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

Wednesday, 09 December 2015

BBC News

• Heathrow expansion: Plane spotters take 'blind test'The decision is still pending on whether a new runway will be built at Heathrow or Gatwick to try and meet the UK's air capacity needs
• Children 'want safer school routes'Primary school children are concerned about traffic and a lack of pavements on their way to school, a report shows.
• VIDEO: Forth Road Bridge work 'weather dependent'First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says the reopening of the Forth Road Bridge could be hampered by bad weather.
• Businesses lobby minister on bridge workScotland's Deputy First Minister John Swinney holds talks with some of the businesses being affected by the closure of the Forth Road Bridge.
• Calls for Forth Road Bridge inquiryOpposition parties at Holyrood call for a full parliamentary inquiry into the closure of the Forth Road Bridge.
• Zac Goldsmith 'regrets quit pledge'London mayor candidate Zac Goldsmith says he will stick by his vow to trigger a by-election if Heathrow expansion gets the go-ahead - but regrets saying it.
• Airport seeks owner of 'abandoned' jetsOfficials at Malaysia's main airport take out a newspaper advert seeking the owner of three Boeing 747 jets they say have been left unclaimed.

Department for Transport

• Massive boost to rail services brings Northern Powerhouse to lifeGovernment intends to award Northern franchise to Arriva Rail North Ltd, and TransPennine Express franchise to First Trans Pennine Express Ltd.
• Boost to rail services in Scotland as UK government awards next TransPennine Express franchiseGovernment intends to award Northern franchise to Arriva Rail North Ltd, and TransPennine Express franchise to First Trans Pennine Express Ltd.the UK government promised passengers in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Motherwell a world class cross-border rail service and today that is being delivered as new contract for the TransPennine Express franchise is awarded
• Massive boost to rail services in the north-west brings Northern Powerhouse to lifeGovernment intends to award Northern franchise to Arriva Rail North Ltd, and TransPennine Express franchise to First Trans Pennine Express Ltd.
• Massive boost to rail services in the north-east brings Northern Powerhouse to lifeGovernment intends to award Northern franchise to Arriva Rail North Ltd, and TransPennine Express franchise to First Trans Pennine Express Ltd.
• Massive boost to rail services across Yorkshire and the Humber brings Northern Powerhouse to lifeGovernment intends to award Northern franchise to Arriva Rail North Ltd, and TransPennine Express franchise to First Trans Pennine Express Ltd.the government promised passengers across Yorkshire and the Humber a world class rail service that would make the Northern Powerhouse a reality – today that is being delivered as new contracts for Northern and TransPennine Express franchises are awarded

Financial Times

• Zac Goldsmith warns Cameron against Heathrow ‘betrayal’Zac Goldsmith, Tory candidate for London mayor, has told David Cameron that it would be “an enormous betrayal” if the prime minister decided to back the expansion of Heathrow airport.
• Norfolk Southern rejects CP’s revised bidCanadian group is attempting first merger between large North American railways since 1999
• Uber steps on the gas pedal in South AsiaUS ride-sharing group to launch in Sri Lanka and Pakistan as it accelerates global growth push

The Guardian

• David Miranda in fresh challenge over Heathrow detentionGlenn Greenwald’s partner was held in 2013 under counter-terror laws while carrying files linked to Snowden leaksDavid Miranda, the partner of the former Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald, has launched a fresh appeal challenging the legality of his detention under counter-terrorism powers for nine hours at Heathrow airport in 2013.The hearing at the court of appeal in London is an attempt to overturn an earlier decision by a lower court that holding him under schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 was lawful. Continue reading...
• My son was grounded by Ryanair when it said ‘no’ to his violin case … and to his eurosAirline is ‘still investigating’ after we were forced to pay for a new ticket the next dayMy 16-year-old son was left stranded when Ryanair refused to let him board his flight because he was carrying a violin case. At the departure gate he was told he would have to pay to take the instrument into the cabin. But staff refused to accept his euros, insisting he pay in sterling. When he said that his parents, waiting at the check-in desk downstairs, would pay, a customer service person said they could not accept a card payment by us, either. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Commuters urged to use buses more during Forth Road Bridge closureTransport minister Derek Mackay has warned not enough people are using buses laid on after the Forth Road Bridge closed as diversion routes have become heavily congested and people are being turned away from packed trains.
• Zac Goldsmith: decision on whether to expand Heathrow is matter for all UK MPsTHE issue of whether or not to expand Heathrow airport is a “national decision” and should fully involve the SNP at Westminster, Zac Goldsmith, the Conservative mayoral candidate, has insisted.

The Telegraph

• Transport Minister dodges Forth bridge inquiry demandLabour and the Tories ask Derek Mackay to agree to an independent investigation after Nicola Sturgeon insists the bridge's closure was unforeseeable

The Mirror

• Malaysian airport bosses hunt owner of three 'abandoned' planes with newspaper advert The three Boeing 747s have stood abandoned at Kuala Lumpur International Airport for more than a year
• The best places to work in the UK have been revealed - is your company there? An annual search for the best places to work by jobs website Glassdoor named charity Oxfam and London Underground in the top 10

Birmingham Post

• London Midland to arm staff with body cameras Train operator hopes to get to grips with deterring and detecting anti-social behaviour

London Evening Standard

• Londoners to get free travel on New Year's Eve after TfL secures sponsor to foot the billTransport bosses have confirmed Londoners will again be able to travel home free of charge on New Year's Eve thanks to cash from a new sponsor, after they failed to find a supporter for the scheme last year.
• Black cabs given new digital boards to provide live London traffic updates New digital advertising boards warning motorists of traffic delays are being mounted on top of London's iconic black cabs.
• Heathrow expansion: Risk of plane crash 'was hidden by airport panel'Britain's Airports Commission was today accused of a "cover-up" over plane crash dangers to Londoners from a third runway at Heathrow.
• Night Tube plans suffer a fresh blow as union rejects pay dealPlans to introduce a Night Tube service have suffered yet another setback after union leaders rejected the latest pay and conditions offer.

Manchester Evening News

• Manchester Airport jobs boost: 2,500 roles up for grabs - and Wythenshawe residents get first dibs on them Thousands of jobs offered by airport - hub staff, retail, baggage handling and airlines roles up for grabs

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Heathrow third runway call 'based on fraudulent data', says Zac GoldsmithThe case for a third runway at Heathrow is based on "fraudulent" pollution data, Tory London mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith said as he renewed his vow to quit as an MP if David Cameron approves the controversial expansion.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Cross-border contract to police Yorkshire taxi and private hire trade ‘will improve passenger safety’A NEW Yorkshire wide cross-council task force is being created to police the taxi and private hire trade, with a regional database of drivers helping clamp down on rogue elements.
• Revealed: New operators of Leeds train services announcedPASSENGERS were promised better journeys this morning as the winning companies in the competitions to run rail services in and out of Leeds were announced.

Yorkshire Post

• Analysis: McLoughlin believes what he’s saying, but talk is cheapNo-ONE can doubt the Transport Secretary’s commitment to investing in better transport links but promises have to be delivered.
• Revealed: New operators of Yorkshire train services announcedPASSENGERS were promised better journeys this morning as the winning companies in the competitions to run Yorkshire rail services were announced.

Reading Evening Post

• Lidl plans in Calcot will impact cycle link for Berkshire townsPlanning officers are recommending Reading councillors object to the plan for a new store over the West Berkshire border

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Forth road bridge closure causes queues and delaysClosure of the Forth Road Bridge in Scotland is adding roughly 40 miles to any journey in the area, meaning that commercial drivers are struggling to complete deliveries in one shift. The bridge was closed due to a safety flaw in its steelwork and the closest alternative crossway is the Kindcardine bridge, which adds 45 minutes to a driver's journey. On Friday 4th December, the FTA said that queues as long as 11 miles were backed up on the Kindcardine Bridge due to the Forth Road bridge closure. Similarly, drivers at Clackmannanshire Bridge were victim to unexpected tailbacks of around six mil...
• Amazon claims another north-west propertyGlobal conglomerate Amazon has been on an acquisition spree of late and has just snapped up its third site in the north-west. The facility is New Capital's 110,000 square feet, Venus 110 property at Knowsley Industrial Estate in Liverpool, which the internet retailer has acquired before the building project is complete. When the building is finished, it will have 100,000 square feet of warehouse space and 10,000 square feet of office space. Amazon is expanding elsewhere in the north-west as it has recently submitted plans to take on a warehouse at Manchester Airport City. The project at Manche...

Railnews

• West Coast Main Line reopens after Carlisle flood The West Coast Main Line has reopened between England and Scotland two days after a stretch just north of Carlisle station was under more than two metres of floodwater. The first train through the reopened section was the up 10.51 Virgin Trains service from Edinburgh to London Euston which passed through the area just after 13.00. The Cumbrian Coast Line remains closed between Workington and Carlisle, while work continues to remove three landslides and repair two flood sites along the route. Network Rail said it hopes to reopen the line later in the week.
• Franchise awards to Arriva and First BREAKING NEWS Arriva has won the Northern franchise and Transpennine Express has been awarded to FirstGroup. (more follows)

Aviation Industry

• Boeing's New No-Drama 737 Jetliner Is Ready for Its Public DebutThe first completed Boeing Co. 737 MAX airplane is pictured at the Boeing manufacturing facility in Renton, Washington, on Dec. 8. The first four 737 MAX airplanes, including this one, are destined for Southwest Airlines.
• Lufthansa Group to centralize flight operations in Vienna Lufthansa Group, which is aiming to reduce overall management positions 15%, has assigned Austrian Airlines CEO Kay Kratky to take over responsibility for Lufthansa Group’s flight operations in Vienna, as of Jan. 1, 2016. read more
• United vows to beat American, Delta in 2016 operational performance United Airlines, trying to reverse its poor operational performance reputation, has promised its corporate customers that it will best American Airlines and Delta Air Lines in both flight completion and on-time arrival performance in 2016. read more
• Luton airport expansion to deliver �1bn to UK economyOxford economics report shows how the airport will help ease capacity issues in the south east
• Europe seeks air traffic reforms in Gulf carrier subsidy rowPackage of proposals outlined aimed at addressing ‘unfair practices’ of Gulf airlines
• Air France-KLM takes €50m hit from Paris attacksAirline adds New York and Tehran services