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

Thursday, 15 October 2015

BBC News

• Train hits vehicle on railway lineA train strikes a vehicle on the line near Uphall station in West Lothian, disrupting services on the Edinburgh to Helensburgh line.
• Rail link plans backed despite protestPlans to connect Manchester's two biggest stations receive High Court backing despite claims they will damage a key part of world railway history.
• Eurostar's new bike policy criticisedA planned change in the way Eurostar stores bikes for travel leads to claims it is treating cyclists like
• Night Tube 'not happening this year'An all-night service on the London Underground will not be introduced this year after talks broke up without agreement, unions say.
• Tesla urges caution over 'autopilot'Autonomous driving function rolling out on Thursday should “hopefully” not hit pedestrians, Tesla's chief executive Elon Musk says.
• VW diesel drivers 'want compensation'Nine out of 10 VW diesel owners feel they should receive compensation over the emissions scandal, a consumer group survey suggests.

Financial Times

• Tesla rolls out self driving car softwareOwners of electric vehicle offered ‘Autopilot’ update
• Night Tube hits buffers as talks endLondon Underground’s 24-hour weekend service unlikely to be introduced this year
• Aircraft maintenance scrutinisedBrussels inquiry into restrictive practices comes as carriers and parts makers square off
• East Coast rail jam hits competition hopesNetwork Rail warns rival operators bidding to break up Virgin’s monopoly of the route
• Uber takes on couriers in delivery sectorSan-Francisco based passenger transportation group expands logistics programmes

The Guardian

• VW customers demand answers and compensation over emissions scandalCarmaker facing hefty bill as Which? finds owners are worried about environmental impact of their vehicles and expect cash payoutsNine out of 10 Volkswagen drivers in Britain affected by the diesel emissions scandal believe they should receive compensation, increasing the pressure on the carmaker as it attempts to recover from the crisis.Almost 1.2m diesel vehicles in Britain are involved in the scandal, out of 11m worldwide, and VW faces a hefty bill if it is forced to make payouts to motorists. The company has put aside €6.5bn (£4.8bn) to deal with the cost of recalling and repairi...

The Herald

• Glasgow City Council leader Frank McAveety hands former SPT communications director Bob Wylie 'special adviser' roleGlasgow City Council leader Frank McAveety has handed a key role in his administration to former Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) communications director Bob Wylie.

The Scotsman

• Train hits car on Edinburgh to Helensburgh linePASSENGERS have spoken of their terror after a rush-hour train slammed into a Toyota pick-up truck close to Uphall station.

The Telegraph

• Sajid Javid attacks 'heavy-handed' Uber crackdownSajid Javid, the Business Secretary, warns Transport for London that it must 'put consumers first' in review of Uber in move that puts him at loggerheads with Boris Johnson
• Time is up for diesel after VW scandal, says Aston Martin bossAndy Palmer, the chief executive of Aston Martin, says predicts diesel will die a 'slow death' as manufacturers move to electric cars to boost sales

Mail Online

• All-night Tube services in London 'will NOT happen this year The 24-hour service in London was originally due to start last month but was delayed while lengthy talks were held over pay and conditions.

The Mirror

• French national railway lets migrants travel for free on trains as it wants to display "humanity" Senior managers at SNCF say they want to display "humanity" towards those involved in the current "unprecedented migratory phenomenon"

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Strike by train drivers set to hit North Wales servicesThe ASLEF union has announced a 48 hour strike action by drivers for Arriva Trains Wales - starting on October 22

London Evening Standard

• Thousands more people suffer blight of Heathrow noise, aviation bosses revealThousands more people around Heathrow are being blighted by aircraft noise, according to official figures.
• Night Tube start date 'delayed until next year' after talks collapseService was initially supposed to start on September 12 but now will not go ahead until next year at the earliest

Manchester Evening News

• 'Michelle Keegan Airport' anyone? Corrie star among popular suggestions for airport rebrandingIt's come after Shakespeare was floated as a possible renaming option for Birmingham airport
• Ordsall Chord will be open by December 2017 after judge says it can go ahead despite appeal over heritageAppeal against decision to link Piccadilly and Victoria stations is thrown out despite concerns of damage to city's railway heritage

Wales Online

• Carwyn Jones defends sacking rebellious AM Jenny Rathbone over M4 relief road criticismThe First Minister said that the committee chair was a Welsh Government representative so had to act in the spirit of collective responsibility

Carlisle News & Star

• Road near Carlisle Airport blocked after car transporter overturns The road running past Carlisle Airport is blocked after an accident involving a car transporter.

Other Regional Press

• Freight Transport Association urges Chancellor to prioritise Lower Thames CrossingThe freight industry is piling pressure on the Chancellor to push forward with a new Lower Thames Crossing, and say the delay is costing millions.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Transport Security Expo to address full range of threats to global maritime securityWith 90% of the world’s trade being carried by sea, maritime security is a paramount issue.  According to a recent report from NYA International, at least 53 seafarers have already been taken hostage this year in piracy attacks off the coast of West Africa; conflicts in North Africa have spilled into the Mediterranean with a guided missile attack on an Egyptian Coastguard vessel and state-sponsored actions against merchant shipping; and criminal boarding or 'armed robbery against ships' remains a serious risk facing mariners and their ships in Southern and Southeast Asia. By offer...
• Transport for London to take first Toyota Mirai fuel cell electric vehiclesMajor of London Boris Johnson has announced that Transport for London will be the first UK customer for the new Toyota Mirai fuel cell electric vehicle. TfL will take delivery of four Mirai models to assist with essential engineering and maintenance work carried out between bus stops and Tube stations. The TfL models will be joined by the end of this year by a further eight Mirai models in the capital, which will be used by private hire firm private car service Greentomatocars and energy storage and clean fuel company ITM Power. The news was announced as the mayor visited Toyota’s hea...
• DB man to lead Arriva as Martin steps downDB Regio boss Manfred Rudhart has been named as the new boss of Arriva. He will begin his new role on January 1, when the Sunderland-based group’s long serving chief executive, David Martin, steps down. Martin has headed Arriva since 2006, and is credited with leading the group’s substantial growth since joining in 1996. He oversaw the group’s sale to Deutsche Bahn, Germany’s state-owned railway company, in 2010. Today the group employs 55,000 people and generates revenues of £3.3bn across 14 European countries. The 63-year-old will relinquish his duties in Dece...
• Airbus to launch world's longest commercial passenger routeAn ultra-long range version of the Airbus A350-900 is set to launch the world’s longest commercial passenger route – a 19 hour flight between Singapore and New York. Singapore Airlines (SIA) has selected Airbus’ newly launched Ultra-Long Range version of the A350-900 for non-stop flights to the US – which will pass through 16 time zones. Representing a distance of some 8,700 nautical miles, the New York service will be the world’s longest commercial passenger route. The current longest is a service from Dubai to Panama, a 17 hour flight. Optimised for non-stop...
• Allerton depot opens to electric trains after �23m makeoverAllerton Train Maintenance Depot is ready to service Northern Rail’s fleet of Northern Electrics trains after a £23m upgrade by Network Rail. The fleet of 20 electric trains, which are due to be fully deployed by December 2015, will provide 6.7m additional seats a year to routes between Liverpool, Manchester, Wigan, Preston and Warrington for Northern Rail’s customers. Located near to Liverpool South Parkway on the busy Manchester to Liverpool line, Network Rail acquired the depot in 2011, transforming it from its near derelict state to a cutting edge maintenance facility, ...
• Bibby keeps Unipart Rail on trackUnipart Rail has renewed its contract with Bibby Distribution with the 3PL continuing to manage and operate the international rail parts and service provider’s specialised 33-vehicle fleet. The new agreement will see the two companies further their close working partnership, which spans almost two decades. Unipart Rail re-awarded the contract to Bibby Distribution thanks to the logistics company’s proven commitment to improving the fleet’s efficiency, while reducing costs and carbon emissions. Unipart Rail Transport Logistics Manager Rick Moglia says:

Rail Magazine

• NR contest offers IT career path for young womenNetwork Rail launched the third year of its Could IT Be You? competition
• Harris joins QSSDavid Harris has joined The QSS Group as Operations Director
• Perry tours Siemens site at ChippenhamClaire Perry visited Siemens Rail Automation’s offices in Chippenham
• Hitachi shares IEP design awardHitachi Rail Europe and DCA Design International have won a prestigious award
• TfL plans Camden Town rebuildTransport for London is planning to rebuild Camden Town Underground station

Railway Gazette

• Trinity Industries and Element Financial extend wagon allianceUSA: On October 14 the TrinityRail Asset Management Co subsidiary of Trinity Industries announced...

Green Miscellany

• Every passenger gets a window seat: Airliners with transparent fuselagesNervous flyers look away now; Every passenger will get a window seat if airliners install transparent fuselages. A British company is promising to reduce the environmental cost of flying by removing windows from aircraft and replacing them with a panoramic video screen. The technology makes the fuselage of the plane appear invisible to passengers. The post Every passenger gets a window seat: Airliners with transparent fuselages appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• FLASHBACK: Early electric trams trundle through Darwen Circus in Edwardian times DARWEN led the way with the first steam-driven tramway in the country on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 13, 1881 when a vast crowd turned out to see the first trams rattling their way over the joints on the run between Darwen and Blackburn.
• EUROCONTROL: air traffic is growing again Since the beginning of 2015, European traffic grew on average 1.2% more than it did in 2014. In the summer months (May ndash; August 2015), it was closer to 2% more. This is in line with the...
• MEPs call for reduction target on aviation and shipping emissions in Paris dealStatement from Transport amp; Environment following European Parliamentrsquo;s vote for the EU to ensure aviation and shipping emissions are included in the final Paris climate deal Link to...
• ITM: Virgin refund scheme will disrupt travel policyAutomatic refunds not available through booking tools or TMCs