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

Thursday, 15 September 2016

BBC News

• How air con could make the Tube hotterDesigner Paul Priestman explains why Underground trains do not have air conditioning.
• Ford investment in new tech 'means lower profits in 2017'US carmaker Ford expects pre-tax profits to fall next year as it increases spending on projects such as self-driving and electric cars.
• European Commission plans free wi-fi in public spacesThe president of the European Commission seeks to offer the public free wi-fi in parks and public buildings.
• Singapore Airlines drops Airbus A380 planeSingapore Airlines decides not to keep the first A380 it leased, delivering a fresh setback for Airbus' super-jumbo plane.

ITV News

• 'Plan ahead' advice for Severn Tunnel closureRail passengers are being urged to check before they travel this weekend as all services between Cardiff Central station and Bristol Parkway will be affected by electrification work on the South Wales Mainline.

Financial Times

• Maersk grabs clients after Hanjin sinksBiggest container shipping group benefits from South Korean rival’s bankruptcy

The Guardian

• Does Chris Grayling really want to give troubled Southern rail to Sadiq Khan?Despite sharp exchanges between the London mayor and a Tory opponent there is cross-party consensus on suburban rail devolution, which includes concerns that the transport secretary’s heart isn’t in it
• Blame in Spain as driver clocks off with passengers still on trainDriver leaves 109 people stranded in a village en route to Madrid because his shift had finished More than 100 rail passengers were left stranded in Spain after their driver stopped the train because he had reached the maximum number of hours he could legally work, officials have said.The train, operated by Spain’s state rail company, Renfe, had left the northern city of Santander at 7pm on Tuesday, bound for Madrid. Continue reading...
• Illegal mobile phone use by motorists is increasing, says RACMore drivers are tweeting, making video calls and taking photos, survey finds, with handset use contributing to nearly 500 road accidents in 2014Illegal mobile phone use by drivers is rising, according to new research that found 31% of motorists admitted to using a handheld phone behind the wheel compared with 8% in 2014.The survey by the RAC found that the proportion of drivers who confessed to sending a message or posting on social media rose from 7% to 19% over the same period, while 14% of motorists have taken photographs or videos with their phone while driving. Continue reading...
• Autopilot supplier disowns Tesla for 'pushing the envelope on safety'Mobileye says capability of system to do the driver’s job was overstated but Elon Musk’s company denies ever suggesting its cars could drive themselvesMobileye broke ties with Tesla Motors because the Silicon Valley firm was “pushing the envelope in terms of safety” with the design of its Autopilot driver-assistance system, its chairman has said. “It is not designed to cover all possible crash situations in a safe manner,” said Amnon Shashua, who is also chief technology officer at the Israel-based maker of collision detection and driver assistance systems. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Report: congestion 'will destroy' bus sector in Glasgow unless journey times improveCONGESTION has been blamed for an
• 'High level steering group' appointed to oversee delivery of rail link to Glasgow AirportA 'HIGH level steering group' has been set up as part of moves to deliver a rail link to Glasgow Airport.

The Telegraph

• Phone use behind the wheel at 'epidemic proportions' because there is 'no fear of prosecution'

Times Online

• Johnson frozen out of decision on Heathrow runway [Subscription]Boris Johnson has been kept off the cabinet committee that will decide the future of London’s airports in the latest sign that Theresa May is preparing to give the green light to a third runway at Heathrow.
• Fines and penalty points to soar for using mobile phones at the wheel [Subscription]The penalties for using mobile phones while behind the wheel are set to rise by 50 per cent amid warnings that the offence is at “epidemic proportions”.

Daily Record

• Aberdeen airport flights cancelled and delayed after hole discovered on runway SEVERAL flights were cancelled and held up as a result of the problem, which was discovered at 5pm.

Mail Online

• London underground stations and tube lines where you're most likely to be pick-pocketed Statistics compiled by the British Transport Police�(BTP) showed that King's Cross St Pancras was the worst for thefts. There were 215 incidents from January 2015 to February 2016 at the site.

Belfast Telegraph

• Prime Minister urged not to approve third runway for HeathrowA group of political and business leaders have written to the Prime Minister urging her not to give the go-ahead for a third runway at Heathrow.

London Evening Standard

• Air conditioning on the Tube 'makes trains even hotter'Air conditioning on London's Tube trains can actually make carriages hotter than they would be without it, according to engineers.
• Uber to trial self-driving cars from todayUber riders will have the chance to ride in self-driving cars for the first time today.
• Tube strike: drivers set to stage walk-out on Circle and Hammersmith and City LinesCommuters are facing strike action on two Tube lines later this week.
• Ryanair and easyJet flights cancelled due to French air traffic control strikesDozens of Ryanair and easyJet flights have been cancelled due to French air traffic controllers 14th strike of the year.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Footage shows scale of Metro refurb as 2km of underground track is ripped upNexus is investing £3m to replace lines in historic tunnels between Jesmond Metro station and the QEII bridge over the Tyne

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Leeds Bradford Airport link road proposal up for discussionA PROPOSAL to create a new link road to Leeds Bradford Airport will be among major transport projects up for discussion at a meeting of Leeds City Council’s executive board next Wednesday.

Other Regional Press

• Average bus speeds in Oxford "have fallen below 10mph" AVERAGE bus speeds in Oxford have fallen to less than 10mph according to a study out today.
• AM Ken Skates Brands Train Station Parking ‘Utter Mess’ – Councillor Accuses Him Of ‘HypocrisyWrexham Council have been accused by opposition politicians of making an ‘utter mess’ of parking charges at Ruabon train station.

Forbes

• Tesla Sues Oil Industry Exec It Says Pretended To Be Elon Musk To Gain SecretsThe company claims a fraudulent email was an attempt to gain insider information.

Buying Business Travel

• 80% of UK rail tickets bought offlineOnly 20% of UK rail tickets in 2015 were through online channels
• HS2: MPs call for urgent action as project runs �7bn over budgetPublic Accounts Committee says 'uncertainty remains' over delivery of high-speed rail link

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• iForce awarded three-year fulfillmentiForce, the fastest growing supply chain business in the UK, has secured a significant contract to provide a wide-range of fulfilment services to Houseology, the UK’ s premier online interior design store founded by Kate & Jim Mooney. From this autumn, iForce will deliver a full service proposition across the retailer’s logistical operation.   Under the terms of the three-year deal, Houseology will utilise iForce Gateway, the multichannel order fulfilment and warehouse management solution powered by the proprietary software SMART, from the company’s multi-client ware...
• Biggest ever streetworks fine as TfL clamps down on avoidable disruptionTransport for London (TfL) has dished out its largest ever fine for a single streetworks offence, sending a message to utility companies that it won’t stand for avoidable inconvenience to road users. London Power Networks (LPN) was fined £24,000 after pleading guilty to two counts of carrying out work without a permit, and two counts of failing to serve the required statutory streetworks notices before beginning work. Each offence of undertaking work without a permit reaped a fine of £10,000 - the highest ever imposed in London to date for a single streetworks offence. Failing to serve the sta...

Construction Enquirer

• Crossrail sparks want £20m bonus to finish the jobElectricians working to fit out Crossrail are demanding more than £20m in bonus payments to finish the £14.8bn job.

Rail Magazine

• Government must set out ‘realistic timetable’ for HS2, says PACPublic Accounts Committee wants to see a “realistic timetable” set out quickly

Rail Technology Magazine

• 'Clarity needed' over HS2 schedule and costs as phase 1 date faces year delayHS2 is still struggling to convincingly explain its timetable and costs, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has warned. The warning comes as HS2 Ltd and government officials are now considering postponing the opening of phase 1 of the high-speed railway from December 2026 to 2027, when phase 2a...
• HS2 opens phase 2a consultations as Birmingham commits rail investment HS2 Ltd has opened three separate consultations on the phase 2a route as the high-speed line now faces scrutiny. A report from the Public Accounts Committee, published today, warned that HS2 phase 1 may face delays of up to a year and, and said the organisation needs to clarify how much phase 2...
• Rail Forum East Midlands elects new chair and first presidentRail Forum East Midlands (RFEM) has elected a new chair, whilst the outgoing chair has become its first president. Members of the RFEM, which brings together rail businesses and local and national government in the Midlands, elected Paul Francis (pictured), the managing director of Porterbrook...
• 'Unpausing' Midland Main Line electrification cost nearly �40mThe cost of ‘unpausing’ the Midland Main Line electrification programme for Network Rail could be as much as £40m, rail minister Paul Maynard has said. Answering a written question from Lilian Greenwood MP, the former shadow transport secretary, Maynard said Network Rail had...

Railnews

• MPs voice fresh concerns about HS2 A new report from the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee about HS2 concedes that some progress has been made since the Committee virtually condemned the project in 2013, when it had said a high speed line would simply attract more businesses to London at the expense of provincial cities, but concerns remain about the costs and construction timetable. The Committee highlights 'uncertainties' about the scheme, and questions whether Phase 1 will open as planned in 2026.
• New chairman for Derby-based rail forum Rail Forum East Midlands has announced that Porterbrook Leasing managing director Paul Francis has become its new chairman. Paul also sits on the executive of the Rail Supply Group. He has replaced Colin Walton, who was formerly in charge of Bombardier Transportation in Britain. He held the post of Forum chairman for more than a decade and has now been named as the organisation's first President.

Aviation Industry

• JetBlue CFO Powers to step down Nov. 1JetBlue Airways CFO Mark Powers will step down from his post on Nov. 1, the New York-based carrier said. read more

Green Miscellany

• iPump: The world’s lightest bicycle pumpThe iPump Floor is a bicycle track pump that weighs 35 grams – about the same as a standard light bulb. The tiny pump features a lightweight carbon fibre body and polyurethane high pressure hose, which is only 4 mm in diameter. The iPUMP FLOOR has been designed to be light, strong, compact and it’s diminutive size means it can be… The post iPump: The world’s lightest bicycle pump appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• Southern Rail FULL timetable will finally be restored for Redhill and Reigate commutersA temporary emergency timetable meant there were no direct off-peak trains from Redhill to London Victoria and passengers had to change at East Croydon
• Aborted Delta Airlines plane sounded 'like a tractor' after damaging bird strikeOne onlooker said the plane was "louder than a chinook" as it went over before making an emergency landing at Heathrow Airport
• Runway decision needed now, FTA tells Heathrow conferenceThe importance of Heathrow as a world-class hub for UK imports and exports was highlighted by FTA’s Chris Welsh today when he addressed a ...
• Brexit high on agenda as FTA Transport Manager gets underwayThe Freight Transport Association’s Transport Manager conference series sponsored by Iveco got underway in Chepstow today with a topical ...
• Five-year liner block exemption proposed by HK competition authorityThe Hong Kong Competition Commission has proposed a five-year block exemption for the liner shipping industry, but has rejected industry submissions that voluntary discussion agreements should be included in the exemption order.
• Britain is ready for the green bus transition, says Volvo Buses The president of Volvo Buses believes an open standard that doesn't lock cities into contracts with individual suppliers could prove vital in accelerating the uptake of low-carbon buses across the country, and is calling on new stakeholders to engage in the conversation.
• Virgin unveils aviation 'game-changer' with alcohol-to-jet fuel Virgin Atlantic has today (14 September) announced that an innovative partnership with carbon capture company LanzaTech has successfully produced 1,500 gallons of low-carbon, alcohol-to-jet (AtJ) fuel.
• One-third of delays on Southern unaccounted for, MP reveals RAIL bosses cannot agree on or find the cause of one-third of delays on the Southern network.

EIN News Subscription

• Alstom, French government in tug-of-war over TGV train plant … ;s Socialist government clashed with trainmaker Alstom on Tuesday over the … train built there, it also produced the first of the TGV high-speed trains … countries. When (French train operator) SNCF buys trains, it orders them in … making the TGV crisis worse. SNCF's high-speed trains, locked in …
• Edinburgh Airport high-tech sensors boost passenger experience with li... … to gather data about passenger queue and flow. The information enables the airport to … information about passengers� queue times and how they move around the airport. The data … 2011, Edinburgh Airport was named Best European Airport (5-10 million passengers) by ACI EUROPE. Earlier …
• Over 100 flights cancelled as French air traffic controllers strike with Ryanair, easyJet and British Airways affected … causing further disruption for passengers and airlines across Europe.� EasyJet will be cancelled … call on governments and the EU to develop an action plan … its website for the latest information. The airline has offered customers due …