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

Tuesday, 15 November 2016

BBC News

• Belfast: Three 24-hour bus-lanes to be scrappedThree 24-hour bus lanes in Belfast are set to be scrapped.
• Croydon tram crash: Bosses were warned of 'speeding trams'Transport bosses were warned a tram had
• HS2: Ministers confirm North West and Yorkshire routesThe route for HS2's next phase from Crewe to Manchester and Birmingham to Leeds is confirmed.

Department for Transport

• HS2 route to the East Midlands, Leeds and Manchester set out by the governmentGovernment sets out its preferred route for Phase 2 of HS2 from Crewe to Manchester and the West Midlands to Leeds.

Financial Times

• HS2 high-speed rail line to be built in fullKey change to route will add spur taking trains into centre of Sheffield
• Warren Buffett invests $1.2bn in US airlinesBerkshire Hathaway reveals holdings in industry he called an investor ‘death trap’

The Guardian

• Delayed route plan for HS2 second phase to be unveiledUp to seven significant alterations to original route expected to be put out for further consultationThe route for the second phase of HS2 is due to be confirmed on Tuesday, with communities in the north of England ready to discover how the high-speed rail network will affect them. Up to seven significant alterations to the original route are expected to be put out for further consultation, and they are likely to provoke outcry in affected areas. Continue reading...
• 'I only dream of bicycles': the DRC cycling club offering hope (and breakfast)Goma has only 11km of good roads and is blighted by poverty and violence, but the city’s cycling club is going from strength to strengthA chain of Lycra-clad cyclists whizzes by the blue and white UN base tasked with keeping the peace in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.Weaving in and out of traffic, competing with motorbike taxis, they overtake a lorry on its last legs, shuddering as it spews out a fog of black smoke. Concentrating hard on not hitting a speed-bump or pothole, the cyclists receive curious stares from men on chukudus, large wooden scooters used for transporting everythi...

The Herald

• Rail viaduct storm damage probe finds bridges safety system had lapsedAn investigation into why trains continued to pass over a railway viaduct damaged by storms found a safety system for more than 100 at-risk bridges in Scotland had lapsed.

The Scotsman

• Leader comment: Driver’s presence prevented tragedy The term “risk assessment” has become an object of ridicule, as an increasing number of barely credible reports emerge about safety checks that are apparently being taken too far.

Times Online

• Bridge risk forgotten for ten years [Subscription]Mainline express trains carrying hundreds of passengers between Scotland and England continued to travel over a Victorian viaduct for ten years after a safety check system had been allowed to lapse, a damning report has found.
• Bridge risk forgotten for ten years [Subscription]Mainline express trains carrying hundreds of passengers between Scotland and England continued to travel over a Victorian viaduct for ten years after a safety check system had been allowed to lapse, a damning report has found.

Mail Online

• East and West Coast rail lines will benefit from HS2, says Chris Grayling Passengers travelling on the East Coast and West Coast main lines will benefit from more services and extra seats once the HS2 high-speed rail project is completed, the Department for Transport (DfT) has said.
• HS2 'will help commuters on other routes' by freeing up congested routes Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has insisted the HS2 project, between London and Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds will free up the currently congested commuter routes.

Belfast Telegraph

• 2,000 drivers fined for using Belfast's bus lanes during dead of nightExclusive: Roads minister demands review after latest controversy over penalties

Birmingham Mail

• Bus pranksters: 'Good for you' say Mail readers Passengers driven mad by gags including lying in doorway for 10 minutes

Bolton News

• 'My wages have gone down drastically' - Cab driver furious over taxi rank relocation A TAXI driver has hit out at council plans to permanently move a town centre rank — which he says is costing him half of his income.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Use email address to dob in Bradford's danger drivers, urge police THE officer in charge of the Operation Steerside crackdown on dangerous drivers in Bradford has the public to make use of a dedicated email address set up specifically for the operation.

London Evening Standard

• Croydon tram crash: Calls to introduce automated braking after derailment kills seven A former Transport for London board member today called for an automated braking system for the Croydon tramlink.
• Furious British minicab drivers forced to pay for English language testsLondon-born private hire taxi drivers have hit out at a "farcical" new rule forcing them to prove their English language skills or risk losing their licence.
• Tube network covered with anti-advertising messages by 'brandalism' groupA 'brandalism' group has targeted the London Underground by covering hundreds of advertisements with posters claiming "advertising s***s in your head".
• Croydon tram crash: Investigation into fatal accident 'may take many months'The inquiry into the Croydon tram crash could take "many months", the chief inspector of rail accidents has said.
• HS2: Route for second phase of high speed rail line confirmedNew high-speed rail line HS2 will run from Crewe to Manchester and connect the West Midlands to Leeds, the Government has announced.

Sheffield Star

• Government delays HS2 announcement for SheffieldThe Government has set out its preferred route of the second phase of HS2 high speed rail network - but has delayed its decision on the Sheffield link.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Ministers confirm majority of HS2 Yorkshire routeTRANSPORT Secretary Chris Grayling today confirmed the majority of the proposed route for the planned high speed rail route connecting Yorkshire to Birmingham and London.

Other Regional Press

• Arriva boss apologises to passengers as drivers go on strike Strong picket response in pay stand
• The train now arriving...is a showcase for the Jurassic Coast AN ICONIC landmark on the Jurassic Coast is being show off on the rail network to promote Dorset.
• Nadine Dorries MP visits Ampthill-based Lockheed MartinGraduates and apprentices from Ampthill-based Lockheed Martin UK met Nadine Dorries MP on Friday to talk about the innovative projects they work on and how they’re inspiring others to take up science and technology careers.

Bus and Coach.com

• Electric double-deck prototype launched by Optare at Euro Bus Expo
• Day return deals for Northern Ireland bus passengers
• Stagecoach anger at last-minute cancellation of Cheltenham bus lane plan
• Show orders confirmed for Irizar UK
• Blackpool orders a further 25 Enviro400 Citys
• Reading Bus to take six Scania Irizar i3s
• Arriva places Liverpool gas bus order for MAN Lion’s Citys

Buying Business Travel

• Edinburgh airport unveils expansion masterplanExtended passenger terminal among the proposals undergoing consultation
• Ryanair adds new routes from LutonIrish carrier will operate to Dusseldorf for summer 2017 season

Rail Technology Magazine

• Britain runs on railPaul Plummer, chief executive of the Rail Delivery Group (RDG), writes about a new national campaign designed to engage and inform the wider public about ongoing improvements being carried out across the railways.
• Improving safety through early track void detectionDr Farouk Balouchi, project technical lead at the Institute of Railway Research, University of Huddersfield, Dr Adam Bevan, head of enterprise, Institute of Railway Research, University of Huddersfield, and Roy Formston, lead development engineer at Siemens UK, explain how a new vehicle cab-based monitoring system could help improve track void d...
• Making rail historyAn innovative approach to partnership working has helped S&C North Alliance make rail history on the East Coast Main Line (ECML) by delivering the UK's first 125mph handback on a S&C renewal. Neil Johnson, alliance director, explains why collaboration is the key to making line speed handbacks the norm.
• Investing in the future of Scottish RailPhil Verster, managing director of ScotRail Alliance, speaks to RTM's Luana Salles about the recently-published 'Investing in the Future' report expected to inform the Scottish government's upcoming rail strategy.
• Oxford station on track for MaryleboneNetwork Rail's senior programme manager, Jonathan Davies, and its project manager, Rob Mashford, speak to RTM about the ongoing works in and around Oxford station ahead of Chiltern Railways running services on the new Oxford-Marylebone line from December.
• Trans City Rail ImagesChoose which year's images you would like to view:
• TransCityRail Conference and Dinner Images 2016Unknown
• Councils welcome Grayling promise of continued support for East West RailThe East West Rail Consortium has welcomed promises from transport secretary Chris Grayling this week that the government will continue to support the project. Speaking at the County Councils National Conference, Grayling said that while devolution was “part of the solution” in some...
• Virgin Trains unveils futuristic changes at Birmingham InternationalVirgin Trains has unveiled its new-look Birmingham International station, calling the transformed open-plan station its vision for ‘stations of the future’. An investment of over £1m has transformed the station’s ticketing area, replacing the traditional booking office...
• NR criticised for lapsed safety system following Lamington Viaduct probeNetwork Rail failed to address the risk of scour on the Lamington Viaduct, which was closed following flood damage this winter, despite problems being reported for over 10 years, a report by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has found. Serious deformation of the track on the viaduct...
• RSSB appoints new chief executive officerThe Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) has appointed Mark Phillips as Chief Executive Officer with the appointment taking effect today (14 November). Phillips joined RSSB in February of last year as director of research and standards and was appointed as its interim managing director in May...
• TSSA issues notice of ticket office ballot as transport watchdog reports 'mixed picture' The TSSA has announced it is balloting members over the closure of ticket offices on the Underground, while the deputy chair of London TravelWatch told the London Assembly’s transport committee that a review of the changes has found a “mixed picture”. Manuel Cortes, the...
• Luton airport reinforces call for express trains after passenger increaseLondon Luton Airport (LLA) has reinforced its calls for improved rail access to Luton Airport Parkway (LAP) station following its announcement of a sharp increase in passenger numbers. Over 1.3 million passengers chose to travel through LLA last month, an 18.7% increase in passenger numbers...

Railnews

• East West rail link details expected in New Year Council leaders have been reassured by a restated commitment to build East West Rail, in spite of concerns about Network Rail's budget and the possible impact of the Chancellor's Autumn Statement later this month. They are also hoping that details of an accelerated programme of construction will be published in the New Year. Transport secretary Chris Grayling has told the national conference of county councils that the project is important and 'exactly the type of project that is needed to support our growth plans'.

Railway Gazette

• World rail freight news round-upA pilot China-Pakistan Economic Corridor train co-ordinated by Pakistan’s Frontier Works...

Aviation Industry

• Southwest Airlines begins Cuba flightsDallas-based Southwest Airlines began scheduled commercial flights to Cuba Nov. 13 with the launch of 2X-daily service between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) and Varadero, Cuba, a resort city 87 miles east of Havana. read more
• AirBaltic to launch Bombardier CSeries 300 service Dec. 14 Latvian carrier airBaltic has confirmed the first Bombardier CSeries 300 (CS300) will make its commercial debut between Riga and Amsterdam Dec. 14. read more
• Lufthansa faces new pilot strike threatLufthansa has reacted strongly to a fresh threat of strike action from the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) union, labeling it as “absolutely incomprehensible.” read more
• JetBlue unveils RetroJet liveryJetBlue has unveiled its newest special livery, “What’s Old Is Blue Again,” on an Airbus A320. Dubbed “RetroJet,” the aircraft will be used on this season’s first roundtrip service between New York JFK and Palm Springs International Airport. read more
• Aegean Airlines lifted by $84 million 3Q net income Aegean Airlines reported a third-quarter net income of €74.9 million ($84 million), up 11.6% from €67.1 million in 3Q 2015. read more

Green Miscellany

• UK's green bus transition could deliver £248m by 2020Low-Carbon Emissions Buses (LCEBs) could deliver more than £248m in social benefits to the UK by 2020 and reduce transport emissions by 432,000 tonnes, after a new report outlined the benefits that current green fleets are demonstrating.
• The Parkis: Effortless bicycle storageBike hooks and hoists have been around for ages, but most of these space-saving storage solutions are out of reach for those without the strength to lift a bicycle. The Parkis promises effortless vertical bike storage that can be used by almost everyone – including the young, old and pregnant. The Parkis is aimed at squeezed-for-space city folk who have… The post The Parkis: Effortless bicycle storage appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• A “remote tower” could let you land at Heathrow – with air traffic control 600 miles awayThis new technology already exists, and is part of a quiet revolution in how planes land.
• Resort rail upgrade remains on schedule Network Rail insists it remains on track to complete the upgrade of Blackpool’s rail lines by May 2018.
• Safety checks on rail bridges were abandoned by Network Rail despite known risksRAILWAYS bosses failed to monitor a key viaduct at risk of collapse due to storm damage even though they knew it was vulnerable to high waters, a report has found.