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

Tuesday, 18 October 2016

BBC News

• Heathrow decision to await Cabinet viewTheresa May is to allow a short pause on whether to give the go-ahead to a new runway at Heathrow so that Cabinet ministers can express their views.
• Labour launches plan for major infrastructure panelPlans for a panel of experts to advise on major transport, energy and environmental projects have been unveiled by the Welsh Government.
• Rail bid: "Once in a generation" chance, says Ken SkatesThe deal to determine who runs train services in Wales is a "once in a generation opportunity" for passengers, the Welsh transport secretary has said.
• Theresa May's options for Heathrow expansion decisionA decision on whether to back expansion at Heathrow or Gatwick is expected imminently, but it is not straightforward for the Prime Minister.
• Cardiff Airport's Flybe London flights to continueFlights between Cardiff and London City airports will continue while demand exists, the airline Flybe says.
• Southern strike: Latest three-day walkout beginsA three-day strike by staff on Southern rail begins with hundreds of trains cancelled.

ITV News

• Third Heathrow runway would just be start of a journeyThe Cabinet will discuss plans to expand Heathrow airport on Tuesday but the decision to approve a third runway at the airport has been put off for another week.

Financial Times

• Theresa May minded to approve Heathrow expansionCampaigners believe the PM is inclined towards the third runway over rival projects
• Bradford eyes ‘northern powerhouse’ rail boostTransport for the North considers routing Transpennine line through England’s fourth-biggest city

The Guardian

• Southern rail commuters face three days of disruption as strike beginsAround 61% of Southern’s timetable will run, along with rail replacement buses, as conductors begin second in series of 72-hour strikesPassengers on Southern railway face another three days of heightened travel disruption after the second in a series of 72-hour strikes by conductors started on Tuesday morning. The RMT insisted its action would be solid, although Southern’s operators, Govia Thameslink Railway, claimed that more than in one in four conductors had turned up for work during the strike last week. Continue reading...
• Heathrow third runway close to getting government green lightWhitehall study into air quality expected to give all-clear as Greenpeace and local councils prepare to launch legal challenge
• TfL to make written English test compulsory for private cab driversAll aspiring private-hire taxi drivers in London will have to pass a two-hour written English exam, including those for whom it is their first language, the capital’s public transport authority has confirmed.
• Fresh attempt to end Southern rail strike fails to stop latest walkoutSecond three-day strike will begin at midnight after RMT rejected rail firm’s offer to restore a £2,000 incentive for staff
• No light at the end of an Ireland-Scotland rail tunnel [letter]It may be, as John Barstow says (Britain and Ireland face border bother, Letters, 17 October), that there is a “prima facie case for a rail tunnel between Larne and Stranraer”, but it is almost certainly never going to be built.
• Last stop for the Wensleydale Flyer bus?In the Yorkshire Dales, fabulous Sunday walks have long been made possible by this local service. Now under threat, a campaign is underway to keep it running
• Morally and legally, the UK government has failed us on air pollutionA lack of urgency and failure to tackle illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide is why ClientEarth is taking the UK government back to court this week

The Herald

• Theresa May urged to approve plans for new runway at Heathrow Theresa May has been urged to give the green light to a new runway at Heathrow by 50 home nations' politicians who describe the airport as

The Independent

• Greenpeace joins with councils to prepare legal challenge over Heathrow airport expansionThe campaigning group said a third runway at Heathrow airport would be an ‘air pollution and carbon timebomb’

City AM

• With a government decision expected next week, should Heathrow and Gatwick both get new runways?Paul Wait, chief executive of the Guild of Travel Management Companies, says Yes.

This is Money

• Let us build HS2, says UK steel industry after French win Trident deal Liberty House Group and British Steel are pushing to become key suppliers in the scheme linking London with the Midlands and the North.

Birmingham Mail

• Cameras to track cars for Birmingham congestion charge Residents have until December to give the Government their thoughts on Birmingham's congestion charge.
• New inter-city train deal delivers just two carriages a day on overcrowded lineThe agreement to run the sprawling Cross Country network of inter-city rail services, was a “lost opportunity” to boost passenger capacity, says Transport for the West Midlands

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Work now 'progressing well' on new Low Moor rail station, despite setbacks A LONG-DELAYED new rail station is still on track to open next May, a progress report reveals.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Watch Airbus fly through time in this film of 'family flights' Airbus has released a video that documents its changing fleet from 1988 to the present day

Liverpool Echo

• Detailed plans submitted for Lime Street Station revampMajor works planned for city station to allow more train services

Liverpool Post

• Runcorn councillor corrects transport report referring to city region as 'Liverpool'Cllr Harry Howard's comment backed by Merseytravel committee chairman

London Evening Standard

• Huge new station planned for Ilford 'to meet Crossrail demand'Plans for a huge new glass-fronted station at Ilford were submitted today as part of a package of improvements for the start of Crossrail services.
• Taxi demo: Black cab drivers hold protest outside Transport for London headquartersScores of taxi drivers have stopped traffic outside Transport for London's headquarters this afternoon in protest over claims that the capital's taxi trade is being "destroyed".
• Letters to the editor: Cyclists divide congestion debateThe London Chamber of Commerce and Industry is correct in highlighting congestion as a major problem and that radical measures are required to accommodate London's growth. However, getting rid of cycle lanes is not the way to tackle it.
• Heathrow Airport: Government to make decision on third runway 'later this month'The Government are set to make a decision on the expansion of Heathrow Airport by the end of the month, Downing Street have said.
• Southern Rail strikes: Three-day walkout to begin at midnight after talks break downTrain passengers on crisis-hit Southern will face further strikes tomorrow after another failed attempt to break the deadlock in a row over conductors.

Manchester Evening News

• Metrolink operator is named the best in the world after scooping three awards at the tram 'Oscar's'And Tim Jackson, CEO, said it was thanks to the ongoing hard work and dedication of the team who keep Greater Manchester’s trams on track

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Transport companies set to dominate list of North East's biggest firms The top four places in last year's Top 200 were held by firms involved in transport, with Nissan at the top
• One of the UK's most congested roads outside of London is here in the North East - but which is it?Some drivers are losing nearly an entire day of their life every year because they are stuck in gridlocked traffic moving as slow as 18mph

The York Press

• New cycling schemes approved for York - Roundabout to be redesigned BIKE safety schemes have been approved for two places in York, with a plea that cyclists take care during the winter months.

Wales Online

• Why Brexit casts a shadow over the South Wales MetroEconomy Secretary Ken Skates made the case for new powers and warned of funding risks
• Body that would advise on what infrastructure projects Wales needs could be up and running within a yearA National Infrastructure Commission for Wales (NICFW), which would advise Welsh Government ministers on key infrastructure projects needed with an outlook stretching 30 years, could be operational within a year.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Leeds Station’s southern entrance an engineering triumphLeeds Station’s new southern entrance has won a prestigious engineering award for its outstanding design.
• Five things: Leeds-Bradford AirportThink you know Leeds-Bradford Airport? Think again.
• Andrew Vine: Stars welcome but humble cyclist still riding for a fallCYCLING at this time of year is always a little more hair-raising than I’d like.

Yorkshire Post

• John Holland-Kaye: Airport’s growth means Yorkshire is able to fly highTHERE is a reason Yorkshire is often referred to as ‘God’s own county’. Its powerhouse cities are vital to the UK economy, its world-leading universities educate students from across the globe, it is one of the country’s fastest growing regions for exports and its dales are an iconic part of the British landscape, attracting tourists from across Britain and the world. Yorkshire gave us Marks & Spencer, the world’s first football club and the steel for Heathrow’s new Terminal 2.

Bucks Free Press

• Council leader slams 'insultingly low' HS2 cash offer A council leader has slammed the Government’s “insultingly low” cash offer intended to help communities blighted by a controversial rail project – and plans to challenge it at the House of Lords next week.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Suffolk MP quick to quash idea of cutting passenger services on Ipswich to Felixstowe rail lineA Suffolk MP has stifled suggestions that passenger services on the Felixstowe-Ipswich line could be cut.

Peterborough Telegraph

• New services, new trains and a �2 billion rail improvement package launched todayNew trains, new and faster services and a £2 billion package of improvements to transform rail travel has been promised as Greater Anglia starts a new nine-year franchise today.

Reading Evening Post

• Reading station bike racks branded 'security nightmare' by frustrated commuterNick Ralph, 57, says bikes can be easily removed from the hub at the nothern entrance of the station in Vastern Road

Other Regional Press

• Airport celebrates milestoneLondon Luton Airport (LLA) continues to be a soaraway success as passenger numbers rise.
• Train passengers in mid Wales ‘deserve better'MID Wales train passengers have been forced to put up with an “inadequate summer of rail services” and improvements need to be made, according to an Assembly Member.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Peel Ports granted permission to develop new logistics facilities at Sheerness sitePlanning permission to develop the former Thamesteel site at Peel Ports Sheerness has been granted by Swale Borough Council.  Plans for the redevelopment of the derelict industrial site, as part of Peel Ports’ 20-year Master Plan for growth and investment in the Sheerness region, received unanimous support from the planning committee.  It represents an early commitment for inward investment in the region of £50 million and around 200 new jobs are expected to be created as a result. This is in addition to the 1,640 jobs the port already supports, whilst generating £...

Rail Magazine

• Susan Evans to give speech at RAIL’s National Rail ConferenceConnected Communities and Devolved Regions Director, Alstom Transport, will speak at the NRC in Manchester on November 1

Rail Technology Magazine

• Roger Matthews discusses the future of on-board entertainment Just a year after launching, on-board infotainment provider GoMedia has already secured lucrative contracts with Virgin Trains and Eurostar. With more expansion plans on the agenda, GoMedia managing director Roger Matthews talks about upcoming servic…
• GTR brings back �2,000 offer for RMT members ahead of Southern strike Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has brought back a proposed £2,000 bonus for members of RMT who accept its proposals to extend driver-only operated (DOO) services as the union prepares to go on strike again. GTR withdrew the offer on 6 October after RMT refused to accept it, clearing the...
• Lack of increased capacity 'hugely disappointing' in new CrossCountry contract The government missed an opportunity to reduce overcrowding on rail services into the West Midlands when it extended Arriva’s contract to operate the CrossCountry franchise, a local transport leader has stated. Arriva promised improvements, including strict punctuality targets, extra seats...
• Euston Express HS2 alternative would save �3.7bn, Lords toldA scheme designed to put all HS2 and West Coast Main Line trains into one new integrated station at Euston, would be £3.7bn cheaper than HS2’s current plans for the station, the House of Lords HS2 Bill committee was told last week. The Euston Express team said their scheme would be...
• RIA appoints new chief executiveDarren Caplan has been named as the new chief executive of the Rail Industry Association (RIA). Caplan will take over early next year, replacing David Tonkin, who has acted as interim chief executive since former RIA director general Jeremy Candfield retired due to health reasons in the...

Railway Gazette

• East Anglia franchise is ‘deliberately ambitious’UK: ‘This is a deliberately ambitious franchise’, insisted Rail Minister Paul Maynard, speaking at...

Aviation Industry

• United posts $965 million 3Q net profitChicago-based United Airlines parent United Continental Holdings reported a third-quarter net profit of $965 million, down 80% from a net income of $4.8 billion in the 2015 September quarter. read more

Other News Sources

• GMB’s anger over May’s go-slow on Heathrow while Labour MPs mull options
• New Highways Academy to train A14 apprenticesA new academy to train apprentices to work on the £1.5 billion A14 bypass - Britain’s biggest road upgrade – has been officially opened by Roads Minister John Hayes today (Monday 17 October).