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

Wednesday, 03 May 2017

BBC News

• Samsung self-driving car trial in South Korea approvedThe technology giant says the trial is intended to develop its AI and deep learning software.
• Busy shipping lanes could cause 'seal hearing loss'Researchers say noise could affect how whales, dolphins and seals find food and communicate.
• US airlines face heat in Washington after passenger clashesPoliticians raise the threat of tougher rules on US airlines as they grill industry executives.
• Alitalia slides into administrationThe airline says flights will continue as planned while administrators see if the firm can be saved.

Financial Times

• Labour looks to ‘metro mayors’ to win back votersBig cities offer hope that party can start long road back to Downing Street
• Alitalia’s collapse into administration deals blow to EtihadRome approves proceedings and agrees €600m bridging loan to keep flag carrier flying
• Lawmakers threaten airline CEOs over passenger serviceUnited’s Oscar Munoz grilled in Congress on violent removal of David Dao from flight
• Etihad pays the price for its misjudged Alitalia endeavourGulf carrier struggled as terrorism and high costs at Italian airline hit strategy
• Airline shares take off with CEOs in the spotlight

The Guardian

• Italy's ​Alitalia to enter administration after staff reject rescue dealLoss-making national airline to continue flights, but could be sold or liquidated as state has ruled out renationalisationAlitalia has filed for administration for the second time in a decade, a move that could see the troubled Italian national carrier restructured, sold or finally wound up. The loss-making airline asked the Italian government to put it in administration on Tuesday following a vote by employees to reject a rescue plan, which would have seen shareholders invest a further €2bn (£1.7bn) but slash wages. Continue reading...
• United Airlines CEO calls passenger's removal a 'mistake of epic proportions'Oscar Munoz contrite before House transportation committeeDavid Dao’s ‘terrible experience’ described as a ‘turning point’ for airlineThe United Airlines chief executive, Oscar Munoz, has told a congressional committee that an incident in which a passenger was forcibly removed from a flight, prompting a blizzard of bad publicity, was a “mistake of epic proportions”. Related: Doctor dragged off United Airlines flight reaches undisclosed settlement Continue reading...

The Herald

• Train changes on the way
• Tougher action needed to tackle air pollution 'emergency'Tougher action is needed to tackle the public health
• Glasgow Airport drop off charge labelled 'a joke' as queues back onto M8 motorwayTHE new �2 drop-off system at Glasgow Airport has been labelled as a

The Telegraph

• Diesel drivers will be paid to scrap their cars to improve air quality
• Airlines in US threatened with new laws to improve passenger service

City AM

• Mayor Sadiq Khan announces London's buses are getting Tube-style colour coding for routes to make it easier to travelSadiq Khan plans to give London's bus network an overhaul by colour coding the routes, similar to the Tube lines' distinctive colours.

Mail Online

• Tories will pay diesel drivers compo to scrap their cars Conservatives will pay diesel drivers compensation to scrap their cars under radical new plans to improve air quality.

Birmingham Post

• Congestion charges, toxin taxes, lower bus fares - how the West Midlands Mayor candidates plan to tackle pollution in our cities The election for the West Midlands’ first metro mayor is just days away - and air quality is

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Bradford City Cycle event launchedA FUN filled cycling day to continue the cycling theme in the wake of the Tour de Yorkshire is taking place in Bradford and you don’t even need a bike to take part.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Millions of miles driven on North Wales' roads taking toll on health and environment Poor planning is also blamed amid worries over the impact of extra miles on health and the environment
• Flintshire Ale Trail revellers left stranded because of shortage of buses Organiser Shelley Barratt acknowledges more coaches should have been put on for the 1,000 people who attended the event
• Virgin Trains increasing seats on North Wales coast line The company plans to put an extra 500 seats on Sunday services

London Evening Standard

• Crossrail 2 'must be fast-paced for sake of London's growth'Crossrail 2 must be fast-tracked after the election for the sake of London's future growth, business leaders said today.
• Tube staff to strike at London Bridge in row over ticket worker's 'fracas with fare dodger'A 24-hour strike at London Bridge Tube station is set to go ahead after bosses refused to reinstate a ticket barrier worker involved in a fracas with an alleged fare dodger.
• Londoners baffled by New York Times article branding the Tube a 'wonderland' that 'runs like clockwork'London commuters have been left scratching their heads by an American article describing the Tube as a "wonderland" which runs "like clockwork".

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Government say no current plans to extend sleeper trains to Caithness – but are open to reviewTransport bosses at the Scottish Government have said they will review a report into the feasibility of a Far North sleeper train.

The York Press

• ‘We will build on the success of the Tour’NORTH Yorkshire’s county transport and economic teams are already looking forward to building on the success of this year’s Tour de Yorkshire.

Wales Online

• A park and ride scheme has been launched at Wales' biggest hospitalThe scheme at the University Hospital of Wales, in Cardiff, was set up following controversy surrounding parking at the site

North Wales Live

• New bus campaign is launched to bring passengers on board 'hi tech' fleet'Better by Bus' promotion drive will highlight wi-fi, usb charge points and e-leather seats to wow new customers

Other Regional Press

• New seating first part of makeover for Dewsbury stationMore than £20,000 has been invested in 14 new benches which have replaced the old seating on the station’s platforms.
• One in five adults in Wales have not ridden a bike in 10 years RESEARCH by a leading charity has found that one in five adults in Wales have not ridden a bike in 10 years.
• Council staff give stranded rail passengers food and water STRANDED rail passengers were given food and water by a council�emergency response team after signalling failures on the line between Didcot and Swindon.

Buying Business Travel

• Alitalia starts administration proceedingsAirline faces liquidation as request is filed with Italian government

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• First Bus makes it easier to catch bus with updated travel app National bus operator First Bus, is releasing a new travel information app to include multi-modal travel information and a door-to-door journey planner in a bid to make it easier for people to catch the bus. First Bus currently has two apps available for customers and will be making major improvements to its mobile offering over the course of this year. The first phase of these updates sees changes to the First Bus Travel Information app, which is available to download now.  The updated First Bus Travel Information app will be much easier for users to navigate with their most frequent...
• Transport for London appoints TSBA to license its brand globally Transport for London (TfL) has announced its plans to expand the reach of its brand licensing programme to the global market.  Following a competitive tendering process, TfL has signed a five-year deal with the TSBA Group that will bring its internationally renowned symbols that embody the heritage and identity of London – such as the London Tube map and the roundel logo – to the global licensing market. The appointment, structured on a commissioned-based framework, will generate funds for TfL to invest in delivering a modern and affordable transport network for the million...

Rail Technology Magazine

• Locomotive Monitoring Unit Lat-Lon's Locomotive Monitoring Unit (LMU) brings you critical information about your most valuable rail assets. It allow you to use real-time monitoring and custom sensors to tailor the data you receive and key in on crucial components.
• Worldwide Partner of the Rail Industry The companies of the Goldschmidt Thermit Group and their partners offer a unique range of products and services for the construction, repair, maintenance and renovation of railway tracks.
• Bombardier’s Joint Venture Wins Contract to Build 40 High-Speed Train Cars for China Rail technology leader Bombardier Transportation announced today that its Chinese joint venture, Bombardier Sifang (Qingdao) Transportation Ltd. (BST), has been awarded another contract from China Railway Corp. (CRC) to supply 40 CRH1A-A new generati…
• Suppliers set out plan to drive 'renaissance' in rail manufacturingThe government’s new Industrial Strategy should be seen as an opportunity to herald a “renaissance” in rail manufacturing and drive the creation of 40,000 new jobs in the supply chain, two major rail organisations have stated. In their joint submission to the government’s...
• Mace decides not to take legal action against HS2 Contractor Mace has announced that it will not be going through with taking legal action against HS2 Ltd for problems that arose during the procurement of the project’s £170m phase 2b contract. At the end of March, CH2M, the winning bidder for the civil engineering contract for the...
• Great Northern unveils refurbished carriages for Fen LineGreat Northern passengers are set for an improved rail experience after it was today announced that new carriages with air-conditioning and wi-fi will be rolled out across services on the King’s Lynn – Cambridge Fen Line route. On top of that, the operator, a part of Govia Thameslink...

Aviation Industry

• Flybe places two Embraer 195s with Stobart AirUK regional carrier Flybe has signed a “combined commercial arrangement,” placing two Embraer E195s with Irish regional Stobart Air. read more
• A4A airlines will no longer remove boarded passengers from aircraft All Airlines for America (A4A) member airlines are now committed to not removing a boarded passenger from an aircraft in a bumping situation and all are committed to ensuring crew being transported are booked in advance, A4A president and CEO Nicholas Calio said. read more
• US lawmakers grill airline execs on customer service Angry lawmakers vented their frustration at US airline executives during a congressional hearing on airline customer service Tuesday, threatening to legislate if airlines don’t step up their game. read more

Other News Sources

• £21m revolutionary rail hub on track to open this summer
• Train passengers get own on-board pizzeria The UK’s best-selling thin and crispy frozen pizza brand, Dr. Oetker Ristorante, booked out the First Class carriage on First Great Western’s 15.36 service from London Paddington to Cheltenham Spa on Wednesday April 26 and created a Silver Service pizzeria experience for 32 lucky commuters.
• Apprentice finds cool solution for Greater Anglia buffet carsGreater Anglia is to carry out improvements to its buffet cars on the Norwich – London line after apprentice, Daniel Boardley, came up with a way of keeping them cooler in summer.
• Increased free Wi-Fi data allowance for passengersWe are very pleased to announce that our free on-train Wi-Fi data allowance for passengers has been increased from 75MB to 125MB on our long distance trains between Birmingham, Oxford and London.
• Japan’s train of the future is the epitome of luxuryPosh piano lounges, glass ceilinged observatories, and deluxe wooden bathtubs aren’t usually found on trains.