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

Thursday, 03 November 2016

BBC News

• RMT call to Transport Secretary over Southern rail 'chaos'Union bosses have accused trouble-hit Southern rail of "hoarding profits" as passengers face disruption and further strike action.
• Thousands caught driving distracted twice over four yearsAlmost 10,000 drivers have been caught twice for being distracted while driving, including using a mobile phone, in the last four years.
• Facebook blocks Admiral's car insurance discount planFacebook blocks an insurer's plan to view young drivers' profiles to set car insurance premiums.
• British Airways to offer wi-fi on short-haul flightsBritish Airways will offer wi-fi internet access on short-haul flights from 2017, owner IAG says.
• Wrightbus secures four-year deal with Lothian BusesBallymena firm Wrightbus wins order for over 300 vehicles

Financial Times

• Maersk calls a tentative bottom to shipping woesProblems highlighted by company reporting second consecutive quarterly loss
• Uber adds lifestyle tracking to ride-hailing appTech group wants access to calendars and friends’ locations to personalise app for users
• Aircraft makers plot course to exploit demand in ChinaCompetition from fledgling local industry far off, say executives at Zhuhai air show
• Rail system ‘like a heart that pumps heat around Europe’Operator ÖBB’s grand claim reflects network’s central role, influence but high cost

The Guardian

• Toxic air is killing thousands of us – Theresa May must act fastGovernment plans to tackle air pollution are officially wholly inadequate. If industry were incentivised to help clean it up, we could all be winners
• UK airport expansion is 35 years too late. We're trailing places like SingaporeHow is a nation of 5.5 million people able to triple its air passenger numbers to 140 million a year? Infrastructure investment, unlike the dithering UK

The Herald

• New hopes of saving a historic Scottish-built sailing ship from a watery graveCAMPAIGNERS say they have new hope of saving the Scottish-built historic sailing ship the Falls of Clyde which was threatened with being towed out of a Hawaii harbour and being sunk.

The Huffington Post

• Tory Minister John Hayes Divides Opinion With His Incredible Speech On Transport BeautyA Tory minister has confounded many and divided opinion with an inspired speech on “beauty in transport”.

The Scotsman

• Transport Minister Humza Yousaf: I’m no transport expertScotland’s Transport Minister has said he is not a “transport expert” as he defended the SNP’s response to growing public anger about the state of the country’s overcrowded and late-running trains.

Times Online

• High Court victory for air pollution campaigners [subscription]The government’s plan for tackling air pollution in cities is too weak and must be strengthened to comply with European rules aimed at preventing thousands of premature deaths, the High Court ruled today.
• Drivers of toxic diesels must pay to enter cities [Subscription]Drivers of diesel cars face charges to enter city centres across the country after the High Court ruled that the government was failing to tackle air pollution.
• Damage from Brexit being overestimated, says Souter [subscription]An SNP donor has said that Brexit is “not as big a deal as people think” and “may prove to be good for Europe”.
• Why Heathrow plan faces a bumpy ride [subscription]So is it already “chocks away” for the third runway at Heathrow? Or is there sufficient legal fog around the airport to mean that take-off is by no means a foregone conclusion?
• Euston Arch will make a return trip [subscription]It caused an almighty row when it was pulled down in the 1960s as part of a brutal reconstruction of one of London’s busiest railway stations. Now the Euston Arch may be on the verge of rising again as part of a grand plan to combat a “cult of ugliness” on the public transport network.

Birmingham Mail

• Birmingham congestion charge ruled out But city council chiefs refuse to say whether they will extend the clean air zone to private cars in the future

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Rail bosses hit back at claims their work has led to swarm of rats RAIL bosses have hit back at claims their work on a new �10.5 million rail station has led to a plague of rats in nearby residential streets.

London Evening Standard

• Mayfair businessman slapped with �750 bill after being allowed to ride bus for free by the driverTransport for London today apologised to a Mayfair businessman hit with a �750 court bill over a �1.50 bus fare - after accepting that the driver had allowed him to board for free.
• Southern Rail to run 60 extra trains over bonfire weekend in attempt to cope with strikeSouthern rail has pledged to run 60 extra trains over bonfire weekend in a bid to ease travel chaos during a 48-hour staff walk-out.
• British Airways to launch wi-fi on short-haul flights from next summerBritish Airways is to launch wi-fi on short-haul flights from next summer.

Wales Online

• Trains running at 'reduced capacity' because leaves on the line are causing maintenance problems Arriva Trains Wales has apologised saying the autumnal problem has meant 'unscheduled' work needs to be carried out

East Anglian Daily Times

• ‘Open bus lane’ and ‘do roadworks at night’ – drivers still angry over Kesgrave roadworksMotorists have continued to vent their anger over the traffic chaos causing huge delays during both rush hours in Kesgrave this week.

Sunderland Echo

• Business guru who helped Nissan's move to Sunderland advises other companies to hold investmentNissan's decision to invest in its Sunderland factory is not likely to be repeated by other Japanese companies, according to a business guru involved in advising the car giant to come to north-east England in the 1980s.

Other Regional Press

• How the new Heathrow runway will be good for Devon - Neil Parish MP The decision to build a new runway at Heathrow is a strong statement that the UK is open for business.
• Transport minister's pledge to West Fife commuters... I'll improve the Fife circle.

C.N.N.

• World's first zero-emission hydrogen train to begin operations in GermanyThe world's first hydrogen powered, emission-free train is set to go into service in Germany in 2017 -- a ground-breaking innovation that could signal the phasing out of heavily polluting, diesel-powered trains.

Buying Business Travel

• British Airways to launch wifi on short haul flightsWifi introduced across all four IAG airlines

Rail Technology Magazine

• Renew Holdings acquires Giffen Holdings Renew, an engineering services group supporting the UK infrastructure, has announced the acquisition of Giffen Holdings Limited.

Railway Gazette

• SNCF Réseau raises €900m with inaugural green bondFRANCE: SNCF Réseau has raised €900m with its inaugural 15-year ‘green bond’, which it says was the...

The Business Desk

• East Midlands Airport has busiest summer since recessionEast Midlands Airport has experienced its busiest summer since 2008 and the beginning of the recession, according to new figures.
• £60m investment by Yorkshire rail firm in Hitachi trainsHULL TRAINS has announced a £60m investment in new Hitachi trains. The firm says the investment will deliver 50% extra seating after it secured track access extension from the office of Rail and Road, allowing direct services to and from London until 2029.

Aviation Industry

• High Court ruling on air pollution casts fresh doubt on the deliverability of Heathrow expansionThe Government has failed to take adequate measures to meet the legal requirement to being levels of nitrogen dioxide to within legal limits as soon as possible, the High Court ruled today, and has fixed its estimates for compliance dates …
• US airline margins ‘in line’ with average of other industriesUS airlines collectively reported approximately $18.3 billion in pre-tax profit for the first nine months of 2016, down 2.1% from $18.7 billion over the same period in 2015, according to Airlines for America (A4A). read more
• Air France names new CEO​Air France-KLM has appointed Franck Terner, who is currently Air France-KLM EVP engineering and maintenance, as the next CEO of Air France. read more

Other News Sources

• ARRIVA COMMENTS ON CMA FINAL DECISION ON NORTHERN RAIL FRANCHISE AWARDThe Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has today published its final decision on the award of the Northern franchise to Arriva.
• MP begs Prime Minister to personally intervene in rail dispute THE Prime Minister has been called on to personally intervene in the ongoing Southern Rail dispute.
• Electrical fault causes commuter misery for hundreds of passengers THE Prime Minister has been urged to intervene in the ongoing rail crisis in Sussex after commuters faced rush hour chaos on Tuesday.
• UK must invest in skills for emerging transport technology says TSCThe UK must close emerging skills gaps in the transport sector says Transport Systems Catapult (TSC) following publication of its Intelligent Mobility Skills Strategy report.