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

Tuesday, 11 October 2016

BBC News

• Taking a week off work to talk to strangers on trainsA business consultant from Birmingham has taken a week off work so he can talk to strangers on trains.
• Bombardier worker with 'bad back' filmed laying slabsA Bombardier worker who was filmed laying paving slabs while he was off work with a bad back loses a claim for unfair dismissal.
• London congestion zone: Old cars face extra �10 'pollution charge'Owners of older, more polluting cars face an extra �10 fee for entering the congestion charge zone, under plans issued by London's mayor.
• Heathrow runway 'within EU pollution laws'New, independent research seen by the BBC suggests Heathrow airport could build a new runway without breaking European pollution laws.
• First three-day Southern Rail Strike beginsThree days of planned strikes on Southern trains are going ahead despite the RMT union advising its members to sign the rail company's new contracts.

ITV News

• Rail line between Barmouth and Tywyn reopens after viaduct fireNetwork Rail says the line between Barmouth and Tywyn in North Wales has reopened after a fire on Barmouth Viaduct last week.

Financial Times

• Southern Rail strike to go ahead despite union dealSevere disruption expected as conductors prepare to strike for three days from Tuesday

The Guardian

• Heathrow third runway expansion wins backing of Scottish governmentHolyrood backs plan to extend London hub amid claims it will create 16,000 jobs across Scotland
• Three-day Southern rail strike beginsCompany says it will run around 60% of its normal timetable but warns there will be no trains at all on some routes
• Theresa May's local council set to spend £50,000 to fight Heathrow runwayWindsor and Maidenhead council looks to increase budget for fighting expected government go-ahead for third runway
• Plans for an electric car charging point in every new home in EuropeCar manufacturers welcome plans by the EU to boost the convenience of electric cars by increasing recharging facilities
• Drone sightings near Heathrow prompt police inquiryCalls for stronger regulation and enforcement amid concern about risk of a collision following rise in incidentsPolice are investigating reports of two drone sightings near Heathrow airport.The sightings have prompted Heathrow, the UK’s busiest airport, and the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) to call for stronger rules and enforcement to stop people endangering passengers by flying drones near airports. Continue reading...
• Uber’s main UK business paid only £411,000 in tax last yearTaxi app’s turnover doubled to £23.3m but income was earned by giving unspecified ‘support’ to other firms, accounts showUber’s main British business paid only £411,000 in tax last year while the commission fees from thousands of drivers in the UK disappeared into a controversial tax structure in the Netherlands.The latest accounts for Uber London Ltd show the UK company’s turnover doubled to £23.3m last year, but all of this income was earned by providing unspecified “support” to other companies within the taxi-app group, and not from driver commissions. Continue reading...

The Herald

• SNP in Lobbying Row After Backing Heathrow ExpansionThe SNP is at the centre of a lobbying row after ministers backed a third runway at Heathrow just days before the airport helps bankroll the party's conference.

The Telegraph

• Virgin criticized over 'mood boosting' app designed to help stressed delay victims
• Strike-hit Southern Railway passengers face�overrunning engineering works

Mail Online

• Whittington pensioner forced to hitchhike after cuts to bus services If 66-year-old Duncan Foster wants to travel to his local town Kirby Lonsdale, in Cumbria , thumbing a lift is just about his only option after bus service cut from 111 a week to one a day.

Belfast Telegraph

• Improving transport connections and building connectivity is vital, and I want to look at getting our infrastructure right: Chris HazzardChris McCullough investigates plans for new roads and other department projects with the new Minister for Infrastructure, Chris Hazzard

Birmingham Post

• Bentley is delivering fuel to its rich drivers Scheme aims to give Bentley owners “more time”

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Campaigners say railway tunnel cycle path would cost just �2.8m CAMPAIGNERS hoping to convert a disused railway tunnel into a cycle path say the project would cost �2.81 million, far less than the �35m repair fee stated in a Government report.

London Evening Standard

• Ask Jo Malone: Don't be in too much of a rush to climb aboard the Crossrail gravy trainSmall business agony aunt Jo Malone discusses how the arrival of Crossrail will impact London retailers.
• Eurotunnel: Terror takes toll on coach classDemand for cheap coach trips to the Continent has plunged this year as terrorism and the slumping pound combined to damp British demand, Eurotunnel figures revealed on Monday.
• London bus driver filmed 'swerving into cyclist' near Elephant and CastleTfL has launched an investigation after footage emerged of a London bus driver appearing to swerve into a cyclist.
• Heathrow Airport: Police investigate sightings of 'dangerous' drones near approachPolice have launched an investigation after reports of drones spotted flying near Heathrow Airport.
• Southern Rail strikes: Tens of thousands of commuters set for travel misery as three-day walkout beginsTens of thousands of London commuters were today facing travel misery as three days of strike action on Southern Rail services began.

Morning Star

• SNP Urged To ‘Fess Up To’ Rail PlansTRAIN drivers called on the Scottish government yesterday to come clean about plans to improve underperforming operator ScotRail.

Northern Echo

• Aysgarth Falls to help soothe Virgin Trains' passengers A NORTH Yorkshire beauty spot is to feature in a new “mindfulness channel” which is designed to help rail passengers feel relaxed and positive on their journeys.

Blackpool Gazette

• Blackpool tram sets sail once againAnother of Blackpool’s famous illuminated trams is back in service after a £46,000 restoration.

Daventry Express

• ScotRail row: Ministers accused of 'sitting on' overhaul of failing serviceMINISTERS were yesterday accused of "sitting on" an overhaul of Scotland's failing trains.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Your chance to quiz Abellio Greater Anglia and Network Rail bosses in live Q&AGot a burning question about train services between Ipswich and London or Norwich and Stowmarket?

Other Regional Press

• Cash pot for road improvements from Mirfield to Dewsbury to LeedsBut road changes to beat congestion as part of M2D2L are a long way off actually happening

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Alstom starts construction of new rail technology centre in the North West of EnglandAlstom today celebrates the start of construction work on its new technology centre and training academy in Widnes at a ground-breaking ceremony attended by UK Rail Minister Paul Maynard. The technology centre and training academy, for which Alstom invested €25 million, will open in May 2017. It could create up to 600 jobs for local people in the long term and, once open, offer a cumulative 15,000 days of training each year. Paul Maynard, Rail Minister, said: “It is fantastic to see rail companies like Alstom grow their presence in the UK by opening new and modern sites. I am especi...
• DP World London Gateway creates another new wildlife habitat on the River ThamesDP World London Gateway has completed the creation of 65 hectares of important intertidal habitat, comprising 59 hectares of mudflat, which will provide feeding ground for wading birds and fish, and six hectares of saltmarsh. The new intertidal mudflat – equivalent in size to 82 football pitches – is located on the south bank of the River Thames, just north of Cooling in Kent and to the south east of DP World London Gateway Port. The new habitat is to be called Salt Fleet Flats Reserve following a vote by the public and members of the local community. As part of the permission to b...

Rail Technology Magazine

• GTR considering legal action to halt Southern strikeGovia Thameslink Railway (GTR) is considering a legal challenge to stop another Southern conductors’ strike tomorrow. RMT, which is leading the strikes in protest at plans to extend driver-only operated (DOO) services, said it had received a formal legal challenge from GTR...
• WYCA: Lack of Northern Route is 'missed opportunity' Transport leaders in the north of England have said Network Rail missed an opportunity to support rail devolution by not introducing a new route for the region. Network Rail announced last week that it will create a managing director to oversee its northern portfolio. However, it argued that...
• 'Turning point' as north east convenes rail franchise oversight boardA “turning point” in rail devolution has been reached, local government leaders said as they convened a board to oversee promised improvements to rail services in the north. The North East Rail Management Board had its first meeting on 5 October, where members discussed the timetable...
• Scottish electrification suffers delays as NR withdraws planning applicationElectrification of the Edinburgh-Glasgow line will be subject to delays after Network Rail withdrew an application for planning permission to build a temporary road. Network Rail applied to West Lothian Council for planning permission to build a 360m diversion to the A71 near Parkhead Primary...
• Connected Mobility - Broadband Railway Communication Infrastructures As systems become ever more sophisticated and passenger comfort and entertainment become key drivers in increasing the attractiveness of rail travel, the worlds of communication and railway need to be brought closer together.

Railnews

• RMT faces legal challenge from Southern in DOO dispute The RMT is facing a legal challenge from Govia Thameslink Railway over the continuing DOO dispute on Southern. The union had called for further talks at ACAS over extensions of driver-only operation just 24 hours before its members were due to stage a three-day conductors' strike, which is set to be the first of several this autumn. Southern is proposing that its trains will have a driver and an on-board supervisor. Unlike conductors, the OBS will not control the doors nor dispatch the train at stations. The union insists that safety will be affected.
• Welsh viaduct reopens after fire The line between Barmouth and Tywyn has reopened following a fire on Barmouth viaduct last week. The cause is not yet clear, and an investigation is underway. Network Rail engineers had been working to reopen the line after the fire damaged one of the viaduct spans on 4 October.

Transportxtra

• DfT seeks to protect transport industry from being hit by any Brexit business exodusThe DfT is seeking to support the industry following the vote to leave the European Union with a new role to bolster international trade in the sector.

Aviation Industry

• London’s Gatwick Airport points to growth as runway decision looms London Gatwick Airport said Oct. 10 it had passed passenger and destination milestones far in advance of official predictions, as it continues a fight to win the planned new runway for the congested South East of England. read more
• Etihad strengthens African connectionsUnited Arab Emirates flag carrier Etihad Airways has increased links to Africa with the signing of a codeshare agreement with South African low-cost carrier (LCC) kulula. read more
• Chinese investment group buys Albanian airportHong Kong-based investment holding and asset management company China Everbright Limited (CEL) has purchased the entire stock issue of Albania’s Tirana International Airport (TIA). read more
• SWISS to fly Boeing 777s to Miami, San FranciscoLufthansa Group carrier Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) will introduce the Boeing 777-300ER onto existing services to Miami and San Francisco from Oct. 30 for the upcoming 2016-17 winter schedules. read more

Other News Sources

• Potter Logistics Ely rail freight terminal growth on trackWork to increase track capacity at Potter Logistics rail freight terminal in Ely, Cambridgeshire has completed. Building on over 25 successful years of rail freight distribution at Ely, 5.7 km of new track, spread across 13 sidings, is being introduced on 10 acres of the site for train storage.
• Southern Rail facing three-day strike by union members despite legal challenge Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union will strike from Tuesday (October 11), causing chaos for commuters
• Speed cameras: Find out which roads had the biggest drop in casualties since devices installedData revealed there was a 61% drop in the number of incidents at roads were fixed speed cameras were installed
• EU staff are vital to logistics sector, FTA Chief tells Transport SecretaryFreight Transport Association (FTA) Chief Executive David Wells today told Transport Secretary Chris Grayling that EU workers are as vital to the ...
• FTA disappointed at Mayor’s plans to bring forward ULEZ plansThe Freight Transport Association has reacted with disappointment to revised plans published by London Mayor Sadiq Khan today detailing proposals ...