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

Thursday, 06 August 2015

BBC News

• Talks break down in rail disputeTalks to avoid First Great Western rail strikes break down without an agreement being reached, a company negotiator says.
• VIDEO: Dover-Calais route 'can be scary'A lorry driver who frequently works along the Dover-Calais route admits that the journey can be
• Could jet fly to New York in an hour?Airbus has had a patent approved for a super-powered jet but how realistic is it?
• Rude graffiti sprayed at potholeA council says spray painting graffiti is not the way to highlight potholes after strong language used to highlight one on a village road.
• Three cows killed on railway lineThree cows are struck and killed by a train in Hertfordshire, leading to disruption on the line.
• Roads fear as Tube strike takes holdPeople travelling in London face a morning rush hour with no Tube service as the latest strike shuts down the network and leads to fears of gridlock.

Financial Times

• London's City airport up for saleSoaring demand for air travel could mean £2bn valuation
• Aircraft wreckage confirmed as MH370First physical evidence of fate of Malaysian Boeing 777

The Guardian

• Independence of Airports Commission questioned over chair's Prudential roleHoward Davies sat on board of insurer, which spent £300m on properties around Heathrow as commission prepared to deliver report
• Tube strike: Boris Johnson doesn't 'give a monkey's' about launch date of night tube - videoThe Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, says the unions are fixated on the launch date of the night tube as a negotiating tool, but says he doesn’t ’give a monkey’s’ as long as it’s running by the end of the autumn. Boris Johnson says the tube strikes could be stopped if union leaders gave their members the details of the ’extremely generous’ package being offered. Johnson says he believes Londoners would be amazed that the deal is not being properly considered by the workforce
• Andy Burnham sets sights on education and rail revolutions in manifestoShadow health secretary wants to phase out academies and free schools while allowing local government to handle admission, and renationalise railways
• In search of the perfect saddle (AKA when bigger isn't better)Ahead of a sponsored bike ride from Manchester to London next month — and with a new saddle causing her all sorts of mischief — Helen Pidd went for a professional saddle fitting session. But is it worth £150?I owe quite a few people an apology. To everyone over the years who got a new bike and moaned about their bottom hurting, only for me to say breezily, “you just need to break your bum in”: I’m sorry. I was wrong. Having hit it lucky with the saddle which came with my old road bike seven years ago, I didn’t understand the very real pain that comes with a seat that rubs you up in all the wro...
• MH370: Malaysian PM confirms Réunion debris is from missing flightFirst official confirmation that part of wreckage of Malaysia Airlines flight, which disappeared in March 2014 with 239 people on board, has been foundA piece of debris found washed ashore on a beach in the Indian Ocean came from missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, the Malaysian prime minister has announced, confirming the first trace of the plane since it vanished last year with 239 people on board. Related: MH370 debris found: will it solve the mystery of how the flight vanished? Continue reading...

The Herald

• Record-breaking passenger figures sees Glasgow Airport ranked among the fastest growing in EuropePASSENGER numbers at Glasgow Airport are among the fastest growing in Europe, according to the latest industry data for the continent.
• Scottish Government accused MINISTERS have been accused of
• Call for Scottish ports and airports to be alternative to CalaisCALLS have been made for Scottish ports and airports to be considered as alternatives to Channel crossings for businesses as the situation in Calais continues to cause long delays.

The Independent

• London Tube strike: Want to become a Tube driver? Don't bother, they only recruit internally As Tube strikes cause chaos in London once again, many commuters are looking with envy at the generous pay and benefits given to the Underground's drivers.

The Scotsman

• ScotRail bike hire scheme hit by technical problemSCOTRAIL today wheeled in cycle legend Graeme Obree to launch new “on-the-spot” bookings for its Bike & Go station cycle hire scheme - only for a website fault to prevent anyone from using it.
• Debris confirmed to be from missing MH370 flightAn AIRCRAFT wing fragment washed ashore on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion came from Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which disappeared more than a year ago with 239 people aboard, experts said.

The Telegraph

• Tube strike misery: 24-hour Underground walk out brings London to a standstillIn pics: Underground walk out brings London to a standstill
• Tube drivers don't need degrees. Here's why no one should bother with universityYou don't need a degree to be a London Tube driver and earn a starting salary of almost £50,000. Leading recruiters say going to university isn't worth it

City AM

• Hauliers facing huge fines over Calais migrantsFINES issued to hauliers carrying illegal immigrants into the UK more than tripled over the past three years, it was revealed yesterday, sparking more criticism of the government’s handling of the Calais migrant crisis. The number of fines jumped from 998 in 2012/13 to 3,319 in 2014/15, according to official figures released to the Press Association under the Freedom of Information Act. Under Home Office rules, drivers can be hit with civil penalties of up to £4,000 for each migrant found hiding in their vehicles. Vicky Woodfine, a solicitor at DWF who specialises in road transport l...
• Tesla puts the brakes on sales outlook as its losses accelerateELECTRIC car maker Tesla yesterday put the brakes on its outlook for the year, saying it was unlikely to meet its sales target of 55,000 vehicles and possibly undershooting by up to 5,000. The US company, headed by chief executive Elon Musk, posted a second-quarter net loss of $184m (£118m), up from $61.9m in the same period last year and above the average analyst forecast of $117m. Explaining the sales forecast cut, the company said in a statement: “While our equipment installation and final testing of Model X is going well, there are many dependencies that could influence our [fourth-...
• Tube mayhem rocks London businessesRETAILERS and leisure companies in London are braced for a multi-million pound hit as Tube workers go on strike for the second time in a month. On the day of the last strike on 9 July, London shopping malls suffered a nine per cent drop in footfall compared with the same day last year, according to the British Council of Shopping Centres. The industry body expects to see a similar fall this time around. “Where it does hurt is very small retailers and leisure operations. They more than anyone will feel the brunt because their visitors may be lost forever,” chief exec John Coyne told Cit...

Mail Online

• Manston Airport to be used for Calais crisis' Operation Stack as lorry park The former Royal Air Force base at Manston is set to be used as a lorry park in a bid to ease queuing on the M20 motorway in Kent caused by Operation Stack, due to the chaos in Calais.
• Tube strike begins as London commuters pack onto last Underground trains Millions of commuters are facing an early start this morning as London braced itself for more travel misery caused by the latest Tube strike.

The Mirror

• Mum's horror as tram slams doors shut and pulls away with her 4-year-old son insideEthan Southward’s mum were left distraught and banging the door as the Metrolink service
• Tube strike leaves London Underground shut with commuters and tourists facing travel hell The dispute over pay and conditions for the planned night Tube has worsened in recent days, with more workers being balloted for action and London's mayor making it clear no more money will be offered

Birmingham Mail

• Tesla Model 3 targets BMW 3 Series with £30,000 electric car Tesla Model 3 to take on the BMW 3 Series after it was suggested a global reveal will take place next year in preparation for a launch in 2017.  

Birmingham Post

• Should driving be taught in schools? A petition to include driving in the school curriculum has been launched, as calls grow to allow younger drivers a chance to get behind the wheel.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Holyhead ferry crossings cancelled after vessel is blown against dock Repairs are being carried out on the Irish Ferries Jonathan Swift after it was damaged in high winds yesterday         

London Evening Standard

• Tube strike: London Underground network shuts down after commuters battled to get home during rush hour The London Underground network has shut down after the evening rush hour started early tonight before the capital's transport network was crippled by the Tube strike.
• Boris Johnson told to block ‘dirty’ cruise ship terminal in east London Campaigners opposed to plans for London’s first large cruise ship terminal in 34 years have asked Mayor Boris Johnson to overturn a decision to approve the “dirty” scheme.
• Cows on the line! Rail delays as train hits herd of livestock and animals seen 'running through Bishop's Stortford town centre' A train was in collision with a herd of cows before the animals were reportedly seen running through the centre of an Essex town.
• Beat the Tube strike and take to the Thames: commuter homes on the river  
• Tube strike: The best tweets and pictures as London Underground is brought to a standstill by walkout Londoners facing travel misery managed to keep their sense of humour in tact as they battled home during the Tube strike.

Manchester Evening News

• Greater Manchester's planned 'Oyster card' smart ticketing scheme hits major crisis as transport chiefs ditch contractorBosses say it has become apparent the firm ’cannot deliver’ what they had been signed up to do

Wales Online

• The train hacks that could save you more than £100 on return train journeys from WalesSplit ticketing sees train journeys broken down into smaller chunks rather than usually paying more for a direct ticket

Plymouth Herald

• Five Plymouth bus routes dropped as Stagecoach unveils its takeover plan from First A GROUP of Plymouth bus routes are to be withdrawn from next month as services across the city enter new management.

Other Regional Press

• Eyesore bus shelters replaced at shopping centre in NorthamptonshireThe unloved bus shelters at the front of the Newlands Shopping Centre in Kettering are being replaced.
• Manston Airport ready for lorries in Operation StackManston airport could take lorries tonight if Op Stack is brought in - as work is carried out to mark out white lines for lorries.
• Rail bosses back down over alcohol ban on Huddersfield to Hull trainsFirst Trans-Pennine Express drops plans for 'dry trains'
• Train firm launches services tailored for Sunderland and Newcastle football fansA pilot will kick off to help football crowds use trains which are safer, cheaper and more flexible on match days.
• Electric vehicle chargers installed at west Dorset and Weymouth car parks CHARGING points for electric cars have been installed in car parks across west Dorset and Weymouth.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• John Good Shipping relocates to UK’s newest port hubJohn Good Shipping, has moved into the recently opened logistics centre at DP World London Gateway. John Good Shipping, founded in 1833, has chosen to move to the new hub to increase efficiencies for its clients whilst capitalising on the huge opportunities for the company to further develop its ship agency and freight forwarding activities in London and the South East. The move into 465m² of high tech office accommodation comes as the company announces the consolidation of its Brentwood and Tilbury offices. This forms part of its strategic goal to create a larger, more streamlined cent...
• Manchester Airport to close runway as part of improvement worksResidents living near Manchester Airport’s second runway could be in for a few sleepless nights as bosses carry out maintenance work. Runway one will be closed for two nights this week as staff make improvements. Between 10pm and 6am between Tuesday and Wednesday and Wednesday and Thursday all flights will take off and land from runway two. Airport chiefs insist the level of noise will ’remain the same’, but will affect those living to the south of the airport towards Knutsford; closer to runway two. Those towards Styal, around runway one, usually bear the brunt of the no...
• TfL confirms 40% of Tube network set for major boost in capacityTransport for London (TfL) has awarded the contract to deliver the vital modernisation of the signalling and train control system on the next four London Underground (LU) lines to global transportation systems provider Thales. This next major phase of the Underground's modernisation will bring faster, more frequent and more reliable journeys to millions of passengers who use the Circle, District, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines. As a result, up to 1,100 jobs and 60 apprenticeships will be sustained or created, both in London and across the UK. These improvements will boost capa...
• First Thameslink Class 700 arrives in the UKThe first Class 700 Desiro City train for Thameslink has arrived in the UK for testing. The first train arrived at the new Three Bridges maintenance depot in the early hours of July 31, having been hauled from Germany through the Channel Tunnel. Testing will now begin, ready for the start of passenger service in spring 2016. The new trains, combined with the redevelopment of London Bridge and an upgraded signalling system, will allow operator GTR to run 24 trains an hour on the Thameslink route through central London. Rail Minister Claire Perry said: “The arrival of this first train ...
• Getting on board with Busmark benchmarkingCILT’s Busmark benchmarking club is gaining significant momentum across the UK Bus and Coach Industry. Launched in May, at the ALBUM Conference, companies are jumping on board Busmark, in advance of the inaugural benchmarking survey, which will commence in early September. Adrian de Courcey FCILT, CEO of Coventry-based Travel de Courcey, said: ’Busmark was in the research and development stage for over a year, but since its launch, we are seeing significant growth. Busmark has been developed by bus and coach practitioners, specifically for the bus and coach industry, and is enjoy...
• Thales awarded London Underground Sub-Surface Lines resignalling contractTransport for London announced on August 3 that it had awarded sole bidder Thales a £760m contract to renew the signalling and train control systems on London Underground's Circle, District, Metropolitan and Hammersmith & City lines. Collectively known as the Sub-Surface Lines, the four large-profile lines form a complex network of interlinked routes with numerous junctions which comprises 40% of the London Underground network and carries 1·3 million passengers/day. Work is expected to begin later this year. The first increase in capacity would be on the Circle Line in 2021,...
• P&O’s freight shippings hit record levels in JulyThe cross-Channel ferry operator P&O shipped more freight for customers in July than at any month in its modern history as it benefited from the French ferry workers’ strike and migrant chaos. As P&O’s rival DFDS was hit by industrial action in the port of Calais, freight traffic backed up the M20 from Dover causing misery for holidaymakers and lorry drivers. The situation was exacerbated by attempts by migrants to storm the Eurotunnel freight terminal on the French side of the border. With 5,000 lorries stuck on the M20 for as long as 24 hours, P&O rushed back into ...
• The 2015 National Truck and Bus Driver Trainers' ConferenceThe 2015 National Truck and Bus Driver Trainers' Conference will take place at the Hinckley Island Hotel, Leicestershire on 2nd September. The details of this year's conference are now available and can be downloaded here. 2015 National Truck and Bus Driver Trainers' Conference. The key speakers include: Joe Comerford - Tutor in Passenger Transport, Warrington Collegiate Ruth Waring - Managing Director, Labyrinth Logistics Maria Rose - Training Manager, Preston Bus Paul Park - Health & Safety Manager, Shearings Holidays Martin Robinson - Head of Operations, Arriva Me...
• Manston Airfield provides temporary freight capacity for Operation StackManston Airfield is now in temporary use as alternative capacity for freight traffic crossing the Channel while there are ongoing issues in Calais.  The government announced the new measure as part of an effort to ease the pressure on Operation Stack. This is a procedure to park lorries along the M20 when Channel services are disrupted.  Operation Stack is currently lifted, but the addition of Manston Airfield to the initiative will mean additional capacity is present when it is reintroduced.  Keeping goods and traffic moving and ensuring people's lives on either side of the Cha...

Rail Technology Magazine

• Olaf Philipp Takes Charge at ContiTech Railway Engineering There has been a staff change at ContiTech Air Spring Systems: Olaf Philipp has assumed management of the ContiTech Railway Engineering segment and will run the rail vehicle business with air springs and metal-rubber parts worldwide.
• July’s top stories: Wabtec deal with Faiveley, Luton Airport rail line Australia’s EPA recommends $2bn Perth airport rail link, Bechtel begins tunnelling work on Riyadh Metro Line 1, and Siemens-Huawei wins GSM-R upgrade contract in Germany. Railway-technology.com wraps up the key headlines from July 2015.

Railnews

• Unions 'want 32-hour week' for Underground staff London Underground has revealed that the rail unions are demanding a 32-hour, four day working week, as another all-out strike looms. The company said such a demand was unaffordable, while the RMT has labelled the plans for a 'Night Tube' service as 'botched from the off'. Talks at ACAS broke down two days ago, and the Underground is set to close for 24 hours from tomorrow evening.
• Younger people increasingly turning to trains Young people are ˜falling out of love with the car™ and turning to trains instead, according to a new report. The report prepared for the Office of Rail and Road and the Independent Transport Commission reveals major attitude changes to travel– especially in the younger age groups. The report supports earlier findings and is also supported by many years of statistics which have shown train travel rising almost continuously over the past two decades.

Railway Gazette

• Midi-Pyrénées orders more multiple-units FRANCE: Alstom Transport announced a €46m order to supply a further five electric and three...

Aviation Industry

• Emirates takes delivery of 65th A380, retires Boeing 777-200 fleet Emirates Airline has taken delivery of its 65th Airbus A380-800 and has phased out its last Boeing 777-200. read more
• Irish lessor Avolon sees ‘huge opportunity’ in IranLessors will reap the early benefits of the anticipated re-fleeting of Iran’s airlines if Western sanctions against the western Asian country are removed, Irish lessor Avolon said Wednesday. read more
• First debris drift model in early MH370 search was flawedAustralia has admitted that a drift model initially used to determine the best areas to search for wreckage from missing MH370, a Boeing 777-200, was wrong. read more
• Ryanair tops 10m passengers for JulyAirline sees traffic grow 11% for last month

Other News Sources

• FTA warns ESOS deadline is just four months awayThe Freight Transport Association (FTA) is warning companies that the deadline to complete Government energy audits is just four months today. ...
• FTA welcomes priority scheme for ‘quick to market’ goodsNew measures to fast track time-sensitive cargoes through Operation Stack are a positive move, according to the Freight Transport Association ...
• Tube strike: who is trying to act tough?As London prepares for a 24 hour Tube strike, Boris Johnson accuses unions of