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

Thursday, 23 May 2019

BBC News

• HS2 boss: Business case for Northern extension is 'clear'The boss of HS2 has urged policymakers "not to lose sight" of the benefits the project will bring to the UK economy.
• Last bus subsidies scrapped across Bridgend countyBus companies have been told they will need to fund their own services in Bridgend county after the council scrapped all remaining subsidies.
• Fire safety rules breached at London Bridge Tube stationThe fire brigade says London Bridge Tube station is in breach of eight fire safety regulations.
• TfL to track tube users via their wi-fi to ease overcrowdingA four-week pilot showed collecting wi-fi data could help passengers better plan routes, TfL said.
• Boeing: Regulators to meet about grounded 737 MaxRegulators will discuss when the Boeing jet can return to the skies following two crashes.

Government

• HS2 reaches 9,000 jobsToday, HS2 Ltd has confirmed that work on Britain’s new high speed railway is supporting 9,000 jobs around the country.

The Guardian

• British Steel's closure would have 'huge' knock-on effectsSwitching to European suppliers likely to massively increase cost for Network Rail

The Independent

• Half-term travel: Squeeze in the skies as UK airspace expected to see record number of flights​Exclusive: UK air-traffic controllers may handle more than 9,000 flights on Friday 24 May

Times Online

• Car hire firms charge £190 for £30 insurance [subscription]Car hire companies have been accused of cheating motorists by charging up to seven times the basic rate for insurance.
• Sleeper trains delayed before arrival [Subscription]Delivery of the £150 million trains for the Caledonian Sleeper’s Highland routes has been further delayed. The five-week hold up will result in Serco missing its June 2 deadline to launch the fleet. The trains, with double beds and en suite facilities, will not run on the London to Aberdeen, Fort William, and Inverness route until July 7. The southbound service is scheduled to start the next day. Michael Matheson, Scotland’s transport secretary, blamed CAF, the Spanish-based manufacturer, for being unable to supply enough carriages in a “service-ready state”. It had been hoped the trains would be running by April last year. Serco, which was awarded the Caledonian Sleeper franchise by the Scottish government, said the delay was due to the complexity of the Highland route and to reduce the risk of teething problems. It said that passengers who had booked from June 2 would be refunded.

The Scotsman

• Scottish councils told to be ‘brave’ by bringing in workplace parking taxStrong political leadership will be key if Scottish councils choose to introduce a workplace parking levy, MSPs have been told.
• 6 Scottish airports close due to air traffic controller strikeSix Scottish airports have closed for 24 hours due to a strike by air traffic controllers involved in a pay dispute.

The Telegraph

• App that allows passengers to silently raise alarm over train groping becomes big hit in Japan [Subscription]A police app that scares off molesters has become a runaway hit in Japan, where women have long faced high levels of groping on packed rush-hour trains.

City AM

• TfL will use your Wi-Fi data to help you avoid Tube delaysTransport for London (TfL) will soon begin collecting depersonalised Wi-Fi connection data to improve passenger information on the Tube.
• TfL delays investment to 'future years' as debt climbs to £11bnTransport for London (TfL) delayed nearly half a billion pounds in capital spending during its latest financial year, while its debts climbed past £11bn.
• Tube chaos: Emergency services respond as fire alert hits Jubilee Line with severe delaysA fire alert at Bond Street Station this morning left commuters' journeys in tatters as the Jubilee Line was struck with severe delays and left part suspended.

Bristol Live

• First Bus plans changes to service that is 'prone to delays'The service to Cribbs Causeway and Southmead Hospital could be tweaked

Edinburgh Evening News

• Edinburgh’s bus wars heading for showdown in Royal MileEDINBURGH’S bus wars are set to be ramped up with First Bus understood to be planning to launch open-top bus tours in the Capital.

Manchester Evening News

• Three decades of government have 'failed bus users in Greater Manchester'The transport select committee has concluded Margaret Thatcher's 1980s reforms did the opposite of what was intended - and successive governments have done little about it since

Northern Echo

• Letters: 'Drivers have no idea how to use Darlington bus lane'REGARDING the Tories’ exciting new times in Darlington, let’s hope they do something about the bus lane on North Road.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Bus company apologises to passengers over servicesChambers Buses has apologised to passengers after being deluged with complaints about poor service.

Rail Technology Magazine

• West Midlands Rail Executive's Malcolm Holmes on the 30 year Rail Investment Strategy and working with Midlands ConnectMalcolm Holmes, Chief Executive of the West Midlands Rail Executive, joins us to discuss the 30-year Rail Investment Strategy, and how he and his team are working closely with Midlands Connect to deliver on uplifting capacity and bettering services for people across the region ahead of TCR...
• £800m worth of rail haulage contracts awarded by Network RailNetwork Rail has awarded contracts for rail haulage and the operations of its engineering trains and seasonal treatment services for Control Period 6, worth around £800m. Adopting Network Rail’s supply chain’s new “commercially creative approach,” the rail haulage...

Aviation Industry

• SAS expands European business routesScandinavian Airlines (SAS) will launch new routes between two of its hubs and major European business destinations. read more
• Delta CEO responds to Sanders’ criticism of anti-union campaign Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian on May 22 pushed back against recent criticism from US Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and other Congressional Democrats who have alleged the Atlanta-based carrier has engaged in a targeted campaign to intimidate flight attendants and ramp workers from unionizing. read more
• More China carriers seek Boeing compensation for MAX groundingTwo more Chinese carriers—Air China and China Southern Airlines—have formally filed for compensation from Boeing over the grounding of the 737 MAX 8, joining China Eastern Airlines, which reportedly filed a claim May 21. read more
• United to buy up to 10 million gallons of biofuel United Airlines has agreed to purchase up to 10 million gallons of biofuel over the next two years in a contract renewal with World Energy. read more

Other News Sources

• LNER raises serious concerns over huge York station revampLNER runs York railway station – and the company is not happy with the plans to make major changes to the site.
• Shuttle bus spat as questions raised over whether it is 'value for money'Thornaby Town Council has run the bus for the past decade to plug the gap in services