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

Saturday, 25 February 2017

BBC News

• RMT seeks 'urgent' talks ahead of strike meetingThe RMT calls for urgent talks over the Southern Rail row while Aslef discussions resume next week.
• VW cracks down on executive pay after diesel scandalGerman car maker returns to profit and posts record sales in 2016 despite emissions testing furore.

ITV News

• Hovertrain: the rocket science-using vehicle which was ahead of its timeIt was hoped it would be the train of the future.

Financial Times

• British Airways owner plans €500m share buybackInternational Airlines Group’s 2016 results hit by sterling weakness after Brexit
• Heathrow reports record number of passengers in 2016Chief executive hails ‘milestone year’ for airport group as revenues rise 1.5%

The Herald

• Former UK transport minister calls for competition on Scots railwaysPASSENGERS will benefit from new cross-border train routes if Scotland’s rail network is opened up to competition, a former UK transport minister has said.

The Telegraph

• Rail firms STILL failing to tell customers about new refund powers as MPs and regulators threaten investigation�

Times Online

• Compensation ‘hidden’ from rail travellers [subscription]Train companies were accused yesterday of acting “above the law” by hiding enhanced compensation rights from passengers.
• Drivers of polluting cars could be paid £1,000 to go green [subscription]Drivers of highly polluting cars should be given a £1,000 voucher to help them to switch to cleaner cars, bicycles or public transport for their commute, a report has recommended.
• Colossus of the sky to descend on British airportsThe world’s biggest aircraft, which is capable of carrying 50 cars or four battle tanks, is to make regular appearances at British airports after its operator opened a new base in the country.
• Heathrow runway timetable ‘pie in the sky’ [subscription]Heathrow is preparing to start work on a third runway in three years’ time, despite claims from senior airline bosses that the timetable is unachievable.

Reuters News

• British Airways mixed-fleet cabin crew announce more strikesLONDON (Reuters) - British Airways
• Bombardier shareholder hopes contract dispute is resolved out of courtThe chief executive of Canada's second largest pension fund, which owns a 30 percent stake in Bombardier Inc.'s (BBDb.TO) transportation division, said on Friday he hopes that a dispute between the company and Toronto's transportation agency over a rail car contract will be resolved out of court.
• Bombardier shareholder hopes contract dispute is resolved out of courtThe chief executive of Canada's second largest pension fund, which owns a 30 percent stake in Bombardier Inc.'s (BBDb.TO) transportation division, said on Friday he hopes that a dispute between the company and Toronto's transportation agency over a rail car contract will be resolved out of court.

Office of Rail and Road (ORR)

• French and British rail regulatory bodies publish opinions on the 2018 Network Statement of EurotunnelThe Office of Rail and Road ("ORR") and Autorité de Régulation des Activités Ferroviaires et Routières (“Arafer") are the responsible bodies for the regulation of the Chanel Fixed Link. Both..

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Transport Minister Paul Maynard hints that Bradford could be part of HS3 rail plansPOLITICIANS and campaigners in the district are "delighted" after a Transport Minister said he would be "very surprised" if Bradford did not feature in plans for the new HS3 rail route.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• New bus service in Gateshead brings digital technology to the daily commuteGo North East has invested £1.8m in buying 11 new, high-specification, environmentally friendly buses for its no. 49 route
• Campaign launched to derail government ban on council ran bus companiesNewcastle MP Nick Brown is campaigning about planned new laws which would ensure only the private sector can run buses

Wales Online

• Cardiff's new bus station finally set for planning approval but major concerns remain from train operatorThe plans for Cardiff's new bus station are recommended for approval at a meeting next week

Lancashire Telegraph

• New fleet of 30 vehicles set for Burnley, Padiham and Pendle roadsPASSENGERS are to get a £4.6million fleet of 30 new buses specially tailored to their requirements.

Plymouth Herald

• Plymouth gets cash to build new £40m railway station Plymouth is to get a new railway station after the Government included the project as part of a £43.57million cash boost for the South West.

West Sussex Gazette

• Rail bosses: Southern strikes ‘impotent and ineffective’Strike action by Southern staff is ‘increasingly impotent and ineffective’, according to rail bosses.

Other Regional Press

• MP backs 'cheaper' train service between Southampton and London A new proposed rail service from Southampton to London – which promises cheaper fares and more seats – has been backed by a city MP.
• Coach link between Oxford and airport to end A coach link between Oxford and Birmingham Airport is to end after just eight months.
• Readers back free bus travel for older people in GlasgowEvening Times readers have backed the free bus travel scheme for older people. Following our story in Thursday’s paper hundreds of readers got in touch to offer their opinions on the scheme.
• Will the new Chester bus station open on time?Traders are worried that a city centre scheme to deliver a new £13.5m bus interchange and pedestrian-friendly Frodsham Street could be late.

New Scientist

• Augmented reality lets cars communicate to reduce road rageVirtual signs that pop up on your windscreen and say “rushing to the hospital” or “in a hurry to the airport” help turn other drivers’ aggression to empathy

Bus and Coach.com

• Stagecoach expands its Swindon network
• DRM Bus Company turns to Volvo for speedy delivery

Rail Technology Magazine

• HS2 hybrid bill receives Royal Assent High-Speed 2 (HS2) hybrid bill has secured Royal Assent after completing more than three years of Parliamentary scrutiny, leading the way for a new line to increase capacity on the UK’s railways.
• RMT calls for urgent talks with Southern to end guards disputeRail union RMT has called for urgent talks to be resumed with Southern in a bid to bring its long running dispute about guards on trains to an end after months of the bitter feud. The news comes as RMT executives prepare to meet next Tuesday 28 February to consider the future of the dispute...
• Rail industry made and spent �18.4bn in 2015-16, ORR reveals ORR has this week published its UK rail industry financial information 2015-16, which has revealed the expenditure and income sources of the whole rail industry for the past year. The publication was started in 2010-11 and aims to increase accountability and transparency for customers as well as...

Railway Gazette

• German contracts more attractive than UK franchises, says National Express CEONATIONAL EXPRESS: German passenger train operating contracts offer more attractive business opportunities than UK franchises, National Express Group CEO Dean Finch said when the transport group's annual results were published on February 23.

Green Miscellany

• Our friends electric: How Europe is cleaning up its railwaysBritain may have an electric railway that this year celebrates its 134th birthday, but electrification of the entire network lags behind other�European countries.�Forty per cent�of the British rail network was electrified by 2006, representing 60% of all rail journeys. However, electrification of remaining lines, particularly with the more-efficient overhead lines, remains slow. While we wring our hands about the financial… The post Our friends electric: How Europe is cleaning up its railways appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• EU accused of “asserting power” to block Chinese railway in HungaryAn article in a Chinese newspaper has criticised the European Union (EU), accusing it of allowing its “bureaucratic instincts” and a desire to “assert its power” to jeopardise a Chinese state-backed high-speed railway planned between Budapest and Belgrade (pictured).
• Lightweight trains could be key for Aberystwyth to Carmarthen rail lineA TRIAL of lightweight trains could help see campaigners’ vision of re-opening a long-disused rail line between Aberystwyth and Carmarthen become a reality.
• £40m rail depot planned for ExeterPlans are in for a major £40 million rail depot at Exeter St David's.
• Rail users are not being fully informed of their rights TRAIN companies are failing to properly inform passengers about their rights, a consumer group has claimed.