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

Tuesday, 27 June 2017

BBC News

• MSPs set for final vote on railway policing merger billMSPs are set to pass legislation aimed at merging railway policing north of the border into Police Scotland.
• Summer holidays: Longest delays from UK airports revealedGatwick Airport passengers experienced the most delays with about one in three flights affected.
• Hyperlane: A special lane for self-driving vehiclesA US company is proposing special lanes on roads purely for self-driving vehicles.
• Lord Adonis: Brexit delay over Heathrow must endPolitical uncertainty must not hold up Heathrow airport plans, says the top infrastructure adviser.

Financial Times

• Mexico City’s smog-busting metrobus splutters to a haltThe line could unclog the capital’s roads but has been blocked by eco groups
• Amtrak names former Delta Air Lines chief as new CEO
• Lufthansa: acrophobiaReducing leverage will only take the German carrier so high

The Guardian

• What will life be like for those who live along the Crossrail route?We asked locals whether easier commutes and a boost to local economies outweigh rising house prices and damaging gentrification
• Twisted tracks: watch metro maps transform to real-life geographyPublic transit maps occupy a unique place in the mapping world, and must strike a careful balance between readability, detail and aesthetic design. To that end, they necessarily distort the city’s true geography and with it, our own mental conception of the city too.
• Hard Brexit could halt Heathrow expansion plans, says Lord AdonisNational Infrastructure Commission chair says UK must maintain ties with EU to save key projects such as third runway and HS2
• 10 of the best narrow-gauge railway journeys in BritainHop aboard one of these fantastic British railway adventures – with the chance to see wildlife and wonderful scenery along the routeThe Ffestiniog winds its way from Porthmadog through more than 13 miles of stunning countryside. Waterfalls cascade and streams froth down mossy rock sides. Swathes of deep green grass soar on one side while valleys dip spectacularly on the other, affording the chance to look down on treetops far below. Sharp bends in the line offer splendid views of the engine as it chugs onward and upward to Blaenau Ffestiniog, where there’s a chance to travel on an even smaller...
• If it quacks like a duck … will a car horn be less annoying?Experts in South Korea think they have found a less irritating way to express your frustration with fellow motorists. Well, it beats flipping them the birdAt the risk of sounding like Michael Gove, I think the problem with experts is that they don’t agree. Researchers in Seoul, having tested various car noises on 100 volunteers, have found that horns would suit us all much better if they sounded like ducks – still managing to alert people while being less irritating. However, Mike Stigwood, a consultant with noise-pollution specialist MAS Environmental, couldn’t disagree more. “No, absolutely ...

The Telegraph

• British Airways embroiled in sexism row with Miriam Gonzalez for referring to girls as 'little princesses'�

Times Online

• Toll roads may make up lost tax from electric cars [Subscription]A national system of road tolls should be introduced to meet a £170 billion shortfall in fuel tax over the next 13 years, a think tank has told ministers.
• Record fines for lorry drivers carrying Calais migrants [Subscription]Record numbers of lorry drivers were fined for carrying illegal immigrants in the backs of their vehicles across the Channel last year.
• Green vehicle emissions ‘far higher than reported’ [Subscription]Green cars should be subjected to far higher taxes because they are barely cleaner than conventional vehicles after accounting for the power needed to charge the engine, according to research.
• Bleeperbike postpones full launch of stationless bike-sharing scheme [Subscription]Dubliners will have to wait a while longer for the city’s first stationless bike-sharing scheme after plans to launch the service were put on hold.
• It is time to clear the air with some blue-sky thinking [Subscription]Technology entrepreneurs can scent an opportunity in the latest efforts to clean up the capital’s atmosphere

Mail Online

• You may think your train commute is soul-destroying, but how does it stack up on a national level? Do YOU have the worst train commute in Britain? The country's most delayed routes revealed (with a 95% chance of disruption on some services to London)

Network Rail

• Bristol Temple Meads set for platform upgrades to accommodate new trainsTwo platforms at Bristol Temple Meads will be extended this summer in preparation for a new fleet of diesel-electric Intercity Express Trains, which will provide more seats, better on-board facilities and more comfortable journeys for passengers.

Birmingham Mail

• Aston Expressway to close for SEVEN weekends in a row Major Birmingham road and Spaghetti Junction will be shut during summer weekends to allow repair to be carried out
• New rules for van owners using Birmingham City Council tipsRules designed to cut queues of traffic and crack down on businesses using tips for free

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• MPs call on Government to release results of consultation on toughening driving lawsIN December last year, the Ministry of Justice began a consultation on road traffic laws relating to offences of causing death or serious injury.
• Leeds-centric rebrand of Combined Authority demonstrates body's bias, critics claimA PLAN to change the name of a West Yorkshire ‘supercouncil’ just underlines its bias towards Leeds, critics have claimed.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Delays on Arriva Trains Wales after thieves steal signalling cable There is expected to be disruption throughout the day on several services

London Evening Standard

• 'D-charge' trial of £2.45 bill for diesel drivers launched in central LondonDiesel car drivers will be charged an extra£2.45 an hour from today to park in parts of central London, in an attempt to combat toxic air.
• Southern to axe 1,100 services as drivers begin overtime banSouthern Rail warned today it will have to axe more than 1,100 train services on Thursday and Friday as drivers resume an indefinite overtime ban.
• Electric motor clipped to bike could revolutionise cycling in London, says MichelinAn electric motor that can be clipped on to a bicycle could soon be the answer for Londoners put off pedalling by long distances and hills.
• Three danger roundabouts will be axed in move to boost cycle safetyThree of the most "intimidating" roundabouts for cyclists in London are to be axed.
• TfL Tube delays leaves furious commuters stuck underground for an hour amid travel chaosCommuters were stuck underground for over an hour during Monday's morning rush hour after a major power failure crippled three Tube lines.
• Passenger plane makes emergency landing at Manchester Airport with part of wing missingA passenger plane heading for Cuba was forced to turn back to Manchester Airport with a broken wing.
• New Tube map app allows you to find equidistant meeting place for you and friendsA Londoner has launched a Tube map app that allows friends to find a meeting place equidistant from where they are all travelling.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Drivers don't think the test changes will make the roads safer - what do you think? A raft of changes - including a sat nav section and a refreshed selection of manoeuvres - will be implemented from December 4 2017

Wales Online

• Rail passengers facing possible delays following cable theftRail passengers travelling between Cwmbran and Abergavenny could see their services delayed or cancelled, with disruption expected to last until 6pm on Monday

Cambridge News

• Cambridge North station under fire for lifts and ticket machines that don't workRail bosses promise to investigate string of complaints

East Anglian Daily Times

• Rail travellers to London face disruption over August bank holiday weekendRail passengers wanting to visit London this summer are being warned they could face further disruption to journeys because of work on major projects to improve the network.

Other Regional Press

• Lord Adonis says Brexit should not delay infrastructure projectsLEADING business organisations are calling on the Government to push ahead with major infrastructure projects despite the hung parliament and uncertainty of Brexit.
• St Albans MP launches robust attack on rail freight schemeSt Albans MP Anne Main has been challenging the controversial Park Street rail freight terminal plans left, right, and centre.

Buying Business Travel

• Easyjet offers flight updates through Amazon EchoAirline launches new option for passenger information
• Europcar faces overcharging probe in the UKCar rental firm faces investigation into the price of car repairs
• APD to be reviewed as part of Tory-DUP dealReport will look at impact of air tax and VAT on Northern Ireland tourism

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Lorry emissions checks to start at the roadside DVSA will target lorry drivers and operators who try to cheat vehicle emissions. The new checks will target those who break the law and will help to improve air quality. In May 2017, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs published a draft plan to improve air quality by reducing nitrogen dioxide levels in the UK. This included looking at ways to reduce emissions produced by vehicles, including those used commercially. A final plan will be published by 31 July. Fraudulent emissions readings DVSA’s enforcement staff, and their European counterparts, have found evidence...
• FirstGroup forms autonomous vehicle testing partnership in California Transport operator FirstGroup has signed an agreement with GoMentum Station, a California-based proving ground, to carry out research into shared autonomous vehicles. First Transit, a US division of FirstGroup, will use the facility as a test site for innovative transport applications, including a pilot project to deploy the first commercially operated shared autonomous vehicle on public roads in the United States. The pilot project, which began in late 2016, recently launched the second phase of testing at Bishop Ranch, an office park in San Ramon, California. First Transit is responsible...
• CILT offers free road transport training event The leading logistics and transport training provider in the UK, The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), is preparing to host its first ever Road Transport Training Event on 16th August 2017.  The event, held at the Institute’s Head Office in Corby, will provide transport professionals and fleet operators with invaluable industry advice. CILT’s leading, expert trainers will be on hand to discuss the importance of operating a compliant fleet, and the legal, moral and economic responsibilities that compliance entails.  Your fleets are the backbone of B...

Rail Technology Magazine

• Abetong-Concrete Ties and Railway Sleepers Abetong has been a pioneer in the development and production of prestressed concrete railway sleepers since 1950. A continuous programme of research and development has, ever since, ensured us to keep our leading position in this field. Sleeper plant…
• WMCA submits �200m Midland Metro expansion plans to DfTAmbitious £200m plans to expand the Midland Metro network have been presented to the DfT. Following Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) taking over the running for the service from National Express in March, mayor of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Andy Street and managing...
• Travel watchdog urges government to 'fast track' Crossrail 2 plansAn influential travel watchdog has strongly urged the government to press on with plans for Crossrail 2 and not shelve the project which it describes as “vital”. In a statement from London TravelWatch, it was revealed that the organisation has written to Chris Grayling highlighting...
• NR to extend platforms at Bristol Temple Meads for new GWR fleetTwo platforms at Bristol Temple Meads will be extended this summer in anticipation for a new fleet of diesel-electric Intercity Express Trains being brought into service by GWR. The announcement was made by Network Rail who say that the current platforms cannot accommodate the extra length of...

Railnews

• Corbyn confirms Labour rail nationalisation plans Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has confirmed his plans to renationalise the railways. He made the pledge at the annual conference of the RMT, and the union has welcomed his statement. The railways are only partly privately run at the moment, because Network Rail has been a government body in the public sector since September 2014. Labour�s target appears to be the franchised passenger operators, and it has been speculated that there are two ways of ending their participation, One is to allow the existing franchises to terminate naturally, and the second is to take advantage of �break point...

Railway Gazette

• Charles-de-Gaulle Airport rail link funding model approvedFRANCE: The proposed financing mechanism for the construction of the CDG Express dedicated rail...

Aviation Industry

• Boeing invests in AI companyBoeing is investing in artificial intelligence (AI) specialist SparkCognition, the manufacturer announced Monday. read more
• Former Delta CEO Anderson becomes Amtrak CEOFormer Delta Air Lines chairman and CEO Richard Anderson has been named president and CEO of the US passenger rail line Amtrak. read more

Green Miscellany

• The Biskiple: Urban cloaking device for bicyclesWith an estimated 800 bicycles stolen every single day in Britain, the time has come for�a new deterrent against theft; the Biskiple is a flat-pack skip that offers secure storage for bikes. Entirely anonymous in the urban environment, the Biskiple can be erected in less than five minutes on any street or drive. The design is of particular use to… The post The Biskiple: Urban cloaking device for bicycles appeared first on ETA.

Other News Sources

• Tube to get cleaner airMore testing is to be carried out, more cleaning, and passengers given more information.
• ScotRail Alliance helps put girls on the right track for STEM careersTWENTY schoolgirls and their teachers were given a tour of one of ScotRail Alliance’s train depot as part of International Women into Engineering Day 2017 aimed at encouraging more women into the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
• Nine operators could take over Abellio bus routes from September Abellio's contracts in Surrey expire on September 1
• FTA recognises work of Maritime Transport Ltd with Roadworthiness AwardThe Freight Transport Association has presented Maritime Transport’s Bristol Depot with the FTA Roadworthiness Award for 2017 in recognition of ...