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

Thursday, 26 January 2017

BBC News

• School's 'walking bus' scheme helps reduce absenteeismA primary school near Dunfermline introduces 'walking buses' to improve attendance and performance levels among children.
• Belfast bus lanes: Plan to extend times on busy routesThe transport minister proposes extending the times of bus lanes on some of Belfast's busiest commuting routes.
• Tube Strike: Drivers walk out on Central and Waterloo and City linesA 24-hour strike affecting two London Underground lines begins.
• UK car industry slows investment, says SMMT trade bodyInvestment in the UK's car industry fell in 2016 after several years of strong growth, says the SMMT trade body.
• Sales and profits slip at BoeingSales and profits slipped at Boeing last year, driven largely by lower deliveries of its military aircraft.
• UK car output reaches 17-year high on export growthUK car making hits 17-year high, according to industry figures, amid fears the growth may not continue after Brexit.

Financial Times

• Carmakers fear ‘death by 1,000 cuts’ from BrexitInvestment slumped in 2016 because of uncertainty, industry chief says

The Guardian

• Government planning possible take-over of Southern rail – reportRail magazine says transport department considering options such as taking over direct control of Govia Thameslink Ministers are considering taking direct control of the rail franchise that includes Southern rail, it has been claimed. Options ranging from splitting off Southern from Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), to a complete “managed exit” to take direct control of the entire franchise until a new contract could be let are under consideration by the Department of Transport, according to the Rail Business Intelligence magazine.

The Herald

• SNP accused of trickery over �200m of savings at Queensferry CrossingENGINEERS building the new road bridge over the Forth have revealed that its revised opening date of May is

The Independent

• Southern Rail could be nationalised within weeksThe Government is considering taking direct control of the rail franchise which includes Southern Railway, it has been claimed.

The Telegraph

• Southern Rail could be temporarily renationalised to deal with 'appalling' delays and cancellations

Times Online

• Southern Rail franchise at risk of being renationalised [subscription]The company behind Britain’s worst rail operator could be sacked within weeks under plans to renationalise the network.

Mail Online

• Southern Rail could be nationalised in wake of strikes Details of the radical plans being drawn up in Whitehall emerged after months of strikes that have hit hundreds of thousands of Southern Rail passengers.
• More flights over Britain in air traffic shake-up Transport Secretary Chris Grayling promised the biggest overhaul of airspace in more than half a century. But the plans are likely to be resisted by campaigners and communities.

Derby Telegraph

• HS2 opponents gearing up for protest in Long Eaton Campaigners who are opposed to the Government HS2 high speed rail service coming through their Derbyshire town are set to protest at a consultation this weekend.

London Evening Standard

• New images reveal how Hackney Wick station will look after �25m revampNewly released images reveal how Hackney Wick station is set to look after a �25m revamp.
• Lewisham train derailment: Southeastern commuters face travel chaos for rest of the week after freight train derailsCommuters face travel disruption for the rest of the week after a huge freight train derailed and blocked lines in south London.
• Tube strike 2017: Rush hour commuters face havoc after Central and Waterloo & City lines walkoutCommuters were facing disruption on the Underground in the Thursday morning rush hour as Tube workers continued strike action on two lines.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Nissan's Sunderland plant produces more than 507,000 cars in a year, new figures show The Sunderland car plant has published production volumes which are the second highest recorded in its history

The York Press

• York air pollution warning was kept secret, claims former transport boss EXPERTS warned last year that York could not meet clean air targets unless all its Park&Ride buses were electric but the warning was not made public, it has been claimed.

Peterborough Telegraph

• Faster trains between Peterborough and London King’s Cross on horizon as track improvement project reaches milestoneNetwork Rail has taken the next step in its plans to reinstate the fourth track between Huntingdon and Woodwalton allowing for faster trains between Peterborough and London King’s Cross.

Other Regional Press

• Government 'considering taking control of Southern rail franchise'The Government is considering taking direct control of the rail franchise which includes Southern Railway, it has been claimed.
• Which traffic-clogged roads in Kirklees are set to get widened?Council reveals long term traffic jam busting plans

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• London to trial new Ford plug-in hybrid vansFord Motor Company is launching a multimillion-pound project designed to help improve air quality in London as the automaker accelerates its electrification plans with 13 new global electrified vehicles scheduled for introduction in the next five years. The project, supported by Transport for London, features a 12-month trial of 20 new plug-in hybrid (PHEV) Ford Transit Custom vans that reduce local emissions running solely on electric power for the majority of city trips such as deliveries and maintenance work. Scheduled to launch this fall, it is part of Ford’s commitment to work with...
• Riverbed supports Maersk on its digital journeyRiverbed Technology, the application performance company, today announced that Maersk Line, part of the Maersk Group and the world’s largest container shipping operator, is using Riverbed® SteelCentralâ„¢ to monitor business-critical applications and services and provide the ability to troubleshoot performance bottlenecks across the company. The five-year contract with Riverbed will support Maersk Line’s strategy to become the digital leader within the shipping sector.  The Maersk Group is an integrated transport & logistics company with multiple brands and is a gl...

Rail Magazine

• Sir Peter Hendy CBE, Mark Carne and Paul Plummer to speak at RAIL 100 Breakfast ClubJoin now!
• Cause of Vivarail fire “not immediately obvious”Cause of the fire on Vivarail’s prototype D-Train during main line testing “not immediately obvious”, the company’s interim investigation concludes.
• FirstGroup and Trenitalia join forces - eye West Coast and East Midlands franchisesFirstGroup and Trenitalia UK Ltd are to bid together for the East Midlands and West Coast Partnership franchises, which are due to be awarded in 2018.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Pickersgill-Kaye Locks in Another Order from Hitachi Rail for Safety Critical Equipment Pickersgill-Kaye, part of ASSA ABLOY, the global leader in door opening solutions, has agreed a new contract with Hitachi Rail Europe to manufacture emergency door handles for the new 'Azuma' trains being built for Virgin Trains' East Coast Main Line…
• FirstGroup and Trenitalia join forces for East Midlands and WCP franchisesFirstGroup and Trenitalia UK have announced that they will be submitting joint bids for the new East Midlands and West Coast Partnership (WCP) franchises due to be awarded next year. The companies have submitted an expression of interest to the DfT in respect of the East Midlands rail franchise...
• BTP: Rail industry 'nervous' about policing integrationProposals which may see British Transport Police (BTP) integrated into a national infrastructure force have raised concerns across the railway industry, BTP chiefs have revealed. BTP bosses made the admission during an evidence session in front of the Transport Select Committee last week as part...
• Virgin Trains completes �40m East Coast fleet refurbishmentVirgin Trains has completed its £40m programme of refurbishing its entire East Coast fleet. The TOC has spent the last two years refurbishing its current fleet of 45 High Speed and Intercity 225 trains to improve passenger experience. The programme forms part of Virgin’s wider...

Railnews

• Bill to limit effects of rail strikes rejected by MPs A bid to impose new limits on the power of unions to call strikes, such as the present industrial action on Southern, has fallen at the first hurdle in the House of Commons. Only 127 MPs voted in favour of allowing a proposed 'Industrial Action (Protection of Critical National Services) Bill' to be given further readings, while 206 opposed it. The Bill had been put forward by the Conservative MP for Croydon South Chris Philp under the Ten Minute rule, which allows individual MPs to suggest legislation.

Railway Gazette

• Metafrax takes delivery of chemical wagonsRUSSIA: United Wagon Co’s TikhvinChemMash has delivered 20 chemical tank wagons to Metafrax, and is...
• Siemens to supply Indian Railways with traction equipmentINDIA: Siemens has announced a series of contracts to supply traction equipment to Indian Railways’...

Aviation Industry

• New report suggests growth in aviation has had no effect on industry emissionsA critical look at Responding to the Carbon Challenge, by Airlines UK Trade association Airlines UK (formerly the British Air Transport Association) last week published a report claiming to show “how the industry can meet the UK’s demand for air …
• Rolls-Royce unveils LessorCareUK-based engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce has launched a new service for engines on board aircraft owned by the leasing community. read more
• US legacy carriers appeal to Trump to block Emirates’ Athens routeUS legacy carriers and organized labor are appealing to the Trump administration to block Emirates Airline’s newly announced fifth-freedom route between Athens, Greece, and Newark Liberty International Airport. read more

Other News Sources

• Prospective rolling stock suppliers emerge for UK rail franchiseA number of companies keen to provide rolling stock for the South Western UK rail franchise, which is expected to be awarded in April 2017, emerged on 25 January 2017
• Network Rail says fourth track will ease congestion on main line near HuntingdonA major rail upgrade on the East Coast Main Line through Cambridgeshire has moved a step closer.
• First of new trains undergoing night testingTesting has begun on the first of a new fleet of 70 trains that will be phased into ScotRail services from September. Coincidentally, like the newly-released movie, it is known as T2, and real trainspotters have an opportunity to see it operate overnight.
• South West Trains customer satisfaction rating soars above national average as passengers praise station facilitiesFrom availability of staff and parking at stations, to seating and cleanliness on trains, see the results of the National Rail Passenger Survey
• We need a link road to tackle air pollution RESIDENTS’ groups are pushing for a multi- million bypass to be built to alleviate crippling congestion and air pollution.