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

Wednesday, 23 March 2016

BBC News

• M6 toll 'should be dropped after crashes'The toll road along the M6 motorway should be opened more quickly to ease congestion after serious crashes, the police and crime commissioner for the West Midlands recommends.
• Airport security under the spotlight againHow can we keep our airports safe?
• Airport 'lacks long-term growth plan'Welsh Government-owned Cardiff Airport is missing its passenger targets and lacks a long-term plan to expand, a committee of AMs says.
• Piccadilly Line strike due to startTube drivers will stage first of three 24-hour strikes over a

Department for Transport

• From London to the north, HS2 offers boost to housing, jobs and economic growthHS2 to lead regeneration at Old Oak and Park Royal and helping local growth in Greater Manchester and Leeds thanks to new government funding.

The Guardian

• Tube strike to hit Piccadilly line as drivers walk outMembers of the RMT union to begin industrial action at 9pm on Wednesday for 24 hours over issues with ageing trains and ‘hostile’ management attitude Hundreds of drivers on the Piccadilly line in London are to go ahead with a strike from Wednesday night over claims of a “comprehensive breakdown” in industrial relations. Related: Tube drivers accept pay deal on all-night service
• Brussels airport and metro attacked: front pages around the world – in picturesThe terrorist attacks at an airport and a metro station in the capital of Belgium on Wednesday morning was front-page news around the world. Here are a selection of the front pages from major publications Continue reading...

The Herald

• Police Scotland: security at Scottish transport hubs being reviewed following Brussels attacksSecurity is being reviewed at Scottish transport hubs in the wake of the Brussels blasts, Chief Constable Phil Gormley said.

The Scotsman

• Extra security at Scotland’s airports after Brussels attackSecurity is being reviewed at Scottish transport hubs in the wake of the Brussels blasts, chief constable Phil Gormley said.

The Mirror

• What would it cost to repair Britain's roads? It's a LOT more than you think Not only would it take £12bn to fix Britain's roads it would also 14 years

Birmingham Post

• Opponents of HS2 high speed rail have one final chance to stop it Building work on Birmingham's new rail line begins next year but opponents have launched a last ditch attempt to block it

London Evening Standard

• Moment traumatised Brussels Metro passengers are led from train after terror attackThis is the moment traumatised passengers are led from a train carriage after an explosion on the Brussels Metro.

Manchester Evening News

• Trams on Metrolink line between Whitefield and Bury cancelled until Wednesday morning after train derailment Derailment of train on East Lancashire Railway line next to tram tracks set to hit commuters

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Gateshead's decision to pull out of devolution deal could kill off combined authority planThe case against a regional authority and mayor looks stronger than ever, as Gateshead said it would not be signing up to the deal

The York Press

• Rare York railway document found A 117-YEAR-OLD document heralding the planned Derwent Valley Light Railway (DVLR) has been found in Cambridge.

Wales Online

• Cardiff Airport is lacking a long-term plan for growth, warn AMsThe Assembly's Public Account Committee warned the publicly-owned airport needs a long-term business plan if it is to deliver improvements

Yorkshire Evening Post

• ‘We are ready for Leeds high-speed rail link’ civic leaders tell Government ahead of crunch debateLeeds civic and business leaders are calling on the Government to give its formal approval for high-speed rail- and formally kickstart a £4.2 bilion reail revolution in the North.

Daventry Express

• New electric car joins Daventry District Council’s low emission fleetlectric pool car has been bought by Daventry District Council to help drive down carbon emissions.

London24

• MPs urge Osborne to keep £27bn Crossrail 2 on trackTwenty-five Tory MPs have appealed to George Osborne to keep London’s vital Crossrail 2 project on track.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Train disruption through Peterborough this EasterPassengers travelling through Peterborough are being advised to check before they travel this Easter as Network Rail embarks on one of the biggest Easter investment programmes ever carried out on Britain’s rail network.

Other Regional Press

• AA warn drivers to expect chaos over the Easter holidaysThe Easter getaway on the roads is expected to be busier than last year, motoring experts have warned.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Reading Buses to take hybrid power to new levelReading Buses is challenging the best technology that can be produced for engines that will improve environmental performance and reduce running costs. The company has announced that it will upgrade the hybrid systems in two of their existing double deck buses.  Speaking at today's IMechE Transmission and Driveline Technology conference, Reading Buses Chief Engineer John Bickerton described the work as ‘pushing the powertrain technology envelope beyond the present capability of existing suppliers.’ One vehicle will use Vantage Power’s series-hybrid system, bringing st...
• Governments agree joint aim for Scotland to London train timesUK and Scottish governments have agreed to work together to deliver a three-hour rail journey time between Scotland and London. The work will hope to ease the current problems of congestion that build up on cross-border routes and to bring journeys between London and the Central Belt down to less than three hours. Apart from improvements to passenger journeys, the governments are looking forward to seeing economic benefits flourish from this project. It's expected that the work, which is set to begin next year, will create jobs, investment opportunities and environmental benefits for the whole...
• Scotland’s Transport Minister sees Tarmac’s rail freight expertise first handTarmac, the UK’s leading sustainable building materials and construction solutions company, has hosted a visit from Derek Mackay, Scottish Government Minister for Transport and Islands at its Craiginches Sidings rail freight depot in Aberdeen. Mr Mackay MSP learned of the role the company plays in Scotland’s rail freight and construction sectors, and conducted the official naming ceremony of Tarmac’s new locomotive, Dunbar. The Minister was shown around the site by Chris Swan, Senior Manager Rail and Shipping for Tarmac. During his visit, Mr Mackay heard how the company&rsqu...
• Transport Systems Catapult announce Terry Hill as new ChairmanThe Transport Systems Catapult (TSC) has announced the appointment of former Arup Group Chairman Terry Hill, CBE, FREng as its new Chairman. Terry will move from his existing role of non-executive Director to succeed the TSC’s incumbent Chairman, Will Whitehorn, with effect from 1st April. Will Whitehorn has served as Chairman of the TSC since its inception in 2013, and has stepped down following his appointment as Deputy Chairman of Stagecoach Group PLC.  Terry Hill has been a non-executive Director of the TSC since 2013, alongside his roles as a Trustee of the Arup Group Owning ...

Rail Magazine

• New trains for Hull TrainsFive bi-mode trains will enter traffic with First Hull Trains from 2020.
• Nexus ends Tyne & Wear Metro contract earlyTyne & Wear Passenger Transport Executive Nexus is to take over the running of the Tyne & Wear Metro from April 2017.

Rail Technology Magazine

• 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…
• City Rail Link, Auckland City Rail Link (CRL) is an extension of the existing underground line through the Auckland city centre in New Zealand (NZ), passing through Britomart, under Albert, Vincent and Pitt Streets.
• Sulzer Launches New Highly Efficient Recirculation Pump The new pump series is designed to recirculate and pump activated sludge in wastewater treatment plants during the nitrification and denitrification process, as well as for the pumping of surface, storm and river water. It complements the submersible…
• Work on new four-hour London to Scotland HS2 to begin next yearTravelling to Scotland from London in less than four hours will be possible after the UK and Scottish governments agreed to begin work on the new railway line next year. The announcement came as the governments welcomed the results of a joint report which says that HS2 should come to Scotland...
• RAIB opens investigation following Grimston Lane level crossing fatality The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has launched an investigation into the death of a pedestrian on a level crossing near Felixstowe last month. The fatality occurred at around 12.25pm on 23 February when the passenger was struck by a train from Ipswich to Felixstowe. The accident...
• Former Amtrak president appointed chair of Network Rail Consulting's American branchNetwork Rail Consulting has announced the appointment of a former Amtrak president and chief executive as chair of its North American business. Thomas Downs will join the body, which acts as an international ambassador for the British railway industry, as a non-executive director and chair of...
• New Scottish Rail Freight Strategy promises more support and investment in CP6The Scottish freight industry will receive special support in CP6 following measures laid out in the new Rail Freight Strategy. The strategy, published today, says that the freight industry will provide advice to the Scottish government on the establishment of a ring-fenced rail freight...
• Council leaders call for 'eastern phase' to Crossrail 2 to promote growthCrossrail 2 must be extended to east London in order to foster growth in the region, council leaders have said. According to a new study from transport consultancy GHD, which was commissioned jointly by Essex, Newham, Hackney and Barking and Dagenham councils and will be published in a few weeks...

Railnews

• New Scottish high speed plans unveiled New plans for improving rail links between England and Scotland have been unveiled by governments on both sides of the border. Ministers have agreed that a plan to reduce the journey time between London and the central belt to three hours is essential. The HS2 report sets out options for new infrastructure or upgrading existing lines with 220km of new 'bypasses' for the present West Coast route, while a separate high speed route from the northern termini of HS2 would require about 300km of new line.

Aviation Industry

• Brussels Airlines reverses losses, posts $45.1 million 2015 net profitBrussels Airlines reported a 2015 net profit of €41.3 million ($45.1 million), reversing a €4.2 million net loss from 2014. read more
• Norwegian targets long-haul growth with Dreamliners dealAirline signs agreement to lease two Boeing 787-9 aircraft

Other News Sources

• Plaid MP takes steps in Westminster to fight for fair funding for Wales from HS2Wales deserves a government that will always act in the Welsh national interest. Plaid Cymru Treasury Spokesperson Jonathan Edwards MP has tabled an amendment to the HS2 Bill, which will be debated in the Commons on Wednesday, calling on the UK Government to come clean on exactly how much more money Wales would have received if the ‘once in a generation’ infrastructure project had been designated an England-only project.
• Halton Curve set to re-open creating new job opportunities and extra train linksTHE long awaited re-opening of a railway line through Runcorn could help to create new jobs and additional train links.
• Transport Minister launches Scotland's rail freight strategyTransport Minister, Derek Mackay, launched the Scottish Government’s new rail freight strategy for Scotland at an event at Aberdeen Craiginches Freight Terminal.
• Heathrow expansion would exacerbate London's housing challenge, mayor's report saysExpanding Heathrow Airport would exacerbate London's housing challenge, while the health risks caused by a third runway would cost the government up to £25 billion over 60 years, a new report by the mayor of London claims.