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

Saturday, 08 August 2015

BBC News

• Delayed passengers 'owed millions'Delayed airline passengers are potentially missing out on millions of pounds of compensation, according to an investigation by consumer group Which?.
• Tube strike: talks resume next weekFresh talks to begin on Monday morning at the conciliation service Acas in a bid to resolve the dispute over the Night Tube.
• Rickshaw drivers 'should be vetted'Party buses, limousines and rickshaw drivers should be vetted and governed by the same rules as London black cab drivers, councils say.

The Guardian

• Munich plans an 'autobahn for bikes'City links: Brazilian post-it activism, Lithuanian hedgehog crossings and the ultimate burn in San Francisco feature in this week’s best city storiesThe best city stories from around the web this week include plans for a network of bike highways across Munich, guerrilla activism over bad driving in Rio de Janeiro, crossings for hedgehogs in Vilnius and a 300-mile wall around San Francisco. We’d love to hear your responses to these stories, and any others you’ve read recently, both on Guardian Cities and elsewhere. Just share your thoughts in the comments below. Continue reading...
• Andy Burnham’s right: railway unity would get Britain back on track | Andrew MartinThe Labour leadership contender’s commitment to renationalising our railways is welcome, but hardly radicalAndy Burnham, whose politics seem not so much a movable feast as a packed lunch, seeks to appear leftwing. But bringing the railways under state control is not a radical policy. It would bring us into line with the European norm, and it is consistently supported by majorities in opinion polls.Ellie Harrison, an artist and teacher, runs the Bring Back British Rail campaign from her flat in Glasgow. Its Facebook page has more than 100,000 likes. “We have support from across the spectrum,” s...
• Virgin has a rival: GNWR to run London to Blackpool west coast rail serviceRichard Branson’s firm will face competition on western line for first time as regulator approves new service linking north-west to capital

The Herald

• Scots miss out on millions as only four in ten make airline delay claims, reportSCOTS are missing out on millions of pounds in compensation for flight delays as a new survey revealed only four in ten bother to make a claim.

The Independent

• The airport VAT scam: Retailers told to come clean after being accused of pocketing millions from discounts on duty-free sales Some of Britain’s top retailers are facing calls to be more honest with airport customers as they pocket millions of pounds in VAT discounts on duty free items without passing on the savings.

The Telegraph

• Virgin Trains faces competition on the West CoastAlliance Rail has secured the rail regulator's backing to operate open access services between Blackpool and London
• Will driverless cars be the death of the insurance industry?Driverless cars are coming and they will reduce the risk of accidents - so what does that mean for the future of the motor insurance industry?
• Red faces as Transport for London misname Walthamstow station after revampChaotic rebranding sees station named Waltamstow on new signs at key transport hub

Times Online

• Network Rail ’dogged by weaknesses’ [subscription]Network Rail is dogged by “systemic weaknesses” that led to it failing to reach a third of upgrade targets last year, according to a scathing report by the official watchdog.
• Blackpool illuminated on intercity map again [subscription]Blackpool is back on the map — the direct high-speed intercity rail map, that is. The seaside town, once a top spot for political party conferences, is about to regain multiple daily direct rail services to London.

Mail Online

• Airport VAT rip-off on duty-free sales 'at Boots, Dixons and WHSmith' Holidaymakers were also warned to be wary of goods sold under the guise of being 'duty-free' as shops are often the only ones who benefit from airport tax relief.

The Mirror

• Isle of Wight Cowes ferry closed after worker injured by car which crashed into vesselThe closure is likely to result in disruption as the annual Cowes Week yachting regatta which begins today.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Further smash adds weight to Heaton road safety campaign A GROUP aiming to improve road safety in Heaton has highlighted another accident in the area as justification for its ongoing campaign.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Cycle hero Graeme Obree backs ’Boris Bike’ planA TOP cyclist has been drafted in to help kick-start a pioneering “Boris Bikes” scheme at Haymarket station.

London Evening Standard

• Walthamstow accidentally renamed 'Waltamstow' after TfL station revamp goes wrongTransport bosses were today left red-faced after the name of a major station was mis-spelled on several prominent signs.
• Paddington delays: Commuters bemoan 'train apocalypse' as services grind to halt during weekend getawayCommuters faced chaos as they tried to leave London during the weekend getaway after rail services from a major London station ground to a halt. 
• Just the ticket: Aer Lingus' long haul passengers jump in boost for suitor IAGAer Lingus, the Irish flag carrier which is set to be taken over by British Airways owner IAG this month, saw a healthy 18% rise in long-haul passengers in July.
• Boris urges Tube workers to take pay offer and end strike miseryMayor praised â€œheroic fortitude” of Londoners who made it to work yesterday
• Victoria line closure: Passengers warned ahead of complete shut-down between Walthamstow and Seven SistersTransport bosses: Work will ensure trains will run every 100 seconds

Manchester Evening News

• Lufthansa flight from Germany diverted to Manchester after fire indicator light came onA Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to New York had to be diverted to Manchester after fears the undercarriage was on fire, but a search by fire crews discovered no blaze
• Record crowds expected at Manchester Airport as summer season reaches its peakManchester Airport reveals three busiest days of most successful summer ever - and they are all THIS MONTH.

Blackpool Gazette

• Arriva’s big bid to run new rail links to LondonAmbitious plans to run six new daily rail services between Blackpool and London have been approved by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR).

Other Regional Press

• Full steam ahead for more train journeys to London THE GREEN light has been given to extra train services connecting Nuneaton with the country's capital.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Export demand 'remains challenging'EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, has suggested that the latest manufacturing purchasing managers index (PMI) highlights some of the challenges facing the industry at present.  Published by the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply and Markit, the latest data revealed a slight improvement in July, although industry performance remains subdued.  Chief economist for the EEF Lee Hopley acknowledged that the headline movement is positive, but the underlying trends are all too familiar.  She said domestic demand is still strong, driven by the purchasing power of consumers, but emphasised ...

Rail Technology Magazine

• On-Train Fibre-Optic Connectivity Applications such as on-board internet, communication-based train control and passenger information or entertainment systems require the reliable transmission of ever greater data volumes in trains.

Railnews

• Network Rail comes under fire for 'systemic weakness' The Office of Rail and Road has warned Network Rail that it may be in breach of its licence, after the regulator uncovered major flaws in the way projects are costed, managed and carried out. In a letter to NR group strategy director Paul Plummer, the ORR's director of railway planning and performance Alan Price said

Railway Gazette

• Bombardier wins Israel electric loco orderISRAEL: Bombardier is to supply 62 Traxx AC electric locomotives to Israel Railways under a...
• London – Blackpool open access service approvedUK: On August 7 the Office of Rail Regulation informed Alliance Rail Holdings that it had decided...
• Rail.One implements new structure GERMANY: The separation of the activities of ballastless track and concrete sleeper supplier...

Aviation Industry

• Drones present ‘significant hazard’ to airline safetyTrade body calls for increased legislation after aircraft near-misses

Other News Sources

• Slough’s deal with Heathrow “unlocked funding denied to other councils”Rather than “selling out” Colnbrook, by entering into a deal with Heathrow, Slough Borough Council says it has unlocked £1.5 million of direct financial support denied to neighbouring councils.
• Transport of Lithium Batteries on Passenger and Cargo Aircraft On 17 July 2015, the Boeing Company issued a Multi Operator Message (MOM-MOM-15-0469-01B) on the transport of lithium batteries as cargo on passenger and cargo aircraft manufactured by...
• London City Airport welcomes record passenger numbers in 2015London City Airport (LCY) welcomed 406,968 passengers in July to record its busiest ever month in its near 28 year history.The record numbers were up nearly 30,000 on the previous best of 379,020...
• Virgin Australia Group optimises international networkThe Virgin Australia Group today announced plans to optimise its international network to deliver improved fleet utilisation and meet customer demand on key trans-Tasman and short-haul...
• Rail industry ‘failing’ to exploit online booking growth£31bn was spent last year on European rail tickets double the amount of LCC bookings