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Thursday, 23 November 2017

BBC News

• Budget highlights for Wales in Philip Hammond's speechChancellor Phillip Hammond says the Welsh Government will get an extra £1.2bn to spend due to his Budget, and promises talks on economic growth deals for north and mid Wales.
• Singapore to use driverless buses 'from 2022'The government plans to let commuters hail on-demand shuttles using their mobile phones.
• Test holes drilling for Stornoway's deep-water port planStornoway Port Authority hopes to create a port capable of allowing larger ships to berth.
• Watford derailment embankments stabilised in £4m repairsA landslip led to an early morning commuter train to London derailing close to Watford.
• Paddington train derailed due to decayed timbersThe Great Western Railway train derailed at low speed after timbers supporting the tracks failed.

The Herald

• We should be looking to upgrade rail link to Prestwick AirportESURRECTING the idea of a Glasgow centre to Glasgow Airport rail link is about as sensible as the Edinburgh trams fiasco ("Airport rail link could still go ahead, says Yousaf", The Herald, November 20), and Letters, November 20, 21 & 22). While the monorail sounds a much better solution, an upgraded rail link between Glasgow centre to Prestwick Airport would seem like a much more sensible and cheaper option.
• Northern Ireland leaders urged to lobby for aircraft firm in USDemocratic Unionist chief Arlene Foster and Sinn Fein’s Stormont leader Michelle O’Neill have been urged to set aside their differences and travel to the US together to lobby for jobs at Bombardier’s Northern Ireland factory.
• SNP plan to cut air tax in Scotland delayed before take offTHE SNP’s flagship plan to cut and eventually abolish air tax in Scotland has been postponed for at least year.

The Telegraph

• Uber scandal: Britain’s spy chiefs begin investigating cover-up of data hack of 57 million customers
• Cycling company causes outrage after suggesting women should buy electric bikes to keep up with their boyfriends
• Nearly three million diesel car drivers hit by new 'green' taxes 

Times Online

• Budget 2017: Relief greets fuel duty freeze [subscription]Fuel duty was frozen for the eighth year in a row yesterday as the Treasury claimed that it had saved the average motorist £850.
• Budget 2017: Legal pothole in roadmap for driverless cars [Subscription]Philip Hammond was understood to be considering a publicity stunt in advance of his budget statement in parliament yesterday that would have involved the chancellor reclining in a driverless car.
• Former Monarch owner Greybull Capital lands £60m [Subscription]Failed carrier’s airport slots cleared for sale
• Budget 2017: Electric car fund to spark increase in chargers [Subscription]The government committed to an expansion of electric cars yesterday with more roadside chargers, grants to act as incentives for purchases and tax breaks for company car drivers.

City AM

• Hires of Santander Cycles hit fresh record but Brixton launch gets pushed backSince the unveiling of the snazzy new Santander Cycles last month, more people seem to be donning their Lycra.
• Autumn Budget 2017: Chancellor says government continues to work on Crossrail 2 funding with TfLChancellor Philip Hammond namechecked the £31bn Crossrail 2 rail project in today's Autumn Budget, though he stopped short of giving a concrete commitment on funding for it.
• Autumn Budget: Crackdown on diesel as drivers face higher taxesDiesel drivers are facing higher taxes under a scheme set out by Philip Hammond in the chancellor's Autumn Budget today.
• Autumn Budget: Private jet and business class travellers face rise in air passenger dutyCalls to slash air passenger duty to keep Britain competitive as it leaves the European Union were not acceded to by the chancellor today.
• Monarch Appeal Court ruling paves way for multi-million pound pension payoutMonarch pensioners have been given fresh hope of salvaging a multi-million pound payout from the collapse of the airline.
• Autumn Budget 2017: Fuel duty frozen again to chagrin of green campaignersThe chancellor announced yet another freeze on fuel duty today, keeping the tax the same for the longest period for 40 years.
• All-you-can-fly private airline Surf Air is coming to London City Airport in DecemberSurf Air, a subscription based private airline, is coming to London City Airport as it looks to tap into the airport's many business travellers.
• UK car production picks up in October but forecasts are lowered as domestic demand stuttersFewer vehicles are set to roll off production lines at Britain's car plants this year, according to a fresh independent forecast.
• Gatwick growth continues to fly as it eyes 50m passengers a year milestoneGatwick soared to rising revenues and earnings for the first six months of the year, reporting growth across long-haul traffic, European business routes and destinations in Asia.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Bus company chiefs to appear in court on fraud charges Express Motors director Eric Wyn Jones and six others expected in front of magistrates this morning
• Motorists get busy sending cops dashcam film of dodgy drivers North Wales Police say they are keen to hear from anyone who has dashcam footage that could help make the roads safer

Manchester Evening News

• Motorists can expect closures on the M60 EVERY NIGHT until December Smart motorway works to cause a series of closures this month

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• We're getting new Metros! Philip Hammond pledges £337m for new trains in BudgetThe massive breakthrough means Nexus could be rolling out new trains by 2021

The York Press

• £5m funding secured for upgrade of York's Scarborough Bridge A FUNDING package totalling almost £5 million has been approved to upgrade a footbridge used by thousands of pedestrians and cyclists everyday.

Wales Online

• A cheap way out of an embarrassing problem' The scathing verdict on the scrapping of rail electrification to SwanseaRoger Ford gave a withering assessment of decision to switch to diesel power from Cardiff

Get West London

• West London Orbital Railway plans: Talks with TfL 'seem to be going positively'The cross-council board behind plans for a West London Orbital railway met on Tuesday (November 21) to discuss its progress

Other Regional Press

• Campaigners bid to stop trams replacing region’s railway linesA PUBLIC meeting is being held in Halesowen in a bid to stop the replacing of the region’s railway with metro lines.

Buying Business Travel

• Airline mergers bad for passengers, says US reportConsolidation limits choice
• Uber reveals huge data breachHackers stole user data in 2016

New Civil Engineer

• Aecom JV appointed on £30M Coventry rail framework [Subscription]An Aecom and SLC Rail joint venture has been appointed on a £30M rail advisory framework for Coventry City Council.
• Wales electrification cancellation a 'failure of management' [Subscription]The cancellation of rail electrification in south Wales was a “failure of management” by Network Rail, a government committee has been told.

Rail Magazine

• Thameslink's 24tph introduction held over to 2019Phased introduction of services on Thameslink means 24 trains per hour will now be delivered in December 2019.
• Listen to your passengers, Gibb urges operatorsChris Gibb doubts any passengers pay attention to posters displayed at stations detailing operator performance. They're only interested in their train.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Chancellor accepts East West Rail targets and strengthens plans with extra cashChancellor Philip Hammond has confirmed the government’s commitment to completing the western section of East West Rail by 2024 and will commit new money to developing proposals for new stations, services and routes across the region. The National Infrastructure Commission recently...
• Digital railway moves forward with new Budget investment pledgesThe government has announced a raft of new commitments to strengthen the Digital Railway programme as part of its commitment to boost capacity across the network through innovative technology. In his Autumn Budget statement today, chancellor Philip Hammond announced a £84m package for...

Railway Gazette

• Rail in the November 2017 UK budgetUK: A new railcard, replacement of the Tyne & Wear Metro fleet, signalling and communications...
• Stadler launches Wink multiple-unit offering a range of traction optionsSTADLER: A recent order from Arriva marked the launch of Stadler's latest multiple-unit family,...
• Hyundai Rotem EMU maintenance contract extendedUKRAINE: Hyundai Rotem's contract to maintain the 10 nine-car inter-city electric multiple units it...