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

Tuesday, 23 April 2019

BBC News

• Crossrail: Transport boss 'urged to quit' over delaysLondon's top transport boss should consider quitting, a report into Crossrail's delays has recommended. The project, to build a new railway underneath central London, was due to open in December 2018 but it might not open until 2020 at the earliest.
• Rise in electric community car schemes in WalesSupporters say they can make it easier for people in rural areas to get around.
• Your next new car will try to stop you speedingDrivers will find it harder to break speed limits, thanks to
• Stagecoach calls for inquiry after rail bid document leakThe firm wants an investigation into how rail franchise bid documents were sent to a rival.
• Tesla says investigating car explosion in ShanghaiA video circulating on Chinese social media appears to show a parked Tesla car erupting into flames.
• Carlos Ghosn: Former Nissan boss hit with fresh chargeCarlos Ghosn, who denies any wrongdoing, now faces four charges in Japan over misconduct allegations.

The Guardian

• TfL commissioner told to consider job over Crossrail delaysMike Brown singled out for criticism in damning City Hall report on project leadership

The Independent

• Man has hundreds docked from wages for 'boarding train without ticket', despite being in wrong city at the timeStuart Pennock says process was 'very unfair and a bit of a disgrace'
• Cycling to school could become mainstream but better transport planning is desperately neededClogged up roads are stopping pupils improving their health and the environment, write academic experts Rachel Aldred, Anna Goodman, James Woodcock and Robin Lovelace

Times Online

• Now is the time to switch to renewable power and put a tragedy behind us [Subscription]Dame Emma Thompson perfectly encapsulates the challenges associated with man-made climate change. She doubtless cares enormously about the future of our planet, yet appears to enjoy a lifestyle that, at times, is not entirely consistent with our planet’s long-term health. Jetting in from Los Angeles to join the Extinction Rebellion protest — and admitting that she was “far too old” to travel economy — might seem like a strange act of rebellion.
• Volvo cars warn each other about road dangers [Subscription]Cars will share information about slippery roads and other hazards under plans to promote safe driving.
• Hydrogen could be key to answering calls for climate change action [subscription]The climate change protests emphasise that underneath all the debate and difficulties of Brexit there are hugely important local, national and international political decisions to be made. How we drastically cut carbon emissions and achieve clean growth is an issue that we must devote huge amounts of energy to answering.
• Transport chief is accused of hiding Crossrail failures [Subscription]London’s transport chief should consider resigning after he deleted from official correspondence a series of warnings that the Crossrail project was in trouble, a report has said.

Transport Select Committee

• Inquiry launched into trains fit for the futureHow might new trains be powered and what can be done now to ensure that they are suitable for the needs of the passengers in the future?

Reuters News

• Bombardier eyes higher sales from retrofitting trainsCanada’s Bombardier Inc sees higher sales from modernizing existing rail cars as the company works to further diversify its largest division as measured in revenue, a spokesman said this month.

The Scotsman

• These are the public transport laws you should be aware ofThis week Labour MP Diane Abbott apologised after a photo showing her drinking a Marks & Spencer canned alcoholic cocktail on a Transport for London overground train was circulated.
• Deluxe Caledonian Sleeper fleet to roll out for the first timeDeluxe Caledonian Sleeper fleet to roll out for the first time

City AM

• TfL chief faces calls to resign for 'downplaying' Crossrail pressuresTransport for London (TfL) chief Mike Brown is facing calls to resign over allegations he downplayed the pressures facing Crossrail as it became clear the project would struggle to open on time.

Mail Online

• Transport Secretary Chris Grayling 'told officials to postpone announcing a major rail project was delayed so he would avoid a grilling from MPs’Under-pressure Transport Secretary Chris Grayling ordered officials to hold-off on announcing delays to a major rail project so he could avoid criticism from MPs, it was revealed today.

Sheffield Telegraph

• This is what motorists think about a new Sheffield bus gate camera that has led to fines worth over £100, 000 It means the income from penalty charge notice fines has shot up from around £45,000 per year to about £108,500.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Transdev bus customers to lead North's first contactless fare capping trialIt’s the swift and simple solution that’s soon to make travel easier across Yorkshire – and now customers travelling on Transdev buses across York and North Yorkshire are to be the first in the region to trial “tap and go” contactless fare capping.

New Civil Engineer

• TfL boss urged to step down after 'ignoring' Crossrail risksCrossrail bosses “did not sufficiently act upon […] significant risks” identified by Jacobs’ Independent Review in January 2018, according to a damning City Hall report.

Rail Advent

• Manchester railway line electric switched onNetwork Rail has announced that the overhead power lines on the eastern side of Manchester Victoria station are now live.

Aviation Industry

• Aviation groups oppose proposed FAA pilot drug testing studyNine groups representing commercial and general aviation are calling on FAA not to follow through with a proposed pilot drug testing study, saying deceptively and unknowingly testing thousands of pilot urine samples does not comply with legal requirements and would further erode the trust between the pilot community and FAA aviation medical examiners (AMEs). read more
• Airbus reports A220 integration on trackIntegration of the former Bombardier CSeries program into Airbus is progressing well, the head of Airbus in Canada said. We will deliver more aircraft in the second half of the year than we did in the first half as we continue to ramp up, said Philippe Balducci, CEO of the Airbus-led partnership that now builds the narrowbody airliner as the A220.
• Emirates, SpiceJet agree to codeshare pactEmirates Airline and Indian LCC SpiceJet signed an MOU April 22 for a reciprocal codeshare agreement aimed at opening new routes and destinations between India and Africa, Europe, North America and the Middle East.

EIN News Subscription

• It's time for a Green EU Deal … politicians, both national and European, that are lagging behind. … cars, public transport, and commercial sea and air transport. And it … too. The European Commission estimates that the EU will need € … vice president of the European Commission and French Minister …