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

Thursday, 24 March 2016

BBC News

• VIDEO: Airport's plans 'overly optimistic'Cardiff Airport is still missing its passenger targets and lacks a long-term plan to expand, a committee of AMs says.
• Funding affecting pothole repairsIt will take seven years and �700m to get roads in Wales back to a reasonable condition, a study reveals as the Welsh Government announces �28m for local transport projects.
• 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.
• Young people 'caught up in explosions'A group of young people from Northern Ireland describe the scenes of panic at Brussels airport after Tuesday's bombings.
• Piccadilly Line strike action startsTube drivers on the Piccadilly Line begin the first of three 24-hour strikes.

The Guardian

• Air pollution experts call for scrappage scheme for diesel cars and boilersReport outlines moves that would cut pollution from road transport and gas combustion in London and increase life expectancyScrappage schemes for diesel cars and boilers, and allowing only the cleanest buses to drive on key polluted roads are among measures proposed by experts to cut pollution and help people live longer. The moves to cut pollution from road transport and gas combustion in London could increase the average life expectancy of people born in the city in 2025 by more than a month, leading to economic benefits of �600m a year, they said. Continue reading...
• Spanish coach crash driver ‘may have fallen asleep', say policePolice officials in Spain say they are investigating driver for ‘possible negligent homicide’ over crash that killed 13 The driver of a bus that crashed on Sunday killing 13 exchange students may have fallen asleep or become distracted moments before the accident in north-eastern Spain, police have said.Regional police commissioner Miquel Esquius said investigations were continuing, but police believed the driver may have dozed off or become distracted by a mobile phone or by talking to someone. Continue reading...
• Dyson developing an electric car, according to government documentsThe company last year refused to confirm they were working on a green vehicle, but a government plan on infrastructure suggests they areDyson is developing an electric car at its headquarters in Wiltshire with help from public money, according to government documents.The company, which makes a range of products that utilise the sort of highly efficient motors needed for an electric car such as vacuum cleaners, hand dryers and bladeless fans, last year refused to rule out rumours it was building one. Continue reading...
• London Waterloo's one-time Eurostar platforms to be returned to useMeasure is part of £800m upgrade at UK’s busiest rail station, including extension of platforms 1-4 to allow for longer trainsThe former Eurostar platforms at Waterloo station in London are to be brought back into use.The measure is part of a three-year £800m investment at the terminus, which is the busiest station in the UK with 234 million passengers each year. Continue reading...
• Supersonic jet startup vows 'affordable' travel – if you have $5,000 to spareSir Richard Branson says Virgin will partner with Boom to build and test plane to succeed where Concorde failed – ‘this lets you commute’ across oceansSir Richard Branson is hoping to bring back supersonic transatlantic passenger flights, and this time they will be “affordable”.Branson, who has already launched plans for $250,000-a-ticket flights into space, on Wednesday announced that his Virgin empire would help build a new generation of supersonic jets. Virgin has also signed an option to buy 10 of the planes to hopefully reintroduce 3.5-hour passenger flights between London and New York 13...
• MH370: debris found in Mozambique 'almost certainly' from missing planeAustralian government says analysis on two pieces of debris indicates they are ‘highly likely’ to have come from missing craft, fuelling confidence further remains will be found soonDebris found in Mozambique is “almost certainly” from the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, the Australian government has confirmed, fuelling belief that the remains of the plane will be found in the coming months. Related: Possible piece of MH370 engine found on South African beach Continue reading...

The Scotsman

• Threat to Jacobite steam train services liftedTHE threat to this year’s Jacobite steam service in the Highlands was averted today after a ban on operator West Coast Railways (WCR) from running trains across Britain was lifted.

The Telegraph

• Tube strike affects Heathrow in run-up to Easter weekendPiccadilly line drivers walk out in row over age of trains

Times Online

• Virgin’s profits rise despite losing bet on fuel price [Subscription]Virgin Atlantic, the often loss-making airline founded by Sir Richard Branson more than 30 years ago, has stayed in the black for the second year running despite a decline in passengers and its aircraft flying less full.

Daily Express

• Plane debris found ‘ALMOST CERTAINLY’ from missing Malaysian Airlines jet MH370DEBRIS found washed up on the shores of Mozambique is “highly likely” to have come from Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, it has been claimed.

Mail Online

• Pilot of FlyDubai plane which crashed killing 62 had resigned 'because of schedule'� The pilot of the FlyDubai jet which crashed in Russia on Saturday, killing all 62 people on board, had resigned due to an unbearable schedule, according to a Russian media outlet.
• Malaysia says possible MH370 debris found in South Africa A South African archaeologist has found a piece of debris (pictured) stamped with the logo of Rolls Royce, which made the engine for the missing Boeing airliner�Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.
• Theresa May warns of travel chaos for Easter because of enhanced security checks The Home Secretary warned travellers to leave plenty of time for their journeys - particularly if they were headed to the Channel ports.
• 26 migrants are found in the back of lorry near Dartford Crossing The immigrants emerged from the lorry when police were called to a business park near the Dartford crossing on Monday. When they opened up the lorry, 21 adults and five children poured out.

The Mirror

• Plane debris found in Mozambique 'highly likely' to be from missing MH370 Investigators in Australia confirmed both pieces of debris are consistent with panels from one of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 aircraft

This is Money

• Jaguar to make nine ultra-exclusive XKSS sports cars costing �1m each The models, conversions of the iconic D-Type race car, will be hand-built by Jaguar's specialist Classic division with each one meeting the exact specification as they appeared 59 years ago.
• Virgin Atlantic profits almost double thanks to lower fuel costs Pre-tax profits excluding exceptional items soared 45 per cent to �22.5million in 2015, from �12.4million in 2014 after a 34 per cent fall in oil prices during last year helped it save money on fuel.

Birmingham Mail

• Easter weekend traffic - roads to avoid over Easter 2016Roadworks, closures and travel delays in Birmingham and beyond for Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday
• National Rail and Eurostar travel over Easter 2016 - train journeys to avoid Rail routes that will be affected by works, delays, diversions and closures on Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday

London Evening Standard

• Easter travel: Tens of millions of people to pack UK's roads and railwaysTens of millions of people will pack roads, rail and aeroplanes on Thursday and Friday for the busiest Easter holiday getaway ever.
• Piccadilly line Tube strike to begin at 9pm on WednesdayHundreds of drivers of the Piccadilly line will walk out for 24 hours from this evening over claims of a "comprehensive breakdown" in industrial relations.
• Crossrail 2: MPs urge George Osborne to keep �27bn project on trackTwenty-five Tory MPs have appealed to George Osborne to keep London's vital Crossrail 2 project on track.
• Old Eurostar platforms at Waterloo to be rebuilt in £800m capacity boostNetwork Rail today announced £800 million to improve Waterloo — London's busiest station — with a redesign, longer platforms and new trains.
• Brussels attacks: Belgian capital's transport network in lockdownBrussels' transport network is in lockdown following the ISIS attacks which killed at least 34 people on Tuesday.

Northern Echo

• Police motorcyclists advise on North Yorkshire's high risk locations for bikers NORTH Yorkshire Police are hosting a series of Bikesafe events over the Easter Bank Holiday to mark Motorcycle Week of Action.
• 2,500 motorcyclists killed or injured on North-East roads in past five years MORE than 2,500 motorcyclists have been killed or injured on North-East roads in the past five years, figures have revealed.

Sheffield Star

• Station bike hub plan is approvedProposals to expand the bike hub at Sheffield railway station to offer storage for 550 bicycles have been given the go-ahead by planning officers.

The York Press

• York rail expert pushes rival plan to HS2 A RAILWAY consultant from York has written to MPs to say that HS2 is not the only - or best - high speed rail proposal for the UK.

Wales Online

• This is the reason why a busy stretch of Cardiff's rail network will be out of action over Easter A new but so far unused platform at Cardiff Central Station will gain its first section of track at the weekend
• Fears Network Rail's plans to replace a railway bridge could cause chaos in Newport The crossing near the city's station needs to be rebuilt because of electrification work
• The number of passenger journeys on Welsh rail lines has almost doubled in 10 yearsThe National Assembly's Enterprise and Business Committee said journeys had risen from just under 20 million in 2003-04 to about 30 million in 2014-15.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• WATCH as giant double-decker Emirates Airbus A380 touches down at Birmingham AirportThe world's biggest passenger jet has arrived in Birmingham and will start making daily flights from Sunday.
• HS2: MPs vote overwhelmingly in favour of controversial �55bn rail link MPs have tonight voted overwhelmingly to back the �55 billion HS2 project despite last-minute attempts to derail it.

North Wales Live

• Liverpool to Isle of Man sailings cancelled after ship crashes into pier Five people reportedly injured in as high speed catamaran the Manannan crashes

West Sussex Gazette

• Reminder - no rail service from Victoria to Sussex over EasterRail journeys will be more complicated over Easter as no trains will be running from Victoria to Sussex and Gatwick Airport.

Other Regional Press

• Rail electrification must go ahead, say AMs ENSURING the electrification of the rail line in south Wales goes ahead must be a priority for the Welsh Assembly following May’s election, AMs have said.
• Airline to provide flights during Severn Tunnel electrification works AN AIRLINE has announced it will lay on special services to help travellers when the Severn Tunnel is shut for electrification work later this year.
• M4 relief road compulsory purchase orders released FULL details of buildings which will be demolished and land which will be lost in order for the long-awaited M4 relief road plans to go ahead have been published today, Thursday.
• Southeastern passengers warned of major Easter weekend rail disruption as engineering work takes place across KentBuses will replace trains for four days over the Easter weekend, but at least those buses won't get stuck in as many roadworks...
• Petition with more than 3,000 signatures arguing for step-free access submitted to TFL A petition that could lead to easier station access for disabled people has been submitted to Transport for London.
• Marlborough Town Council stand against bus subsidy cuts MARLBOROUGH town councillors have united in voting against any cuts to Wiltshire bus subsidies.
• Mark Causeway will be closed for months starting in April say Wessex Water Major work to help protect properties and the highway in Mark, Somerset, from flooding will resume next month meaning more road closures.
• Residents divided over commuter parking plans RESIDENTS are divided over measures to tackle the problem of motorists using roads in a Hampshire community as commuter parking.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Virgin unveils the Virgin AzumaLivery and name for Virgin’s new fleet of East Coast trains unveiled for first time Azumas will revolutionise East Coast travel from 2018 Customers will experience faster journeys, quicker acceleration and better comfort Virgin Trains has unveiled the first of its new fleet of trains in a ceremony at King’s Cross attended by Sir Richard Branson. Set to revolutionise travel on the East Coast from 2018, the Virgin Azuma will be one of the most advanced trains on the UK’s rail network, and will embody the customer-centric approach which Virgin Trains is famous for. Literally...
• Historic rail tunnels to be upgraded as electrification of the railway moves westNetwork Rail’s orange army will be transforming the 130-year-old Severn and Patchway tunnels this autumn in preparation for the arrival of a new fleet of longer, faster, quieter and greener electric trains. The work forms part of Network Rail’s £40bn Railway Upgrade Plan to provide a bigger, better, more reliable railway for passengers and follows projects already underway in Bristol, Bath, Swindon, Didcot and Oxford to electrify the Great Western Main Line. Communication with passengers about the disruption to their journeys is already taking place with emails sent to over...
• �340m railway upgrade planned for Liverpool City regionLiverpool City Region train passengers are to benefit from £340m of rail improvements over the next three years. Network Rail is contributing £229m, and the Liverpool City Region £111m – much through the Government’s Growth Deal funding – to provide passengers with faster, more frequent and more reliable train services by 2019. The improvements are part of Network Rail’s Northern Programmes – several billion pounds’ worth of work included in the company’s £40 billion nationwide Railway Upgrade Plan, delivered across the five ye...
• 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. HS2 is unlocking a massive regeneration project at Old Oak and Park Royal, and promoting local growth in Greater Manchester and Leeds thanks to new government funding. The Chancellor George Osborne has offered a boost for a major London development site at Old Oak and Park Royal with the in-principle decision to transfer selected land to the OPDC, bringing the prospect of up to 25,500 new homes and 65,000 extra jobs in the area closer to reality. Old O...
• ‘Rail revolution’ means 200 more services and 20,000 more seats for Scots passengersIssued by Transport Scotland Transport Minister, Derek Mackay, today announced a “revolution in rail” in Scotland, which will deliver the largest programme of benefits to rail passengers seen in a generation. ScotRail will introduce 200 new services, providing 20,000 more seats per day, with passengers across Tayside, Stirlingshire, Perthshire, Aberdeenshire and the Borders set to feel the benefits. This represents a significant enhancement to ScotRail’s current timetable, which currently runs 2,300 services per day. Timetable improvements are made possible by the decisio...
• Transport for London announces intention to award london overground contract to ArrivaTransport for London (TfL) has announced that it intends to award the new £1.5 billion London Overground contract to Arriva. The winning bid by Arriva builds on its extensive experience of transforming the capital’s fastest growing transport network, which over the past nine years it has operated as part of a joint venture with MTR Corporation. Over the seven-and-a-half-year contract, which begins on 13 November, Arriva will work closely with TfL to deliver a variety of ambitious service, rolling stock and station improvements for customers. Some 180m journeys are taken on the ne...
• Heathrow’s new tool to reduce freight emissionsHeathrow has today revealed new plans for a WebPortal aimed at consolidating freight loads, and decreasing the amount of trucks and emissions on roads around the airport. Encouraging freight company partners to operate sustainably is one of ten priorities Heathrow has outlined for this year in its new Blueprint to Reduce Emissions, also launched today.   Heathrow’s plans for a freight WebPortal have been announced during the IATA World Cargo Symposium, where Heathrow has been named a finalist in the Air Cargo Excellence Awards in recognition of its customer performance, facilities, ...
• 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.  The document, ‘Delivering the Goods’ outlines a new vision for a competitive and sustainable rail freight sector that will meet the demands of modern markets, provide a boost to the industry and support economic and environmental targets.  The strategy supports the rail freight sector to tap into new and growing markets through four key levers of innovation, facilitation, promotion and investment. It has a...
• TVR to build new factory in South WalesAston Martin has built itself a new factory in Ebbw Vale, and now TVR is set to follow its lead by building a factory of its own. By doing this, the automotive supply chain in South Wales is set to see a huge boost, reports Logistics Manager. The new TVR facility is going to be set up in the Ebbw Vale Enterprise Zone, but the company is still scouting out the territory for its exact position. Not only is the sportscar manufacturer opening a new facility, but the Welsh government is also going to be investing in TVR. It's expected that production at the new factory will begin next year, which w...
• �800m spent on improving London's Waterloo StationAn investment worth more than �800 million - which will be rolled out over the next three years to increase capacity and improve the daily journeys of half a million people - has been launched at London Waterloo. This is Britain's busiest railway station and is the main access for one of the country's most heavily traversed railways. The number of passengers that use London Waterloo has more than doubled over the past 20 years to 234 million per year. It's also expected for this figure to grow by another 40 per cent by 2043. Plans for the investment are hoped to include expansion of the statio...

Rail Magazine

• West Coast Railway Company responds to lifting of prohibitionWCR responds to ORR lifting Prohibition Notice that prevented the operator from running on the main line
• Virgin working on routes for new trainsVirgin Trains East Coast (VTEC) is working on which routes to introduce its Class 800 Azuma fleet on from 2018.
• HS2 passes major hurdle - construction could start next yearConstruction of new railway could begin next year

Railway Gazette

• �800m London Waterloo capacity programme launchedUK: A �800m package of works intended to provide a 30% increase in peak capacity on the routes into...

Aviation Industry

• French ATC strike leads to renewed calls for action planThis week’s two-day strike by French air traffic controllers has led to renewed calls by airline lobby group Airlines for Europe (A4E) for an action plan to minimize disruption in the event of further disputes. read more
• Easyjet switches Brussels flights to LilleCarrier will provide transfers to Belgium capital from tomorrow

Other News Sources

• London Waterloo �800m investment includes extending platforms at SIX Surrey stationsPlatforms at stations on the Reading line which runs through parts of Surrey will be upgraded, and new carriages will also benefit other areas of the county
• Number of bus lane cameras to quadruple under new �2 million smart transport technology project THE number of cameras catching out drivers in bus lanes is set to quadruple as part of a �2 million transport project.
• �29m for transport schemes to boost the economy, road safety and active travelTransport Minister, Edwina Hart, has announced nearly �29m funding for transport schemes across Wales to improve safety, create economic growth and promote active travel.

Other Subscription Services

• MPs back HS2 phase one bill at third reading The hybrid bill to allow construction of phase one of High Speed 2 has passed its third reading in the House of Commons.MPs voted 399 to 42 in favour of the High Speed Rail (London-West Midlands)...
• Nine bidders shortlisted for HS2 phase one civils HS2 Ltd has shortlisted nine bidders for between 7.1bn and 11.8bn of civil engineering work and starter tendering for up to 900m of enabling works.Civil engineering contracts...