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Friday, 12 June 2015

BBC News

• MPs clash over port security worriesTwo south of Scotland MPs clash in the House of Commons over the issue of security at the Irish Sea ferry ports at Cairnryan
• VIDEO: Disruption on central belt trainsRail passengers in central Scotland are being urged to plan in advance for the closure of the main Edinburgh to Glasgow via Falkirk High line.
• How will rail works affect passengers?How will rail works affect passengers?
• North Sea cuts 'hit airport traffic'Aberdeen International Airport managers attribute a sharp fall in passenger traffic to cost-cutting measures by oil and gas companies.
• Edinburgh tram boss to leave postThe boss of Edinburgh Trams is leaving his post after two-and-a-half years.
• Ryanair told to sell Aer Lingus stakeLow-cost airline Ryanair has been ordered to sell most of its shares in its Irish rival Aer Lingus by the Competition watchdog.
• Network Rail in reliability probeBritain's Rail regulator is to investigate Network Rail's performance accusing the company of delivering poor punctuality and reliability on some of its busiest commuter routes.

Financial Times

• Network Rail earnings halveDecline blamed on accounting changes and regulator’s move to cut income for next four years
• Ryanair to fight Aer Lingus stake rulingMichael O’Leary says CMA’s demand to reduce holding is ‘manifest rubbish’ and ‘bogus’
• Upbeat airlines spur Boeing jet forecastLong-term demand for smaller widebody aircraft lifted 5.5%
• Uber nears 1m trips every day in ChinaRide-hailing service to invest more than $1bn in the country this year

The Guardian

• Boeing Dreamliner 787-9 performs near-vertical takeoff in test flight – videoNew Dreamliner performs a near-vertical takeoff during a test flight over Washington state in the US. The 787-9 is a 'stretched' version of the original Dreamliner, which is six metres shorter. The new model can carry up to 335 passengers compared with the old model's 280, while using 20% less fuel than the older aircraft Continue reading...
• Network Rail's five-year plan way off track in first year, regulator warnsOffice of Rail and Road says 30 of 84 targets missed and warns of ‘very tall order’ to deliver £38bn plan on time and budget without shelving major schemesNetwork Rail’s five-year plan for what the government trumpeted as “the biggest investment in rail since Victorian times” is going seriously off track, the regulator has warned, with major works afflicted by soaring costs and delays, and only a fraction of planned renewal works completed on target. A review this summer is likely to see major electrification projects shelved until the next decade as escalating costs add billions to the bill. ...
• Why cycling in the UK is so scaryA pioneering study has found cyclists have a frightening ‘near miss’ on the roads every week on average. This has got to changeThe idea of road safety in this country is highly reactive; making improvements, if we’re lucky, after people die. Taking account of near misses should be part of a more proactive stance and can help us meet policy aspirations to increase cycling. Growing evidence suggests near misses have a big impact on cycling, more than (rarer) actual injuries. They put people off and contribute to the substantial rates of churn.The Near Miss project (supported by research hub Crea...
• Germanwings co-pilot saw 41 doctors but 'secrecy law stopped them reporting him'Andreas Lubitz had seen dozens of doctors over five years, including seven in the month before the disaster, and some felt he was unstable, prosecutor says A number of doctors who treated the Germanwings flight 4U9525 co-pilot Andreas Lubitz felt he was unfit to fly but did not tell his employers because of German patient secrecy laws, a French state prosecutor has said.Lubitz, who is believed to have intentionally crashed the plane into the Alps, killing all 150 people on board, saw seven doctors in the month before the 24 March crash, including three appointments with a psychiatrist, said th...

The Herald

• Passengers warned to add 30 minutes journeys as major rail upgrade beginsRAIL passengers using the busiest commuter routes in Central Scotland are being urged to set off around half an hour earlier than normal from tomorrow [Sat] as major engineering works get underway between Glasgow and Edinburgh.
• One in ten trains PUNCTUALITY on Scotland's rail network fell below target in the last year due to the impact of major sporting events including the Ryder Cup and Commonwealth Games.
• Director is second trams executive to join AbellioTHE director of the capital's controversial trams service has become the latest executive to defect to the scandal-hit operator of ScotRail.
• One in ten trains PUNCTUALITY on Scotland's rail network fell below target in the last year due to the impact of major sporting events including the Ryder Cup and Commonwealth Games.

The Scotsman

• Rail disruption as Edinburgh/Glasgow work beginsRail passengers face six weeks of misery from tomorrow as major works on the main line between Edinburgh and Glasgow get under way.
• Scots railway jobs threatened by cost cutting bidDOZENS of redundancies are to be sought on Scotland’s railways to cut costs, The Scotsman has learned.

The Telegraph

• Network Rail faces watchdog probe into its poor performanceThe Office of Road and Rail says Network Rail's reliability on routes such as Southern, Thameslink and Scotland is 'below requirements'
• Lorry drivers should use maps not satnav, Chris Grayling saysThe Commons Leader says drivers' dependence on sat navs was to blame for unsuitably large vehicles travelling on narrow rural roads

Mail Online

• Effortlessly smooth, it's new minister whatsisname: QUENTIN LETTS yesterday in Parliament Mr Jones, who sits for Harrogate and Knaresborough, has been in the Commons since 2010 but made his mark as the new Under-Secretary for Transport in Parliament this week.
• Boeing 787 Dreamliner performs near vertical take off before Paris Airshow 2015 These are the amazing scenes as a Boeing 787 Dreamliner pilot pushes the jet into a steep climb just seconds after the passenger aircraft takes off in advance of the 2015 Paris Airshow.
• Germanwings pilot Andreas Lubitz saw over 40 doctors in five years Some medical experts felt 27-year-old German co-pilot Andreas Lubitz, who feared he was losing his eyesight, was psychologically unstable and a number thought he was unfit to fly.
• National Rail in dock over 750,000 late trains as watchdog says passengers are betrayed Engineering delays by Network Rail have led to too many late trains – and mean it has fallen behind schedule in its upkeep of rail network.

The Mirror

• Network Rail: Watchdog launches probe after poor punctuality and reliability on busy routesReliability on routes such as Southern, Thameslink and Scotland was 'below requirements', the Office of Road and Rail said

Birmingham Post

• Jaguar Land Rover to enter its most exciting period yet Ralf Speth was speaking to a gathering of automotive industry leaders at the Automotive News Europe Congress Gala Dinner at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Transport Secretary steps in over Shipley collapsed wall disputeMP Philip Davies has been backed by the Transport Secretary after demanding Network Rail steps into mend a collapsed wall in Shipley.

London Evening Standard

• Heathrow's runway case strengthened by record passenger numbersHeathrow has strengthened its case for expansion by revealing that a record 6.34 million passengers passed through its terminals in May.
• A cycle ride a day keeps the doctor away We all know that exercise is good for us, but scheduling the time for such pursuits can sometimes feel like a challenge. Fortunately, Santander Cycles make it easy to incorporate physical activity into your daily life, increasing your cardiovascular fitness and muscle tone without even having to think about it, every time you get on a bike.

The York Press

• First wins 5-year University of York bus contract BUS company First York has won a contract to run services between the University of York and the city-centre.
• 13,000 drivers set to receive Coppergate refunds THIRTEEN thousands drivers fined for driving down Coppergate during the controversial bus lane scheme should get their money back, new council bosses have decided.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Wolverhampton to Cannock bus service axed and another reducedOne evening bus service taking passengers to and from Cannock and Wolverhampton will be axed and another reduced later this month, it has been confirmed.

Bucks Free Press

• Damning report uncovers major problems with transport to hospitals A health watchdog says patients are finding it more difficult than ever to access hospital services, saying the stress, anxiety and cost of getting to appointments is now a major issue.

Other Regional Press

• ​Bath MP Ben Howlett lobbies transport minister for A36 to A46 Link RoadBath MP Ben Howlett has used his first question in the House of Commons to lobby the Transport Secretary for the much needed A36 to A46 link road.
• Friends of Mirfield Railway Station step up improvement campaignGroup started on Facebook plans big public meeting
• Bus managers came under pressure as passengers voiced concerns about service cuts in Weymouth BUS managers came under pressure as passengers voiced concerns about service cuts in Weymouth.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Upgrade work prepares Whitechapel for CrossrailMajor upgrade work is being carried out at Whitechapel station in order to prepare the site to become a new modern transport hub with the arrival of the Crossrail service.  When Crossrail is fully implemented by 2018, some 24 trains per hour are expected to carry as many as 1,500 passengers between Paddington and Whitechapel.  Work that has already taken place at Whitechapel includes a start on tunnelling and rebuilding, however none of this ha disrupted services so far.  Now, some service suspensions will be required on London Overground services to install a new concourse dire...
• TfL annual report shows 30m journeys made per dayTransport for London (TfL) has published its draft Annual Report and Statement of Accounts for the year ending March 31st.  An estimated 30 million journeys are made on TfL services every single day, contributing to a record year for the organisation.  Demand is growing across all parts of the network, driven in part by London's population rise to its highest ever level at 8.6 million.  Some half a billion more public transport journeys a year are now being made compared to five years ago, with 1.3 billion passenger journeys a year on the London Underground service alone.  ...
• Transport Minister Andrew Jones welcomes huge rise in take up of ultra low emissions vehiclesMajor year on year increase in the number of ultra low emissions vehicles registered in the UK. Transport Minister Andrew Jones today (11 June 2015) welcomed the substantial increase in the number of new ultra low emission vehicles registered in the United Kingdom. A total of 9,046 ultra low emission vehicles were registered in the first quarter of 2015 – a rise of 366% from the same period in 2014. Transport Minister Andrew Jones said: 'I am delighted to see such a huge rise in the number of people buying ultra low emission vehicles. The Go Ultra Low campaign is making low emission ve...

Rail Magazine

• Driver and conductor training begins on Borders RailwayFirst regular trains on part of Waverley Route for the first time in over 45 years.
• Duke of Wellington unveils new war memorial at Waterloo StationWaterloo Memorial is first UK war memorial to honour all of the Allied forces who fought at the Battle of Waterloo.
• Pacers still doomed in NorthRail Minister tells Parliament of continued withdrawal plans

Rail Technology Magazine

• TurbFly® - Solutions for Turnout Protection Installing TurbFly can help you to minimise maintenance and save energy. So deciding to install TurbFly is an environmental investment which can save on operating costs, increase accessibility and enhance safety for your track facilities.
• High Availability of Modern Train Detection Systems using Intelligent Functions Research and development in the field of signalling is faced with the challenge of providing cost-effective solutions for high availability of safety-relevant systems.
• Rail Depot Lifting and Handling Equipment By combining innovative ideas, technical expertise and traditional engineering skills, our products have pride of place in some of the world's most advanced maintenance facilities.

Railnews

• Network Rail spending more than £120m a week Network Rail has admitted that it is facing challenges and must do more to 'quicken the pace of change'. The remarks have accompanied the publication of its first full-year results in the new control period. The company said it invested a record £3.4 billion in the network in the first year of CP5 -- twice as much as five years ago -- but it is likely to face criticism when the Office of Rail and Road publishes an assessment of its performance tomorrow.

Aviation Industry

• United Airlines' mechanics pound the war drums as they rally at UA shareholders confabHundreds of the 9,000 mechanics who belong to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union and work at United Airlines showed up today at the carrier's annual shareholders meeting in Chicago for what was described as
• Delta to buy 40 Boeing 737 jets, 20 Embraer aircraft in $4 billion dealDelta Air Lines Inc. will enter into a deal with The Boeing Co. to buy 40 new 737-900ERs and 20 Embraer E190 aircraft upon ratification of a tentative agreement covering more than 12,000 Delta pilots.
• UK rules Ryanair must dump shares in Irish rival Aer LingusA Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015 photo from files showing Aer Lingus planes standing on the tarmac with a Ryanair plane at Dublin airport, Ireland. Britain's competition watchdog said Thursday, June 11, 2015, that Ryanair must sell its shares in Irish rival Aer Lingus, but Europe's dominant budget airline has dismissed the ruling and vows to appeal.
• Qantas and Virgin try to have it both ways as aviation battle heats upThe war is between the three biggest US carriers: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines and the three biggest Gulf carriers: Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways. Qantas Airways chief executive Alan Joyce has never been one to shy away from a fight.
• Rolls-Royce and Liebherr-Aerospace form UltraFan gearbox JVRolls-Royce and Liebherr-Aerospace are to establish a 50:50 power gearbox joint-venture (JV) for Rolls-Royce’s new UltraFan engine. read more
• UK trials show early promise of using TV signals as an alternative to radarProof of concept trials are underway in the UK to evaluate whether standard TV signals could be used as a viable alternative to radar for tracking aircraft. read more
• SkyTeam chairman Leo van Wijk to retire in November SkyTeam alliance chairman Leo van Wijk will retire at November’s governing board meeting. read more
• Ryanair vows to keep fighting divesture demandsIreland-based low-cost carrier (LCC) Ryanair says it will take its fight to the highest court in Europe if necessary, as it again refused Thursday to accept a demand by UK competition authorities to sell down its 29.8% stake in Aer Lingus to 5%. read more
• Boeing forecasts demand for 38,050 new aircraft in 20 yearsBoeing projects a demand for 38,050 new aircraft over the next 20 years, valued at $5.6 trillion, an increase of 3.5% from last year’s forecast, according to its annual Current Market Outlook. read more
• Air France-KLM targets further cost cuts under Perform 2020 Air France is targeting cost savings of €650 million ($735 million) over the next three years as part of the Air France-KLM Perform 2020 plan, which succeeds the group’s Transform 2015 program. read more
• Tim Clark: Search for missing MH370 may soon end without results Emirates Airline president Tim Clark told journalists on the sidelines of the IATA AGM in Miami that it is only a matter of time before the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 will end. read more
• UK lobby group calls on EU, US to push for tighter emissions regulationsUK-based environmental lobby group Transport & Environment has called on Europe to work more closely with the US to beef up global regulation of aviation emissions following the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) findings that emissions from aircraft are harmful to human health. read more
• Competition watchdog orders Ryanair to sell Aer Lingus stakeRyanair calls the decision ‘ridiculous’ and will appeal
• IATA proposes smaller carry-on luggageLufthansa and Emirates will adopt new guidelines
• UK airports call for APD reforms in July BudgetAOA wants tax 'in line' with European rivals
• Portugal sells controlling stake in TAPConsortium led by Jet Blue founder bid €348m for the airline

Green Miscellany

• Solar-powered bicycleThe solar-powered bicycle is the Holy Grail of urban transport - a sustainable and near-silent way of reducing congestion that opens up cycling to new audience of commuters. The Solar Bike prototype is charged directly by the sun via solar panel disc wheels. Solar power frees the rider from electricity bills and the need for charging points. The post Solar-powered bicycle appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• Haulage industry pushes for HeathrowNews yesterday that the government is set to defer any decision on future runway capacity in the southeast of England until 2016 has been greeted with dismay by industry groups.
• FTA presses French government for action on CalaisFTA is pressing the French government to take action on the migrant situation in Calais, which has been described as “like a warzone” by some of ...
• Government minister promises to bring a "world class rail service" to Sussex THE Secretary of State for Transport has pledged to ensure Brighton and Sussex benefits from “world-class” transport services after The Argus’ Trains, Planes and Automobiles series.
• Delay almost halved in UK air traffic for MayUK air traffic delay in May has dropped by almost half compared to the same month last year. There was 1,502 minutes of NATS-attributable en route delay ndash; a 47.6% drop from May 2014rsquo;...
• Virgin America Pilots Elect First Leaders Under ALPA Representation The temporary representatives of the Virgin America pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), today elected officers to lead their pilot group into the future ...
• Heathrow Airport - Traffic and business commentary May 2015 Heathrow saw its busiest ever May with a record 6.34 million passengers travelling through the UKrsquo;s only hub, an increase of 1.7% on May 2014. May also set new single-day passenger records ...