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

Tuesday, 06 February 2018

BBC News

• £7.25m rail upgrade works begin on Cambrian lineA £7.25m project has begun to improve the Cambrian railway line in mid Wales.
• Borders Railway campaigners maintain Carlisle extension goalA campaign group has renewed its calls for the extension of the Borders Railway line to Carlisle.
• Newport was Wales' most congested city in 2017, figures showNewport drivers spend 24 hours a year in jams around the city, but Cardiff congestion costs drivers more.
• Tube 'thought of the day': The station where it startedOval station's famous message board is surrounded by plants - and classical music is always playing.
• Flybe discontinues some Scottish island routesThe airline announces it is to discontinue its Glasgow-Stornoway and Aberdeen-Kirkwall services from next month.
• Pilot shortage: Who's going to fly our planes?The world is facing a shortage of airline pilots. But why and how can it be fixed?
• Ryanair warns of further staff disruptionThe airline warns of possible local
• Heathrow Airport's control of building costs 'abysmal'Other firms should design and build Heathrow terminals says the boss of British Airways' owner IAG.
• UK Diesel car sales fall by 25% in JanuaryBuyers are turning away from new diesels amid uncertainty over government policy.
• Another 452 jobs to go after Carillion failureStaff affected are working on private and public sector contracts and in back office support roles.
• Stagecoach East Coast rail franchise to end earlyTransport Secretary Chris Grayling will end the contract after Stagecoach 'got its numbers wrong'.

Department for Transport

• Chris Grayling's response to Mark Carne stepping downChris Grayling praises the work of Mark Carne as Chief Executive of Network Rail.
• Update on the East Coast, West Coast and East Midlands rail franchisesAn overview of plans for the East Coast, West Coast and East Midlands rail franchises.
• Passengers in South West Wales to shape future of Great Western Rail serviceHave your say at UK Government events in Carmarthen and Swansea

Financial Times

• Ryanair says airlines will struggle to raise faresCarrier warns Brexit will hit travel sector as it announces €750m buyback and rise in profits
• Ryanair: holdings patternGreat returns have encouraged shareholders to play down risks as Brexit approaches
• East Coast mainline on brink of collapse, admits GraylingStagecoach/Virgin-run rail franchise faces option of state control
• Lufthansa revamps top management at Brussels AirlinesGerman carrier seeks to ally fears in Belgium over brand’s future

The Guardian

• East Coast could return to public sector, Chris Grayling admitsMPs told collapse of franchise means government or Virgin could run line in short term
• Elon Musk seeks to revive Apollo era with test launch of heavy-duty rocketSpaceX’s Falcon Heavy will be the most powerful to leave Earth since the Saturn V in the 1970s – and will hurl a Tesla electric car into space

Times Online

• Car sales stall as new registrations for diesel vehicles decline [Subscription]The number of new cars sold in Scotland has fallen by more than 15 per cent, according to industry figures.
• Chris Grayling admits east coast rail line could be renationalised [Subscription]Ministers are considering renationalising the troubled east coast rail line after admitting that the franchise holder will collapse in a matter of months.

City AM

• British Airways owner IAG calls for "Heathrow monopoly" to be broken up to boost competition and cut costsThe boss of British Airways owner IAG has today called for Heathrow's "monopoly" to be broken up so its terminals can be run by third parties in order to stimulate competition.
• UK car sales just had their worst January since 2014Sales of cars made in the UK fell 6.3 per cent in January, as a decline in demand for diesel cars continued to put off buyers.
• Stagecoach chief exec hits back as firm loses East Coast contract earlier than expectedThe chief executive of Stagecoach Group has hit back at "misleading" claims about the company after the government said it would lose its East Coast Mainline rail franchise earlier than expected.

Mail Online

• Virgin's East Coast line could be nationalised in months Chris Grayling told the House of Commons yesterday that the situation had become much more urgent after the operators breached a ˜key financial covenant.

Network Rail

• Mark Carne to retire from Network RailMark Carne, the chief executive of Network Rail, has advised the Board that he has decided to retire from the company later this year. The timing of his announcement ensures that a new chief executive will be established in the role before the start of the next five year regulatory control period which begins in April 2019.

Birmingham Mail

• Carillion 'trampled over rights of pension scheme members' - Frank Field A joint hearing of the Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee and the Work and Pensions Committee will examine events

Birmingham Post

• Virgin Trains set to have West Coast rail contract extended Transport Secretary Chris Grayling is due to make a statement to Parliament on Monday about rail franchising

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• GALLERY: Northern unveils state-of-the-art new trainTHE COMPANY which operates the Northern rail franchise is moving forward with its modernisation plan as it emerged that the first completed new train is due off the production line in a matter of weeks.

London Evening Standard

• London Paddington delays: Commuters vent fury at rush hour train cancellations sparked by electric cable damageCommuters were venting their anger after damage to electric cabling sparked severe delays at Paddington station during rush hour.
• UK weather: British Airways cancels 80 flights from London Heathrow as cold snap bitesBritish Airways cancelled 80 short-haul flights out of London Heathrow as the capital was gripped by a freezing cold snap.
• Chris Grayling attacked for extending Virgin Trains contract for West Coast MainlineThe Transport Secretary has come under fire after announcing an extended contract for Virgin Trains to run services on the West Coast Mainline.

Manchester Evening News

• Manchester Airport relief road hit by FURTHER disruption The existing westbound A555, which will form part of the £290m route, will close on Monday for 17 weeks so ‘significant repair work’ can be done to its drainage

Nottingham Evening Post

• Government is considering taking over running the East Coast MainlineThe Government is considering directly operating the East Coast Mainline after Chris Grayling announced that the Stagecoach-led franchise would only be able to continue in its current form for a "very small number of months".

Wales Online

• Work starts on cycle and walking route that will link Carmarthen and Llandeilo A hub is being developed at one end of the route which will see Carmathen and Llandeilo linked

North Wales Live

• Virgin Trains to offer FREE WIFI to all passengers Liverpool to London passengers to get the benefit of upgrades to West Coast mainline trains

Other Regional Press

• Stagecoach facing £200 million hit as East Coast rail franchise hits the buffersStagecoach has hit out at “misinformed” and “politically motivated” commentary after the UK Government said it was considering taking its East Coast rail franchise back into public hands.

Global Rail News

• Network Rail CEO Mark Carne to retireNetwork Rail has announced that a new CEO will be in place for the five-year control period starting in April, 2019, following news of Mark Carne’s retirement.

The Business Desk

• Government moves to end Stagecoach East Coast mainline franchiseThe future of the East Coast Mainline rail franchise, which runs through the East Midlands, was thrown into confusion last night (5 February) after Transport Secretary Chris Grayling announced that Stagecoach’s contract to run the service would end early.

Aviation Industry

• UK regulator to probe seat allocationsThe UK civil aviation regulator (CAA) has launched a review of airline allocated seating polices after conducting consumer research that showed widespread confusion among the traveling public. read more
• Ryanair warns of labor squalls despite improving resultsIrish LCC Ryanair anticipates that its decision to recognize trade unions may result in some “localized disruption,â€� but said it is prepared to face any such problems. read more
• Pigs might fly, but they shouldn't do so as service animalsTwo US airlines, Delta and United, have issued stricter guidelines on what is required before a passenger can bring onboard an animal in an “emotional supportâ€� or “therapyâ€� role. read more
• Russia's Azur Air ordered to repair shortcomings or lose AOCRussia's federal air transport agency Rosaviatsia has placed a limit on leisure carrier Azur Air's air operator's certificate (AOC) through March 20, according to a Feb. 2 statement by the agency.

Other News Sources

• 'Fatally flawed' - Wandsworth Council leader slams Heathrow proposalsThe leader of Wandsworth Council has blasted Heathrow and hit out at its 'fatally flawed' scheme.
• Government may be forced to take over East Coast rail franchise, Chris Grayling admitsThe Government may be forced to run East Coast mainline rail services after the private sector operator “got its numbers wrong,” Chris Grayling has said.
• Network Rail has handed Balfour Beatty a four-year contract worth more than £40m to look after its Stoneblower track maintenance machines.Under the contract, Balfour Beatty will maintain and operate Network Rail’s 14 Stoneblowers, which use compressed air to inject small stones under the sleepers, filling the voids and stabilising track.
• UK Transport Secretary Attacked Over Extending Virgin-Stagecoach AwardLONDON (Alliance News) - The UK Transport Secretary has been attacked for announcing an extended contract for Virgin Trains to run services on the West Coast Mainline.
• Government could take control of collapsing East Coast MainlineThe Government could take direct control of the East Coast Mainline as the Transport Secretary came under attack for his management of rail franchises.