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

Friday, 30 October 2015

BBC News

• M4 and rail upgrade progress criticised by CrabbDevolution is failing to deliver economically vital projects such as an M4 relief road and rail upgrades, the Welsh secretary has claimed.
• Debate over hospital parking chargesA bill to exempt carers from paying hospital car parking charges will be debated in the House of Commons later.
• Airlines warn of more cost-cuttingTwo big European airlines report improved results but warn more cost-cutting is needed.
• Transport Cleaning [CBBC Video]This week the group take up roles as transport cleaners

Financial Times

• Build decent infrastructure and end Britain’s transport misery - Lord AdonisMinisters must decide, but the National Infrastructure Commission can hold them to account if they duck or delay
• Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding given lifelineState-backed lenders offer foundering company a rescue package
• Air France-KLM, Lufthansa report robust profitsBoth groups’ shares fall amid issues around cost cutting and sales outlook
• British Airways owner to pay dividendIAG to make maiden payout as restructuring delivers results

The Guardian

• VW must consider compensating motorists for emissions scandal, transport secretary saysPatrick McLoughlin says German carmaker will have to address impact on secondhand diesel vehicle pricesVolkswagen must consider offering compensation to motorists whose VW vehicle has lost some of its resale value as a result of the diesel emissions scandal, the transport secretary has said.Speaking in the House of Commons, Patrick McLoughlin said the German company would have to address the impact of the scandal on secondhand VW diesel prices. VW has admitted that 1.2m cars and commercial vehicles in the UK have been fitted with the defeat devices that allowed them to cheat emissions tests. C...

The Herald

• Rail ticket refund if wifi cuts outRail passengers will be able to claim a refund on tickets if firms fail to provide adequate wifi and seating under new Westminster compensation plans.
• Heathrow expansion: Evel or not Evel, ask the SNPTHE SNP has urged the UK Government to come clean on whether or not the great Home Counties airport expansion row will be deemed an “England-only” issue at Westminster and thus prevent Scottish MPs from voting on a key section of legislation.

The Telegraph

• Volkswagen may have to foot bill for fall in resale value of carsPatrick McLoughlin, the Transport Secretary, says that Volkswagen 'will have to address' the falling resale value of cars after the emissions scandal

Times Online

• Osborne ready to rule out new Gatwick runway [Subscription]The chancellor is preparing to rule out an expansion of Gatwick airport in a move that would help the case for a third runway at Heathrow, The Times has learnt.

The Mirror

• Ryanair launches massive winter getaway sale - but you'll need to get in there quickly The airline is using lower fuel prices to fund cut-price tickets to 370 destinations across Europe
• Clutha helicopter developed 256 faults in 32 flights before Glasgow crash, damning investigation reveals A crash probe questioned why pilot David Traill appeared to ignore repeated low fuel warnings but a maintenance log highlights a catalogue of problems

Birmingham Post

• First drive: Honda FCV hydrogen car First drive of the car Honda sees as its final step on the way to a mass-market fuel-cell vehicle

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Keighley loco in the spotlight LIGHT work has been made of a Keighley & Worth Valley Railway loco.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Airbus has sealed an �11bn plane deal with a Chinese firm China Aviation Supplies Holding Company (CAS) has signed a deal with Airbus for the acquisition of 30 A330 Family aircraft and 100 A320 Family aircraft

London Evening Standard

• Night Tube: London Underground bosses put pressure on staff to accept annual pay dealTube bosses have begun holding private face-to-face meetings with staff trying to persuade them to ignore union instructions and accept a deal covering annual pay and the launch of Night Tube.
• Gunman shoots at London commuter trainCommuters were left shaken after a gunman fired at a train from London and hit a window centimetres from a passenger’s head.

Northern Echo

• �5m link road approval is 'significant step forward', say Durham Tees Valley Airport owners THE owners of a struggling North-East airport have welcomed the decision to grant planning permission for a �5m link road they hope will help secure its future.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Nottingham to get 'Oyster card-style' ticket system - for all buses and trams Public transport in Nottingham will be driven into the 21st century in December with the introduction of an Oyster card-style ticket that can be used on all buses and trams.

Sheffield Star

• Bus changes will be chaosI have recently viewed the forthcoming bus changes, (route changes, timetable changes, bus number changes and fare changes), on-line.

Wales Online

• Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb says devolution is failing to deliver on the M4 and Valleys electrificationStephen Crabb launched a stinging attack on the record of the devolved government in Wales as he gave a key speech at Cardiff University

Yorkshire Post

• Night road works to address 50mph hellROAD WORKS frustrating commuters in Yorkshire will be speeded up following the intervention of a Government minister.

Bucks Free Press

• Outraged commuters criticise 'unfair' changes to rail timetable As rail bosses celebrate the opening of a new rail link between Oxford Parkway and London Marylebone, outraged Beaconsfield commuters have criticised Chiltern Railways for the introduction of an 'unfair' new timetable.

Burnley Express

• Halloween treat on Witch Way busesPassengers at Burnley bus station on Hallowe’en are in for a spell of fun.

Other Regional Press

• Rail electrification delays 'highly likely - and could mean a weekly bill of £3million TAXPAYERS face a weekly bill of nearly £3million for new electric trains that cannot be used if their track from London to Swansea is not ready on time.
• Councillors unanimously approve Lincoln Transport HubProposals for a £29 million integrated transport hub in Lincoln have been given planning permission by the city council.
• County Council include reopening of Ripon railway in transport plansThe re-opening of the Ripon railway has been included in North Yorkshire County Council’s (NYCC) long term plans to improve transport links across the county.
• End of the line for Philip after 12 glorious years on the railwayAfter 12 years at the helm, the managing director of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway has looked back on his time there as he steps down.
• Bus Users UK wants to know what you think of Northampton’s bus servicesA campaign group representing passengers wants to know what people in Northampton think of their bus service.
• Thanet council rejects buyout of Manston airport - at least, for nowAfter months of talks, councillors have voted against plans to purchase Manston airport with an American firm.
• Cyclist calls for 'dangerous' harbourside railway lines to be removed CALLS are being made to tear up Weymouth’s historic harbourside railway line.
• Molesey woman steps up campaign against Heathrow third runway with plans for Action GroupFiona Fraser, of Nightingale Road in West Molesey, joined other protesters at the Say No to Heathrow demonstration in central London several weeks ago, and now wants to form a Molesey alliance with the Teddington Action Group, an organisation firmly against expansion.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Urban delivery hybrid unveiled by ScaniaScania has unveiled a hybrid vehicle for its extensive range of urban distribution trucks.� This combines electric and biodiesel operation, while other engines run on gas and biogas, biodiesel, bioethanol and hydro-treated vegetable oil.� The move comes as part of the firm's ongoing commitment to offering the widest range of sustain�able transport solutions possible.� One of the highlights of Scania's new range is a hybrid that allows an 18-tonne distribution truck to operate solely on electric power for up to two kilometres.� Magnus Hoglund, who is responsible for alternative fuels and powert...
• Alstom Transport signs with BT for global networkBT today announced it has been selected by Alstom Transport, one of the world’s leading providers of transport systems and solutions, to consolidate and optimise its global network infrastructure. Through this contract, BT will support the operations of Alstom Transport in more than 300 locations across 59 countries. Under the terms of the agreement, BT will provide end to end network services from its BT Connect portfolio, including wide and local area networks, internet access, integration and maintenance services. Alstom Transport’s network will be managed and supported via BT&...
• SPT invest in a further 5 Optare Solos Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) has purchased a further 5 Optare Solos to be used on various subsidised local bus services across the area, including on the demand-responsive MyBus service.  This follows an investment in 18 Solos earlier in the year. The 7.9m, Euro 5, slim line, Solos are all fitted with leather seats and seatbelts, two of the MyBus Solos feature two wheelchair bays and 17 seats, making them ideal for use on MyBus, a bookable bus service offering door-to-door transport in urban and rural areas. Three of the vehicles will be will be used by operators McGills ...
• People make great bus services, gold ones!Local bus company Arriva North East is celebrating this week after being accredited with Gold Investors in People status.  Investors in People Gold is described as an achievement of ‘world class best practice’ and means that a company is considered to have the highest standards of people management and development. This places Arriva North East in the top tier of companies to work for across the country. The company employs over 1500 colleagues with depots in Ashington, Blyth, Newcastle, Durham, Darlington, Stockton, Redcar and Whitby. Nick Knox, area managing director...

Rail Magazine

• Six shunters for HNRCSix Class 08 shunters have been bought by Harry Needle Railroad Company
• Colas Rail Class 37s main line returnTwo previously preserved Class 37s are due to be delivered to Barrow Hill by mid-November, ready for a return to the main line.
• GBRf reveals Class 59 usage planThe only Class 59/0 in GB Railfreight’s fleet (59003 Yeoman Highlander) will haul biomass trains in the North West as the freight company grows its business
• REVEALED - new Siemens trains for London take shapeFirst South West Trains Class 707 vehicles take shape at Siemens' German factory.

Aviation Industry

• Air France-KLM calls for cost cuts as profit soarsAir France-KLM's management on Thursday called for drastic cost-cutting despite posting its largest quarterly net profit in five years as a result of lower fuel prices. Air France-KLM reported a net profit of 480 million euros in the third quarter, up from a revised EUR86 million profit in the corresponding period a year earlier.
• Deutsche Lufthansa AG's Buy Rating Reaffirmed at DZ Bank AG's stock had its
• Virgin America reports $72 million net profit in 3QVirgin America reported $71.9 million in third-quarter net income, up 72.7% from a net profit of $41.6 million the year-ago quarter. read more
• Lufthansa raises profit forecast despite claims of GDS fee impactGerman carrier expects adjusted operating profit of between €1.75 billion and €1.95 billion

Other News Sources

• MSPs call for buses to be regulatedTHE bus industry needs to be regulated to allow communities a say in decisions that leave them with no services a Glasgow MSP has said.
• Plans for Newtown bypass given the go-aheadTransport Minister, Edwina Hart, has given the go-ahead for the Welsh Government’s preferred route for the Newtown bypass after considering the findings of the Public Inquiry.
• Bus firm rolls out new Winchester fleet with free wifi and charging TWO new bus fleets saving thousands of tonnes in carbon emissions are coming to the streets of Winchester.
• Scotland's Transport Minister affirms close partnership with FTAScotland’s Transport Minister yesterday affirmed the close working relationship between the Scottish Government and the Freight Transport ...
• Low-sulphur fuel not cutting it in CaliforniaCalifornia regulators are warning vessel operators that buying ultra-low sulphur fuel oil (ULSFO) alone may not be enough to comply with the state’s new fuel requirements.
• Business leaders call on government for greater clarity over rail plansThe government must demonstrate how High Speed 2 will fit into the UK’s wider rail strategy, business leaders have warned.
• Rail passenger refunds if wifi is offline and no first class seatsGovernment sets out proposals to improve train standards for travellers