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

Saturday, 05 November 2016

BBC News

• Tramway suggested as solution to Stromeferry BypassHighland Council is re-examining the potential for road and rail traffic to share the same space at Stromeferry in Wester Ross in the form of a tramway.
• United Airlines to stop Belfast to New York flightsUS airline United is to stop flights between Belfast and New York, months after a �9m rescue deal.
• New West Coast rail franchise to run HS2 servicesA new rail franchise combining the current West Coast Main Line with HS2 high-speed services is announced by the government.

Financial Times

• Eurostar on track for Amsterdam despite slower Q3Channel tunnel rail service aims to compete with airlines for Netherlands passengers
• Rail shares fall on West Coast franchise delayOperator of long-distance route will start in 2019 instead of 2018

The Guardian

• Virgin to get an extra year running west coast mainlineDelay in franchise schedule lets Sir Richard Branson’s firm run the line for another year as government says the bid winner will also run HS2

The Herald

• Virgin Trains told to get West Coast services back on the right trackVIRGIN Trains has been told to improve West Coast services between London and Glasgow by boosting reliability and punctuality, as well as improving connections to towns and cities along the route.

The Scotsman

• Michael Fallon: warships will secure Clyde jobs for 20 yearsSir Michael Fallon claimed shipbuilding jobs on the Clyde have been safeguarded for two decades when he announced work on the Royal Navy’s new frigate fleet will begin in the summer.

Times Online

• Millions of traffic offenders sent on unreliable coursesMotorists are paying up to £100 million a year to take remedial driving courses as an alternative to prosecution, despite a lack of evidence that they alter long-term attitudes to the road.
• The powers that be in Edinburgh need to clean up their act [subscription]Edinburgh is a great city bedevilled with some problems. Confident leadership empowered to take innovative and effective action is the key to resolving these intractable challenges.

Belfast Telegraph

• HS2 and West Coast Main Line 'must compete despite shared operator'Transport campaigners have called on the Government to ensure there is competition between HS2 and the West Coast Main Line despite the routes being run by the same operator.

Birmingham Post

• HS2 to be run by same company as West Coast franchise Government decides to combine key InterCity West Coast service and new high-speed rail line under just a single operator

London Evening Standard

• Southern Rail strike: Travel misery for train passengers as weekend strike beginsSouthern Rail commuters face fresh travel chaos today as workers go on strike in the latest walk-out to hit the troublesome rail company.
• Heathrow third runway 'can be built without a drop in air quality'A minister has insisted that Heathrow's third runway can be built without air quality getting worse in the capital.
• Southern Rail strikes: RMT union accused of 'cancelling Christmas' with 'spiteful' festive walkoutSouthern Railway commuters were today warned of more and worse disruption to come with train drivers planning to join Christmas and New Year strikes by guards.
• Cyclists demand Bushy Park route ban to be lifted 'because it diverts them towards accident blackspot'Cyclists want to be allowed access to a popular shortcut through one of London's royal parks because they claim the alternative route is dangerous.

Morning Star

• HS2 Profits Handed To Train PrivateersMINISTERS are planning another multibillion-pound corporate handout on our railways, announcing that the HS2 franchise will be flogged off to privateers.

Sheffield Telegraph

• Sheffield Council urged to back Stocksbridge Supertram linkA Sheffield councillor has called for a 'immediate' action to bring the Supertram to Stocksbridge.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Airport scraps controversial £60 fines for drivers who stay in drop-off area for too longBosses at Aberdeen International Airport have decided to ease the pain for drivers who overstay their welcome in its designated drop-off zone.
• Transport bosses request more details for £70million rail link in AberdeenCouncil bosses have been told to draw up a feasibility study for their plans to create a rail link between Aberdeen city centre and the airport.

Other Regional Press

• More engineering work planned on railway this weekend - services to be disrupted PASSENGERS planning on travelling by train this weekend are being reminded to double check train times before they set off for the station as engineering works continue.
• Transpennine Express given almost �4m compensation for delays Network Rail paid £3.8m over the course of last year
• National Express to run biggest ever Christmas serviceCoach operator National Express will run its biggest ever Christmas service this year amid severe disruption on the rail network due to engineering work.
• First ready to step in and take rail services backSCOTTISH transport giant FirstGroup would consider a fresh bid to run ScotRail if Abellio is stripped of the contract, a senior source has confirmed.
• Council leader: £50k is a 'modest sum' for Heathrow legal fightThe door has been left open for other authorities to join the Royal Borough in its potential legal challenge over the expansion of Heathrow Airport.
• ‘Shocking and reckless’: Harmful air quality challenges Heathrow decision say London politiciansLIFE-THREATENING air is putting Londoners at severe risk, calling into question last week’s Heathrow expansion decision, says Green Party London Assembly member Caroline Russell.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Polarteknik and Hitachi Rail Collaborate on IEP Rail Project Hitachi Rail is the main partner of the Intercity Express Programme (IEP) with a £6bn fleet order. The Hitachi IEP train is known for its high-quality and reliability targets.
• HS2 - The biggest single source of new jobs in UK infrastructureAilie MacAdam, Bechtel’s rail sector lead and a director of High Speed Rail Industry Leaders (HSRIL), comments on the job opportunities that HS2 offers and the economic benefits the project will bring. It’s official… HS2 is coming, and it’s bringing with it a bonanza of...
• Franchise combines WCML services with HS2 in 'seamless integration'A major new franchise will combine the current InterCity West Coast (ICWC) services, currently run by Virgin Trains, with the development and introduction of HS2 services, the DfT has announced today – settling doubts about whether the line would be run by an open access operator. The new...
• Eurostar reports Q3 recovery after Nice terrorist attackEurostar today reported a modest recovery in its Q3 reports with passenger numbers increasing year-on-year, indicating signs of improvement after a challenging dip in demand following the terrorist attack in Nice in July. Influenced by the recent fall in pound sterling, the business also saw a...
• Majority of infrastructure supply chain 'not confident' NR can deliver CP5Nearly three-quarters of infrastructure firms working in the rail sector are not confident Network Rail has the capacity to deliver the rest of the programmes in CP5, according to a new report from CBI/AECOM. The 2016 CBI/AECOM Infrastructure Survey, which received responses from over 700 firms...

Railnews

• New ultimatum in Southern DOO dispute Govia Thameslink Railway has warned the RMT that any further strikes on Southern over driver-only operation will result in the withdrawal of the current offer to conductors and that there will be no further negotiations with the union. The dispute has already led to a number of conductors' strikes, and another walkout has been called for 4 and 5 November. The RMT and ASLEF are also balloting their driver members over strikes or action short of a strike on the same issue this month.
• New HS2 franchise will take over West Coast in 2019 The Government is creating a new �partnership franchise� to run trains on HS2 as well as classic intercity services on the broadly parallel West Coast Main Line. The contract is expected to run from 2019 to at least 2029 and possibly until 2031. Transport minister Andrew Jones said: �We are embarking on a new chapter in our modernisation of the railways and we need world-class expertise to deliver it.

Railway Gazette

• Bombardier opens WrocÅ‚aw production hallPOLAND: Bombardier Transportation inaugurated a 20 000 m2 high speed train car body...

Aviation Industry

• Boeing logged 85 commercial aircraft orders in October Boeing tallied a gross firm order total of 85 commercial aircraft in October, valued at approximately $22.9 billion at list prices. read more

Green Miscellany

• All aboard the pedal-powered school busA group of volunteers from Rouen in France has launched a free pedal-powered school bus service for local children. Concerned by the 75 per cent of school children in their area of France ferried to lessons by car and inspired by a similar service in the Netherlands, the group acquired a pedal-powered school bus and much local support. Each�S’cool bus�is… The post All aboard the pedal-powered school bus appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• WOKING STATION IMPROVED AS SECOND CYCLE HUB IS OFFICIALLY OPENEDCyclists at Woking can now enjoy significantly improved facilities following the completion of a second new cycle hub at the station, as part of a £475,000 investment programme.
• Southern Rail operator Govia-Thameslink Railway paid more than �22m compensation by Network Rail for unplanned delays Southern operator Govia-Thameslink was the biggest beneficiary, closely followed by Southeastern and South West Trains
• Platforms to close as part of electrification work at Grade II-Listed Bath Spa railway station The platforms at Bath Spa railway station could be widened and raised to allow for overhead cables to be installed, as part of Network Rail's electrification project.
• Ericka Waller column: Southern trains are just as scary as Halloween SO HALLOWEEN is over.
• Latest Southern Railway strike 'solidly supported' A fresh strike by workers on Southern Railway was being
• Commuters accuse union bosses of ruining Christmas with its strike action COMMUTERS have accused union bosses of ruining Christmas with its “shameful” and “ridiculous” decision to strike across the festive season.