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

Saturday, 31 October 2015

BBC News

• Newtown bypass gets the go-aheadThe proposed route for a bypass to ease traffic problems in a Powys town is given the go-ahead by Transport Minister Edwina Hart.
• BA owner IAG reports strong profitsBA and Iberia owner International Airlines Group reports a 48% increase in quarterly profits.
• Airbus to increase A320 productionEuropean aircraft consortium Airbus announces plans to ramp up production of its A320 following a profitable third quarter earnings report.

Financial Times

• IAG shares dip as profit goal disappointsRevised earnings target falls short of analysts’ expectations, although group reports solid results
• IAG: long haulThe flag carriers are cheap for a reason

The Guardian

• Tory MP's filibuster blocks bill to give carers free hospital parkingPhilip Davies speaks for 93 minutes to use up time allocated to debate Labour MP Julie Cooper’s private member’s billA Conservative MP has blocked a proposed law to introduce free hospital parking for carers by speaking in the House of Commons for 93 minutes in order to use up the time allocated for the debate.A private member’s bill brought forward by Julie Cooper, Labour MP for Burnley, set out a proposed exemption to hospital parking charges for carers. At the moment hospitals have discretionary powers to grant exemptions to parking charges. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Biggest hint yet that UK Government veering away from Heathrow expansionPATRICK McLoughlin, the Transport Secretary, has given the clearest indication yet that the UK Government is minded to reject a third runway at Heathrow Airport, costing �19 billion.

Mail Online

• It's Heathrow or nothing! George Osborne ready to back controversial third runway at Britain's biggest airport and rule out expansion at Gatwick The Chancellor is claimed to be persuaded Airports Commission's report and its unanimous backing of a third runway at Heathrow and the extra £147billion it is predicted to make Britain.

The Mirror

• ''Shameless Philip Davies showed Tories' nasty side by filibustering free hospital parking for carers'' He spoke in Parliament for 90 minutes to make sure the free parking Bill ran out of time - it is hard to grasp why anyone would want to do this
• Egypt plane crash: Live updates as Russian passenger jet carrying 224 people crashes in Central Sinai The Kogalymavia passenger plane, flying from Sharm el-Sheikh to Russia, was last heard from shortly after taking off from the Red Sea resort

Edinburgh Evening News

• Rail depot work to shatter Christmas peaceWHAT is meant to be the most “silent” night of year for families across the world is set to be the noisiest for one bunch of neighbours near Craigentinny rail depot.
• Virgin wins £16m Edinburgh rail fleet contractA MAJOR train operator has signed a multi-million pound deal to continue servicing its fleet in the Capital. The £16 million contract will see Virgin Trains’ diesel engines refurbished at the company’s Craigentinny depot.

Yorkshire Post

• Osborne: Northern rail connections key priority of new commissionBETTER TRANSPORT connections between Yorkshire and the North West are one of three immediate priorities the Government has set for a newly formed commission tasked with delivering big ideas to improve the country’s infrastructure.

Other Regional Press

• Plans to build a new railway station in StroodThe proposal submitted to Medway Council by Network Rail would see the current station demolished to make way for a new building capable of coping with greater numbers of passengers.
• George Osborne set to rule out second runway at Gatwick GEORGE Osborne is reportedly set to rule out a second runway at Gatwick in a bid to boost the case for expansion of Heathrow.
• SIX current surveys vie for the attention of Colnbrook residents!Everybody wants your opinion all of a sudden … or at least they claim to. With six surveys currently running on a range of topics from air pollution and Heathrow expansion to mental health and what the Council’s budget should look like next year, your views matter.
• George Osborne "ready to rule out" new Gatwick runway but Goldsmith thinks Government will vote against Heathrow expansionMP for Richmond Park Zac Goldsmith believes the Government will resist building a third runway at Heathrow, despite claims chancellor George Osborne is preparing to rule out expansion of Gatwick airport.

Bus and Coach.com

• Arriva highlights cycle safety in Merseyside
• Latest route conversion takes New Routemaster total in London to 600
• Cheaper fares arrive with revamped Sheffield bus network
• New links to shopping and business parks for Stagecoach North East
• RSM partners appointed as administrators to John Fishwick and Sons
• SPT takes further five Optare Solos
• Moody’s challenges impact of poor corporate governance at VW
• Cardiff Bus completes three-year investment programme

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Norwegian Cargo appoints Jan de Rijk Logistics as UK trucking providerNorwegian Cargo, the freight arm of low-cost carrier Norwegian, has granted a new road feeder service contract to leading transportation and distribution provider, Jan de Rijk Logistics, extending Norwegian’s delivery network to more than 50 airports around Europe. Freight forwarders will benefit as the new agreement takes advantage of Norwegian’s fast-growing long-haul network between London and five U.S. cities - New York, Los Angeles, Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale and Boston. Freight shipments arriving in London from the U.S. with onward connections will now be transported daily by J...
• RHA warns of Christmas disruptions as driver shortage hitsConsumers may be faced with empty shelves this Christmas if action is not taken to address the driver shortage facing the haulage industry.� This is according to the Road Haulage Association (RHA), which issued this warning as the crisis appears to be worsening.� Intensive lobbying of MPs is being carried out by RHA members as the industry body marks its first National Lorry Week, which started on October 26th and will run until tomorrow (October 31st).� Chief executive of the RHA Richard Burnett said the industry is currently short of between 45,000 and 50,000 drivers - and the situation is n...

Aviation Industry

• London Heathrow Airport presses ahead with runway plansManagers at London’s Heathrow airport are lining up potential contractors to build its long-awaited third runway, even as the UK government continues to mull whether the west London hub should be the site of additional runway capacity in the southeast of the country. read more
• Financial Roundup: World Airlines’ 3Q and 9M resultsATW roundup of airline financials for the third quarter, listed by region. Visit World Airline Financial Results: 3Q 2015 Roundup for a complete data table. read more
• Ryanair opens base at Berlin SchoenefeldIrish budget carrier Ryanair has opened a base at Berlin-Schoenefeld Airport where it will operate five 189-seat Boeing 737-800s on 17 new routes during the winter season. read more
• A4A’s board votes to make Delta’s exit immediateAirlines for America (A4A) has expedited Delta Air Lines’ departure from the organization, which is now effective immediately. read more
• British Airways parent firm to pay first dividendIAG sees profits surge by 60 per cent as fuel bill drops
• Norwegian set for long-haul expansion from UKNew operating licence will allow airline to launch flights to India

Other News Sources

• Make rail projects play the regeneration gameBroadening who pays for rail infrastructure projects could transform their design quality
• McLoughlin insists airports commission which backed Heathrow gave 'options' -Patrick McLoughlin has given the clearest signal yet that the Government may reject the recommendation of the Davies report that Heathrow should be expanded.
• Osborne reveals eight-strong infrastructure commission panelGeorge Osborne has revealed the eight members of the new National Infrastructure Commission, including one of the key figures behind Labour’s proposals for a similar body.
• New alternate syllabus for private pilot helicopter trainingIn the latest move to make the regulation of the UK's General Aviation (GA) sector more proportionate and evidence-based, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced today that two new training syllabus for private helicopter pilot training have been published.
• New alternate syllabus for private pilot helicopter trainingIn the latest move to make the regulation of the UK's General Aviation (GA) sector more proportionate and evidence-based, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced today that two new training syllabus for private helicopter pilot training have been published.
• CAA seeks to ease transition to new radios for light aircraft ownersA shortage of aviation radio frequencies across Europe means that most existing frequencies are being split to reduce the gap between them, allowing the introduction of more frequencies. As a result owners of general aviation aircraft will need to ensure that any radios fitted can transmit and receive on both 8.33kHz and 25kHz by 1 January 2018. To ease the transition the CAA is working on a number of initiatives to:
• ATPI Group expands in south-east AsiaPurchase of Malaysian TMC helps group to bolster presence in region