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

Thursday, 02 June 2016

BBC News

• Air passenger tax cut scrutinisedA plan to halve airport passenger duty is coming under renewed scrutiny as a public consultation on the measure comes to a close.
• Suspension over 'vote out' train signSouth West Trains suspends an employee after a message appearing to support Brexit was put up on the side of a train.
• Tower Bridge to close for repairsLondon's iconic Tower Bridge is set to close to vehicles for three months for structural repairs, but disruption will be minimal, Transport for London says.
• Ferries wi-fi rollout complete 'in July'Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne says it aims to complete its rollout of free public access wi-fi on its network and fleet this summer.

Financial Times

• Grab grasps for advantage in Uber battleStart-up eyes global links to combat cashed-up rival in fast-growing Southeast Asia

The Guardian

• When New York City tried to ban cars – the extraordinary story of 'Gridlock Sam'Decades before New York installed bike lanes and pedestrian streets, Sam Schwartz – the man who coined the term ‘gridlock’ – was at the centre of a bitter fight to create a car-free Red Zone in downtown ManhattanBefore the eager young New York traffic department employee who would eventually become known as Gridlock Sam had begun his long war against cars in earnest in the early 1970s, he got a dull assignment: standing out in the cold weather, timing car traffic as it crossed into Midtown.At least, it would have seemed dull to most people. For Sam Schwartz it was exciting, because it was data...
• Striking rail workers halt half of French train servicesSocialist government plays down disruption caused by standoff with CGT union over labour lawsStriking rail workers have halted about half of French train services in a dispute over working hours as a standoff between the militant CGT union and the Socialist government over a proposed labour law reform dragged on.Tension mounted between the union and the Medef employers’ federation, with the CGT urging energy workers to cut power supplies to the bosses’ Paris headquarters. Continue reading...

The Scotsman

• Swiss open world’s longest and deepest rail tunnel after 17 years and £8.3bnThe world’s longest and deepest rail tunnel has officially opened in Switzerland, after almost two decades of construction work.

The Telegraph

• Passenger records cabin damage on United Airlines flight

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Colwyn Bay promenade parking charges should be introduced say council chiefs A report to Conwy councillors recommends changing some of the parking arrangements already in place in the town

London Evening Standard

• c2c trains unveil part-time season ticket that will save commuters over £135Rail passengers can benefit for the first time from a part-time season ticket under a new scheme launched today.
• Letters to the editor: Trams should top the Mayor's listJohn Ridley, in his appeal to our new Mayor, (Letters, May 27), gives us a timely reminder of opportunities lost and the human cost. Oxford Street could have easily had pedestrian-friendly trams about eight years ago.
• uberPOOL service expanded to include all of zones 1 and 2 plus Heathrow AirportCar-giant Uber has expanded it's car sharing service to cover the whole of zones one and two, as well as Heathrow Airport.

Manchester Evening News

• Why are bus journeys slower than ever in Greater Manchester?A new report, launched by sustainable transport group Greener Journeys warns buses are taking longer than ever to reach their destination

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Fix local transport if you want to build a Northern Powerhouse, Chancellor toldMajor new study finds improving local transport links is more important that prestigious 'grand projects'

Blackpool Gazette

• Campaign for Manx ferry linkFleetwood’s historic ferry link to the Isle of Man could be revived, say supporters of a new campaign.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Port of Felixstowe achieves new rail freight record – and adds 32nd routeA 32nd daily rail freight service has been introduced at the Port of Felixstowe, the UK’s largest container port.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Fire on East Coast train near Peterborough causes delaysEast Coast train services through Peterborough are being delayed after a fire on a train.

Other Regional Press

• School transport and bus routes face changes as county council looks to save �1.85m BUS services in Dorset could be put at further risk after the county council revealed �1.85m worth of transport savings still needed to be made.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• New freight initiative to reduce harmful emissionsThe LoCITY programme has taken its first steps to improve air quality in the Capital by publishing data to help increase the availability and uptake of low emission vans and lorries. Representatives from across the industry came together yesterday for the first annual conference, as research from the programme's initial four months was published. LoCITY is an industry-led programme helping the freight and fleet industry reduce its impact on air quality by increasing the use of Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (ULEVs). Transport for London (TfL) is part funding and monitoring LoCITY to ensure it is...
• ‘Get On Board’ Northern Ireland’s first ever Bus and Train Week Pamela Ballantine, Pete Snodden and Stephen Clements are calling on everyone to ‘Get On Board’ Northern Ireland’s first ever Bus and Train Week which runs from 6 June to 12 June 2016. Bus and Train Week is a new initiative to encourage more people to give the bus and train a go, and to emphasise the importance of public transport to the economy and wider society. The week is based around six key themes which demonstrate how an efficient public transport system makes our economy stronger and supports education, tourism, environmental responsibility and health and active trav...
• Network Rail creates ‘virtual route’ to provide better service for freight and national passengers operatorsThe change is part of the company’s strategy to become an increasingly customer-focused and route-led business and is consistent with the recommendations of the Shaw report, which proposed a number of actions for Network Rail to consider to protect and enhance the interests of all customers as accountability continues to be devolved.  The new route will be led by Paul McMahon, who returns to Network Rail’s freight business in an expanded role as managing director, freight and national passenger operators. The new structure will enable the company to re-allocate focus and reso...
• 32nd daily rail service from the Port of FelixstoweThe 32nd daily rail freight service has been introduced at the UK's largest container port. Operated by Freightliner, the new service runs between the Port of Felixstowe and Rotherham initially, and ultimately will run to Doncaster upon completion of works at the site. Commenting on the new service, Clemence Cheng, Chief Executive Officer of the Port of Felixstowe and Managing Director of HPH Europe division, said:
• International launch for PD Ports' new �35 million quay at BreakbulkLaunching PD Ports’ new £35 million Number One Quay at Breakbulk Europe are (l-r) Sean Beach, Operations Manager Hartlepool, Chris Broughton, Business Development Manager and Roy Merryweather, General Manager Business Development. PD Ports is formally declaring its 550m deep water quay at Teesport open for business following a £35 million redevelopment. The award-winning ports and logistics company now owns and operates some of the deepest general cargo berths in the UK offering global customers an enviable freight advantage. A topping off ceremony was conducted by Lord He...
• DB Cargo UK renews long-standing partnership with aggregates distribution specialistDB Cargo UK has agreed a new five-year contract with established customer Mendip Rail to deliver more than 100 trains of aggregates per week.  A key feature of the service is the use of ‘jumbo trains’. These mammoth trains are the heaviest operating in the UK. Each train is 44 wagons long and can carry over 3,300 tonnes of aggregates.  A single Class 59 locomotive is used to haul each jumbo train from quarries in Somerset to West London. Here the jumbo train is split into two or three shorter trains for delivery to depots in London and the South East. This efficient del...
• Transport Select Committee publishes Operation Stack report The Government is right to seek a solution to the level of disruption caused by Operation Stack but the Transport Committee says more should be done to demonstrate that proposal for a lorry park will deliver, in its Operation Stack report.  Report findings The Transport Committee said that although the Government is right to seek a solution to the disruption caused by Operation Stack, the decision to proceed at pace with its proposal for a lorry park had left behind some of the usual best practice when spending such large sums of money.

Rail Magazine

• McNaughton is new Systra COOSystra has appointed Andrew McNaughton as its new chief operating officer.
• Landmark for MTR and TfL RailMTR Crossrail marked its first full year of operating Transport for London services between Liverpool Street and Shenfield on May 31.
• Hitachi converts GWR ‘801s’ to bi-mode operationHitachi is to convert 21 Class 801 electric multiple units ordered for Great Western Railway to full bi-mode operation.
• Network Rail creates ‘virtual route’ for freight and CrossCountryNetwork Rail has created a new ‘virtual route’ for freight and national train operating companies.
• New Managing Director for Network Rail WalesKeolis Group Managing Director, Hyderabad Mass Transit, Andy Thomas is to become Network Rail’s Wales Route Managing Director from August.
• Great Western Main Line section set to 'go live'Network Rail is close to completing electrification of the Great Western Main Line between Reading and Didcot, as part of the route’s ongoing modernisation.
• Driver shortages and train issues prompt GTR remedial planDfT and GTR agree remedial plan in a bid to improve reliability on Thameslink, Southern and Gatwick Express services.
• Alstom presents Very High Speed Train offering for HS2Alstom unveiled its proposed Very High Speed Train concept at the Palace of Westminster on May 24, as it prepares to bid for the HS2 train contract.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Special Windings A white paper showcasing F.E.EM's key products, as well as the benefits of flat winding techniques for applications in the rail industry.
• Investment in cities more important than rail for Northern Powerhouse Strengthening transport links within northern cities will contribute more to the Northern Powerhouse than large scale rail projects, think tank Centre for Cities has argued in a new report. The report compares conditions in the north of England to that of the Rhine-Ruhr and Randstad regions of...
• Network Rail creates 'virtual route' to implement Shaw recommendationsA new ‘virtual route’ for freight and national passenger operators will be introduced as Network Rail’s ninth operational route. The route is designed to help Network Rail implement the Shaw report’s recommendations that it become more customer-focused and route-led. The...
• Crossrail work carried out at 19 outer London locations over bank holidayWork to adapt railways in outer London, Berkshire and Essex for Crossrail was successfully completed over the spring bank holiday weekend. Network Rail carried out 40,000 hours of work at 19 locations on 28-30 May, when the number of passengers was reduced because of the bank...
• Alstom awarded maintenance contract for new TPE trainsAlstom has been awarded a €40m contract to maintain the 25 new trains for TransPennine Express (TPE) after they enter service in 2019. The trains will serve in two fleets of 25, consisting of 12 five-car Civity UK Intercity electric trains and 13 five-car Intercity trains, procured from...
• WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff re-appointed in New Tube for London projectWSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff has been re-appointed as the prime system integrator support partner for the New Tube for London project. The engineering consulting firm is responsible for managing the systems, interfaces and configurations framework in order to allow the upgraded trains and signalling...

Railway Gazette

• New Tube for London systems integrator contract renewedUK: Transport for London has reappointed WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff as prime system integrator...

Aviation Industry

• Video: London City airport terminal improvementsBehind-the-scenes video showing work undertaken at LCY
• Delta and Virgin strengthen US-UK networkNew route to Portland added
• Routehappy announces Skyscanner dealTravellers to see and compare amenities by flight and cabin