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

Saturday, 08 April 2017

BBC News

• Southern, Merseyrail and Arriva Rail North strikes beginWorkers at three rail companies begin a 24-hour strike on the day of the Grand National horse race.

Times Online

• Troubled Southern ‘should hand over services’ [subscription]A suppressed report into a series of problems at Britain’s biggest rail operator will call for the company to be cut back, The Times has learnt.
• Dream Bigger [subscription]This week a driverless pod nicknamed Harry started ferrying volunteers along a test route on the North Greenwich peninsula in London. Similar vehicles have been tried in Milton Keynes. Later this year they should make an appearance in Oxford. They are guided by five cameras and three lasers and have a top speed of 10mph.
• Dream Bigger [subscription]This week a driverless pod nicknamed Harry started ferrying volunteers along a test route on the North Greenwich peninsula in London. Similar vehicles have been tried in Milton Keynes. Later this year they should make an appearance in Oxford. They are guided by five cameras and three lasers and have a top speed of 10mph.
• Transport secretary in the spotlight after HS2 contract is derailed [subscription]The transport secretary and the chairman of HS2 must face MPs to explain the crisis at the top of the government’s high-speed rail agency.
• Your five-minute digest [subscription]1 A new independent lawyer’s investigation into the handling of the HBOS Reading fraud will go to the very top of Lloyds Banking Group, examining the roles of the three successive chairmen, Sir Victor Blank, Sir Win Bischoff and Lord Blackwell.

Birmingham Mail

• Why you can ride the bus for free once a month under a Lib Dem mayor  Proposal in Lib Dem West Midlands mayoral candidate Beverley Nielsen's manifesto released on Saturday.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Northern Rail reveals strike timetables Northern Rail has published its revised timetables setting out which of its services will still operate during Saturday's strike action.
• TAKE OFF: Final version of Leeds Bradford Airport's masterplan is launched LEEDS Bradford Airport has formally launched a masterplan outlining its development strategy for the next 13 years.

The York Press

• Customers advised to expect longer journeys during rail strikeRAIL passengers will be able to use their tickets on regular bus services in North and East Yorkshire today.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Kick in the teeth for sports fans as fresh rail strike looms in YorkshireSports fans and Saturday workers are facing travel headaches tomorrow during a 24-hour strike by train staff in Yorkshire.
• Plan sets out how Leeds Bradford Airport will reach new heightsA vision for the future of Leeds Bradford Airport was formally published today as bosses outlined how the airport will be developed to meet the needs of a projected 7.1 million passengers.
• Photo essay: Middleton Railway still thriving after more than 200 yearsMiddleton Railway is still running on full steam as one of the most well known attractions in Leeds. The station, which has the famous title of the worlds’s longest running working railway, continiously offers visitors the chance to ride on the old tracks as well as visit the centre’s museum,

Other Regional Press

• Rail passengers hit by strike can use their tickets on some busesMake sure you check first before going anywhere by railway tomorrow

Rail Technology Magazine

• Southeastern passengers demand better services from new franchisePassengers on the South Eastern franchise have called for a better deal from operators as they demanded more punctual, reliable services with enough room to sit and stand, research conducted by Transport Focus (TF) has revealed. With the current franchise operated by Govia Thameslink Railway...
• HS2 sets out design vision 'from the pixel to the city'The ambitions for the design of the trouble-stricken HS2 project have been published by the company, revealing that the scheme’s success will be based on three core design principles. The plans come days after the government announced that the Transport Select Committee would be looking...
• HS2 to scrap and rerun �10m management services contract bid HS2 has told companies bidding for its £10m commercial management services contract that the process will be scrapped and rerun, RTM has today learnt. Firms including Arcadis, Mott MacDonald and Turner & Townsend had been competing for the £10m commercial services contract, which...

Aviation Industry

• New Ryanair initiatives include connecting flights, service upgradesIreland-based low-cost carrier (LCC) Ryanair has unveiled its 2017/18 customer experience improvement plan, which includes connecting flights, auto check-in and express booking. read more
• British Airways introduces biometric boarding gatesBritish Airways (BA) is introducing automated biometric technology to create self-service boarding gates at London’s Heathrow Airport. read more

Other News Sources

• EU: Pollution Damage from ShipsEuropean shipowners welcome the European Parliament’s adoption of the Recommendations on the 2010 Protocol to the International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea 1996 in its Plenary-session this week.