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

Saturday, 28 January 2017

BBC News

• Drone in 'near miss' over Birmingham AirportA drone was flown dangerously close to a flight as it approached Birmingham Airport.
• Ban lorries from using car sat-navs, say councilsCouncils want the power to ensure lorries avoid routes where they exceed the weight or height limit.
• Confusion over speed zone markings in EdinburghDrivers are left confused by new road markings for the latest phase of Edinburgh's 20mph speed limit initiative.
• Out of this worldTwo Scottish sites are fighting to be the UK's first designated spaceport but what does that mean and will it happen?
• Spaceport plans delayed by BrexitPlans for legislation to enable the development of the UK's first commercial spaceports have been delayed by Brexit, BBC Scotland understands.

The Telegraph

• New London parking surcharge for diesel drivers predicted to spread to rest of UK�

Times Online

• Strikes by BA and Tube unions to bring fresh travel disruption [subscription]Dozens of British Airways flights are likely to be cancelled after cabin crew called six days of strikes in a dispute over pay.
• Southern Rail fiasco ‘caused by ministers’ failings’A report into the Southern Rail fiasco is expected to strongly criticise the government, The Times has learnt.
• Glasgow subway to swap tickets for app payments [Subscription]The Glasgow Subway has announced plans to allow passengers to use their mobile phones to pay for their travel.

Reuters News

• London underground staff, BA cabin crew, to strike next monthLONDON (Reuters) - London commuters face more travel chaos in February and March as underground train staff press their case over staffing levels with another round of strikes.

Birmingham Post

• HS2 unveils new chief executive Mark Thurston will take over the top job in the spring and lead the delivery of the high-speed line between Birmingham and London

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Transport Secretary recognises Bradford's case to be on new high-speed Transpennine route COUNCIL chiefs say they are encouraged about Bradford’s bid to be included on the new high-speed Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) line after winning the support of Transport Secretary Chris Grayling.

London Evening Standard

• Elizabeth Line: aerial images show new London stations taking shapeStriking aerial images of the new Elizabeth Line stations taking shape across London have been revealed.
• British Airways strike: cabin crew to walk out over six days amid 'poverty pay' rowBritish Airways cabin crew are poised to walk out on strike over six days next month amid an increasingly bitter "poverty pay" row.
• Lewisham train derailment: 30 tonnes of sand cleared by hand as wrecked track is set to reopenA stretch of railway wrecked after a freight train derailed in south London is set to reopen on Monday as engineers cleared 30 tonnes of sand by hand.
• Tube strike 2017: Two walkouts in February in row over jobs and ticket office closuresTube workers are to stage two strikes next month in a row over jobs and ticket office closures.

Wales Online

• Bosses at Arriva Trains Wales have answered YOUR questions on overcrowding, delays and old carriagesThey've addressed questions on overcrowding, delays, ticketing and much more

East Anglian Daily Times

• Day of misery for passengers on main line from Suffolk and Essex to LondonRail passengers heading to and from London endured a day of disruption after six sections of overhead wire came down over 10 miles in Essex.

North Wales Live

• Crunch meeting in Merseyrail driver-only train rowUnions could call for strike action if guards jobs are axed

Other Regional Press

• Call to re-open valleys railway station A SOUTH Wales East AM has this week called for a Gwent town to have improved transport links.

Buying Business Travel

• Air France to launch Paris CDG and regional routesAirline publishes new services as part of summer schedule
• British Airways cabin crew to stage six days of strikesWorkers on ‘mixed fleet’ contracts to walkout from February 5

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• HS2 announces new CEOThe Board of HS2 has confirmed that it has selected Mark Thurston to be the new Chief Executive for the organisation. Mark began his career in the rail industry over 30 years ago as an apprentice with Transport for London (TfL), before fulfilling a series of roles with The Nichols Group, Metronet, and working for CH2M since 2008, on the London 2012 Olympics and Crossrail, where he was lead for the Programme Partner joint venture for three years. He is currently the regional managing director overseeing CH2M’s European operations, which includes those in the UK. His appointment comes aft...

Rail Technology Magazine

• Virgin Trains completes fleet refurbishment programme Virgin Trains has completed its fleet refurbishment programme, which involved a £40m investment in its set of 45 High-Speed and InterCity 225 trains in the UK.
• ORR warns that ROC risks 'not yet adequately assessed' by Network RailThe chief inspector of railways, Ian Prosser, has told the Transport Select Committee that Network Rail has not yet assessed all of the risks arising from its move to rail operating centres (ROC). The infrastructure operator is currently transitioning to ROCs as part of its long-term strategy to...
• Rail travel in Britain continues to see long-term boomThe number of passenger journeys on Great Britain’s railways increased by 5.1% last year, continuing rail’s long-term increase, new figures has revealed. The ORR’s new report on regional rail usage revealed that 1,464 million passenger journeys were made across Great Britain in...

Aviation Industry

• British Airways faces more cabin crew strikes in FebruaryBritish Airways (BA) faces another six days of industrial action by some of its cabin crew, represented by the Unite trade union, in an ongoing dispute over pay. read more
• Horizon pilots file suit against management, claim RLA violation Pilots for Seattle-based Horizon Air—the regional subsidiary of Alaska Airlines—filed a lawsuit Jan. 27 claiming Horizon executives “broke faith with the negotiation process and began making unilateral changes to compensation,” violating the terms of the Railway Labor Act (RLA). read more
• Gary Kelly: ‘Basic economy’ would be ‘a huge mistake’ for SouthwestSouthwest Airlines will not be following American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines in implementing a “basic economy” fare, chairman and CEO Gary Kelly said. read more

Green Miscellany

• The changing face of transport in LondonWe were asked this week to share our views on the changing face of transport in London. Here’s what we said. One of Transport for London’s environmental goals is to decrease the emissions to the air from traffic. What do you see is being currently done to improve London’s transportation system from a sustainable perspective and in relation to this… The post The changing face of transport in London appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• Crossrail denies delivery date riskA number of contractors are understood to be requesting additional payments     Crossrail Ltd has denied that negotiations with contractors fitting signalling and electrical systems and facilities on the new cross-London rail route are putting on-time delivery of the £14.8bn scheme at risk. It is understood that a number of contractors have told Crossrail they would need to bring in additional staff because its procurement arrangements did not allow sufficient time to complete works to schedule. They have requested additional payments as a result. However, Crossrail’s position is tha...
• Tube strike: New FOUR day industrial action set to hit London in February RMT has said talks were unsuccessful and there's more to come for March
• Post-Brexit customs clearance to slow freight, raise costs, UK govt toldThe reintroduction of customs clearance after the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union will increase transit times on some shipments and increase costs to importers and exporters.
• Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye speech: 'Airport expansion a model for sustainable growth' Heathrow Airport chief executive John Holland-Kaye took to the stage at edie's Sustainability Leaders Forum this week to announce that all of the Airport's energy usage will be generated from renewable sources within the next few months, ahead of its controversial expansion. Here's a full transcript of his speech.