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

Wednesday, 12 August 2015

BBC News

• Lincoln bypass new inquiry faces objectorsA new £92m Eastern Bypass for Lincoln is vital for the local economy, a public inquiry has been told.
• Airport sets new passenger recordRecords have continued to tumble for Edinburgh Airport, following another surge in passenger numbers.
• VIDEO: Buskers audition for Tube spotsWannabe buskers are now auditioning X-Factor style for the opportunity to play on the underground.
• What is the Tube strike row about?What is the Tube dispute is all about?
• Tube workers announce fresh strikesLondon Underground workers will stage two 24-hour strikes in the continuing dispute over night Tube plans, three unions say.
• Pass on VAT saving, airport shops urgedAirport retailers are being urged to pass VAT savings on to customers after it has emerged some shops keep the extra revenue.

Financial Times

• Commuters face more Tube strikesUnions plan walkout for August 25 and 27 in protest at all-night service

The Herald

• Edinburgh and Glasgow airports enjoy surge in passengersMore than 2.1 million travellers passed through Scotland's two main airports last month, figures show.

The Independent

• Airport VAT scam: Treasury ministers demand end to rip-off charges and to pass savings on to passengers Treasury ministers have demanded an end to rip-off VAT charges by some airport stores as the grassroots passenger rebellion against the racket gathers pace.

The Telegraph

• Tube strike: Unions announce two more London Underground walkouts in AugustCapital set to be crippled by two further strikes from 9pm on Tuesday, August 25 and Thursday, August 27 in ongoing row over introduction of Night Tube
• Tube drivers: You are not entitled to massive salaries. Get over itDriving a tube train should not pay more than teaching our children, policing our streets or being a nurse or a junior doctor in our hospitals

Mail Online

• Railway bridge that has been used for 150 years by walkers in Welsh beauty spot is to close down in cost-cutting measure A railway bridge dating back to the Victorian period is set to be closed to pedestrians for the first time thanks to cuts in council funding.
• Tube strikes set for this month over all-night London Underground services Tube workers will walk out for 24 hours from 9pm on August 25 and August 27, the Rail, Maritime and Transport union has announced. The action threatens to disrupt services most of the week.
• Duty-free rebels refuse to show their boarding pass in airport shops The growing revolt began after passengers learned it was pointless to show boarding cards at checkouts because the only purpose is to allow firms to avoid paying 20 per cent VAT on sales.

Belfast Telegraph

• Dublin Bus unveils 35m euro high-tech upgrade to vehiclesThousands more commuters are catching the bus in Dublin with the introduction of new quieter, more fuel efficient and high-tech double decker buses, transport chiefs have said.

Birmingham Mail

• GRS Travel bus firm banned from running services after deliberately delaying rival buses GRS Travel fined and told it can run only one service until August 2017.

Birmingham Post

• Jaguar Land Rover unveils Slovakia factory plans The automotive giant has signed a letter of intent with the Slovak government over a plant in Nitra to be operational by 2018

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Training sessions for 700 taxi drivers in drive to prevent child exploitation ALMOST 700 cab drivers and private hire licence holders in Calderdale have been given training to spot and report signs of child sexual exploitation.
• Airline gives 'ultimate Yorkshireman' chance to leave country for first time MONARCH airline is continuing its search for the ultimate Yorkshireman or woman to finally persuade them to leave God’s own country.

London Evening Standard

• Tube strike: Unions announce two fresh walk-outs in dispute over all-night servicesTwo 24-hour walk-outs announced on August 25 and August 27

Manchester Evening News

• We're still on track for the Northern Powerhouse, says transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin He is facing fierce criticism over the major hitches to have already hit schemes

Yorkshire Post

• McLoughlin urged to honour Yorkshire rail pledgesTRANSPORT SECRETARY Patrick McLoughlin has been criticised for unveiling an investment “blueprint” for the North without making clear when shelved rail electrification schemes for Yorkshire will be put back on track.

Blackpool Gazette

• Jubilant rail supporters give new links thumbs upRail campaigners have today called new train services from Blackpool to London a huge boost to tourism for the Fylde coast.

Other Regional Press

• Bus company steps in to take Brynglas and Allt-yr-yn routes axed by Newport TransportANOTHER bus company has announced it will start running services in Brynglas and Allt-yr-yn after Newport Transport decided to axe the “non-profitable” routes.
• Pink buses provide a stand-out service for tourists visiting FalkirkMore than 10,000 people have travelled on Falkirk’s tourist bus within the first three months of a major tourism drive.
• Bus services to be expandedAdditional bus journeys are to be timetabled in East Lothian following the success of a new supported service.
• Tamworth to Blackpool direct rail service could be launched A DIRECT rail service between London and Blackpool could serve Tamworth, leading to better connections for the town. The new service, which will see up to six return trains between the country's capital and the North West city each day, has been given the green light.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Government boost for Northern Powerhouse: SeftonTransport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin will visit Merseyside today, Tuesday 11 August 2015, to name the new A5758 Broom’s Cross Road and see how major transport improvements are helping to create a Northern Powerhouse. He will travel along the new link, between Thornton and Switch Island, which will transform road journeys for communities north of Liverpool, relieving congestion on local roads and driving development in Southport, Netherton and the Port of Liverpool. The Transport Secretary will also meet staff and apprentices involved in the construction project and will officially na...
• Government boost for Northern Powerhouse: A1Roads Minister Andrew Jones will visit the north east today, Tuesday 11 August 2015, to see how major road improvements are helping to create a Northern Powerhouse. Andrew Jones is in the region to see progress on over £60 million of improvements to the A1 from Coal House to Metro Centre. When completed in 2016, almost 4 miles of the A1 will be widened to 3 lanes, relieving congestion on one of the busiest roads in the country. He will also be visiting the A1 in Northumberland to see where a further £290 million will be invested to add capacity, meaning that for the first time the...
• UPS plans London Gateway distribution facilityWorldwide delivery giant UPS has submitted planning permission for a new hub at London Gateway Logistics Park, which would act as a distribution facility for the firm.  The application to Thurrock Council has been made on behalf of UPS by architects and planning specialists AECOM.  Currently, UPS's main UK hub is at Tamworth, north-east of Birmingham, while it also operates a customer service centre at Regis Road in Kentish Town, London.  For the new site, Thurrock Council has approved a fast-track planning process for the proposed facility. This includes a determination deadlin...
• Two warehouses added to Amazon distribution networkAmazon has added two new warehouses to its UK distribution network - one at Bardon, Leicestershire, and one at Weybridge.  These facilities are both ten-year leases from Logicor, and will contribute to managing orders from the online retailer's orders received through its UK website.  The Bardon site is a cross-docked 257,855 sq ft warehouse, situated on the Interlink Business Park. This is close to J22 of the M1 and right in the heart of the Midlands Golden Triangle, considered the top distribution location in the UK.  A 304,751 sq ft warehouse was leased by Amazon on the Brook...
• TfGM’s head of rail recognised with business accoladeTfGM head of rail, Amanda White, has been named the North West’s 32nd most influential woman in business. The annual list, which is produced by business magazine, Insider North West and includes nominations from Manchester, Lancashire, Liverpool, Cheshire and Cumbria, places Amanda in the top 100 alongside influential leaders and business women from the public and private sectors. Amanda is the only rail industry professional to feature on the list. As head of rail at TfGM, Amanda oversees rail policy in Greater Manchester, working closely with the train operators, the local authoritie...
• Date announced for Reading Buses Routemaster trialThe date has been announced for the New Routemaster to begin its exciting two week trial with Reading Buses. The Routemaster, with its 87 passenger capacity, will enter service with Reading Buses on August 17 on the flagship purple 17 route between the Three Tuns on the Wokingham Road and the Water Tower at Tilehurst. The Routemaster, complete with its fully working electric hybrid engine, is one of a number of buses being trialled by Reading Buses over the course of the summer. And Reading Buses is keenly looking for customer and employee feedback on their experience of the 62 seater Route...

Rail Magazine

• Osborne commits to full Brighton Main Line 2 studyChancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne has given a government commitment to a full study into the Brighton Main Line 2 (BML2) proposal

Railnews

• Northern Powerhouse plan to be unveiled The Government is to publish a £13 billion plan to create a Northern Powerhouse. It includes improved and new rail links, and ministers will be visiting several key areas today. In the longer term, the Government said it would be 'transforming city to city rail connectivity across the region, radically reducing travel times, through HS2 and TransNorth east-west rail links'.
• Further walkouts planned after Night Tube talks fail London Underground is set to be hit by more strikes later this month after Night Tube talks between the company and the unions stalled again. The RMT said its members were angry 'that their grievances are being ignored', and said there had been no 'substantial move' at recent talks. London Underground said the RMT was demanding 'unaffordable' pay increases.

Other News Sources

• Heathrow expansion more popular among SNP MPs than rest of HouseJust over a third (36 per cent) of MPs support new third runway at Heathrow airport, but half of SNP MPs polled backed the plans
• Conditional permission given to stop new train services at Milton Keynes Central from 2018THE Office of Rail Regulation has approved plans for new train services from London to Blackpool, with conditional permission given to stop trains at Milton Keynes Central.
• Cycle policy change posters put up by mistake at Brighton Station CYCLISTS trying to catch trains at Brighton Station have been left scratching their heads with mixed messages about whether or not bikes are banned.