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

Thursday, 23 February 2017

BBC News

• Google allows iconic walks to be experienced from homePeople can now experience some of Wales' most iconic walking trails and paths from the comfort of their armchairs.
• HS2 high speed railway on track for final approvalHS2 high speed railway is expected to be been given final approval, but with costs of £60bn, not everyone is happy.
• Norwegian Air to operate new flights from Belfast to USLow-cost carrier Norwegian Air is set to begin flights between Northern Ireland and the United States.
• NI Assembly election: 'Hands off our bus passes!'A round-up of happenings on the assembly election campaign trail over the past 24 hours.
• Glasgow rail delays over 'abusive' passengerAn
• Military plane cost hits Airbus profitsAnnual profits slump at the aircraft maker following another big charge on its military cargo plane.
• Self-driving cars must be covered by insurance, says UK billThe UK proposes that insurance companies have to cover all accidents involving self-driving cars.
• Qantas profits buffeted by competition headwindsShares in the Australian airline jump 5% despite posting lower half-year profits.
• 'Magical thinking' on Heathrow expansionA third runway at Heathrow can only be justified if it does not breach climate change laws, MPs say.
• Carlos Ghosn refocuses Nissan role'Time is right' to step away from running Nissan to focus on Renault and Mitsubishi alliances.

Department for Transport

• Heavy rail fleets: 2020 targeted complianceMatrices showing which aspects of particular heavy rail fleet units need to be made more accessible by the legal deadline of 1 January 2020.

Financial Times

• Fresh Southern rail strike hits London commutersRMT union says members are ‘standing firm’ over changes to working practices
• MPs criticise government over Heathrow air qualityNo proof that new runway will satisfy emission limits, claims report

The Guardian

• Flights cancelled as Storm Doris arrivesMet Office issues warnings for strong winds and heavy rain, with predictions of rail delays, danger on roads and disruption for airline passengersStorm Doris has reached nearly 90mph on its way to Britain, with some flights cancelled and commuters warned they faced delays.Doris was likely to damage buildings and send debris flying from 6am on Thursday, the Met Office said. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Figures show 537 million public transport journeys made in a yearA total of 537 million public-transport journeys were made in a year, according to new figures.

Mail Online

• Third runway at Heathrow 'will increase health risk' The increase in cars, coaches and lorries will add to toxic nitrogen oxide fumes, which come mainly from diesel engines and are linked to the deaths of 23,500 people in Britain every year, it is feared.

This is Money

• Airbus takes �1.8bn hit on new RAF Atlas cargo plane Governments have held back payments for the A400M - which the RAF has dubbed 'Atlas' - and fined the company as delays over mounting technical difficulties.

Birmingham Mail

• HS2 work to start after final hurdle cleared Hybrid bill will receive Royal Assent today to pave the way for new £50bn high-speed rail line between central London and Birmingham
• Drivers have been warned to avoid these Midlands motorways during Storm Doris Highways England issued alert to run while Met Office weather warning in place         

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Council scraps plans to cut gritting routes further after public outcry COUNCIL bosses are making a partial U-turn on road gritting cutbacks, after a public outcry.

London Evening Standard

• Tube strike February 2017: Underground bosses vow services will return to normal by morning rush-hourTube services are set to return to normal by first thing on Thursday morning – with no further disruption expected after 5.30am – Transport bosses have announced.
• Heathrow and big stores 'could fund bail-out on rates for smaller firms'A plan to axe a £10 million business rates cut for Heathrow Airport to fund a bail-out for small shops in London is being considered by the Chancellor.
• Southern Rail bosses warn of further commuter chaos amid Storm Doris weather alertsSouthern Rail passengers have been warned to expect further disruption on Thursday as Storm Doris is set to bring gale-force winds.

Metro

• Seats on seven London Underground lines are never washed With around 5 million journeys every day, that’s a lot of people walking in dirt from the road, sneezing on poles or putting their feet on the seats.

North Wales Live

• Before and after pictures show full scale of the Port of Liverpool sinkhole Peel has launched an investigation into the cause of the hole

Wirral Globe

• Flat fare to be considered for Merseytravel bus servicesPROPOSALS for commuters to travel across Merseyside on any bus for a flat fee will be considered next week.
• Merseyrail trains should be made in UKTHE news that the new Merseyrail trains are to be made in Switzerland is a disgrace, and the consequences for British industry should disturb the consciences of those responsible for the decision.

Other Regional Press

• Out-of-town taxis pose a risk, says new report JOINT work is under way between councils to tackle ‘out of town’ taxis in Oxford.
• Durham Tees Valley Airport announce creation of new 'one-stop' ground handling serviceNew firm Consort Aviation to take over ground handling services from Weston Aviation:: Consultation process with staff under way

Buying Business Travel

• Personalised travel could improve staff retentionDeveloping personalised travel experiences could help to keep employees happy
• Finnair to fly Airbus A350 on Heathrow routeAirline will use flagship long-haul aircraft on Helsinki flight
• Easyjet trials system to discourage direct bookingsAirline is testing email service designed to improve duty of care

Rail Technology Magazine

• Barclaycard renews ten-year contract with TfL for contactless payments Barclaycard has retained its contract for providing advanced contactless payment solutions to Transport for London (TfL) in the UK.
• Rail recommendations due in spring for north's Strategic Transport PlanTransport for the North’s (TfN’s) major rail and roads reports are due to be published in late spring, and will inform its work to create England’s first pan-regional Strategic Transport Plan that will seek to unify local authorities in dealing with the north’s transport
• Buckingham group awarded �22m Worcestershire Parkway contractWorcestershire County Council has appointed Buckingham Group to construct the new Worcestershire Parkway station, with a completion date set for Winter 2018-19. The scheme for the station, close to junction 7 on the M5, is worth £22m and construction will commence on the project in...
• HS2 potential to northern connectivity not to be underestimated, says PercyMinister for the Northern Powerhouse Andrew Percy has today promised to address the disparity in per-capita spend between the north and the south, but has also said not to “underestimate” the value of southern investment in Crossrail and HS2 to the northern economy. Speaking at the...

Railway Gazette

• Dutch provinces tender operating contractNETHERLANDS: The provinces of Friesland and Groningen have jointly invited bids for a contract to...
• EU backs Croatian electrification projectCROATIA: Plans to modernise and electrify the 24·2 km Zaprešić - Zabok line northwest of...

Aviation Industry

• Eurowings phases out final CRJ900, becomes all-Airbus operatorRapidly expanding Lufthansa Group low-cost (LCC) subsidiary Eurowings has phased out its last Bombardier CRJ900, becoming an all-Airbus operator and closing its history as a regional carrier. read more
• Lufthansa set to take second A350 XWBLufthansa will take delivery of the second of 25 Airbus A350 XWBs in Munich Feb. 24, which will be used on Munich-Boston Logan scheduled services beginning March 14. read more
• Zurich Airport, NAVBLUE team to increase capacity in low visibilityZurich International Airport is reporting that aircraft movements in low visibility conditions have increased 17% since October 2016. read more

Other News Sources

• Mainstay celebrates ferry delivery with ministerial visitA Pembrokeshire-based designer, builder and maintainer of workboats was praised by the Welsh Government Economy Secretary for its commitment to local employment and apprenticeship scheme.
• Never hit a pothole again: Ford develops 'virtual pothole map' to help beleaguered drivers avoid accidentsThe American car giant says the virtual map would give drivers real-time information and allow them to find alternate routes