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

Friday, 15 September 2017

BBC News

• Parsons Green: 'Incident' reported on London Tube trainPolice are investigating an "incident" on a District Line underground train at Parsons Green, south-west London.
• Severn Bridge tolls to be reduced in January 2018The reduction - worth £1.10 for a car - is the first step towards the abolition of the charge.
• Belfast International Airport makes £600k profitPassenger numbers at Northern Ireland's main airport rose by 17% from 4.4m to 5.2m during 2016.
• ScotRail workers vote for action over CCTV job cutsRail union RMT says the 22 posts under threat are
• 'I want to make life more convenient'Wellen Sham the boss of electric car maker Thunder Power says he wants to 'make life more convenient' for us all.
• Traffic levels hit record highEconomic growth and a rising population have pushed up car use, the government says.

Financial Times

• Electric car dream collides with reality on profitsBosses warn of challenges in turning technology into business model that makes money
• Hertz, Avis hit a bump after Morgan Stanley questions car rental outlook
• India train derailments highlight dire state of networkCountry looks to shunt colonial-era rail system into the 21st century

The Guardian

• Final piece of Crossrail laid, marking official completion of £14.8bn trackTransport secretary Chris Grayling attached final rail clips on London’s newest line, which will begin operation in December 2019

The Scotsman

• 40-year-old train destined for ScotRail catches fireA 40-year-old train from a fleet due to operate ScotRail inter-city services from next year has caught fire hours before the operator showed off the first train.

The Telegraph

• Chris Grayling MP visits Crossrail as the final track is completed

Times Online

• Green E10 petrol could cause filling station confusion [Subscription]Motorists could face confusion on fuel forecourts after ministers gave the go-ahead to new “green petrol” that will be incompatible with older cars and could increase prices at the pump.
• £50m wasted on cancelled schemes to electrify rail lines [Subscription]The government wasted £50 million of taxpayers’ money on a failed project to electrify railway lines in England and Wales, The Times has learnt.
• Vans making roads more clogged than ever [Subscription]Motorists are facing mounting delays after traffic levels reached a record high in the past 12 months.
• Ryanair loses EU court case to impose Irish laws on air crew [subscription]Ryanair will no longer be able to impose Irish labour laws on its pilots and cabin crew after it lost an EU court battle.
• Council lawyers stifled trams ‘info’ [Subscription]A senior lawyer involved in Edinburgh’s £776 million trams fiasco admitted that he advised officials to withhold information from councillors as he feared details would be leaked to the press.
• ScotRail staff back action over plan to cut CCTV jobs [Subscription]Train workers have paved the way for strikes on Scotland’s railways after voting for industrial action over plans to cut CCTV staff.
• Electric vehicle pledge branded ‘unaffordable and unachievable’ [Subscription]Nicola Sturgeon’s plans to phase out all new petrol and diesel cars in 15 years’ time have been branded unachievable and potentially damaging by a leading engineering expert.

City AM

• Reports of an explosion on the Tube at west London stationAn explosion has occurred on the Tube at Parsons Green station, according to reports.
• Crossrail's latest mega milestone: The £14.8bn Elizabeth Line's permanent track has been completedThe £14.8bn Crossrail project today reached a new significant milestone with the completion of the permanent track for the Elizabeth line.
• London City Airport is ramping up efforts to secure a new Crossrail stationLondon City Airport is ramping up efforts to secure a Crossrail station at the airport, chief operating officer Alison FitzGerald said today.
• Mapped: Here are the 10 shortlisted Hyperloop One routes including Edinburgh to London in 50 minutesHyperloop One has announced 10 winners of the global challenge it set back in May last year, to identify the strongest potential routes in the world.
• Gatwick boss says urgent certainty is needed for Brexit flying rightsGatwick boss Stewart Wingate said yesterday he was confident that aviation was a top Brexit priority for the Department for Transport (DfT), but warned time was ticking and certainty was needed for the industry.

The National

• First high-speed train delivered by Angel to ScotRailTHE first high-speed train has arrived in Scotland ahead of the new services being rolled out next year.

This is Money

• MOT fines cost Britons more than £7.5 million a year Currently, drivers who are already reminded to tax and insure their cars receive no written warning about the mandatory MoT roadworthiness test.

London Evening Standard

• Tube delays: Rush-hour misery as Victoria line part suspended and District line severely hitCommuters were hit with severe rush hour disruption this morning as part of the Tube was suspended and two other lines hit with delays.
• Final piece of Crossrail track installed in £14.8 billion projectEngineers today installed the final piece of permanent Crossrail track as Europe's biggest construction project neared completion.
• 6 incredible Tube shortcuts only Londoners will knowTfL's new green platform markings might have spoiled your competitive advantage against inexperienced commuters, but there are still several other hidden shortcuts that can help you get from A to B faster than everybody else

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• ‘New high-speed trains take us back to the 1970s’Rail bosses have been accused of treating north-east passengers as “second class citizens” as they unveiled their “new” high speed trains – which are decades old.

The York Press

• New bus lane cameras get go-ahead for York MORE bus lane cameras are being introduced in York, a senior councillor has confirmed, and he hinted some city centre streets could soon see major changes.

Wales Online

• The Severn Crossing tolls will be reduced in January when both bridges return to public ownership It will be the first time the tolls have been reduced since they were introduced in 1966          

East Anglian Daily Times

• Rail union branded 'Luddites' over strike threat at Greater AngliaMembers of the rail union that have called for strike action on Greater Anglia have been labelled Luddites by the Tory MP who chairs the taskforce pressing for improvements on the region’s main line.

Reading Evening Post

• Fears raised over bus services if East Reading Mass Rapid Transit scheme is builtCampaigners opposing the plan raised concerns over how they will get buses in the future

Other Regional Press

• £15 billion Crossrail has final piece of the puzzle installedThe £15 billion-dollar Crossrail that will cover nearly 32 miles of underground track is now complete.
• Commuters to face train delays between Oxford and London PaddingtonTHERE will be major disruption on the trains between Oxford and London Paddington this weekend.
• Festival of Transport raises hundreds for Luton FoodbankThe Chiltern Vehicle Preservation Group donated £1000 to Luton Foodbank.
• How cyclists can let the train take the strain at Huddersfield Railway StationNew bike sheds encourage commuters to park and ride
• Why Huddersfield's Bus Gates are here to stay Controversial fines not to blame for drop in town centre trade says council report

The Economist

• New rail routes between China and Europe will change trade patternsASTANA in Kazakhstan is one of the world’s most remote capitals, surrounded by thousands of kilometres of empty steppe

Buying Business Travel

• Cabfind partners with IcabbiIntegration provides connection to drivers

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Eddie Stobart opens the doors of its Training Academy Leading supply chain Eddie Stobart has officially announced it has opened the doors of its dedicated training academy to the wider logistics and supply chain industry.  The academy was established in 2015 as an in-house facility to help attract and retain Eddie Stobart’s own staff. It has since been recognised as a leading facility by customers, suppliers and industry advocates, with increasing demand for its services to be offered to the wider market place. 

Rail Magazine

• May 2018 start for ScotRail HST fleetFirst refurbished HSTs enter traffic with ScotRail next May. All 26 in traffic by May 2019.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Elizabeth Line celebrates key milestone as track installation work completedA major landmark has been reached by Crossrail today as it announced that it had completed permanent track installation work on the Elizabeth Line. Transport secretary Chris Grayling joined deputy mayor for transport Val Shawcross, Crossrail chairman Sir Terry Morgan and CEO Andrew Wolstenholme.

Railway Gazette

• Railway supply industry news round-upCRRC is to carry out a recruitment campaign in the USA during October, holding events at the...

Aviation Industry

• Eurowings, UFO union sign collective agreement Lufthansa Group subsidiary Eurowings and the UFO flight attendants union have signed a collective agreement that will enable the LCC to grow rapidly. read more
• Embraer seeks airline input on future turboprop Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer is planning to become the market leader in aircraft under 150 seats and is consulting with airlines about a new turboprop family. read more

Other News Sources

• Costain on board for automated lorry trialsCostain has joined the consortium headed by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) to trial autonomous driving technologies.
• Chelmsford MP accuses RMT of "punishing hard working commuters"Vicky Ford has slammed the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers for calling a strike against Greater Anglia.