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

Friday, 19 February 2016

BBC News

• Region's indecision over HS2 site 'gives foolish image'Indecision in the region over where South Yorkshire's HS2 station should be located is making it look foolish to the world, a business leader has said.
• City tram route opening 'delayed'The final section of the new Birmingham tram route will not open until the summer, several months behind schedule, the BBC understands.
• Pope's plane reports laser flashCrew on Pope Francis's flight from Cuba to Mexico last Friday noticed a laser beam from the ground, the airline has said.
• VIDEO: Supplier 'saddened' at Bombardier cutsA parts supplier to Bombardier based in County Londonderry says they are
• Bombardier suspends apprentice schemeThe aerospace firm, Bombardier, says it will not be taking on any more apprentices.
• Air France-KLM returns to profitAir France-KLM returned to profit last year, helped by lower fuel costs and higher passenger numbers.
• Uber 'losing $1bn in China every year'US online car-hire service Uber is losing more than $1bn a year in China, as it struggles against

Financial Times

• Air France-KLM returns to profitShares jump after lower fuel prices and continued cost-cutting boost performance
• Go-Ahead apologises to rail commutersGroup says delays were outside its control as it reports 16.6% rise in half-year pre-tax profits
• Bombardier Canada deal reveals dependenceNew orders highlight jet maker’s reliance on the Québec government

The Guardian

• Euston station upgrade risks years of misery, says train operatorGo-Ahead chief said £2.25bn redevelopment to accommodate HS2 could afflict commuters as much as London Bridge’s five-year refurbishment
• Centrica and Go-Ahead battle it out for title of most-hated business in BritainIain Conn and David Brown should compare notes after the day they have just had.
• London mayor race: transport watchdog urges road traffic reduction policyThe capital’s official transport users’ representative has produced ten policy ideas for the next mayor
• Eurotunnel claims compensation for migrant disruptionA concrete wall six metres high and 600 metres long is needed to prevent refugees and migrants from entering the Channel tunnel at Calais, according to Eurotunnel.

The Herald

• Budget airline relaunches bargain breaks to New York from GlasgowBudget airline Jet2 is to relaunch city breaks from Glasgow to New York this winter.
• Richard Branson to unveil new Virgin Galactic space tourism rocketRichard Branson is expected to reveal a new SpaceShip later, just over a year since a test pilot was killed in a crash.
• Transport boss says Glasgow needs more bus lanes to tackle congestionMORE bus lanes and gates should be rolled out across major cities to tackle congestion and speed up journeys for passengers, one of the industry's leading figures has said.

The Huffington Post

• 'Baby On Board' Badge Wearers Say They Are Ignored By Commuters When Wanting A SeatPregnant women have lashed out at commuters after claiming they usually don't get offered a seat on TfL Tube services despite wearing 'Baby On Board' badges. A group of women who wear the badges spoke to The Huffington Post UK about their experiences, saying that they

The Scotsman

• Aberdeen could become priciest place to park under new plansAberdeen could become one of the most expensive places to park a car in Scotland if new on-street charges are introduced.
• Alastair Dalton: Our lowly bus services deserve more respect It is the Cinderella of Scottish transport but deserves the crown for the crucial role it plays in getting folk about.
• Scottish Government has “dropped” Glasgow to Edinburgh bullet train THE Scottish Government has been accused of “dropping” flagship plans for a bullet train between Glasgow and Edinburgh after it emerged no meetings have been held about the proposals for more than a year.
• Leaders: ‘Bullet train’ project must not be allowed to derail HIGH-QUALITY transport links are vital to economic growth, so the Scottish Government must do what it can to further this plan
• How much for a private rail carriage from Edinburgh to London? VIRGIN Trains gives commuters the opportunity to ‘travel like a rock star’ by charting their own train from Scotland to London for a cool starting price of £65,000.

Times Online

• Channel tunnel grows by 600m to keep migrants off trains at Calais [subscription]The Channel tunnel will be extended for the first time since it opened 22 years ago to prevent migrants stowing away on trains to Britain.
• Go-Ahead shrugs off the brickbats to report profits surge [subscription]Go-Ahead Group reported a sharp rise in profits from its rail business yesterday just as it was labelled Britain’s worst train operator.

Belfast Telegraph

• Belfast Bombardier staff were told of 1,000 job losses by text messages'It's bad enough to learn your livelihood is under threat but it shouldn't be by social media'
• Transport group Go-Ahead apologises over rail delays as profits riseTransport group Go-Ahead has apologised to passengers dogged by delays on its train lines as it delivered a robust half-year performance.
• Richard Branson 'to unveil new space tourism rocket'Richard Branson is expected to reveal a new SpaceShip later, just over a year since a test pilot was killed in a crash.

Birmingham Mail

• More delays as Midland Metro will not arrive at New Street until May Conservative transport spokesman hits out at further delays to Birmingham City Centre Metro extension

Birmingham Post

• More expansion for Jaguar's Castle Bromwich factory Unanimous backing from city planners for project to add two new warehouses for logistics and storage on massive site in north Birmingham

London Evening Standard

• Tube strike: Staff threaten to cripple Underground network in row over safetyMembers will be balloted for industrial action, says TSSA union
• Eurotunnel sends £29m bill for hit from migrant crisisEurotunnel has sent a €29 million (£23 million) bill to the British and French governments to cover the costs and revenues lost because of the migrant crisis in Calais last year.

Manchester Evening News

• First Transpennine trains were the second most cancelled train service in the country last yearBosses blame storms, flooding, rail works and a dispute with unions for cancelling 1 in 29 trains in the past 12 months

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Newcastle International Airport announces plans to extend its car parks Owen Pugh have won the contract to carry out the multi-million pound scheme to create 1,600 new long-term parking spaces

Sheffield Star

• Sheffield road signal upgrade project hits 100 milestoneMore than 100 of Sheffield’s road junctions and pedestrian crossings have been improved and upgraded thanks to the council’s Streets Ahead project.

Sheffield Telegraph

• HS2 SUMMIT: Hundreds urge Government to choose station based on jobs Two hundred organisations have urged Government to think again on Sheffield’s HS2 station - and make a decision based on the economy and jobs.

Yorkshire Post

• Branson to unveil new ‘space tourism rocket’Richard Branson is expected to reveal a new SpaceShip later, just over a year since a test pilot was killed in a crash.

Blackpool Gazette

• Profits up at BAE SystemsDefence giant BAE Systems today reported rising annual profits.

North Wales Live

• Aer Lingus to double Liverpool John Lennon Airport flights Four daily departures to Dublin will particularly appeal to business sector

The Shields Gazette

• Port of Tyne set to see 42 cruise ships sail from river this yearThe Tyne will be a big draw for sea cruisers this summer with 42 ships set to sail from the river.

Other Regional Press

• £275m boost for Cotswolds rail track but £0 to revive old Witney linesCash totalling £275 million could boost train lines serving West Oxfordshire between Oxford and Hereford, but plans to open a disused railway line to Witney were disregarded at a key rail summit.
• Exclusive interview: MP Victoria Prentis vows to defy David Cameron over HS2 railway link NORTH Oxfordshire MP Victoria Prentis has claimed she would defy David Cameron over her opposition to HS2.
• Safety fears grow over plans for Batley rail level crossingMP Jo Cox intervenes in rail plans

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Will Whitehorn FCILT to become next CILT UK PresidentWill Whitehorn FCILT FRAeS FMS, Director, Stagecoach Group Plc and Chairman, Transport Systems Catapult, is to become the next President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) in the UK. He will take up the one-year presidency from Beverley Bell FCILT when she passes the honour at an inauguration lunch to be held in London on 20th May.   Will is a Fellow of the Institute and has been a Vice-President for the past four years. He is a leading figure in the transport sector and has worked in the profession all of his working life. Commenting on his appointment, Will s...

Freight on Rail

• New figures show freight on rail is the way forward.The latest rail freight statistics issued today, by the Office of Rail and Road 1, show that there are fundamental changes taking place in the industry which demonstrate where rail’s future lies.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Exhaust Extraction Systems for Rail Vehicles When maintaining diesel powered rail vehicles, the running engines produce a high concentration of air contaminants, creating an extreme hazard to staff health.
• Intelligence on Wheels to Showcase Train Collision Avoidance System in Italy The German hightech company Intelligence on Wheels will come to Italy in March 2016 to showcase their innovative and award-winning train collision avoidance system. This is an excellent opportunity to arrange for a face to face meeting and discuss yo…

Railnews

• Confusion grows over Bombardier job cuts Bombardier has denied a union claim that 270 jobs are to be axed at its train-building plant in Derby. The company says it is 'right-sizing' its businesses and cutting 7,000 jobs worldwide over the next two years including 3,200 in Transportation, with 1,350 set to be lost in the UK. However, more than 1,000 of these will be in Belfast, in the aviation division. A review has now been launched to decide where the British rail sector jobs will be axed, but the company said some of the losses could be offset by selective recruitment as well. Final figures are not expected for weeks and possibly ...
• Heritage operator off the rails over safety fears A heritage operator involved in a series of dangerous incidents, including a SPAD at a main line junction, has been banned from Network Rail infrastructure with effect from today by the Office of Rail and Road. Railway inspectors from the ORR had been investigating West Coast Railways since a steam-hauled charter overran a stop signal at a junction near Swindon in March last year and came close to colliding with a Great Western HST, after the Train Protection and Warning System had been allegedly switched off. The company and one of its drivers are currently facing charges in connection with ...

Railway Gazette

• Bilbao metro Series 950 train presentedSPAIN: On February 17 EuskoTren presented the first of 28 Series 950 trainsets that CAF is...
• Chicago moves ahead with airport express planUSA: The City of Chicago expects to select a contractor in March to develop designs for the...

Aviation Industry

• Sir Richard Branson: Why you should say yesWithout risk there is no reward. BusinessDay's Risk Room tells the stories of successful people who challenge the odds to do extraordinary things.
• Air France-KLM returns to profit after ‘favourable’ fuel pricesLow fuel costs at airline help offset union troubles and Paris attacks

Other News Sources

• Summit urges Sheffield region to make right decision on HS2 station locationSheffield’s business region must quickly come to a collective agreement on the location for the Sheffield HS2 station, according to speakers at a major summit.
• Southern rail cancellations 'highest in country' - as Which? survey reveals region's train passengers are 'least satisfied'Southern saw 4.8% of all scheduled train journeys 'cancelled' over the past 12 months, alongside a low customer satisfaction score of 48% from a Which? survey
• Open access operators top rail passenger satisfaction surveyAccording to the study of almost 7,000 rail passengers, Open Access operators Grand Central and Hull Trains achieved the highest satisfaction rating among commuters.