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

Thursday, 09 June 2016

BBC News

• Human 'drone taxi' to be tested in USA passenger-carrying drone is due to be tested in Nevada later this year.
• Protest at train company's bike policyMore than 7,200 people sign a petition demanding Great Western Railway reverse its new mandatory cycle space reservation policy on high-speed trains.
• Transport fares freeze to cost �640mMost passengers will pay the same fares in 2020 as they do now, London Mayor Sadiq Khan announces.
• Bug breaks Lexus cars' maps systemsA faulty data update stops Lexus cars being able to provide directions, digital radio or climate controls in the US.

The Guardian

• How far is too far? The distance workers commute to cities – mappedWhere does a city begin and where does it end? Alasdair Rae at the University of Sheffield analysed point-to-point commuter data from the ONS in an attempt to build a truer picture of the economic footprint of cities in England and Wales, one which goes beyond simple local authority boundaries. He tweets @undertheraedar
• Sadiq Khan accused of breaking London fares election promiseLondon mayor, who had pledged residents ‘won’t pay a penny more’ for travel, says fares freeze applies only to single journeys
• World's first passenger drone cleared for testing in NevadaChina’s Ehang will begin the testing process this year to prove the drone’s airworthiness The world’s first passenger drone capable of autonomously carrying a person in the air for 23 minutes has been given clearance for testing in Nevada.Chinese firm Ehang, which unveiled the electric Ehang 184 passenger drone at CES in Las Vegas in January, has partnered with the Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems (NIAS) and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (Goed) to put the drone through testing and regulatory approval.

The Herald

• New Forth road bridge opening delayed until next yearEngineers had hoped to complete the Queensferry Crossing by December 2016 but that timescale has now slipped.

Times Online

• News in brief: third runway decision before summer recess [Subscription]Mr Cameron avoided saying which airport would be chosen, but replied: “We will have a decision about this in the summer, and we do need to decide.”
• Holyrood told Queensferry Crossing will be six months late [Subscription]The new road bridge over the Forth will not be completed until next May at the earliest, six months later than planned.

Reuters News

• Bombardier wins $244 million contract from Abellio RailCanadian aircraft and train maker Bombardier Inc (BBDb.TO) won a contract to supply 43 trains to European rail operator Abellio Rail Südwest GmbH for about 215 million euros ($244 million).

Daily Record

• Transport Police in Scotland have only 'batons and pepper spray' to tackle potential terrorists COLLEAGUES in England have been issued with Taser stun guns, but the same thing hasn't happened in Scotland and the rank and file want answers.

Birmingham Mail

• Brexit threatens Midland car-making jobs, Prime Minister warns David Cameron warns about threat to key sector at Mail event - as he laid into UKIP leader Nigel Farage
• Could Moseley to Birmingham trains return to end commuter hell?The Camp Hill Chords rail line has been open solely to freight traffic for decades but welcoming people could cut traffic hell

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Have your say on �7 million dual carriageway plan PUBLIC consultation is to begin on the multi-million pound transformation of a traffic-choked Keighley road into a dual carriageway.
• Rail services between Ilkley and Bradford back to normal from tomorrow morrning Trains will run as normal from 6am tomorrow, but passengers have been warned of further cancelled train services�today between Bradford Forster Square and Ilkley because of a landslip at Baildon caused by flash flooding.

London Evening Standard

• Sadiq Khan accused of breaking key Tube fare election pledgeSadiq Khan was today accused of breaking his key election promise to freeze fares after it emerged hundreds of thousands of Londoners will miss out.
• Southern delays: Lightning strike sparks major disruption to main line and Overground servicesLondon commuters tonight faced rush hour chaos thanks to signal faults sparked by a lightning strike.
• Flight attendants reveal facts about flying that airlines don't tell passengersA flight attendant's job is more than serving drinks with a smile.
• Market report: Thameslink investor up as Square Mile climbs aboard its fundraisingOne of the firms behind the �1.6 billion Thameslink project steamed ahead today after managing to squeeze more money than hoped out of the City to pay for new investments.
• London flooding: Commuters rescued as rain waters swamp Tube station in fresh weather chaosFirefighters rescued commuters from a flooded Tube station today after London was hit by a second day of flash floods caused by torrential downpours.
• TfL and Twitter launch groundbreaking 'instant' Tube delay notification serviceA groundbreaking service sending instant Tube delay updates to commuters' phones is being launched today by Transport for London and Twitter.

Manchester Evening News

• Logistics facility at Airport City sold for �7.6mThe deal reflects a net initial yield of 4.64 per cent and saw Savills act for the vendor while ADS Real Estate represented the purchaser

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Wrong kind of people on the line: Flying Scotsman trainspotters on ‘most wanted’ listTHEY might have thought they were indulging in some harmless trainspotting, but a handful of steam enthusiasts awoke this morning to find themselves on a police “most wanted” list.

Yorkshire Post

• Exclusive: Leeds leaders are ‘ill qualified’ on transport and need national helpWEST YORKSHIRE will remain in gridlock unless Britain’s top transport and technology experts are hired to overhaul the region’s road and rail infrastructure.
• Leeds city centre office block plan ‘could be derailed by HS2 high-speed train route’A PLANNED new office block development in the heart of Leeds’s so-called ‘South Bank’ could be derailed by the proposed HS2 high speed train route, a panel of senior councillors will be told today.

Blackpool Gazette

• New £1m bridge for port’s housing estateA swing bridge which cost £1m to make and weighs 27 tons has arrived in Fleetwood to provide a key link between a new riverside housing estate and other amenities.
• Tram chiefs target 5 million passengersTramway bosses are hoping to bust the 5m passenger mark this year after a stunning 20 per cent surge in customers.

Crewe Chronicle

• Anger over plans to cut free Nantwich school bus services Some Malbank and Brine Leas pupils could face a six mile walk each day in all weather

Get West London

• Transport secretary warns Heathrow Airport third runway decision may be delayed AGAINThe Prime Minister's schedule is said to be 'very tight' and the Cabinet will focus on 'priority issues' after the EU referendum

Reading Evening Post

• Whitley bus services: have your say on new routes The plans for changes to routes in Whitley come from the Big Local lottery-funded project for the area

Other Regional Press

• Ely and March rail travellers get a free cup cake as Abellio Greater Anglia celebrate Queen’s 90th birthdayRail passengers in March and Ely were among those handed free cup cakes today as Abellio Greater Anglia celebrated the Queen’s 90th birthday. Abellio had 7,000 cakes to hand out.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Peel Ports opens major UK logistics facilityOne of the UK’s largest new logistics facilities has officially opened for business today (Tuesday, 31 May). Port Salford is a unique development providing the benefits of port-centric distribution but located in the heart of the UK, just to the west of Manchester. The site offers water connectivity provided by the Manchester Ship Canal via Liverpool, rail transport via the Chat Moss line avoiding Manchester Piccadilly, and close proximity to three major motorways. Culina Group has taken occupation of the first warehouse distribution unit, comprising 26,022 sq m (280,000 sq ft) of accomm...
• c2c Launches UK's first flexible season ticketNational Express train operator c2c has today launched the country’s first flexible season ticket, saving some part-time commuters in Essex over £100 a year. The new Flexi-Season ticket is a digital carnet of 10 individual tickets which passengers buy once, but then only use when they wish to travel. Each ticket provides a typical 5% discount on the usual peak-time price of daily travel, with an additional 10% reward offered if that ticket is subsequently used to travel off-peak instead of at peak times. Flexi-Seasons are specifically designed to provide discounted travel for part...
• AECOM appoints new head of rail for UK and EuropeAECOM has appointed Russell Jackson as Head of Rail – UK & Ireland and Continental Europe. Russell will be responsible for leading and growing AECOM’s rail business across the region. His appointment is the latest addition to the UK-based rail team, which was recently bolstered by Adrian Shaw’s transition from AECOM’s Middle East operations. Russell joins AECOM from Atkins, where he worked in several senior roles, including most recently Director for Emerging Markets in the company’s transportation division and Regional Director West in the rail business. Wit...

Rail Magazine

• Great Northern Class 700s to operate from next yearClass 700s will begin running on the Great Northern network from next year.
• New Govia Thameslink Railway trains to be Class 717sThe 25 six-car electric multiple units to be built by Siemens for Govia Thameslink Railway have been designated Class 717s.
• Great Western Railway orders new electric trainsBrand new Class 387s will be delivered to Great Western Railway this year, joining a fleet of eight four-car ‘387s’ that were ordered last March.
• Hitachi converts GWR ‘801s’ to bi-mode operationHitachi will build 21 Class 801 electric multiple units ordered for GWR as full bi-mode operation, rather than build the straight EMUs as planned.
• COVER STORY: Rail freight volumes at their lowest since mid-1980sThe amount of freight carried on the national rail network is at its lowest since the time of the miners’ strike of 1984-85.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Enforcement not needed to improve passenger experience - ORR headImproving rail passenger experience should be based on engaging with train operating companies (TOCs), not enforcing regulation, the interim chief executive of the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) said yesterday. In a transport select committee hearing on improving passenger experience, Joanna...
• 'Major step' achieved in London Underground resignallingThe first modern signalling equipment has been installed between Edgware Road and Hammersmith on the London Underground. The SelTrac CBTC signalling system, designed by Thales, is due to be installed in sections across the Circle, District, Hammersmith & City and Metropolitan lines –...
• Flash flooding causes landslip in YorkshireTrains in Yorkshire will be disrupted for the rest of the day as engineers work to repair damage caused by flash flooding. The flooding washed away the ballast under a small section of line near Baildon yesterday afternoon. Passengers travelling on Northern services between Bradford Forster...
• Arriva signs new wi-fi framework with IcomeraArriva has signed a new framework agreement for providing on-board connectivity with wireless Internet providers Icomera. Icomera already provides passenger wi-fi on Arriva’s Chiltern and Grand Central services, as well as 700 Arriva buses, and the deal marks the company as Arriva’s...

The Business Desk

• Sheffield Supertram revenues down 10.2%REVENUES at Sheffield Supertram, the light rail transport system for the city, are down 10.2% to £11.4m.
• Airline back in the black after years of turbulenceA THREE-YEAR transformation plan at Flybe has had a big impact on its performance as it increased passenger numbers and returned to profit.
• Wolverhampton regeneration gathers pace as train station plans submittedTHE regeneration of Wolverhampton city centre has taken another big step forward with plans submitted for the multi-million pound redevelopment of the railway station.

Aviation Industry

• Flybe challenges Cameron on regional airport fundingSaad Hammad says HS2 can’t fulfil 'Northern Powerhouse aspirations'
• Etihad partners loyalty programme with Rentalcars ConnectEtihad Airway’s has partnered its loyalty programme with car rental firm Rentalcars Connect.The deal means members of Etihad Guest, the programme of Etihad Airways, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles and Etihad Regional will earn miles every time they book a vehicle with Rentalcars Connect.

Other News Sources

• Lord Heseltine report calls for TransPennine electrification extensionMajor new road, rail and energy projects should be at the forefront of plans to attract investment into the Tees Valley area, according to a report unveiled by Lord Heseltine.