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

Wednesday, 23 December 2015

BBC News

• The art of the airport towerDuring the busy holiday travel season, the last thing many of us think of as we take off or land is the humble airport tower.
• More Dawlish rail line disruption predicted due to climate changeClimate change could disrupt up to a third of rail services travelling to and from the South West within the next 100 years, a study suggests.
• Traffic returns to Forth Road BridgeTraffic returns to the Forth Road Bridge after the completion of temporary repairs to the structure.
• VIDEO: London bus stops embrace e-paperTransport for London trials e-paper bus stops that can display travel information in real-time using solar power.
• Sleeper trains halted by strikeStrike action on rail sleeper services operated by Serco between stations in Scotland and London begins.
• Rail delays: How to get your money backHow can you get your money back if your train is delayed?
• Boeing fined $12m by US air regulatorAircraft maker Boeing is to pay a $12m (�8m) fine for

Department for Transport

• Better journeys for rail customers as new Northern and TransPennine Express franchises confirmedThe Department for Transport has officially signed the Northern and TransPennine Express contracts.

The Guardian

• Forth Road Bridge to reopen after temporary repair to steel defectScottish transport minister says key bridge link to Edinburgh that was closed due to defect will reopen on Wednesday to all traffic but HGVsThe Forth Road Bridge is to reopen to cars and light vehicles on Wednesday morning, nearly two weeks earlier than forecast, after engineers made a quick, temporary repair to a split support truss.Heavy goods vehicles will still be banned from crossing the bridge for at least six weeks, because the repair is too weak to carry their weight – a decision which has angered hauliers and distribution firms. Continue reading...
• Strike halts Caledonian Sleeper trainWorkers on the London-Scotland service will go on strike for 48 hours on Tuesday night over claims of defective trainsAnyone planning a romantic overnight rail trip to Scotland for Christmas will be sorely disappointed after staff on the Caledonian Sleeper train voted to strike.Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union were due to walk out at 6.30pm on Tuesday for 48 hours after the failure of last-ditch talks with Serco, which runs the service. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Forth Road Bridge boost for motorists but HGV ban sparks industry anger LORRY drivers have warned that a delay in reopening the Forth Road Bridge to heavy goods vehicles is set to cost businesses tens of millions of pounds.
• Rail campaigners call for new station to resolve chronic parking problems in MilngavieAN INDEPENDENT rail campaigner has issued an urgent call for a new station to resolve chronic parking problems in Milngavie.
• VisitScotland: Borders Railway has brought tourism boost and doubled shop takingsThe new Borders Railway has brought a huge tourism boost with a 20 per cent rise in visitors to some attractions and shop takings doubling.

The Independent

• Forth Road Bridge to reopen after temporary repairsThe Forth Road Bridge will reopen to cars and light vehicles from 6am on Wednesday after temporary repairs were completed ahead of schedule.

The Telegraph

• All 11,500 'Boris bikes' to be fitted with lasers to improve cyclist safetyBritish startup Blaze's laser lights will be integrated into London's Santander cycles to decrease blind spots of large vehicles

Times Online

• RMT strike halts sleeper service before Christmas [subscription]The Caledonian Sleeper service between Scotland and London will not run before Christmas after the RMT began strike action.
• Forth road bridge reopens to car traffic but hauliers are banned for weeks [subscription]There was delight for commuters but despair for hauliers yesterday when ministers announced that the Forth road bridge would reopen today, two weeks early — but not for all traffic.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• 'Ditch the diesels' drivers urged in campaign to improve city's air quality A WARNING poster has gone up at a spot in the district where air pollution has reached illegally high levels.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Trains through North Wales CANCELLED due to sick conductors Arriva Trains Wales say they have been forced to axe rush hour services yesterday and today with passengers facing further disruption in the run up to Christmas

Derby Telegraph

• Derby Telegraph published Rams fans petition East Midlands Airport to remove signs because...A GROUP of Derby County fans have launched an online petition calling for East Midlands Airport to remove signs depicting its logo because they feel it favours Nottingham. Members of the Rams Forum, which is an online discussion forum for Derby County fans, have started the petition as a reaction to a decision by the Castle Donington airport to remove a sign promoting Derby County. As reported in the Derby Telegraph last week, the airport took down the

Edinburgh Evening News

• Edinburgh transport jobs filled by army veteransTWO former military men are set to take over the top jobs in Edinburgh’s transport sector.
• Forth Road Bridge to reopen todayBANNING heavy lorries from the Forth Road Bridge until February will cost firms more than £40 million, hauliers warned as the crossing re-opened to other vehicles today.

London Evening Standard

• Rickshaws could be banned in parts of the West End under new lawRickshaws could be banned in parts of the West End if Camden Council gets backing for a new local law.
• Caledonian Sleeper strike: Two-day walkout to begin in row over safetyChristmas services on sleeper trains between Scotland and London have been disrupted after talks to avert strike action ended without agreement.
• Uber drivers submit 200,000 strong petition opposing new rules for private hire carsA 200,000 strong petition has been handed over to Transport for London opposing plans to impose additional rules on private hire apps like Uber.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• January roadwork misery for main West Bromwich routeDrivers in West Bromwich are facing New Year traffic chaos with roadworks on a main stretch heading into the town centre set to last the whole of January.

Yorkshire Post

• HS2 college expected to open on time following agreement on fundingTHE DONCASTER-based National College for High Speed Rail will open in 2017 after funding was agreed with the Government.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Transport Secretary unveils major boost for Crewe economyPatrick McLoughlin opens £26.5 million dual carriageway commemorating local figure David Whitby. Crewe’s economic transformation got a major boost today (21 December 2015) as the Transport Secretary opened a £26.5 million highway that will improve journeys and support jobs. The 1.1 km dual-carriageway will provide a valuable link between the A500 Hough-Shavington bypass and the A5020 Weston Road making it quicker to travel around Crewe and unlocking job opportunities in Basford, south of the city. The link road will be named David Whitby Way, commemorating the local man who...

Aviation Industry

• Airline bans hoverboards due to fire risk safety concernsA spokesperson from Singapore Airlines said: 'Singapore Airlines complies strictly with International Air Transport Association regulations on the transport of dangerous goods, which includes lithium batteries.'
• Etihad expands codeshare with Russia’s S7 AirlinesThe deal will cover eight additional destinations from the airline's Moscow hub.
• Qatar Airways boosts frequency on Manchester routeAdditional Monday and Saturday services added

Other News Sources

• Not everything flies in the COP21 climate treaty: Implications of Paris Treaty on international aviation emissionsDespite spirited support by numerous countries including the EU, Switzerland, Mexico and South Korea, as well as industry, the new Paris climate Agreement does not give a new mandate for deeper reductions to the international aviation and shipping. This keeps the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in charge to address emission reductions in both sectors in 2016.
• Further bridge closure is huge blow for freight industry, says FTAToday’s announcement that the Forth Road Bridge won’t re-open to HGVs until mid-February is a devastating blow for the logistics industry, ...
• Rail companies told to stop making false promises over neglected route RAIL operators have been warned to stop making false promises and improve their service - or be stripped of their franchise.
• The biggest rail company takeovers in 2015CK Investments S.A R.L., a joint venture between Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Limited and Cheung Kong (Holdings) Limited, (together, "CKI") acquired Eversholt Rail Group (Eversholt), one of the three leading rolling stock providers in the UK, for £2.5bn ($3.79bn), in April 2015.
• CTI appoints CEOTMC names Clive Wratten as its new chief executive