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

Tuesday, 15 September 2015

BBC News

• Wakefield station tagged 'Britain's worst' restoredA West Yorkshire railway station named six years ago as "the worst in Britain" has reopened after a £5.6m refurbishment.
• Second phase of East West Rail scheme announcedNetwork Rail has announced its plans for the second phase of the East-West Rail scheme. It wants the public's views on proposals to upgrade the railway between Bicester and Bedford, and Milton Keynes and Princes Risborough.
• Car kids smoking ban campaign startsA campaign to raise awareness of a ban on smoking in cars carrying children begins, in advance of the law coming into force in Wales.
• Rail electrification 'total commitment' pledge by CrabbWelsh Secretary Stephen Crabb has said there is "total commitment" to electrifying the main railway line between Swansea and London, despite fears of delays to the project.
• In Pictures: Dumfries station gardensImages of the Dumfries railway gardens in the running for a UK award
• Loganair takes over Flybe servicesScottish airline Loganair takes over Flybe's services from Inverness Airport to Manchester and Dublin.
• Who's who in Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinetShadow secretary of state for transport - Lilian Greenwood
• Drivers 'entrapped' by bus lane finesFines for misusing bus lanes overtake parking tickets as the main cause of complaints from driver with one junction in south London generating the most penalties, according to the AA.
• Heathrow activists take direct actionLocal residents opposed to the expansion of Heathrow airport take direct action at the homes of the executives of the west London airport.

Financial Times

• US rail: off trackA mismatch between depreciation and capex mean the railroads are not in value territory yet

The Guardian

• Government passing the buck on air pollution, say campaignersCritics say plan to make councils responsible for policing pollution in urban areas offers no extra money or new powers
• Nine out of 10 new diesel cars exceed EU pollution limits, report findsRoad test reveals cars emit seven times the permitted level of exhaust emissions when tested in real-world conditionsNine out of 10 new diesel cars break new EU pollution limits when tested on roads rather than test tracks, according to a new report.On average, the cars emit seven times the permitted level of NOx gasses, with the worst car producing 22 times the legal limit. Models from every major motor manufacturer breached the limit when they were evaluated in real-world conditions. Continue reading...
• Number of UK train journeys has doubled since 1997, report findsRail Delivery Group says about 1.6bn passenger rail journeys were made in last 12 months, up from 800m in late 1990sThe number of train journeys made each year has more than doubled since the late 1990s, according to a new report.About 1.65bn passenger rail journeys were made in the past 12 months, compared with 801m in 1997. The figures come from analysis by the Rail Delivery Group, which represents train operators and Network Rail, and is based on data from the auditors KPMG. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Scotland's over-50s refuse to bow to our erratic weatherTHE erratic Scottish weather, and new airline routes opening up at major airports, are tempting more and more older Scots to seek sunshine abroad.
• Train delays between Edinburgh and Glasgow after man found trespassing on railway trackTRAINS between Edinburgh and Glasgow have been disrupted after a man was found trespassing on the tracks.
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The Scotsman

• Rail senseLast week’s news rightly belonged to the new Borders Railway. At last the Borders is rightfully connected once again to the British rail network. Congratulations to all concerned.

The Telegraph

• String quartet performs for motorists in M5 traffic jamMusicians travelling home from Devon wedding relieve drivers' traffic woes by performing Pachelbel's Canon in outside lane of motorway near Taunton

Daily Express

• Airline accidentally flies WRONG aircraft with hundreds of passengers on boardAN AIRLINE has apologised after it accidentally flew the wrong plane with hundreds of passengers on board across the ocean.

Mail Online

• South West Trains tell commuters to take leave rather than join Rugby World Cup fans South Wales Trains has urged customers to walk, cycle or work from home when there are games at Twickenham during the upcoming World Cup.
• Road Safety Foundation reveals Britain's most deadly roads including A18 Lincolnshire The report by the Road Safety Foundation found that fatal and serious crashes on the A18 increased from ten in 2008-10 to 17 in 2011-13

Birmingham Post

• BMW hybrid cars launch date confirmed for 2016 Frankfurt Show plug-ins on sale in the UK early next year

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Brymbo link road renamed in recognition of heritage of area The main route into the village which went to the former Brymbo steelworks is now called Heritage Way  following a consultation
• Virgin Atlantic flight circled North Wales coast for an hour before diverting to GatwickThe Boeing 747 landed safely after experiencing a technical issue

London Evening Standard

• London commuters to get Rugby World Cup updates underground, as TfL and ITV announce new deal Rugby-loving commuters across the capital will be able to keep up-to-date with the latest World Cup stories across the London Underground, it was announced today. 
• Tube strikes 'can be good for the economy' a new study findsIf headlines are to be believed, the recent tube strikes caused 'travel chaos' and 'commuter misery', but new research suggests such walkouts are not all bad and, in fact, can have a positive effec

Manchester Evening News

• Ordsall Chord: 'I'm not trying to stall it - I'm trying to stop it', says engineer who has taken his battle to the courtsHigh-profile supporters - and opponents - give their views on the planned rail line linking Manchester Piccadilly and Victoria

The York Press

• Transport plan for York road branded 'missed opportunity' TRANSPORT plans for a key road in north-east York have been branded a 'missed opportunity' to tackle congestion and make it truly safe for cyclists.

Wales Online

• Cardiff Bus drivers and managers in talks to try to avert latest round of strikes during Rugby World Cup The drivers are due to take their first 48 hour strike this weekend, as thousands of rugby fans arrive in the city

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Train travel 'has surged since rail privatisation'The number of rail journeys made each year has more than doubled since privatisation, according to a new report.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Wakefield Kirkgate Station opens after £5.6m revampKirkgate railway station in Wakefield was officially opened yesterday after undergoing a £5.6 million restoration project.

Yorkshire Post

• School routes affected and 50 jobs at risk as Leeds bus company in administrationSCHOOL bus services across Leeds have been affected after the largest privately owned bus company in the region went into administration.

Crewe Chronicle

• BMW hybrid cars launch date confirmed for 2016 Frankfurt Show plug-ins on sale in the UK early next year

North Wales Live

• Merseyrail Electrics on track as revenues and profits both rise Passenger satisfaction ratings also improve for regional rail operator

Other Regional Press

• Have your say on the East West Rail projectNetwork Rail is inviting people to have their say on proposals to upgrade the railway between Bicester and Bedford and Milton Keynes and Princes Risborough.
• Durham Tees Valley Airport staff shocked by pension scheme warningUnions say the move to leave the local government pension scheme has 'come right out of the blue'
• Preston commuters’ overcrowded trains miseryCOMMUTERS in Preston are having to endure the country’s most overcrowded train 
journeys, according to a list published of the top 10 busiest rail routes in England and Wales.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• FORS reaches 100th gold operator milestoneFleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) is delighted to announce that it has reached its 100th Gold operator. FORS is pleased to announce CEVA Logistics, one of the world’s leading supply chain management companies, has been awarded the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) Gold status at its operation in Kirkby Thore in the UK. FORS is a national accreditation scheme that improves fleet activity through improving safety, reducing emissions and raising industry standards. FORS is graduated into three levels; bronze, silver and gold and operators who achieve the FORS Gold accreditati...
• DP World London Gateway Logistics Park appoints new development directorDP World London Gateway Logistics Park has appointed Oliver Treneman as its new Park Development Director after Graeme Clarke announced that he is retiring. Oliver started work at the UK’s largest logistics hub last week bringing with him more than 20 years of experience in marketing and developing industrial real estate in China. In his previous role, Oliver was Managing Director and Country Head for The Redwood Group, a specialised logistics real estate investment firm, in China and Japan. While in Asia, he became fluent in Mandarin and worked as General Manager for Shanghai Business...
• Kidde stays in safe hands with XPO LogisticsKidde Safety has renewed its national warehousing and distribution contract with XPO Logistics, for an additional two-years. Part of the Fire & Security division of United Technologies Corporation (UTC), Kidde Safety is a leading manufacturer of fire safety products. In the UK, Kidde Safety Europe offers a full range of home safety products that include smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers and fire blankets, all certified to current European standards. XPO Logistics manages the logistics for all of Kidde’s UK product lines and provides a range of pre-retail services...
• MiX Telematics launches innovative MyMiX platform to engage drivers MiX Telematics, a leading global provider of fleet and mobile asset management solutions, is strengthening its MiX Fleet Manager solutions with the addition of MyMiX – an innovative driver engagement platform that further enables its customers to run safer and more efficient fleet operations. MyMiX provides professional drivers with easy 24-hour access, via the web or a mobile device, to key information about their performance – no matter the industry in which they operate. Driver scoring is the first module available on MyMiX, which boasts a sleek, engaging and user-friendly inter...
• Successful Pedestrian Countdown technology to be doubled by Summer 2016The number of Pedestrian Countdown sites across London will be doubled by Summer 2016, the Mayor and Transport for London (TfL) have confirmed today. The Mayor had set TfL a target of upgrading 400 crossings – 10 per cent of all those in London – with the technology by April 2016. This technology replaces the ’blackout’ period on traffic signals with a numerical counter to show how long pedestrians have left to safely cross the road. This target has already been surpassed with more than 430 sites currently upgraded.   TfL has now stretched the target by a further...
• FTA calls for increased rail investmentThe Freight Transport Association (FTA) has urged chancellor George Osborne to ensure that investment in roads and rail infrastructure forms a core part of his plans for the country's future growth in the 2015 Spending Review.  Government investment in priority public services will be outlined in the review when it is published on November 25th.  Mr Osborne is expected to deliver the £20 billion further savings required to eliminate the UK's deficit by 2019-2020.  The FTA emphasised the fact that the economy’s reliance on freight means investing in strategic roads and rail freight networks sho...
• New Non-Executive Director for CAADr Ashley Steel has been appointed as non-executive director at the Civil Aviation Authority. Transport Secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, has appointed Dr Ashley Steel as a new non-executive director to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Ashley will take up the post on 1 September 2015 for 3 years. Ashley has recently retired from a long and successful career at KPMG. During her time there she held a number of senior management positions, including Vice Chair of the UK firm, UK and European board member for 7 years, and the role of Global Chair for Transport and Logistics for 12 years. This exp...
• £5 million greener bus fund announced to tackle air pollutionGovernment announced competition so local authorities can fit emission-cutting technology and provide better journeys. Local authorities across England will from today (10 September 2015) be able to bid for a share of £5 million funding to fit buses with green technology and offer better journeys. The Clean Bus Technology Fund 2015 will allow local authorities to bid for up to £500,000 – enough to retrofit hundreds of buses that will reduce NOx (nitrogen oxides) emissions and improve air quality. The fund is open for bids until the end of October, with a particular focus on...

Rail Magazine

• Northern to sever Liverpool-Blackpool linkDirect train service between Liverpool Lime Street and Blackpool North to end
• Class 20s and 25 star at MNR galaSummer Saturday traffic was the Mid Norfolk-Railway diesel gala theme on September 11-13. Two visiting Class 20s and a '25' joined MNR '45' and 47s' in action.

Railway Gazette

• Mobile Maintenance Train enters serviceUK: The first of eight self-propelled Mobile Maintenance Trains which Robel is supplying to...

Aviation Industry

• Former United CEO may enjoy new, wider first-class seatUnited Airlines announced it is installing new, extra-wide seats for first-class passengers in more than 200 narrow-body planes. United Airlines announced it is installing new, extra-wide seats for first-class passengers in more than 200 narrow-body planes.
• Airbus says U.S. factory is several weeks behind scheduleThe A321 is the largest model in the Airbus A320 narrow-bodied family and competes with Boeing Co's ( Allan McArtor, Chairman and Chief Executive of Airbus Group Inc, the European planemaker's U.S. unit, blamed the delay on a supplier.
• Wizz Air confirms MOU for 110 Airbus A321neosFast-growing Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air has formalized the memorandum of understanding (MOU) it announced at the Paris Air Show in June to purchase 110 Airbus A321neos. read more
• Brazil awards type certification for Bombardier Q400The Bombardier Q400 has gained Brazilian type certification, enabling the aircraft to operate in the South American nation. read more
• Fourth runway to open in 2018 at Beijing Capital Airport Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) plans to open a fourth runway in 2018, according to GM Shi Boli. read more
• Flybe calls for action on APD to boost domestic travelRegional airline wants tax scrapped or ‘dramatically reduced’
• Easyjet drops Gatwick-Moscow routeAirline cites ‘weakness’ in Russian economy for lack of demand
• GTMC members shun Lufthansa agency portal over GDS fee67% of members ‘have not and will not’ register on Lufthansa.com
• Heathrow Express launches £6.99 single fareNew ticket price available on advanced tickets

Other News Sources

• Will Bill reclaim Scotland’s pavements for pedestrians, asks CommitteeWill plans to tackle parking on pavements make a difference to you?
• Reigate railway station 'cattle grid' crossing being used as 'extremely dangerous' shortcut to reach platformsRepresentatives from Network Rail, British Transport Police and rail operator Southern were out raising awareness with pedestrians on Monday
• Jeremy Corbyn: bikes, cars, airports and missilesMPs are reeling from the appointment of John McDonnell as shadow chancellor. He sits at the centre of the Corbyn project in an unrivalled position.
• A27 to fully reopen this week but roadside screens to remain in place A SECTION of the A27 which has been closed since the Shoreham air disaster is expected to reopen this week.