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

Monday, 08 June 2015

BBC News

• Flybe plane grounded by stuck beeA plane operated by airline Flybe is forced to turn back after a bee became stuck in one of its instruments.
• The future car: hydrogen or electric?Will the car of the future be hydrogen or battery driven?
• VIDEO: Are hydrogen powered cars the future?A look at the Toyota Mirai - the world's first mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell car.
• End of the line for rail vouchersMillions of rail passengers who suffer travel delays will soon be able to claim refunds in cash, after a major policy change, the BBC learns.
• New car hire rules 'being rushed in'The car hire industry has accused the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) of

The Guardian

• Gatwick Tory MPs warn of 'political stitch-up' by anti-Heathrow factionNine MPs in Gatwick area led by Crispin Blunt tell chief whip that government must respond impartially to Airports Commission report on runways
• The garden bridge will be an oasis of calm and beauty in the heart of LondonThe creation of Thomas Heatherwick’s green link across the Thames is a potentially brilliant enhancement of the river and the cityLondon’s garden bridge will be a jewel in a great world city that is still let down by its public spaces. Our streets and squares – places that should be for people – are still dominated by cars, and blighted by poor paving and street furniture.The Thames, passing through the heart of London, is part of this problem. For many years it was an industrial river, and its south bank was a no-go area. Now the river has been cleaned up and the South Bank is one of the grea...

The Herald

• Boss of ScotRail operator Abellio axed over Dutch franchise scandal TWO senior executives at the Dutch company in charge of Scotland's railways have been dismissed amid a scandal over how a 15-year train and bus franchise was awarded.
• Passengers to receive cash compensation instead of vouchersFed up passengers who suffer rail delays will soon be able to receive cash compensation instead of vouchers.

Times Online

• Is break-up of Network Rail just the ticket? [Subscription]Splitting up the track monopoly could attract investors and improve efficiency
• Gatwick risks going off the rails [Subscription]As Sir Howard Davies spends another week checking the punctuation in the waffly preamble to his final, final decision on London airport expansion — oh, gosh, the excitement is palpable, isn’t it? — it is reasonable to wonder what might happen to the loser.
• Gatwick does not need new runway, says easyJet chief [Subscription]The head of Britain’s busiest airline has weighed into the debate over the future of airports by insisting there was no “economic reason” to build another runway at Gatwick.
• Consumers must come first as aviation debate hits full power - Sir Richard Branson [Subscription]What a difference five years makes. In the run-up to the 2010 general election, it seemed as if politicians were desperate to distance themselves from aviation. The only mentions of this great British industry, which supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, generates huge export revenues and is a driver for technological innovation, were in the environment or taxation sections of party manifestos.
• Network Rail in crisis over track failings [Subscription]BRITAIN’S rail watchdog has launched formal investigations into failings at Network Rail, intensifying the pressure on the track operator and bringing the threat of hefty fines.
• Chinese eye Balfour Beatty [Subscription]China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), a subsidiary of the state-backed China Railway Construction Corporation, is understood to have sounded out industry figures about the feasibility of bidding for Britain’s biggest contractor.

This is Money

• Rolls-Royce cars enjoyed record sales in 2014 as interest in British brands booms  Rolls-Royce Motor Cars was bought by Germany’s BMW in 1998, but is still based in Goodwood, West Sussex.

London Evening Standard

• Brits stranded in Calais after two unexploded WWII mines were discovered close to ferry port Two unexploded mines near Calais have led to the cancellation of cross-channel ferries leaving British travellers stranded.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Rail revolution for North East with new East Coast mainline routes announcedJourney times slashed and cheaper fares promised by rivals for East Coast mainline 'open access' routes in North East

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham Post published Letters Jun 8: 'Time to evaluate the Nottingham tram'Now that the tram extension works are nearing completion and trams are test running, it is perhaps time to reflect on what has been achieved.There have been three years of comments from the tram doubters and the complaints from those in Clifton and Chilwell about the inconvenience, most of the later justified, and not helped by the lack of commitment displayed by some of the workforce.The good thing is the improvement to the urban landscape. Gone is the derelict area at the Arkwright...

Wales Online

• New £600,000 cycle path to be constructed along Swansea's Fabian Way to link university campus with cityThe Bay campus is due to open this September

Bucks Free Press

• OPINION: Transport Secretary's tunnel vision should go beyond his constituency It was interesting to hear this week that Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has floated the idea of building a new road through a National Park.

North Wales Live

• More than 60 youngsters injured on Merseyside’s roads in last two yearsFire and rescue service warns against “lethal cocktail” of inexperience and distraction behind the wheel

Other Regional Press

• Hounslow Council has 'better working relationship' with HeathrowBut council leader denies rumours it has withdrawn from the 2M group, which opposes a third runway at the airport
• New-look buses set for Dorset routes from next week FIRST Wessex will unveil its modern new buses next week as part of its investment in the area.

Bus and Coach.com

• Google Maps displays real-time information for Arriva buses
• Turkish electrics for Milan show
• Edinburgh Trams ahead of target for passengers and revenue
• First supports vulnerable adults scheme in Doncaster
• RDA-Workshop 2015 – a treasure trove for coach & group
• FlixBus targets express services in France
• Wrightbus body plant in Chennai gets underway
• Sustainable futures for bus travel
• Onward march of the Scania Touring
• Platinum launch for NX West Midlands

Construction Enquirer

• Network Rail safety chief jumps aboard HS2HS2 has lured another senior Network Rail director to join the its fast-growing senior management team. Network Rail director of safety strategy Emma Head will join the HS2 team as corporate health and safety director in August.

Aviation Industry

• Qantas International still on upward trajectory, says head Gareth EvansAlthough fuel prices have fallen Qantas hasn't lowered its fares instead wrapping the former fuel surcharge into the headline price of the ticket and only offering some savings on frequent flyer points redemptions Qantas Airways' international arm has been able to continue to raise its average fares at a time when its fuel cost bill has fallen because rival carriers are not adding much capacity into the Australian market, says division head Gareth Evans. Earlier this year, many analysts had expected the carrier would begin to report a fall in international yields in the current half, based on ...
• Airbus' A380 proves jumbo-sized challenge for global airlinesThe A380 still turns heads, but a number of airlines have been struggling to get the best out of their investment. Photo: Dickson Lee Lufthansa will boost its capacity between Hong Kong and Europe by 20 per cent from October when it switches to an Airbus A380 on its Hong Kong-Frankfurt route, but the world's biggest passenger plane has not proved a sure-fire winner for all 13 carriers operating the double-decker behemoth.
• Spohr: Lufthansa’s safety reputation intact after Germanwings crash As Lufthansa Group this week prepares to fly the remains of 30 victims of the March 24 Germanwings crash from France to Düsseldorf, the company continues to come to terms with what CEO Carsten Spohr called Sunday an “emotional shock” and Lufthansa’s “darkest hour.” read more
• AAPA chief sees better year for Asian airlines, but still a tough marketAirlines in the Asia-Pacific region will definitely see financial improvements this year compared with 2014, but it’s still tough-going despite the region’s continued growth. read more
• LOT CEO seeks to step up Star involvementLOT Polish Airlines is focused on how to reap more benefits from its 10-year membership with the Star Alliance, CEO Sebastian Mikosz told ATW. read more

Other News Sources

• Emma Head departs Network Rail to become corporate health and safety director at HS2HS2 has raided Network Rail for another senior appointment with Emma Head to become corporate health and safety director.
• Gatwick protesters urge transport secretary to take action against aircraft noiseResidents living near Gatwick Airport are demanding the transport secretary helps those under the flight path