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

Tuesday, 10 November 2015

BBC News

• Cherished sites in HS2's firing lineNumerous sites in Birmingham and the Black Country would see crucial habitats disappear
• Night Tube staff costing £1.5m a monthTransport for London (TfL) has recruited 500 staff for the Night Tube at a cost of £1.5m per month, even though the new service is not operating yet.
• The sky has limits for Gulf airlinesGrowing congestion could limit Gulf airlines' plans
• Turbo gives petrol cars a boost as diesel faces backlashHow petrol engine tech is leaping ahead as diesel splutters
• VIDEO: Easyjet will 'look after' passengersChief executive of Easyjet Carolyn McCall says her company will
• VW offers US customers $1,000 vouchersVolkswagen has offered US customers caught up in the diesel emissions cheating scandal $1,000 in gift cards and vouchers.
• GE to build 1,000 new India trainsGeneral Electric has won a $2.6bn (�1.7bn) contract from the Indian government to build a fleet of new trains for the country.
• Easyjet chief warns - global airport security must be tightenedCarolyn McCall says passengers will welcome increased checks following terror alert and pledges all customers will be back from Egypt

Financial Times

• Oil glut to swamp demand until 2020IEA says cleaner fuels and greater efficiency will hit consumption and depress prices
• Canadian Pacific in fresh US rail playEarly stage talks to buy rival Norfolk Southern, after failed CSX approach
• Eurotunnel lines up City airport moveChannel tunnel rail group seeks to join bidding consortium to develop infrastructure portfolio

The Guardian

• 'High probability' Russian flight was bombed, says UK foreign secretaryPhilip Hammond makes most explicit statement so far of belief that bomb caused destruction of flight from Sharm el-SheikhThere is a “high probability” that a bomb planted by an Islamic State supporter brought down the Russian airliner which crashed over Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula just over a week ago, according to Britain’s foreign secretary.Drawing one of the most explicit links yet between Isis and the incident, Philip Hammond said that this did not necessarily mean that the attack was directed from the group’s headquarters in Syria. Continue reading...

The Herald

• 'Different culture' needed for aviation security, says expertPassengers departing from an airport should be scrutinised to the same extent as when they arrive in a foreign country, a security expert has said.

The Telegraph

• Labour shadow ministers ditch Jeremy Corbyn's 'barmy' women-only train carriages proposalExclusive: Labour shadow transport secretary says she is 'not convinced' idea would work as source says 'barmy' proposal will never become party policy
• Night Tube: Transport for London pays 500 extra staff �1.5m a month before first trains even runTransport operator accused of wasting money by paying hundreds of new workers hired for 24-hour service that might now be eight months late

Mail Online

• London Underground Night tube delays cost �1.5m a month in extra staff Hundreds of staff have been hired, but the plan triggered a stand-off with unions who called strike action over concern about drivers and station staff working unsociable hours.
• UK airlines won't resume flights to Sharm el-Sheikh until November 26 Thousands of Britons are stranded at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, amid continuing security concerns at the Egyptian airport. The government suspended air links after a Russian jet crashed.

Network Rail

• Network Rail set to make big progress on the Railway Upgrade Plan this ChristmasHundreds of thousands of passengers and freight users will benefit from one of the biggest Christmas and New Year investment programmes ever carried out on Britain’s rail network.

Bolton News

• Little bit of Heaton history preserved on railway bridge THE heritage of a renovated Heaton railway bridge has been preserved for future generations.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Hundreds of reported potholes unfilled on North Wales roads, cycling charity claims Website Fill That Hole, run by National Cycling Charity CTC, says out of 832 potholes reported to councils more than 700 are still there
• Transport chief blames DRIVERS for A55 traffic chaos since Penmaenbach tunnel worksClaim by transport minister comes as council leaders vent fury at 'lack of consultation' over major works

Sheffield Star

• Woodhead Pass to close for four days overnight for roadworksA major road between Sheffield and Manchester will be closed overnight for four days next week for roadworks.
• BUSES: Thousands call for Sheffield bus cut U-turn in online petitionThousands of people have signed a petition calling for Sheffield’s controversial bus cuts to be reversed.

Sheffield Telegraph

• BUSES: Thousands call for Sheffield bus cut U-turn in online petitionThousands of people have signed a petition calling for Sheffield’s controversial bus cuts to be reversed.
• Chaos and confusion as Sheffield bus cuts hit homeLong queues, timetable confusion and endless waits for buses after drastic cuts have sparked a wave of complaints.
• Several Doncaster bus services face axe under new transport plansA number of Doncaster bus routes could be axed under new public transport plans, which are set to go to public consultation this week.

Wales Online

• Thousands of misinformed Welsh motorists are having cars towed for falling foul of new car tax rules Strict new regulations introduced by the DVLA in October 2014 have led to a dramatic rise in the number of clampings

Blackpool Gazette

• New rail franchise will mean ‘better trains’ for BlackpoolBlackpool passengers can look forward to top quality wifi and new carriages next year when changes to the railway come on line. Read more: http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/business/local-business/new-rail-franchise-will-mean-better-trains-for-blackpool-1-7562232#ixzz3r4uTsUp2

Doncaster Free Press

• Bid to restore South Yorkshire canal put on icePlans to restore one of South Yorkshire’s canals, which have been in 30 years in the making, may have to be abandoned due to a ‘lack of council and community support’.
• Several Doncaster bus services face axe under new transport plansA number of Doncaster bus routes could be axed under new public transport plans, which are set to go to public consultation this week.

The Shields Gazette

• Signalling problems for Northern Rail in HartlepoolTrain lines are blocked in Hartlepool causing delays and disruptions across the North East.

Other Regional Press

• Transport police to clamp down on anti-social behaviourBritish Transport Police are clamping down on anti-social behaviour on trains travelling to and from Lancaster to Barrow.

Rail Magazine

• IN THIS MONTH: AdTranz launches Turbostar for Midland MainlineNews story from November 1998 (RAIL 344) about the unveiling of the first new Class 170 DMUs at Derby
• IN THIS MONTH: Railway Bill becomes lawNews story from November 1993 (RAIL 214) documenting the Railway Bill receiving Royal Assent
• Duke of Edinburgh meets Crossrail staffThe Duke of Edinburgh visited Farringdon station on October 4 to see the latest progress on the �14.8 billion Crossrail project
• NAO: Eurostar sale “value for money”The UK Government’s sale of its financial interest in CEurostar generated proceeds of £757.1 million and represented value for money, according to the NAO.
• ESG shows skid protection rigESG revealed its new Wheel Slide Protection Evaluation Rig (WSPER) in Derby on November 4
• Smartphones transforming rail maintenance, says NRNetwork Rail says widespread use of smartphone and tablet technology is transforming railway maintenance

Rail Technology Magazine

• London Underground begins work on new entrance to Bank Tube station The UK's London Underground (LU) has started work on a new entrance at Bank Tube station, which aims to reduce congestion through the station.
• Bombardier to deliver 18 Traxx locomotives to Railpool German leasing company Railpool has placed a $82m order with Bombardier to deliver 18 Traxx Multi-System (MS) and Traxx AC last mile locomotives.

Railway Gazette

• SECRET studies electromagnetic security riskEUROPE: The final conference of the three-year SECurity of Railways against Electromagnetic aTtacks...
• GE wins 1000-locomotive Indian Railways deal INDIA: On November 9 the Ministry of Railways issued GE with a letter of award for a US$2�6bn joint...

Aviation Industry

• Lufthansa cancels more than 900 flightsStrike by cabin crew means nearly one-third of schedule has been cancelled
• Vueling boss Cruz to take over at British AirwaysSpanish carrier’s CEO will become BA boss from spring 2016
• Estonian Air stops flying after EU decision on state aidCarrier is grounded after being ordered to pay back €85m in government backing

Other News Sources

• Holland-Kaye: Heathrow Academy saved taxpayers £8 millionLONDON, England - The Heathrow Academy has saved the government’s benefits bill about £8 million through its work filling the skills gaps and giving local people in jobs over the eleven years of its operation said Heathrow Chief Executive John Holland-Kaye last night.
• SNP to quiz Grayling on Evel plans for Heathrow voteTORY minister Chris Grayling will today be pressed on whether he will exclude Scots MPs from voting on plans to expand London’s Heathrow Airport as part of moves to restrict their voting rights.
• Guildford transport system revamp could cause 'congestion to neighbouring villages'Fears have been raised the plan could have a negative impact on the character of small villages surrounding Guildford by adding to pollution and traffic noise
• FTA Transport Manager Conference sees record number of delegatesRecognised as a ‘must attend event’ the Freight Transport Association (FTA) Transport Manager Conference has always been popular, but the 2015 ...
• FTA calls for support for Belfast airport plansThe Freight Transport Association (FTA) is lobbying politicians to back plans for an Enterprise Zone and road improvements at Belfast ...
• HS2 chief backs contractors and designers collaborationHS2’s chief executive has backed calls by new Institution of Civil Engineers president Sir John Armitt for contractors and designers to work more closely together.