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

Saturday, 13 January 2018

BBC News

• Nottingham railway station reopens after huge fireNottingham railway station has reopened following a huge fire that police say is being treated as arson.
• Wireless recharging while on the moveAn over-the-air recharging solution designed for use in the car is on show at the CES trade fair.
• CES 2018: CarWink emojis seek to replace driver hand gesturesA small display that shows images offers motorists a new way to communicate to each other.
• Vicar and campaigner chained to tree in HS2 Euston protestRev Anne Stevens and local resident Jo Hurford say HS2 is having a detrimental impact on the area.
• Key UK contractor Carillion denies rescue plan in doubtConstruction giant Carillion dismisses claims lenders rejected a rescue plan and says talks continue.

The Guardian

• Nottingham railway station reopens after fireNottingham station has reopened after it was damaged by a huge fire as police hunt for those responsible for the suspected arson attack.
• Jo Johnson's new jobs show northern transport once again taking a backseatMaking Jo Johnson minister for transport and London sends the wrong signal about the government’s commitment to infrastructure beyond the capital
• The company that runs Britain is near to collapse. Watch and worryYou may never have heard of Carillion. There’s no reason you should have. Its lack of glamour is neatly summed up by the name it sported in the 90s: Tarmac. But since then it has grown and grown to become the UK’s second-largest building firm – and one of the biggest contractors to the British government.

The Herald

• Scotrail misses targets after "challenging" autumnScotRail has missed a key performance target amid "challenging" autumn and winter conditions on the railways.

Times Online

• Blaze at Nottingham railway station being treated as arson [Subscription]A huge fire which caused “substantial damage” to Nottingham railway station and required more than 60 firefighters to bring under control is being treated as arson.
• Electric car revolution is stalled by councils [Subscription]Councils have come under fire for failing to install roadside charging points for electric cars.
• Latest must-have Adidas trainers are just the train ticket [Subscription]Smart technology means the end of running around for a train ticket in Berlin. In keeping with the German capital’s quirky sense of style, the latest must-have trainers incorporate the distinctive seat cover design of the underground system.
• General Motors to make first mass-market driverless car [subscription]The first mass-produced driverless car without a steering wheel will be made by General Motors, which said yesterday that it aimed to have the vehicles on US roads next year.
• Heathrow night flights ban could harm economy [subscription]Scrapping night flights at Britain’s busiest airport will damage the economy by blocking lucrative arrivals from the Far East and US, ministers have been told.

City AM

• Gatwick just announced it had a record-breaking 2017 as passenger numbers near 46mGatwick Airport rounded off a trio of records for London airports, announcing today it welcomed 45.6m passengers last year.
• TfL extends Addison Lee's London licence for another five years as Uber's licence battle continuesTransport for London (TfL) has extended Addison Lee's licence to operate in the capital for another five years, as Uber's battle to regain its licence continues.
• Transport for London to share expertise with India's transport ministry on electric buses and smart ticketingTransport for London (TfL) has agreed to share expertise with India on how to adopt best practices for improving public transport, and its experience with electric buses and smart ticketing.
• Ranked: London's worst Tube lines for delaysLondoners have already declared their favourite Tube line, but this ranking of which Tube lines face the most delays may give passengers more food for thought.

London Evening Standard

• Train strike January 2018: Passengers face more disruption after week of chaosThousands of rail passengers who have endured the worst week of strikes for decades face further disruption this weekend due to engineering work.

Northern Echo

• Should Middlesbrough be focus of HS2 in the North-East at Darlington's expense?THERE is a lot of talk about HS2 and how it will benefit the North in some way. But it won't be by having a faster connection to London.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham City Transport has named the best bus driver of the yearThe best bus driver in Nottingham has been named by Nottingham City Transport. Aaron Johnson, a driver on the Purple Line 89 , was chosen as 2017’s driver of the year by the company at an award ceremony on Wednesday night (January 10).
• Nottingham train station partially reopens after devastating fireNottingham railway station has partially reopened this morning following the massive blaze which took fire crews almost 12 hours to deal with.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• It’s ‘Brew Monday’ for rail passengers Rail staff in Leeds are backing Samaritans’ bid to turn ‘Blue Monday’ into ‘Brew Monday. January 15 has been dubbed ‘the most difficult day of the year’ so the two organisations encourage people to connect over a cuppa by offering passengers free tea bags and listening tips, as well as promoting Samaritans’ services.
• It’s ‘Brew Monday’ for rail passengers Rail staff in Leeds are backing Samaritans’ bid to turn ‘Blue Monday’ into ‘Brew Monday. January 15 has been dubbed ‘the most difficult day of the year’ so the two organisations encourage people to connect over a cuppa by offering passengers free tea bags and listening tips, as well as promoting Samaritans’ services.

Buying Business Travel

• Gatwick joins record-breaking yearAirport eyes 50m passengers in 2018

Rail Technology Magazine

• DfT deal means East Midlands HS2 station could open earlyThe government has reached an agreement with local organisations in the East Midlands to maximise the benefits of the future Toton HS2 hub, including work to open the station in the 2020s. The commitment between the DfT, Midlands Connect and East Midlands Councils has set out four priorities...
• Contractor selected to deliver £25m Preston tramlineA project to bring tram services back to Preston has taken a major step forward today with the appointments of the contractors who will deliver the project. The £25m scheme, run by Preston Trampower, will involve building a 3.5-mile-long line, the first in the city since the 1930s. In...
• Overground between Gospel Oak and Barking to reopen after 'once-in-a-generation upgrade'London Overground services are set to return between Gospel Oak and Barking next week following the installation of new overhead electric lines. Opening on Monday 15 January, the work will allow new electric trains to be introduced on the line, in what Network Rail is calling a “once in a...

Railnews

• Mayor renews call for TfL control in wake of GTR report The critical report about Govia Thameslink Railway published by the National Audit Office has triggered a renewed call from the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan for more of the capital™s rail services to be transferred to Transport for London. Apart from the staff shortage, the development of the Thameslink Programme has also been hampered by infrastructure failings as well as chronic industrial action. Strikes over DCO and DOO have been continuing, with further walkouts today on Northern, Merseyrail, South Western Railway and Greater Anglia. The effect of the strikes has varied, with noticeable di...

Aviation Industry

• Rolls-Royce announces new US facilityUK engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce will operate a jet engine testbed at Alliance Airport in Fort Worth, Texas. read more
• Government takes control of Air Malta slotsThe government of Malta has created a new state-owned company that will take control of the airport slots owned by the Mediterranean nation’s national carrier. read more
• Lufthansa calls for Alitalia to make major cuts Lufthansa wants Alitalia to undertake significant restructuring before the German group would be prepared to buy the struggling airline, its CEO has told the Italian government. read more

Other News Sources

• Ministry of Road Transport & Highways signs MoU with Transport for London The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways signed an MoU with Transport for London in New Delhi. The MoU is aimed at using the expertise of TFL to revamp the public transport architecture in the country. TFL is the agency that manages the transport system for Greater London, and has demonstrated its capability by creating a strong and dependable public transport system in the city.