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

Sunday, 06 November 2016

BBC News

• Southern rail strikers backed by marchers in BrightonProtesters take to the streets of Brighton in support of Southern rail workers taking part in their 17th day of strike action.

ITV News

• Welsh firms need 'same reassurances' as Nissan says Economy SecretaryThe Economy Secretary says Welsh car manufacturers and other major employers 'deserve the same level of reassurance' given by the UK Government to Nissan.

The Guardian

• Labour selects transport expert to stand against Zac Goldsmith in byelectionLabour has chosen a transport expert to fight Zac Goldsmith in the Richmond Park byelection triggered by his protest over Heathrow expansion. Christian Wolmar, who has written a number of books on railway history, will stand in the contest on 1 December.

The Herald

• Transport Minister set to move towards rail public ownershipTHE Scottish Government is examining options for returning Scotland’s railways to public ownership in what would be the biggest shake-up of the service since privatisation more than 20 years ago, the Sunday Herald understands.

The Telegraph

• Let other airports expand too, says Heathrow boss Britain's airports should all be allowed to grow, as long as there is enough demand for their services, Heathrow’s chairman has said.

Times Online

• Duck inside and cover! Air-pollution warnings at bus stops [subscription]Britain is to get its first mass warning system for surges in air pollution.
• Uber squeeze pushes drivers to 16-hour day [subscription]Uber drivers are working up to 21 hours a day to make ends meet as the company increases its cut of fares and fights a ruling giving them employment rights.
• Clogged motorways move at bicycle speed [subscription]Known as “the road to hell”, the M25 has long been Britain’s most hated motorway.
• Collapsed China deal shows SNP’s true colours [subscription]The debacle of the dodgy deal first minister Nicola Sturgeon signed with state-backed Chinese companies, and which has been abruptly cancelled by them, puts the SNP in a league of its own when it comes to hypocrisy.

Daily Record

• Victory for Sunday Mail campaign after ScotRail vow to reveal truth on crammed trainsAFTER months of unreliable services and extreme overcrowding, Dutch firm Abellio have agreed to release information on how many passengers use ScotRail's busiest services.

London Evening Standard

• Richmond park by-election: Labour nominates transport expert Christian Wolmar to stand against Zac GoldsmithThe Labour Party has nominated transport expert Christian Wolmar to stand in the Richmond Park by-election.

Manchester Evening News

• Metrolink drivers 'fear for future' after it emerged operator could be axed from running network But RATP Dev boss says legal reasons are stopping them from discussing the issue

The York Press

• Network Rail caused Tadcaster Bridge woes while making up for unauthorised work NETWORK Rail’s work in the River Wharfe downstream of Tadcaster - blamed for delaying repairs to the town’s bridge - was needed to mitigate unauthorised work from 2014, the Environment Agency has revealed.

Reading Evening Post

• M4 slip road and lane closures planned for this week Overnight closures and reduced speed limits will be enforced

Other Regional Press

• Cyclists lobby for improvements around Oxford's new Westgate Centre CYCLISTS have been promised 1,000 new cycling spaces in Oxford city centre as part of plans for the new Westgate Centre.
• Camberley to London Waterloo train now two minutes slower than in 1888South West Trains said the railway between Surrey and London Waterloo is "almost unrecognisable" compared to the late 1800s
• Railway volunteers clear up array of unusual obstaclesHARD-WORKING volunteers clearing the new heritage trainline between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Trawsfynydd have faced some unusual barriers as they work.
• Owners of diesel cars could be charged for driving into SouthamptonOWNERS of diesel cars could be charged every time they drive into Southampton.
• Park and tide: Drivers warned cars could be 'swept away' if plans go ahead DRIVERS have been warned their vehicles could be ‘swept away’ as plans were lodged to extend Oxford’s Seacourt Park-and-Ride into the floodplain.
• New rail franchise set to provide a boost to Staffordshire services A NEW integrated rail franchise combining HS2 with the West Coast Main Line would provide a boost to Staffordshire's rail services and economy, the county's economic growth leader has said.
• New Somerset station a step closer after MP holds crucial meetingsMore than 50 years since they last welcomed trains, two Somerset towns are one step closer to seeing passenger services restored.
• Labour picks transport expert Wolmar to fight Goldsmith in by-electionLabour has chosen a transport expert to fight Zac Goldsmith in the by-election he triggered in protest over Heathrow expansion.

Railway Gazette

• Chinese firm to build Zambia – Malawi railwayZAMBIA: The Ministry of Transport & Communications has awarded China Civil Engineering Construction Corp a US$2·26bn four-year contract to design and build the Zambia East Line, which would run for 388·8 km from Serenje on the Zambian Railways network to Petauke and Chipata.
• PlayRenfe wi-fi offers live TV on the moveSPAIN: Prior to its launch on high speed services between Madrid and Sevilla on December 5, national operator RENFE is testing from November 4 a beta version of PlayRenfe, its new on-train wi-fi platform which combines satellite and 4G. As well as internet connectivity, passengers will be able to enjoy live TV on the move in what RENFE says is a world-first for the railway industry.

Other News Sources

• Labour chooses anti-Brexit transport expert for Zac Goldsmith by-election Labour has chosen a transport expert who has vowed to vote against Article 50 as the candidate to oppose Zac Goldmith in the Richmond Park by-election.

EIN News Subscription

• First hydrogen power train is German … train, called the Coradia iLint, was unveiled by Alstom at a railway … . The train uses the same equipment as a diesel train but runs … the train reaches is far below that of other European trains, such as the German Inter-city Express and French TGV, it …
• Eurostar to cut train services due to 'challenging environment' … a result of Brexit is Eurostar. The train operator is to cut … likely to lose their jobs. Eurostar is expected to reveal which … for Eurostar said: “This is a challenging environment for all travel companies … sabbaticals as much as possible.” Eurostar carries 80 per cent of …
• Eurostar wants direct service between London and Amsterdam … Going Dutch Eurostar is pressing ahead with plans for direct rail services … on existing routes. The cross-Channel rail operator said services between the … each year.  Eurostar believes that its direct four-hour train journeys will ‘greatly …
• China's 'New Silk Road' brings great promise to eastern Europe … of government, academia and business. Delegations of CESEE … as elsewhere in the EU, political issues have … Europe, the BRI pushes for coordinated development and policy, promotes investment … increased. A number of transport infrastructure projects - including …
• Tigerair to come under Scoot brand … manages the SIA Group’s budget airlines Scoot and Tigerair, today announced … plan to launch its first European service, to Athens, next year …
• Edinburgh Airport earmarked for US Preclearance expansionTravellers departing Scotland could soon get to avoid the long queues at the US customs thanks to fast track checks at Edinburgh Airport.