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

Wednesday, 12 October 2016

BBC News

• ScotRail warn of disruption during central belt upgrade worksCentral belt rail passengers are being warned to expect disruption as upgrade work begins across the network.
• Theresa May's local council pledges �50k for Heathrow legal fightTheresa May's constituency council will spend �50,000 to challenge Heathrow expansion, if the government gives third runway plans the go-ahead.
• TfL adopts Waze crowd-sourced traffic app in LondonTransport for London is partnering with an app producer to bring drivers real-time crowd-sourced traffic information.
• Southern Rail strike: Talks planned as action continuesThe first face-to-face talks between the bosses of Southern train and the RMT union are to take place later in a bid to avert further strike action.
• Monarch airline agrees �165m investment from GreybullUK airline Monarch settles worries over its immediate future by agreeing a �165m investment from majority shareholder Greybull Capital.
• Airbus criticises Poland for cancelling helicopter dealThe head of Airbus has criticised Poland for cancelling a planned $3.5bn military helicopter contract.
• Southern Rail strike: Passengers plead for end to 'chaos'Commuters are enduring overcrowding, delays and chaos on Southern trains as a 72-hour walkout by RMT union members continues.

ITV News

• Ashington to Newcastle rail link a step closerThe next stage of ambitious plans to reintroduce direct trains between south-east Northumberland and central Tyneside have been approved.

Department for Transport

• Transport Secretary confirms government commitment to HS2Chris Grayling also announces £70 million funding to support local communities and road safety along the route between London and the West Midlands.

The Guardian

• Japanese train conductor blames foreign tourists for overcrowdingRail company reprimands conductor who made announcement blaming foreigners for inconveniencing Japanese passengers
• The Tallinn experiment: what happens when a city makes public transport free?In London a monthly travel card for the whole city costs almost £200. In Copenhagen, a city a fraction of the size, you’ll pay £160. So when you ask the residents of Tallinn about the benefits of free travel across the city, it’s a surprise to be met with a roll of the eyes or a sarcastic smile.
• It’s not just trains – buses outside London should be nationalised tooTickets from profit-hungry groups outside the capital seem randomly priced and expensive. The rest of the country can only dream of the service Londoners get
• Taxpayers could lose £20m if London garden bridge is cancelled, says reportMinisters repeatedly gave more public money to project despite warnings against doing so, National Audit Office report finds
• €99 pan-European bus pass launchesInterFlix introduces ticket allowing travellers to make up to five journeys across Europe in three months
• Self-driving car tested for first time in UK in Milton KeynesDriverless LUTZ Pathfinder shares streets of Buckinghamshire town with cyclists and pedestrians, reaching speeds of 15mph
• Southern rail and RMT chiefs agree to face-to-face talks over strikesUnion calls for talks after franchise owner apparently pledges a second staff member on all trains with a conductor, a sticking point in dispute

The Herald

• Aerostructure firm invests #5m on new site at Prestwick

The Independent

• South African airport becomes first on continent to run fully on solar powerOther airports across country plan to adopt solar systems after successful trial period

The Telegraph

• Rail strike chaos 'endangering passengers'Travel chaos caused by a long-running rail dispute is endangering passengers, the Government has been warned, as union leaders and rail bosses agreed to meet for new talks to break the deadlock.

Daily Record

• Spirit AeroSystems invest £5m in Prestwick siteThe US-based aerostructure supply company, which works with Airbus and Boeing, was supported in the investment with a £450,000 Regional Selective Assistance Grant from Scottish Enterprise

Birmingham Mail

• We will build ALL of HS2 high speed rail line, Government confirmsThe whole HS2 high speed rail line including links to Manchester and Leeds is going ahead.

Birmingham Post

• Drivers shamed by 'kids' court' for speeding outside schoolPupils tell motorists: 'You could have killed us'

London Evening Standard

• Transport for London criticised by Islington Council over Holloway Road closure plansTransport for London is embroiled in a row with Islington Council after the closure of a main road is set to cause travel chaos for drivers.
• Uber: we pay all our taxesUber today stressed it was paying all its taxes due in the UK after being criticised over its multi-national arrangements.
• HS2: Government insists controversial rail line will be builtThe controversial HS2 rail line "will be built", the Government has insisted.
• TFL and app Waze join forces to give Londoners live traffic updates on their phonesTransport for London has backed an app aimed at bringing real-time traffic updates to the capital's drivers.

The York Press

• Rail firm’s York base is sold to syndicate THE York headquarters of Virgin Trains East Coast has been acquired by a syndicate of buyers in a multi-million pound deal.
• Big upgrade of York bridge is postponed HOPED-for improvements to a York bridge have been pushed back, disappointing cycle campaigners.
• The Press launches campaign for tougher sentences for drivers who kill or maim TODAY, The Press launches a campaign to call on the Government to re-write sentencing guidelines for drivers who kill or seriously injure others on the roads, and tell the harrowing ordeal of York's Linda Atkinson.

Wales Online

• 'It’s no fun for people having to make their way to and from work in a cramped and sweaty train carriage'Rhondda AM Leanne Wood has had her say on the issue of over-crowded trains

Yorkshire Post

• Grayling: “We need HS2 more than ever”TRANSPORT Secretary Chris Grayling will give his clearest commitment yet to the second phase of the proposed HS2 high speed rail line today.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Put your questions to Abellio Greater Anglia and Network Rail bosses in today’s live Q&AAre you a commuter travelling between Norwich and Ipswich, or from East Anglia into London?

Other Regional Press

• Renewed push for a high speed rail serviceWith more strikes looming on the Southern rail network, and with the franchise for Southeastern rail being put out to tender in 2017, local MPs have stepped up their campaign for High Speed rail services.
• Surge in cargo volumes backs case for third runway, says HeathrowHeathrow Airport has claimed a 6% increase in the amount of cargo it handles demonstrates the importance of building a third runway.

Buying Business Travel

• Monarch licences renewed after £165m investmentAirline’s future safe for 12 months after cash injection from Greybull Capital

Global Rail News

• Planning application submitted for Inverness Airport stationA detailed planning application for a new railway station at Inverness Airport has been submitted by the Highlands and Islands Strategic Transport Partnership (HITRANS).
• SYTRAL renews operating contract with Keolis for Lyon’s TCL networkLyon’s public transport body, SYTRAL, has voted unanimously in favour of renewing its contract with Keolis to operate the city’s TCL rail network.
• Alstom test train delivered to RomaniaA new Alstom Coradia Polyvalent regional train has reached Romania as part of the Sighișoara-Simeria signalling rehabilitation project

Rail Technology Magazine

• Open access on inter-city routes is commercially viable, MPs toldAllowing open access operators to run on inter-city routes would improve services, the managing director of Grand Central told the Transport Select Committee yesterday.

Aviation Industry

• FAA proposes fourth hazmat fine against Amazon this yearFAA has proposed a $78,000 civil penalty against Seattle-based Amazon for allegedly violating US hazardous materials regulations, the fourth time this year FAA has alleged the online retail giant has violated hazmat rules. read more

Other News Sources

• Michael O’Leary says Ryanair would provide third Dublin Airport terminal for €200mFine Gael gathering told by chief executive that DAA should not have any involvement
• Heathrow expansion boils down to battle between economy and environment. Few infrastructure issues in recent years have been as controversial as the third runway mooted for Heathrow, a point underlined by the level of inaction and flip-flopping at the top of government throughout that time.
• Heathrow, Gatwick and Birmingham set to get go aheadNew Civil Engineer understands that the government is poised to give the go ahead to additional runway capacity at Heathrow and Gatwick.
• Gatwick plans to build runway even if Heathrow is chosen, says development headGatwick Airport will continue with plans to build a second runway even if the government chooses Heathrow as the preferred location for runway expansion, its construction head has confirmed.
• Rail union defends strike action after telling members to accept new role A RAIL union has defended its decision to go on strike despite advising its conductors to accept a new deal – and said more action could follow into the new year.