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

Saturday, 12 March 2016

BBC News

• Rail figures show 'significant' delaysAbout 57 trains in England, Scotland and Wales are significantly late every day, according to industry statistics.
• Port workers to take strike actionWorkers at Scotland's largest container port are to begin a two-week strike on Tuesday in a dispute over rotas and pay.
• Questions over Garden Bridge processThe BBC has seen documents which reveal Transport for London officials met the designer of the planned Garden Bridge four times before the procurement process officially began in February 2013.
• 'Record' February for Scottish airportsScotland's two biggest airports have reported their busiest February on record for passenger traffic.
• Carmakers increase tech investmentsUS carmakers General Motors and Ford both announce strategies geared at taking on the tech world's growing influence in the car industry.
• Network Rail plans sale of city stationsNetwork Rail is considering the sale of a number of the UK's best known railway stations in an effort to shore up its debt-laden balance sheet.

Financial Times

• UK driverless trucks plan picks up speedConvoys of automated road trains to be tested on motorway
• Network Rail looks to offload big stationsEuston, Paddington and Waterloo among 7,500 assets considered for sell-off

The Guardian

• George Osborne to back driverless car trials on UK motorwaysDriverless cars will be tested on Britain’s motorways as soon as next year, George Osborne will announce in next week’s budget, as he claims that Britain can “lead the world in new technologies and infrastructure”.
• Elon Musk's Hyperloop could head to Europe before CaliforniaAs two companies compete to make Hyperloop a reality, one looks to Slovakia as the first destination, ahead of the original Los Angeles to San Francisco rail planTake that Silicon Valley – Slovakia, a country at the heart of Europe, might become home to the first hi-tech Hyperloop train.Dirk Ahlborn, chief executive officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT), announced on Thursday that HTT has reached an agreement with the Slovakian government to explore building a local Hyperloop system. A transport system capable of speeds of up to 760mph (1,223kph). Continue reading...

The Herald

• Scotrail becomes official living wage employerScotRail has announced it is to become an official living wage employer.
• Driverless cars to be tested on British motorwaysDRIVERLESS cars will be allowed on Britain's motorways next year in a trial set to revolutionise motoring by 2020.
• Aberdeen’s airport suffers passenger slump due to oil downturn while Glasgow and Edinburgh gainCITY breaks to Dublin, Berlin and Copenhagen as well as daily flights to Doha have been credited with record-breaking passenger numbers for Scotland’s largest airports, while the North Sea oil crisis has seen February numbers plummet by over 30,000 in Aberdeen.

City AM

• 15 plans for the future of London transport: From the Northern Line extension to Night Tube and Crossrail 3London Mayor Boris Johnson has said £1.3tn of investment is needed in the capital over the next 35 years in order for London to retain its world class status.

The Mirror

• Driverless cars will take to Britain's motorways next year, says George OsborneEngineers suggest that the vehicles could eliminate 95 per cent of crashes - but trials must test their safety

This is Money

• Iconic train stations for sale by Network Rail: Fears that historic landmarks will fall to foreign buyers� London Paddington, Euston, Waterloo and Birmingham New Street stations have been put up for sale after the government-owned rail operator's debts spiralled out of control.

Sky News

• 700mph Hyperloop Transport Moves A Step CloserThe conceptual Hyperloop system could see passengers travel between Bratislava, Vienna and Budapest in under 20 minutes.

London Evening Standard

• Driverless cars are coming to a road near you by 2020Driverless cars will be allowed on Britain's motorways next year in a trial set to revolutionise motoring by 2020, George Osborne has announced.
• Boris Johnson hits out at Southeastern trains after arriving late for Brexit speechBoris Johnson has hit out at Southeastern rail services after he arrived late for his first major Brexit speech.

Manchester Evening News

• What is it really like to be a Manchester bus driver?Naked passengers, drunk passengers, confused passengers, amorous passengers and being better than London

Northern Echo

• Excitement builds as rail enthusiasts gather to catch glimpse of iconic Flying Scotsman Stuart Minting reports live from Grosmont Station where the Flying Scotsman will set off on its first journey over it's ten day visit to the region.

Northamptonshire Telegraph

• Serious accidents drop in Northamptonshire despite speed camera switch-off, report claimsSerious road accidents have dropped by 27 per cent since speed cameras were switched off in Northamptonshire, a study claims.

Sleaford Standard

• Bus services set to be reduced across Lincolnshire - despite council’s promise not to cut subsidiesLincolnshire County County’s opposition councillors have reacted with dismay over reports that vital bus services are set to be slashed next month, despite assurances from the council that bus subsidies would not be cut following a late cash injection from central government.

Other Regional Press

• Fears plans to raise railway track ‘could put homes at a greater risk of flooding’ FURTHER flood alleviation measures may be required following fears that a £120m flood relief channel could actually increase the risk on inundation to some Oxford homes.

Rail Technology Magazine

• First part-time drivers in training for Night TubeNight Tube drivers are now being recruited and are in training as plans for the new service are set to go ahead, a new Commissioner’s Report has confirmed. The report from Transport for London (TfL) commissioner Mike Brown, to be considered at the TfL board’s 17 March meeting, says...
• McLoughlin endorses Network Rail asset salesSelling assets is an option that Network Rail ‘should consider’, transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin told MPs yesterday. Network Rail has hired banking firm Citigroup to look at options for plugging its £2.5bn funding black hole, with the sale of 18 major stations including...
• 'Stigma against apprenticeships must end,' says Network Rail bossThe stigma against apprenticeships must end, Mark Carne said as Network Rail seeks to recruit new apprentices for its schemes. A Network Rail survey of advanced apprenticeship scheme graduates last year found that many had been able to achieve life goals thanks to the scheme. 52% were the first...

Railnews

• New Gatwick Express trains take off Rail minister Claire Perry has given a formal launch to the new fleet of trains for Gatwick Express. Speaking at London Victoria, she told Railnews she welcomed the arrival of more Derby-built Class 387 units in addition to those which have been running on Thameslink since early last year. The Class 387/2 fleet for Gatwick Express, built by Bombardier, has been given a distinctive red livery complemented by red covers on the 2+2 seating inside the trains. The interiors have been configured with airport traffic in mind, with additional luggage space.
• ExCeL London hosts Infrarail 2016 ExCeL London is the venue for this year�s Infrarail show, with more than 200 companies now preparing to present their latest products and innovations. Taking place from 12 to 14 April, this will be the eleventh of these events focusing on the systems, equipment and skills needed for building, managing and maintaining all elements of the railway�s fixed assets.

Railway Gazette

• Yellow front ends become optionalUK: A new Railway Group Standard covering audibility and visibility came into force on March 5,...
• Isabel DedringCurrently London’s Deputy Mayor for Transport, Isabel Dedring is to join Arup on March 21 as its...

Aviation Industry

• Airports put pressure on Osborne over APD devolutionMajority of MPs think APD rates should remain the same across the UK
• British Airways to add routes to GermanyCarrier will introduce routes from London City to Berlin and Hamburg