’s slowdown hits wealth and relations sour, can the territory revive its fortunes?

The Guardian

• The perfect position: the importance of aerodynamics in cycling – videoIn April, Flanders’ Bike Valley launched a new wind tunnel that gives riders the opportunity to perfect their position on a bike – which may help them gain valuable seconds during a race. Join Ridley Bikes and Lotto Soudal as they work together to create the perfect bike and riding position for their ridersTour de France: inside Lotto Soudal and Ridley bikes Continue reading...
• Truckmakers fined by Brussels for price collusionMAN, Volvo/Renault, Daimler, Iveco, and DAF responsible for breaking EU antitrust rulesThe European commission has fined Daimler, Volvo/Renault and two other truckmakers a record €2.93bn (£2.5bn) for colluding on prices and passing the costs of emissions rules on to customers.The cartel, which also comprised MAN, Iveco and DAF, operated between 1997 and 2011 to increase factory prices of medium and heavy trucks in the European Economic Area, the commission said. Continue reading...
• Eurostar disrupted by trackside fire in ParisTGV and international rail services to and from French capital halted for several hours after attempted theft of electric cableA fire suspected to be caused by vandals at the Gare du Nord in Paris halted train traffic to Britain and many other destinations for several hours on Tuesday evening.Some rail services, including Eurostar and Thalys trains, from the central Paris station were suspended at around 6.30pm after a transformer caught fire, authorities said. Continue reading...

The Herald

• First Group Chairman warms vote to leave EU may slow down bus and rail growth
• Platform overcrowding could increase risk from driver-only trains, says reportTHE safety of driver-only train operations will require
• Glasgow bus crash: Driver error may not be to blame, says transport sourcesA First Bus caused panic on Monday as it hurtled 100 metres down Renfield Street in Glasgow after the driver reportedly stopped off to buy a drink at a newsagents.

The Telegraph

• Cardiff bus fire: Extraordinary pictures as bus goes up in flames in city centre
• 'Vision of hell': Commuters endure travel 'carnage' as roads and rail network buckle under the heat

Times Online

• The generation gap and how it can be closed [Letter]Sir, It’s not that baby boomers are too rich, it is that the millennials are too poor (“Plight of the young is a problem for all of us”, Opinion, July 19). The pensioner fuel allowances and TV licences should be linked to tax codes straight away, but it’s peanuts, and won’t make the millennials richer.

The Mirror

• Airport staff forced to push start 36-tonne plane packed with passengers in astonishing footage The 90-seater Iberian Airlines jet had been stranded on the tarmac for about an hour after the tug truck that pushes it to the runway stopped working
• Travel chaos after bus bursts into flames in city centre turning into raging inferno This dramatic footage shows the vehicle becoming a raging inferno after police sealed off the street

Birmingham Mail

• Ex-offender back on track with Virgin TrainsRail operator working with reformed criminals wants to encourage more companies to consider taking on those who have offended in the past

Birmingham Post

• Sparkbrook tram depot regen back on the cards Revised plans have been lodged to bring about a new life for the 103-year-old former tram depot which has fallen into a severe state of disrepair
• Tesla Model S meets Gen-SS Voltes Design unveil catalogue of parts

Daily Post (North Wales)

• £1bn rail vision for North Wales backed by business community79 business leaders put name to campaign for electrification and rail line speed and station improvements Business leaders from across North Wales, Cheshire and the North West are backing a campaign to secure £1 billion of rail improvements.
• Airbus considering having urinals on its aircraft The aerospace giant is looking at the idea to increase space and also reduce the time waiting for the toilet

Liverpool Echo

• Graffiti crew attacked Merseyrail trains in �123,000 spray-paint rampage Gang of five spared jail despite 125 attacks on trains and trams
• Hottest day of the year blamed for Merseyrail delays Heat-related problems caused four hours of delays on the Kirkby and Ormskirk lines
• Business leader urges Government to maintain Northern Powerhouse momentum Martin Venning, director of the UK Northern Powerhouse Conference and Exhibition, says the new minister needs to 'act fast'

London Evening Standard

• London Paddington trains delayed and cancelled over fears tracks will 'buckle' in sweltering heatTrains running to and from London Paddington have been delayed and cancelled over fears railway lines would “buckle” in the sweltering heat.
• London train delays: Thousands of commuters battle to get home after heatwave sparks cancellationsThousands of commuters crammed into stations across London today as they battled to get home amid rail delays sparked by fears lines would buckle in the sweltering heat.
• Forest Hill sinkhole: fresh mayhem for London Bridge passengers with delays set to continue into Wednesday [video]Train passengers face another evening of travel mayhem to and from London Bridge tonight as rail bosses warned the chaos will continue into Wednesday morning.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• £1bn plan to improve the Metro approved by North East transport chiefsAmbitious plans to create a joined-up rail and Metro network - as well as replacing ageing trains for a newer fleet - have been approved

Northern Echo

• Nomad Digital working with VIA RailA technology firm has extended a deal to deliver wi-fi on Canadian trains.
• Railway town ready for Flying Scotsman’s visit FINAL preparations are underway for the arrival of the world’s most famous locomotive to a North-East town.

Wales Online

• Welsh Government told that M4 relief road scheme falls short of vital markFuture Generations Commissioner Sophie Howe has told the Welsh Government she has concerns about its proposal for an M4 relief road in Newport.
• Service bus bursts into flames in Cardiff city centreThe police and fire brigade were called to the bus fire in Castle Street but no one was injured

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Passengers told to prepare for timetable changes on the busesBUS users in Leeds have been warned that sweeping timetable changes are due to come into force in the city this weekend.
• Yorkshire commuters reveal their pet peevesYorkshire commuters have revealed their top five pet peeves about their fellow public transport passengers.

Blackpool Gazette

• MP inspects new buses for the Fylde coastMark Menzies MP said he was delighted to see a fleet of new state-of-the art buses set to hit Fylde’s streets.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Newcastle Airport named the best in BritainNewcastle Airport has been named the best in the country by Mirror Travel and cheapflights.co.uk. Researchers asked holiday makers to rank Britain’s top 15 airports on a range of criteria - from check-in speed to security stress, cleanliness, shopping and wi-fi. Toilets, bars and restaurants were also rated. The airport achieved high satisfaction levels across all categories. Edinburgh Airport came second, followed by Liverpool, Cardiff and Glasgow. Manchester came top in the retail and leisure category, while Cardiff has the friendliest staff, best security experience and greatest wi-f...
• Increased commercial bus services in KirkbyStagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire is taking over a number of routes in Kirkby on an independent commercial basis, to enable passengers to continue to benefit from regular bus services, following a review of the network of publicly subsidised services in the area. The company, which is the main bus operator in the area, worked in partnership with Merseytravel over a six month period to review the Kirkby bus network and has agreed to run previously subsidised services on a commercial basis. Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire has also altered some of its existing routes includi...
• Nottingham City Transport picking-up profits with GT Radial City-Bus-TyreNottingham City Transport has shortlisted the GT Radial GAU861 urban city-bus as an all-position tyre of choice following a two-year project to maximise return-on-investment. The operator, who was originally contracted to a premium manufacturer until April 2014, took purchasing in-house to gain access to the open market, and having put several different brands through their paces in year-one shortlisted four selected products for further evaluation. The GAU861 tyres in size 275/70R22.5 have been utilised on both steer and drive axles across the entire Scania chassis fleet, which includes both ...

Construction Enquirer

• Heathrow awards design deal for £16bn expansion planAirport bosses said the appointment “sends the clear signal to the Government that Heathrow is a ready-to-go, privately financed infrastructure project.”

London TravelWatch

• Passenger watchdog welcomes Mayor’s offer to help improve the Southern Rail situationWe welcome the offer today from the Mayor of London for Transport for London (TfL) to take immediate control of Southern Rail services until the problems being experienced by the operator, which are disrupting so many passengers, are resolved.

Rail Technology Magazine

• HS2 works to cause 'difficult period' for rail network - FrobisherWork to upgrade Euston Station to prepare for HS2 will increase the risk of delays, Martin Frobisher of Network Rail has told the Transport Select Committee. At a hearing as part of the committee’s inquiry into improving passenger services, Frobisher, Network Rail’s route managing...
• TransCityRail SpeakersTransCityRail Northern Powerhouse Rail; Day-Time Conference and Evening Dinner
• Lines into London Bridge closed after hole found under tracksTwo lines into London Bridge have closed after a 4m deep hole was found under the railway tracks at Forest Hill. The hole means that the already troubled Southern services will face even more disruption tonight as Southern and Thameslink passengers are advised to use Victoria or Blackfriars...
• Safety rules implementation still inconsistent, despite progress - ORRThe railways in Britain are the safest they have ever been, but safety rules and procedures are still not being implemented consistently across the industry, according to the ORR. The regulator’s ‘Annual Health and Safety Report of Performance on Britain’s Railways:...

Railnews

• London Bridge disruption continues Network Rail is warning that train services through London Bridge will continue to be seriously disrupted today, after a sink hole appeared under the railway at Forest Hill. The 15m hole is linked to a sewer, and Network Rail is working with Thames Water to make repairs. Network Rail rushed repair teams to the site last night, but hopes that the problem could be resolved by pouring up to 50 tonnes of ballast into the gap appear to have been dashed, and it is now clear that the work will take longer.

Railway Gazette

• Expedia to use SilverRail platform to sell UK rail ticketsUK: Expedia Group has announced that it will use SilverRail’s SilverCore technology platform to...
• New York MTA to procure 1025 Subway carsUSA: A major renewal of New York City Transit’s rolling stock fleet and a station refurbishment...
• Drive an Australian train at InnoTransCORYS: Visitors to InnoTrans 2016 will be able to try out a passenger train driving simulator which...

Aviation Industry

• In pictures: ANA unveils fourth Star Wars-themed aircraftAnnouncemnet part of five-year deal with Disney

Green Miscellany

• Cyclotron: Future bicycle todayBicycles have changed very little over the last century and for good reason – the basic design works pretty much perfectly as it is. However, the team behind the Cyclotron wondered what a bike would look like if it was designed today starting with a completely blank sheet? They set themselves a brief to redefine the concept of ‘motion on two wheels’… The post Cyclotron: Future bicycle today appeared first on ETA.