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Friday, 07 August 2015

BBC News

• New £5.2m transport hub in Galashiels openedA new £5.2m transport interchange in Galashiels has been officially opened.
• Tunnel walker 'almost' got to EnglandA Sudanese migrant was stopped inside the Channel Tunnel walking towards the British entrance, according to Eurotunnel.
• Leak suggests Uber 'losing millions'Financial documents, allegedly from car-share start-up Uber, suggest the firm is running at losses of several million dollars each quarter.
• Security experts hack Tesla carSecurity researchers at the Def Con hackers' conference reveal another car's vulnerability to attack.
• New £5.2m transport hub openedA new £5.2m transport interchange which will help to connect the Borders railway to a new bus station in Galashiels is officially opened.
• Bus driver made homophobic remarksA Belfast bus driver has been disciplined after making homophobic remarks over an open radio network during the Gay Pride festival parade on Saturday.
• Travel card firm axed after delaysGreater Manchester's transport body terminates its contract with the company responsible for rolling out a smart ticketing system after delays.
• Tube strike disruption for commutersPeople travelling in London are dealing with long queues and delays as the latest Tube strike shuts down the network.

Financial Times

• Families of MH370 victims cautious on findMalaysia PM’s certainty not fully in tune with French investigators’ tone
• Commuters struggle through Tube strikeMillions seek alternative modes of transport to work
• Shortages lead to return of 1960s trainsOld British Rail diesel locos and ‘slam door’ carriages draw trainspotters to Cumbrian Coast line
• Deep roots of London Underground disputeTalks have continued since TfL revealed plans in 2013 to close ticket offices and cut staff

The Guardian

• London night tube plan could be delayed as strike causes disruptionMayor Boris Johnson rules out direct talks with unions but indicates start date could be postponed, thus allowing for more negotiations to avert future strikes The introduction of all-night tube services faces delay, the mayor of London has admitted, during a day of strike action that has caused widespread disruption in the capital, with the closure of London Underground leaving many roads jammed and buses packed and disrupted. But Boris Johnson ruled out direct talks with unions to resolve the dispute over the introduction of the night tube, which was scheduled to start in just over a month. ...
• Tesla's new snake-like charger plugs itself in: creepy or sensual? – videoThis metal snake is actually the prototype for the new charger from Tesla Motors. It can find its own way to the charging point on the all-electric Model S sedan. Founder and CEO Elon Musk hinted at such a device at the start of 2015 and very early on Friday morning, the company tweeted this video, sending tech sites and car geeks everywhere into a frenzy Continue reading...

The Herald

• Sir Brian Souter snaps up luxury London townhouseHIS ability to spot an opportunity has been proven beyond doubt as he climbed the rich list on his way to becoming one of Scotland's most wealthy men.
• Changing hospital name costs bus firm thousandsTHOUSANDS of pounds will have to be spent altering destination information on buses following the decision to rename Scotland's newest hospital after the queen.

The Scotsman

• Alastair Dalton: Changing fortunes of Network RailTHERE is a stark contrast to Network Rail’s fortunes north and south of Border, writes Alastair Dalton
• School bus changes ‘breaching human rights’Parents have accused council chiefs of breaching international children’s human rights in a row over school bus routes and are set to take their fight to the United Nations.

The Telegraph

• Commuters endure tube strike miseryCity hit by travel chaos as strike by four unions shuts down entire tube network
• Calais migrant walks through Eurotunnel to UKAbdul Rahman Haroun able to evade security to walk almost the entire 30 miles underground from Calais to Folkestone

Times Online

• Rail passengers claim £70,000 a day for late trains [subscription]Rail passengers are claiming more than £70,000 a day in compensation for late trains after payouts from operators doubled in two years.

Mail Online

• Eurotunnel operator in Calais running out of fencing to stop migrants While new razor wire fencing has been erected in recent days, desperately-needed supplies are running thin with factories across the channel closed since July 15.

The Mirror

• London Tube chaos: Union leaders warn of worse disruption after second strike hits capital Four unions will meet next week to decide next move which could include a 48-hour strike in middle of busy tourist season

Birmingham Post

• Seven cars that would be perfect for Google's driverless dreams We chose a magnificent seven selection of current cars to ’go driver-less’ and judged what their owners might be doing inside while on the road:
• Centro chief executive Geoff Inskip to step down Long-serving boss of the West Midlands transport authority will leave the role after nine years

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Cyclists invited to take part in city centre bike festival CYCLISTS from across the Bradford district are being invited to join the fun at the go:cycling Cyclefest in Centenary Square on Wednesday, August 12.

London Evening Standard

• City airport 'up for sale' in a possible £2 billion dealThe American owners of London's City airport have reportedly put it up for sale and could get a possible £2 billion for the transport hub.
• Tube strike: Commuters tell how they battled their way in to workCommuters told today how they battled to get to work by bus, rail and even skateboards as they called for urgent action to stop further strike action.
• Do pollution masks really work? How cyclists are trying to filter out the filthBike riding Londoners worried about ‘bad air days’ are turning to face filters worthy of a superhero costume. Rosamund Urwin discovers if they make a difference

Manchester Evening News

• Victoria Station revamp: Network Rail reveals £44m transformation will be completed this monthNetwork Rail intends to officially unveil the hub, with its now-complete futuristic ’bubble roof’, in September.

The York Press

• Special events announced to mark completion of 9-year Flying Scotsman restoration THE restored Flying Scotsman is set to make an inaugural run from Kings Cross to York next February to launch a season of Scotsmania at the National Railway Museum.

This Is Local London Network

• Nevermind the Tube strike: Passengers report 'carnage' at Lewisham Station after train fault Nevermind the Tube strike, Southeastern services are disrupted after a passenger pressed an emergency button on a train near Lewisham.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• South Leeds: Morley Station revamp is stepped upA councillor has stepped up the campaign to modernise Morley Station.

Yorkshire Post

• Renationalising rail ‘would pay for itself’ - BurnhamAndy Burnham has insisted his plan to renationalise the railways would “finance itself”.

East Anglian Daily Times

• How Stansted Airport is countering threat of bird strikes to planesGiven that thousands of flights take place every single day across the United Kingdom, it is extremely rare for planes to come into contact with birds – known as bird strike.

Other Regional Press

• Climate change talk by groups against Gatwick and Heathrow expansionPeople have been invited to a climate change talk by campaigners against expanding Gatwick and Heathrow airports.
• Bus drivers ‘swap’ places with blind users BUS drivers in Blackwood got a taste of what life is like for people with sight loss this week as they swapped places with their passengers.
• Third of drivers ‘do not know correct speed limit’More than a third of drivers do not know what the speed limit is on roads, a new study has revealed.
• Bus services improve access to Great Dorset Steam Fair ACCESS to this year's Great Dorset Steam Fair is being made easier than ever with direct bus services run by a local operator.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• NatWest pledges support for businesses impacted by Operation StackBusinesses impacted by disruption in Dover are being offered additional support from NatWest. Working with Lombard, it’s asset finance arm, and RBS Invoice Finance, the bank is offering customers additional support including the extension of overdrafts, invoice finance and loans. The Freight Transport Association, FTA, estimates the cost to haulage companies caught up in Operation Stack - which has seen thousands of lorries sat dormant on the motorway due to strikes and issues with immigrants in Calais - to be £700,000 a day and £250m to the UK economy as a whole. Neil Bell...
• Contract win for B&Q national warehousing networkWincanton plc has announced that it has won a new contract with B&Q to manage its national distribution network.  The new five-year deal will see Wincanton take over the management of all six of B&Q’s distribution centres. Wincanton currently manages one of B&Q’s distribution centres and the new contract will see the addition of the remaining five.  The new partnership will aim to increase cost efficiencies and provide the highest standards of customer service across the whole retail distribution network.  Adrian Colman, Chief Executive commented: 'We ar...
• RHA warns government of supply chain impact of stowaway finesThe Road Haulage Association (RHA) has criticised the government for failing in its duty of care towards the freight industry - particularly with regards to the migrant situation at Calais.  RHA chief executive officer Richard Burnett explained that haulage drivers need more protection when moving their loads across the border.  He urged haulage firms operating between the UK and Europe to seek accreditation with the UK Border Force, as this will demonstrate they are following code of practice on preventing clandestines from crossing borders.  Mr Burnett said that despite this, ...
• Transport minister unveils rapid chargepoint at Eden ProjectTransport minister Andrew Jones visited the Eden Project in Cornwall to open the first rapid plug in car chargepoint at the site, part of 16 being installed across the county in summer 2015. The public will be able to use the new infrastructure to charge their plug in cars in as little as 30 minutes. DfT provided grants totalling up to £765,000 for a rapid charging network in Devon and Cornwall, ensuring residents and visitors can have easy access to fast, convenient chargepoints. Transport Minister Andrew Jones said: 'Plug-in vehicles are cheaper to run, better for the environment and...
• Wincanton and Dairy Crest extend relationship to 25 yearsDairy Crest has renewed its contract with delivery partner Wincanton, which will bring the relationship between the two businesses to 25 years. The multi-year extension will see further improvements in the collection and handling of milk operations for Dairy Crest. Under the deal, Wincanton will collect milk from over 500 producers across the South of England and Wales, delivering it to three major Dairy Crest dairies. In total the logistics provider will handle nearly one billion litres of milk per year for the dairy company. Chris Kingshott, managing director of manufacturing at Wincanton, ...

Global Rail News

• ORR approves WCML open access applicationArriva-owned open access operator Great North Western Railway (GNWR) has received approval from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) to run trains on the West Coast Main Line (WCML).

Railnews

• Green light for open access to BlackpoolOPEN access operator Alliance Rail Holdings has been given permission by the ORR to run six trains a day between London and Blackpool.
• 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.
• Mayor concedes Night Tube launch may slip Londoners have been struggling to work by bus, car and bike, as the capital's 400km Underground network -- which usually carries four million passengers a day -- remains silent. Today's strike is part of a continuing dispute about pay and conditions for staff who will work on all-night Underground services on Fridays and Saturdays. The scheduled start date is 12 September, but the Mayor of London Boris Johnson has indicated that he is not concerned if the deadline slips. He is, however, remaining adamant that there is nothing further on the table.

The Business Desk

• Grand Central Railway relocates in YorkLONG-DISTANCE train operator Grand Central Railway Company is relocating to modern city centre offices in York.

Aviation Industry

• UK regionals bmi regional, Loganair form new airline groupTwo UK regional carriers—Aberdeen-based bmi regional and Glasgow-based Loganair—will now be grouped under new holding company Airline Investments Limited (AIL). read more
• London City airport up for saleAirport could fetch around £2bn
• Emirates to operate A380 on all London flightsGulf airline to replaces last B777 to Gatwick from January 2016

Other News Sources

• New HQ For Grand CentralGrand Central Railway Company, which operates trains between London and the North of England, has relocated its head office in York.
• TfL confirms JCDecaux as winner of 'world's biggest bus shelter ad contract' JCDecaux will take over what TfL describes as the world’s biggest bus shelter advertising contract from Clear Channel, which has held the account since 2005.
• Three counties bid for £2.8bn transport dealBuckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, and Oxfordshire propose establishing Greater Manchester-style forum