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

Wednesday, 16 November 2016

BBC News

• Severn tolls: All assembly parties back scrapping feesAll party groups in the assembly are to give their support to abolishing the Severn bridge tolls in a Senedd debate on Wednesday.
• More passengers using Virgin Trains' cross-border servicesVirgin Trains has reported a rise in the number of passengers using its cross-border east coast rail services over the last six months.
• Plan to build Westway cycle superhighway scrapped by mayorSadiq Khan has scrapped proposed plans to create a
• RMT Tube drivers and station staff back strike actionThousands of London Underground staff vote to go on strike over two separate disputes, the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union says.
• Croydon tram crash: Funeral costs offer from Transport for LondonLondon transport chiefs offer to fund the funeral costs for the seven Croydon tram crash victims.
• HS2 will open on time in 2033, transport secretary vowsThe controversial high-speed rail project HS2 will open on time, the transport secretary says.

Financial Times

• HS2 high-speed rail line to be built in fullBusiness welcomes increase in train capacity and says it will drive investment
• HS2 high-speed rail line to be built in fullBusiness welcomes increase in train capacity and says it will drive investment
• EasyJet risks the wrath of SteliosDame Carolyn McCall’s countercyclical growth plan makes sense
• FirstGroup pins hope on US amid tough UK tradingTransport operator says UK rail passenger numbers fell for first time in 7 years

The Guardian

• UK investment in tech and transport among world's worst, says TUCBritain ranks among the worst performers in the developed world for spending on new technology, industrial machinery and transport equipment, according to a study by the TUC of investment spending in the public and private sectors.
• Blink and you'll miss it: Japanese sinkhole repaired at speed – videoA 30-metre sinkhole on a busy street in the Japanese city of Fukuoka has been repaired astonishingly quickly. The sinkhole appeared on 8 November and caused power cuts, disrupted phone signals, and gas and water supplies. Officials reopened the road to traffic on Tuesday 15 November after health and safety checksJapan fixes vast Fukuoka city sinkhole Continue reading...

The Herald

• HS2 is THE £56 billion high speed rail project is “fantastic news” for Scotland, the UK Government has said, which will cut cross-border journey times with the ultimate aim of reducing the time it takes to travel between Glasgow, Edinburgh and London from four hours to under three.
• Beyond Brexit: Prestwick Airport 'vulnerable' in the wake of Brexit vote, say expertsEFFORTS to return Prestwick Airport to profit have been dealt a blow by Brexit, according to aviation experts who warned that the taxpayer-owned base is
• 80 jobs created at Prestwick Airport...with help of �2 million of public moneyOVER 80 jobs are to be created with the help of �2 million of public money as a British aircraft maintenance company opens a base at Glasgow Prestwick Airport.

Times Online

• Who has fingers in all the pies? [subscription]Not for the first time John McDonnell is over-stating things a bit. The shadow chancellor reckons Donald Trump’s victory was “won with the rhetoric of division”. Except on one thing, John: his infrastructure shtick, all that rebuilding “highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, schools, hospitals”.
• FirstGroup chief denies shifts led to tram crash [Subscription]The chief executive at the centre of the Croydon tram tragedy has indicated that he believes investigators into last week’s derailment that killed seven and left dozens injured will recommend that such light rail operations have automatic vehicle cut-out or braking systems.
• UK is bottom for transport spending [subscription]Britain invests less in infrastructure than any other advanced economy except Greece and Portugal, according to the TUC. Capital spending as a share of GDP puts the UK 33rd out of the 35 members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the TUC says, based on data from the think tank. Britain’s record was worse for transport alone, where the UK was lowest of the 34 which gave figures.

Mail Online

• Just The Flight reveals airports that are furthest and nearest to their namesake cities An infographic examines the distance airports are from their namesake cities. Paris Vatry is 91 miles from the centre, while Gibraltar airport is 1.4 miles away and is a seven-minute drive.

The Mirror

• Despite controversial HS2 high-speed rail line Britain is STILL bottom of the league for transport investment A study found Britain was in last place out of 34 developed countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development for transport spending

Birmingham Post

• Why Birmingham 'will miss out' on rail services when HS2 opens Campaigners issues stark warning of future rail travel as the Government outlines is timetable for the second phase of High Speed 2
• Birmingham Airport crowned fastest in Britain Airport beat off stiff competition from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Heathrow and Bristol

Bolton News

• 'It is extremely dangerous' - Anger over parked cars blocking pavements CARS parked on a pavement in Blackrod are causing a danger to pedestrians said town councillors.

London Evening Standard

• Tube drivers took three times more sick days than the average London worker last year, new figures revealTube drivers took three times more sick leave than the average for workers in the capital last year, new figures reveal.
• Southern Rail delays: Broken down leaf-clearing train sparks rush hour chaosCommuters faced travel chaos as a broken down train used to clear leaves has caused cancellations and severe delays on rail services serving south-west London.
• 'Crazy' plan to build Westway cycle superhighway scrapped by MayorPlans to remove a lane from the A40 Westway flyover to create a segregated cycle superhighway have been axed by Sadiq Khan, it emerged today.
• Tube strikes: Commuters face travel chaos in the run-up to Christmas after thousands of Tube workers vote for walkoutsThousands of London Underground staff, including drivers, have voted to go on strike over disputes about staffing, safety and industrial relations.
• Market report: Costain takes off as City cheers HS2 contract winInvestors jumped on board Costain today after the engineer was handed one of the contracts for HS2, the UK's largest infrastructure project.
• Welsh cyclist 'nearly beheaded' by barbed wire 'trap' stretched across pathA man was nearly "beheaded" after cycling into a length of barbed wire which had been stretched across a popular bike trail.
• Southeastern: Orpington trains delayed by 'trapped squirrel'Trains through south east London have been delayed because of a rogue squirrel which got trapped in one of the carriages.
• Croydon tram crash: Transport for London offers to pay funeral costs of victimsTransport for London has offered to pay for the funerals of the seven people killed in the Croydon tram crash.

Manchester Evening News

• Manchester Airport HS2 station could be at risk if Government can't find investorsThe Department of Transport said they'll provide some of the funds – but it's unclear where the rest will come from
• Watch: This is the line HS2 will take into Manchester - as minister tells affected residents 'we'll help you' Rail minister who went to Altrincham college urges his own community to seek compensation
• Will HS2 link with London lead to 'brain drain' as journey times to capital are slashed?Politicians have dismissed fears that the high speed rail service will see the region's smartest workers travelling to London for better pay and prospects

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• East Coast mainline passenger numbers speed ahead after Virgin Trains investments Passenger numbers between Newcastle and Edinburgh have jumped 26% since new services were launched in May
• HS2 high speed rail 'will transform' services to Newcastle insists GovernmentGovernment ministers have insisted HS2 will benefit the North East as it confirms the second phase of the £55bn network

Sheffield Telegraph

• HS2 Yorkshire route announced - except for station in SheffieldThe Government has announced the second phase of the HS2 rail service between Crewe and Manchester and the West Midlands and Leeds - but a final decision on the Sheffield station will be made next year.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Relief and anger for communities on the route of high speed lineHOMES ON a South Yorkshire housing estate could be bought by the Government before the development is completed.

Yorkshire Post

• YP Comment: High-speed rail back on track - Plans promise huge benefitsHIGH-speed rail has the potential to transform Yorkshire’s economy, and the Government’s announcement of changes to the route brings those benefits ever closer.

Peterborough Telegraph

• UK road travel could be as safe as rail and air ‘within a generation’The road system in the UK could be as safe to use as rail and air travel “within a generation”.

Other Regional Press

• UK road travel could be as safe as rail and air ‘within a generation’The road system in the UK could be as safe to use as rail and air travel “within a generation”.
• Bumpy flight but easyjet is staying in townBudget airline easyJet says it is committed to staying in Luton as the company sees profits drop by 28% .

Buying Business Travel

• Concur strikes BA and Iberia deal to help capture ‘direct spend’Tool TripLink will allow buyers to see bookings made direct with the airlines
• HS2: Transport chiefs confirm northern routesHigh-speed second phase routes unveiled, although decision on Sheffield delayed

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• HS2 route to the East Midlands, Leeds and Manchester set out by the governmentTransport Secretary Chris Grayling has confirmed the majority of the preferred HS2 route from Crewe to Manchester and the West Midlands to Leeds in a major boost for the UK’s future economic prosperity and a further clear signal the country is open for business. This is a major step towards: significantly increasing capacity on our congested railways for both passengers and freight improving connections between the biggest cities and regions generating jobs, skills and economic growth helping build an economy that works for all The new HS2 trains will carry o...
• David Davis visits London City Airport to discuss Brexit with industry leadersThe Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union has chaired a roundtable with aviation industry leaders to hear their views on the Brexit negotiations. The Secretary of State chaired the meeting alongside Aviation Minister Lord Ahmad, to hear the views of industry leaders on the forthcoming Brexit negotiations and talk about the opportunities Britain’s decision to leave the EU could bring to the sector. Aviation is crucial to the UK’s economy - contributing around £20 billion in 2014 alone. The UK has the largest aviation network in Europe and the third largest in the ...
• FirstGroup announce half-year resultsFirstGroup plc has announced its half-yearly results for the six months to 30th September 2016.  Overall trading in the first half has been consistent with the Group's expectation of good progress in the current year, recognising likely currency tailwinds but an uncertain UK macroeconomic backdrop. First half cash performance supports their objective to significantly increase free cash generation for the 2016/17 financial year. The Group reported revenue of +5.1% with First Student and First Transit growth and favourable currency translation, offset by route remapping and end of subs...

Rail Magazine

• Preferred route of HS2 Phase 2b revealedGovernment announces its preferred route for Phase 2b of High Speed 2 today (November 15).

Rail Technology Magazine

• Nokia to support Korea Rail Network Authority’s mobile broadband network The Korea Rail Network Authority (KRNA) has selected Nokia as a supplier for the LTE-R mobile broadband network to support railway operations and employee services.
• ORR warns of level crossing safety risk as industry moves towards ROCsRail safety could be compromised by plans to give a single signaller control of a larger area as part of industry moves towards introducing the digital railway, the chief inspector of railways said yesterday. Network Rail is already taking measures to reduce level crossing deaths, which are at...
• 'Urgent action' needed to deliver part-time season tickets, says CBTCampaign for Better Transport (CBT) renewed its calls for part-time season tickets as it backed a week of campaigning for smarter commuting. The pressure group said that current arrangements for season tickets do not help part-time workers or those who work regularly from home, who are forced to...
• First Rail passenger growth slows in the first half of 2016First Rail’s year-on-year passenger growth has slowed to 0.7%, reflecting a slowdown seen across the UK rail industry, FirstGroup announced in its half-yearly results. First Rail revenues declined to £595.8m in the first half of 2016, compared with £608.9m the previous year...
• Resounding call for supply chain certainty at TransCityRailSupply chain engagement and the future of Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) were the key topics of debate at yesterday’s TransCityRail North conference and networking dinner. With more than 600 delegates in attendance for the black-tie dinner at the Principal Hotel in Manchester, Transport...
• HS2 unveils chosen phase 2 route and �900m enabling worksThe delayed phase 2 route of HS2 has been published, outlining exactly where the government will look to build the high-speed network through the north of England. Despite this, the process is still not yet complete as the controversial decision of where Sheffield’s station will be has...

Railnews

• HS2 Phase 2 plans are a �shot in arm� for economy The Government has set out its plans for Phases 2a and 2b of HS2, which are set to take High Speed trains onwards from the West Midlands to Crewe by 2027 and then to Manchester, the East Midlands, South Yorkshire and Leeds by 2033. State-owned developer HS2 Ltd has also awarded contracts worth a total of �900 million to several consortia so that construction of Phase 1 between London and the West Midlands can begin next year. The news has been greeted by the TUC as a 'much-needed shot in the arm for the British economy', while opponents to the scheme have repeated their claims that the projec...
• Network Rail promises �careful review� of viaduct report A safety review may follow a report into the failure of Lamington Viaduct on the West Coast Main Line which revealed that a safety system monitoring over 100 bridges in Scotland had lapsed, following organisational changes. Network Rail has promised a 'careful review' of findings published by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch.

Aviation Industry

• EasyJet closing in on European AOCUK low-cost carrier (LCC) easyJet is expecting to finalize plans for a European air operator’s certificate (AOC) by early 2017. read more

Other News Sources

• Jacob Rees-Mogg disagrees with Zac Goldsmith over Heathrow – but here's why he is still backing himConservative MP tells IBTimes UK that Goldsmith is a 'model of what an MP ought to be'.
• London Underground staff to strike over safety concerns and job cuts The RMT Union has chosen to strike over issues of safety and 'policy breaches', with 84% voting for industrial action
• FTA says Government must ensure HS2 delivers on freightThe Freight Transport Association (FTA) says freight will only benefit from rail capacity released by HS2 if the Government ensures it doesn’t ...
• York Street Interchange reprieve is good news for freight, says FTANews that the York Street Interchange scheme in Belfast will now be progressed is good news for businesses and the economy, the Freight Transport ...