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

Friday, 05 May 2017

BBC News

• Work begins on Virgin Trains' East Coast Main Line fleetWork has begun on 65 new trains set to boost capacity and reduce journey times on the East Coast Main Line.
• UK clean air strategy: Government to publish draft proposalsThe UK government is set to publish a draft air pollution plan after a protracted legal battle with environmental campaigners. It is likely to include a scrappage scheme for older diesel cars in areas with high levels of dirty air.
• Brynglas tunnels 'cost �31m in lost time' a yearThe M4's Brynglas tunnels are the UK's most congested stretch of inner city motorway outside the M25, figures show.
• London's monthly travel cost 'most expensive in world'Commuters in London pay more for a monthly travelcard than anywhere else in the world, a report claims.
• Dashboard box encourages cleaner, smoother drivingA dashboard device called Lightfoot seeks to make people smoother, more fuel-efficient drivers. Dougal Shaw reports.
• A tour of China's first big passenger jet - the C919China hopes to rival Boeing and Airbus with the C919, its own commercial airliner.
• New car registrations dive 20% after tax increaseThe industry says car buyers rushed to buy new cars ahead of a Vehicle Excise Duty increase on 1 April.

Financial Times

• Amazon primed for UK expansion with AI and dronesRetailer has made country a hub for tech innovation and a test bed for grocery services
• Air France-KLM signals hopes for recovering demandCarrier reports upbeat start to year as it aims to cut costs and boost profitability
• China’s bicycle-sharing boom poses hazards for manufacturersTraditional makers say craze is putting brakes on their business model

The Guardian

• Air pollution lawsuit set to go ahead despite delayed government planClass action on behalf of asthma suffers may still go ahead over repeated failure to tackle illegal levels of nitrogen dioxideLawyers are taking a class action against the government over its repeated failures to clean up illegal levels of air pollution, the Guardian can reveal, as ministers publish a long-awaited plan to reduce diesel emissions.The unprecedented legal challenge on behalf of asthma sufferers could see ministers paying out significant compensation for allowing the nation’s air to exceed legal limits for so long. Continue reading...

The Scotsman

• New car market goes into reverse ahead of tax changesSales of new cars performed an “emergency stop” last month following March’s bumper numbers ahead of a major shake-up in vehicle excise duty.

Times Online

• Rail upgrades face cash crisis after Treasury demands £2bn [Subscription]Upgrades to Britain’s railway risk being delayed after it emerged that almost £2 billion generated from a big Network Rail sell-off will be used to cut the deficit.
• Diesel car sales slump as drivers fear emission fees [subscription]Sales of new diesel cars fell last month by the largest amount since the financial crisis after warnings that they could attract charges to improve air quality.

Mail Online

• Diesel drivers face paying to drive into town centres Drivers will have to pay to drive into congested town centres in long-awaited plans to tackle air pollution. One source said the aim was to 'turn White Van Man into Green Van Man'.

This is Money

• Car sales down 20% as new tax and diesel fears hit The SMMT said 152,076 17-plate models were registered last month, which is 19.8 per cent down on the previous year.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Thieves ransack Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway office stealing thousands of poundsStaff are devastated after the break-in at St Helen's Road in Caernarfon

Holyrood

• Scottish Government may need to review air pollution strategy, warns environmental lawyer

London Evening Standard

• All Nippon Airways apologises for giving banana to customer as gluten-free mealAn airline accused of serving a single banana as a passenger's in-flight gluten free meal has pledged to review its policy but insists it made every effort to meet his needs.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Work begins on 'pioneering' trains for Virgin's East Coast fleet Body shells are being made in Japan before being sent to the Hitachi factory in Newton Aycliffe

Wales Online

• Drivers have been fined almost �5m for using bus lanes in Cardiff - but there's just �400,000 profit More than 178,000 drivers have been fined for using the bus lanes in the city

Other Regional Press

• Views sought on £3.4billion transport blueprint for regionSILHILLIANS are being asked to give their views on a transport blueprint that will see £3.4 billion of tram extensions, new suburban rail lines, cycle routes and motorway improvements built over the coming decade.

Buying Business Travel

• Airlines call for next government to axe APDUK carriers also set out priorities for Brexit negotiations and airport expansion
• Finnair trials face-recognition system at Helsinki airportTechnology allows passengers to check-in without a boarding pass
• Qantas upbeat on profits despite ‘tough’ international marketAustralian carrier set to make second highest profit in its history

Rail Technology Magazine

• Work moves forward to prepare Abbey Wood station for Crossrail Work to prepare Abbey Wood station for Elizabeth Line services moved forward yesterday as Crossrail announced that the construction of platform structures and tracks had been completed by engineers. The station will be ready for service in autumn this year when the station will open to...
• RMT plans strike at London Bridge over staff assault incidentUnion RMT yesterday announced strikes on the London Underground on 7 May as part of an escalation of its dispute with TfL over “London Bridge Three”. RMT threatened action last month after one member of staff was allegedly sacked and two others disciplined for their handling of an...
• Council admits Portishead Line reopening running �600k over budgetNorth Somerset Council has this week told passengers that extra funding has been agreed to complete works on the Portishead Line as costs for the much-anticipated project have spiralled up. In a statement released this week, it was confirmed that the budget had been increased to £1.603m...

Railnews

• Mayor intervenes in Croydon tram crash investigation The Mayor of London has intervened in the investigation of the Croydon tram crash last November in which seven people were killed, following allegations that tram drivers have fallen asleep in the cab. Sadiq Khan has written to chief RAIB inspector Stephen French to draw his attention to the allegations, which were made on 24 April on a BBC programme.

Aviation Industry

• Boeing orders and deliveries pace shows April slowdown Boeing’s orders and delivery pace slowed in April, with 51 commercial aircraft delivered to 32 customers (compared to 70 aircraft to 38 customers in March) and 14 new aircraft orders from four customers (compared to 124 aircraft from nine customers in March). read more
• Finnair tests face recognition technologyFinland flag carrier Finnair and state-owned airport operator Finavia, together with digital developer Futurice, are testing the use of face recognition technology for the check-in process of Finnair flights at Helsinki Airport this month through May 23. read more
• Qantas forecasts strong fiscal year profitAustralian flag carrier Qantas is forecasting another strong profit for its fiscal year through June 30, as international market conditions faced by the carrier improve. read more

Green Miscellany

• Driverless cars and motion sicknessSelf-driving cars are seen by some as the saviour of motorised personal transport. They have the potential to be greener, safer and more efficient than conventional vehicles. However well some motorists are able to control their vehicles, fatigue, drink driving, speeding and distraction are just some of the reasons why roads remain a danger. Automated technology already carries out many… The post Driverless cars and motion sickness appeared first on ETA.
• Nissan offers drivers option to disable mobile phonesDespite the threat of 6 penalty points and a 200 fine, Nissan believes many motorists cannot be trusted to leave their phones alone while driving. As a result, the car maker has developed a glove box that incorporates a Faraday cage, an enclosure surrounded by wire mesh, which blocks electromagnetic fields. When a smartphone is placed inside, any incoming signals are prevented from reaching… The post Nissan offers drivers option to disable mobile phones appeared first on ETA.
• Ditch the diesel – The world’s best cargo bikesThe best cargo bikes might cost the same as a good secondhand car, but their widespread uptake in cities would have a transformative effect on our collective quality of life. Most importantly, they offer a opportunity for many to ditch the diesel. Imagine school run congestion, and the associated road danger, replaced with a procession of sturdy bikes – their cargo… The post Ditch the diesel – The world’s best cargo bikes appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• Here's a sneak peek of the new train fleet to serve CambridgeGreat Northern will be rolling out the modern air-conditioned trains from May 21