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

Thursday, 03 March 2016

BBC News

• Anger at Somerset bus pass cutsA decision to axe free bus travel for companions of disabled people in Somerset has met with an angry response.
• VIDEO: Archive video of Edinburgh airportArchive footage filmed in 1965 shows excited passengers at Edinburgh Airport as flights land.
• Pilot targeted by laser speaksA pilot says the person who shone a laser into his plane's cockpit as it made its descent into Dundee is
• Ryanair due to announce Belfast flightsRyanair is to give details on Thursday morning about flights to be operated from its new hub at Belfast International Airport.
• Tube line shuts after train derailsServices on part of the District Line are suspended for several hours after a train derailed on the approach to a station.

Department for Transport

• Transport Secretary in Norfolk to see government road investment providing faster, more reliable journeysPatrick McLoughlin visits 3 Department for Transport backed major road projects that will help the county’s thriving economy.
• Government plan to boost south-east transport infrastructureStudy will look at ways to improve the performance of the transport network between junctions 10 and 16 of the M25.
• Speech - Managing transport in an uncertain world - Andrew Jones MPLong-term commitment will boost transport resilience.

Financial Times

• Relax and let the robot drive youI prefer a Google-like car driven by a computer to one driven by a human distracted by a phone
• MH370 team to examine Mozambique debris‘High possibility’ the piece is from missing airliner, says Malaysia transport minister

The Guardian

• Driverless cars are the future. We're living in the motorised middle ages | Martin BelamOne of Google’s self-driving cars might have crashed this week, but it’s a mere blip on the road to seeing them transform our urban landscapeOur cities must have been dreadfully foul and smelly before the motor car. At the London Transport Museum they have a display of two horse-drawn vehicles. Pre-recorded voices make it sound like the model horses are chatting to each other, and there’s fake horse dung on the floor for extra giggles. Whole sub-industries flourished in clearing up the straw and excrement clogging up our 19th-century streets. It must have been particularly grim when it rained ...
• Possible MH370 debris in Mozambique to be analysed in AustraliaMalaysia’s transport minister says there is a ‘high possibility’ that the debris belongs to the same type of aircraftDebris washed up on a beach in Mozambique will be analysed in Australia to determine if it is from missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370The development comes days before the second anniversary of the plane’s disappearance. Continue reading...

Times Online

• New Forth crossing ‘to cost £1bn under budget and open this year’ [Subscription]The cost of building the new Forth crossing has fallen and the work is on course for completion in time for it to open this year, MSPs have been told.
• Headwinds will not hold us back, says Stagecoach [Subscription]Stagecoach reassured investors yesterday that the transport group remained on track to meet its full-year forecasts in the face of “more challenging” trading conditions.
• Passengers stranded as late trains skip stations [Subscription]Thousands of commuters are being left stranded on railway platforms as trains skip stations to avoid being late.
• Tory councils prepare to sue over Heathrow [Subscription]Conservative councils are preparing to sue the government over a proposed third runway at Heathrow.

Daily Express

• Scaremongering Rolls-Royce bosses warn British staff a Brexit would be BAD for businessMEDDLING Rolls-Royce bosses have warned their British staff that the business could be harmed if the UK ditches the EU.

London Evening Standard

• District line part suspended after Ealing Broadway train derailmentPart of the District line is still suspended this morning after a train derailed at Ealing Broadway last night.
• Night Tube could start before Boris Johnson steps down in MayThe long-awaited Night Tube could finally start running before Boris Johnson steps down as Mayor in May after union members agreed a pay deal.

Yorkshire Post

• SMEs have the chance for vital Heathrow role ENTREPRENEURS who wish to become part of Heathrow Airport’s supply chain have the chance to attend a major business summit which is due to be held in Yorkshire later this year.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Stagecoach still on track despite challenging trading environmentStagecoach said today that its expectations for group earnings for the year to April 30 had “not signficantly changed” with revenue growth in the UK having eased so far duriing the second half, in line with trends reported at the half-year stage.
• Transport ministers love coming to NorfolkThe Secretary of State for Transport is set to return to Norfolk tomorrow to examine the state of our roads, but has anything really improved since his first visit?

North Wales Live

• Trains operator Northern Rail joins Jade's hi-tech Crowd Technology provides wi-fi and enables rail company to interact with customers

Other Regional Press

• Winning designs announced for multi-million pound Oxford Rail Station revamp THE top three designs of the multi-million pound overhaul planned for Oxford Rail Station have been announced.
• “Cowardly” Islington Council bans residents from questioning Archway Road transport scheme"This is downright disgusting behaviour... that is not democracy."
• Passengers’ train hell as temperatures fall below zeroHundreds of angry train passengers faced a nightmare three-hour bus journey from London to Bedford on Sunday after Thameslink announced all trains between 11.30pm and 5am on Monday were cancelled.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• National Express deliver growth in all divisions as 2015 full year results announcedNational Express Group has announced that revenues, profits and margins were up in every division and a growing dividend underpinned by a strong and sustainable free cash flow, as their Full Year Results for the year ended 31st December 2015 were revealed.  Citing their strategic focus on consistently delivering operational excellence to drive returns and generate new business opportunities, National Express has continued to secure good growth and market expansion in existing businesses.  At the same time, the Group's successful entry into new markets has demonstrated significant fut...
• DfT �25 million fund delivers specially-fitted minibuses to DerbyshireTransport minister Andrew Jones gave the keys for two new bespoke minibuses to a family-owned Derbyshire company. These minibuses will be used by voluntary organisations to help the elderly and disabled, and are part of the Department for Transport's �25 million fund to aid community transport. Another way in which the government will be helping is in linking those without access to a commercial bus service to medical services, shops and social events. Other places to receive keys for new vehicles from the transport minister were Burscough in West Lancashire and Stockport. Mr Jones said:

Rail Technology Magazine

• Successful Implementation of the S3 Passenger Solution for Thalys Sqills provided the software solution S3 Passenger for the new low-cost service, IZY, announced by Thalys. The S3 Passenger sales and distribution system, comprises of revenue management, booking engine, seat reservation system, inventory management …
• ASC Launches Low-Cost Piezoelectric Accelerometers for Industrial Applications Advanced Sensors Calibration (ASC) has announced the introduction of a new family of low-cost, rugged piezoelectric accelerometers, the P311A series, designed for vibration monitoring in industrial environments.
• Thought-Provoking Ideas on the Challenges Facing Passenger Transport Service Providers in Europe 'Transport Management and Control In A World of Change And Complexity' brings together insight and opinion from politicians, senior decision-makers and industry commentators. It looks at the challenges of growing demand, rising congestion and increas…

Railnews

• Heathrow Express fleet withdrawn indefinitely The premium fare train service to Heathrow Airport will be operated by substitute rolling stock until further notice, after depot staff carrying out routine maintenance on Sunday reportedly discovered a crack in an underframe. Engineers from Siemens and CAF, who supplied the fleet almost 20 years ago, have been called to Old Oak Common depot. Heathrow Express has apologised, but emphasised that safety remained its top priority.

Aviation Industry

• Turkish Airlines reports record high profitsAirline sees profits soar 38 per cent in 2015
• Emirates completes world’s longest flightDubai-Auckland service touches down after 17 hours and 15 minutes in the air
• Flybe axes Liverpool-Amsterdam routeThree-times weekly service cancelled due to poor passenger numbers

Other News Sources

• Network Rail could face action over 16-month 'blight of graffiti' on Long Ditton railway bridges Elmbridge Borough Council will attempt to compel Network Rail to remove graffiti in Long Ditton
• Thurrock's political leaders write to Transport Secretary over Thames CrossingTHE three political party leaders at Thurrock Council have again written to the Secretary of State for Transport – this time asking for him to bring the Lower Thames Crossing consultation to a halt.
• Positive changes following meeting with Transport Minister about Loganair Highlands and Islands MSP and Scottish (Labour) Transport Spokesman, David Stewart (pictured) was reassured after meeting with Transport Minister, Derek Mackay regarding the latest situation with Loganair.