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

Wednesday, 21 October 2015

BBC News

• Scots firm's '£2bn' bus deal with ChinaScottish bus producer Alexander Dennis signs a deal potentially worth £2bn with a Chinese firm specialising in electric vehicles.
• Call to stop M4 relief road spendingSpending on preparations for a �1bn M4 relief road around Newport should stop until after the 2016 assembly election, Plaid Cymru says.

Financial Times

• United gets third chief in six weeksHart, the airline’s general counsel, is to take over on an interim basis
• Air France struggles with big cost cutsSome analysts and company insiders say flag carrier risks becoming second-tier player

The Herald

• Life in the fast lane: supercar sales in Scotland up 50% in two yearsSUPERCAR sales are going into overdrive in Scotland in a surge which car dealers say has not been driven by wealthy older workers cashing in their retirement savings.
• Chinese deal to build electric buses could reach �2bnA Scottish manufacturer has signed a deal to build vehicles for the world's biggest producer of electric buses, which could be worth nearly �2 billion.

The Scotsman

• South-West cycle route unveiled at Scotland StreetON your bikes, Glaswegians, as a new £1.25 million cycle path linking Pollokshields to the city centre is unveiled.

Mail Online

• Living near an airport 'is bad for your heart' researchers find The researchers in America blamed pollutant carbon monoxide (CO) which is pumped out in higher quantities when planes are idling or taxi-ing on runways for causing health problems.

Derby Telegraph

• Oyster card-style transport could be coming to Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire OYSTER card-style travel could be coming to Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire as part of plans set to see the area's councils have greater powers and control over “billions" of extra pounds

Manchester Evening News

• Two Greater Manchester M62 cameras net �1.8m from speeding motorists in just EIGHT monthsMore than 18,000 motorists fined for speeding on the motorway between J18 at Simister Island and J20 at Rochdale
• How Greater Manchester's �208m 'smart' motorway project has hit the headlines Apart from proving an annoyance for drivers, the project has suffered some high-profile glitches

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Transport giant Go-Ahead say first quarter trading in line with expectationsNewcastle registered bus and rail operator Go-Ahead say revenue growth across its regional bus and rail routes

Sheffield Star

• South Yorkshire bus firm wins award for work with policeA bus company in South Yorkshire is on the right road to tackling anti-social behaviour thanks to a partnership with South Yorkshire Police.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Plans on track to develop Leeds City StationAspirational plans for a radical redevelopment of Leeds city station have been revealed by Network Rail.

Yorkshire Post

• Retailers are told to cut fuel pricesMOTORING ORGANISATION the RAC has claimed petrol retailers should be making bigger price cuts to reflect wholesale costs.

Bucks Free Press

• MP urges residents to keep battling against HS2 Chesham and Amersham MP Cheryl Gillan called on her constituents to keep up the fight for an environmental compromise during an HS2 information evening on Friday.

East Anglian Daily Times

• What do passengers make of the rail service in Suffolk and Essex?The region’s biggest train operator says it is determined to improve customer satisfaction amid a fall in how happy people are with the service they receive.
• Rail services affected by train repairs this morningTrains repairs are affecting services in the region this morning.

North Wales Live

• Maritime hydraulics firm V&A completes vital safety work on Mersey Ferries Merseyside business has upgraded the fast response boats that are employed is someone falls overboard

Plymouth Herald

• Transport upgrades key for Plymouth, says new chamber chiefTHE new chief executive of Plymouth and Devon Chamber of Commerce says the region's business organisations need to unite and provide a single strong voice in order to gain key infrastructure gains from Government.

Other Regional Press

• Grants for businesses to encourage sustainable transport methods Businesses can help combat the county's every-growing congestion problem by bidding for a share of a £1m fund.
• Scales of Justice: Railway fare dodgers must pay hundreds of pounds in fines and costs Scales of Justice rounds up some of the cases decided at Teesside Magistrates' Court on October 9

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• London Freight Enforcement Partnership officially launchesThe new London Freight Enforcement Partnership has been officially launched by the capital's transport minister Mike Brown.� Aimed at tackling unsafe HGVs, the scheme will also take charge of removing non-compliant and unsafe commercial vehicles from the road.� The Freight Transport Association (FTA) welcomed the development, claiming that it is good news for the vast majority of companies in the sector that do take road safety very seriously.� Head of national and regional policy at the FTA Christopher Snelling said that the number of HGVs involved in fatal road accidents has halved over the ...
• BA pledges maintenance work for Cardiff Airport baseChairman Keith Williams made the announcement at the opening of a £3.3m extension to the University of South Wales' aerospace centre in Treforest. He said work on the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner will take place at its base near Cardiff Airport from 2016.
• �97m ferry contract for Ferguson's shipyard on the ClydeThe deal, which is worth about £97m, was confirmed at the SNP's annual conference in Aberdeen by Transport Minister Derek McKay. Ferguson's had previously been named as the preferred bidder for the contract. The firm was saved by businessman Jim McColl's Clyde Blowers Capital after it went bust on 15 August. Mr McColl is one of Scotland's wealthiest people. Originally formed in 1902, Ferguson's employed 77 staff at the time of the administration appointments.   Source: BBC
• Transport Secretary and East Midlands Trains mark new era for customers as �13 million investment programme gets underwayTransport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin today marked the first day of East Midlands Trains’ extended franchise, joining Neil Micklethwaite, EMT Customer Experience and Commercial Director and the team at Derby station to despatch the 08:01 hours service to London. Mr McLoughlin said: I want to see passengers put at the heart of our railway system. The franchise that starts today will mean better journeys and a better deal for passengers on East Midlands Trains. Strengthening our transport infrastructure, locally and nationally, is a key part of the government’s long term e...
• Aberdeen to Inverness rail improvements contractor appointedBAM will carry out the work, the first phase of which is due for completion in 2019. A half-hourly commuter service between Aberdeen and Inverurie will be introduced, along with additional peak services between Inverness and Elgin. Infrastructure will be installed to allow new stations to be built at Dalcross and Kintore. Engineers will also double-track 16 miles of line between Aberdeen and Inverurie, build a new station and straighten the railway alignment at Forres, extend platforms at Insch and Elgin to accommodate longer trains, and upgrade signalling systems along the route. Infrastr...
• Mary Queen of Scots helps launch new buses to travel on Scotland’s ‘royal route’ Mary Queen of Scots supported the launch of the bus firm’s ‘Royal Route’ at Linlithgow Palace along with company executives. The 38 Royal Route travels on from Stirling passing through Falkirk and West Lothian (Linlithgow/Winchburgh), Kirkliston and Newbridge on route to terminate in Edinburgh at Waterloo Place with up to 4 buses an hour in parts. It is supported by the 38A which stops off at the popular Gyle Shopping Centre. A total of 20 vehicles will be used on the route, all featuring an eye-catching new livery which features popular ‘Royal’ landmarks includ...
• New state of the art rail training academy now openBritain’s multi-million pound National Training Academy for Rail (NTAR) was opened by Rail Minister Claire Perry today, Tuesday 20 October 2015. This new world-class facility will train thousands of students using the latest digital, 3D and virtual reality equipment - giving them the hi-tech skills they need to work in the rail industry. Rail is a growing 21st century industry, benefitting from record levels of government investment. NTAR will be a new national hub for rail engineering excellence and will train the next generation of highly skilled rail technicians, engineers and manager...
• Transport minister opens improved road link for Milton KeynesImprovements to a vital transport link between Milton Keynes and the M1 have been opened by Transport Minister Andrew Jones today (19 October 2015). The newly-dualled section of the A421 and the enlarged Kingston roundabout will deliver easier, quicker journeys for people using this eastern approach to Milton Keynes. The upgraded road will also help create job opportunities by providing access to the development of 2,900 homes on land allocated for future housing. Transport Minister Andrew Jones said: Better roads help people get around and get on, as well as bringing long-term benefits to lo...
• Vueling Airlines announce new routes from Manchester AirportVueling Airlines has announced it will launch two new routes from Manchester Airport for summer 2016. Part of International Airlines Group (IAG), Vueling will offer direct services to Alicante and Rome from June next year. The Spanish low cost airline will operate three flights a week to Alicante and two flights a week to Rome in addition to their existing service to Barcelona, which started in June this year. Flights to Alicante will operate on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday with flights to Rome on Friday and Monday. The routes will be operated by an Airbus A320, with capacity for 180 passeng...

Rail Magazine

• Young poets featured across London UndergroundThree young writers have had works selected to be part of Poems of the Underground series

Rail Technology Magazine

• UniControls' Success in the European Business Awards UniControls has achieved great success in the European Business Awards. Over the last few months we have been keeping you up to date on our progress and results, with the company excelling in the contest.

Railway Gazette

• World rail infrastructure market October 2015 Argentina: ADIF has awarded contracts worth 523m pesos for the refurbishment of 23 stations on the...

Aviation Industry

• United Airlines appoints acting CEOBrett Hart to replace Munoz who suffered a heart attack last week
• Brussels Airlines unveils Loop loyalty programmeScheme will co-exist alongside Miles & More programme

Other News Sources

• TRANSPORT RANKS HIGHEST ON DEVOLUTION AGENDAThe Insider Devolution Survey, sponsored by BDO, gathered responses from more than 400 business people across the Midlands, with almost half (44 per cent) enthusiastic about the creation of a Midlands Powerhouse.
• MPs welcome letter from Transport Secretary in response to fears over Ely North Junction upgrade delays A letter has raised MPs' hopes that upgrading the Ely North Junction is still a priority for the Government. But they say there is still a lot of work to be done until the major project is delivered.
• Is Armley Gyratory key to Leeds’ transport future?Armley Gyratory could be set for much-needed revamp after being named in a major report into the future infrastructure of transport in Leeds.
• North Yorkshire Sets Out Transport HopesNorth Yorkshire County Council’s Executive is to consider long-term improvements to transport links across the county to help the region fully realise the economic benefits of the Northern Powerhouse.
• FTA calls on Government to support logistics apprenticeshipsThe Freight Transport Association (FTA) has called on the Government to support logistics industry apprenticeships in its submission to the ...
• Van Excellence Driver Competence course – a terrific step forwardAttendees of the inaugural FTA Van Excellence Certificate of Driver Competence course have described the event as ‘a fantastic day of learning,’ ...
• Taxi drivers say Uber has "flagrant disregard" to rules as decision on apps use in Brighton and Hove is deferred TAXI drivers accused Uber of showing a

News from Europe

• Driverless bus pilot hopes to revolutionise mass transport in EuropeThe city of Trikala, in central Greece, is the first in Europe to host a driverless bus in the city center.