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

Saturday, 17 August 2019

BBC News

• South Western Railway workers to hold four-day strikeA union has announced a four-day rail strike as part of a long-running dispute over the future of train guards.
• Greater Manchester Metrolink: New police squad to replace PCSOs on tramsThe new 63-strong police team will replace 50 police and community support officers.
• South Western Railway workers to hold four-day strikeThe stoppage in August and September is part of the long-running guards dispute.
• Harland and Wolff: 'Positive talks' over shipyard futureAdministrators for the Belfast shipyard say they are hopeful of a credible offer for the business.
• Ferguson shipyard nationalised by Scottish governmentOwnership of the Port Glasgow yard has transferred to the Scottish government in a bid to secure its future.
• Cathay Pacific boss Rupert Hogg quits after protest rowRupert Hogg steps down after

The Independent

• Will any government let the railway prosper?For the long-suffering rail passenger, this has not been the best few days. On Wednesday, the annual ritual of calculating next January’s fare increases showed that the cost of some inter-city journeys will rise above £1 per mile.
• What it's like to get the train from London to SkyePhilippa Stockley wanted to visit a friend on the Isle of Skye but didn't want to fly. So she took the train instead
• US airports experience 'nationwide system shutdown''The regular line has several hundred, if not thousands in it', one traveller waiting in line at New York JFK writes on Twitter

Times Online

• Hauliers attack Next boss Lord Wolfson of Aspley Guise’s idea to stop no-deal chaos [subscription]Bosses of small businesses are becoming increasingly concerned about being sidelined in the planning for a no-deal Brexit. As Whitehall officials scramble to coordinate plans to avoid disruption at the UK border, Lord Wolfson of Aspley Guise said this week that smaller traders’ lorries should get “out of the way” if they did not have the right paperwork in order to avoid creating “an enormous problem”.
• Ferguson Marine shipyard nationalised by Holyrood [subscription]Scotland’s last commercial shipyard has been taken over by the Scottish government after Ferguson Marine formally entered administration.
• Cathay Pacific chief quits under Hong Kong protest pressure [subscription]The chief executive of Hong Kong’s flagship airline has resigned after it was ensnared in controversy over pro-democracy protests in the territory.

The Scotsman

• Footage shows London-Edinburgh train passengers crammed in like 'human cattle' on leaky train"It’s not OUR fault you overbooked the train. Nice to see how you treat your customers, like human cattle!!!" A LNER spokeswoman said: "Our trains between London King’s Cross and Edinburgh are currently busier than usual.

The Telegraph

• Ryanair seeks injunction to block Irish pilots strike on bank holiday [subscription]Ryanair has been granted permission by the Irish High Court to seek an injunction to prevent a planned two-day strike next week by its pilots based in the country.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Anger as rail fares on the Wharfedale line are set to rise againANOTHER rail-fare hike has been condemned by campaigners and Ilkley’s MP. Fury has greeted the Government announcement that regulated ticket prices will rise by up to 2.8 per cent from January.

London Evening Standard

• Rise in deaths on London roads could hasten move for more 20mph limitsA spike in road deaths in London has claimed the lives of at least 80 people so far this year, latest figures reveal.
• Algae-powered aircraft and 3D printed luggage: Is this air travel of the future?Students from the Royal College of Art present their air travel predictions at an exhibition in London's Saatchi Gallery

Londonist

• Find What 3 Words Represent Each Tube Station On This Alternative MapHeard of what3words? It's an app that assigns a three word address to every location in the world, and claims to be as accurate as GPS coordinates.

Other Regional Press

• Bid to cut Harrogate rail journeys north 'by 55 minutes'Harrogate passengers may be able to look forward to rail journey times to the north being reduced by as much as 55 minutes if the latest attempt to reverse part of the Beeching axe succeeds.
• Facial recognition cameras are being used around London Kings CrossFacial recognition scanners are being used in London and have been used in shopping centres, museums and conference centres around the UK, according to an investigation.
• ‘Why not St Andrews?’ ask rail campaignersSt Andrews rail campaigners are taking inspiration from the Scottish Government’s decision to give the green light to reopening the Levenmouth rail link.

Rail Magazine

• Class 323s to remain with NorthernNorthern is to retain its 17 three-car Class 323s (323223-323239), as well as receiving West Midlands Trains’ 26-strong ‘323’ fleet (323201-222/240-243).

Rail Technology Magazine

• Metrolink customers complete 170k trips using contactless systemSince its launch four weeks ago, more than 170,000 journeys have been made using the new contactless payment system on the Metrolink network in Manchester.
• North of England leaders demand 'Northern Budget' to boost regionKey leaders from across the North of England have called for Government commitment to a 'Northern Budget' which could be used to deliver a boost to the region's infrastructure.
• 'Midlands time is now' speech brings TransCityRail audience to their feetThe influential Speakers Panel consisted of Maria Machancoses, Director, Midlands Connect, Chris Rayner, Director of Infrastructure, HS2, Tim Shoveller, Managing Director, North West & Central Region, Network Rail, Mark Ferrer, Operations Director, Digital Railway, and Malcom Holmes, Executive Director, West Midlands Rail Executive & Director of...

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Go North West further strengthens teamGo North West (GNW), the Go-Ahead subsidiary formed to take over the former First Manchester depot at Queens Road, has announced two further appointments to its senior leadership team.
• Reading Buses trials fully electric bus for first timeReading Buses (RB) is trialling a fully electric bus in a first for the town and surrounding area. The vehicle in question is a converted Alexander Dennis Enviro400H hybrid double-decker.
• Zeelo works with Gatwick to run commuter coach service to hubPassenger Plus will supply vehicles for first route, with eight daily round trips operated Shared mobility provider Zeelo has entered a partnership with Gatwick Airport to deliver a commuter coach service for employees of the transport hub.
• New option from ADL expands zero-emission bus capabilitiesBrighton and Hove first to order Enviro400ER, with geofenced electric technology In a bid to improve air quality in towns and cities Alexander Dennis (ADL) has announced an extension to its range of hybrid buses.

Aviation Industry

• Delta returns to join Virgin Atlantic at Gatwick, ManchesterDelta Air Lines will resume flights to Virgin Atlantic’s London Gatwick and Manchester hubs for summer 2020, while Virgin Atlantic will add Gatwick-New York JFK, as part of a transatlantic push and route reshuffle between the two partner airlines. read more
• Icelandair considers future fleet optionsIcelandair is conducting a review of its long-term fleet strategy. read more
• American, Southwest blame MAX grounding for denied boardings riseAmerican Airlines and Southwest Airlines are blaming the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX for a spike of denied boardings in the first half of 2019, according to the latest US Department of Transportation (DOT) Air Travel Consumer Report. read more
• Norway’s Avinor crash a blow to electric aviation visionThe crash of Norway’s first electric aircraft is being portrayed by local media as a blow to the country’s plan to electrify all domestic aviation by 2040. read more

Other News Sources

• One week to go before the Kings Cross Upgrade workNext weekend (24/25/26 August) Kings Cross station will be closed to trains from North and East Yorkshire. NO TRAINS will run in either direction between:
• Bexhill and Battle MP calls for rail fare reviewA decision to increase rail fares by 2.8 per cent from next January has been criticised by the area’s MP. Bexhill and Battle MP, Huw Merriman, said the increased fare is calculated using the July Retail Prices Index (RPI) measure of inflation.
• SWR said there have been 'no instructions issued' to stop him from reading poetryA JOYOUS train announcer will continue to make passengers lives more positive after it was rumoured he was banned from reading poetry.
• Great Glasgow bus gate debate for and againstTWO new bus gates are to be put in place in Glasgow city centre next month. The new measures which will prevent cars from accessing two of the busiest streets are designed to reduce congestion, help improve air quality and allow buses to flow more freely through the streets.
• How first 100 days of new train timetable have hit Northampton's commutersCrucial commuter trains in and out of Northampton are running late of a regular basis despite a "new, improved" timetable.

EIN News Subscription

• 'Consistent oversupply' of transatlantic flights from Ireland, claims Department of Transport … the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport said transatlantic air routes are … consistent oversupply in the transatlantic air transport market particularly during recent winter … used as a hub for European passengers travelling on transatlantic routes …
• Biometric technology gaining traction in airport environmentsThe use of biometric technology to streamline passenger processing in airports is increasingly attracting significant interest globally, with airlines and airports seeking out secure and efficient digital identity (ID) solutions.
• airBaltic Training Pilot Academy to Build New Aircraft Hangar in LiepajaairBaltic Training has launched the construction of a new aircraft hangar in Liepaja.