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

Thursday, 06 July 2017

BBC News

• Free weekend bus travel pilot launched across WalesServices start on Saturday and will run every weekend via routes on the TrawsCymru network.
• Queen unveils Scotland's newest canal at Helix projectThe waterway, built as part of the Helix project near Falkirk, is named the Queen Elizabeth II Canal.
• Bosch brain drives autonomous Tesla carFridge-maker Bosch is developing its own autonomous car technology to sell to vehicle manufacturers.
• UK car registrations fall for third monthThe number of new car registrations fell in June for the third month in a row, industry data shows.
• US laptop ban lifted on Emirates and Turkish AirlinesEmirates and Turkish Airlines say the laptop cabin ban will no longer apply on their US flights.
• Volvo goes electric across the boardThe Swedish carmaker says all its new models will be electric or hybrid by 2019.
• BA cabin crew to stage new 14-day strike

ITV News

• Welsh businesses urged to make most of Heathrow Airport expansionWales is being urged to be at the “heart of the action” in the delivery of Heathrow Airport's third runway, by Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns.
• Free weekend bus travel pilot across Wales launchedThe Welsh Government is launching a new pilot offering free weekend bus travel to passengers across Wales

Department for Transport

• Public consultation to begin on lifting of planning curbs around London to Kent high speed rail linkConsultation on proposals to reduce planning restrictions along the HS1 route starts 10 July 2017.

Financial Times

• Volvo Cars pursues electric dream in landmark moveTurning point for industry as Swedish group drops combustion engine only vehicles
• Delivery miss and analyst concerns send Tesla shares skidding

The Guardian

• Manchester airport: bomb disposal experts carry out controlled explosionsPrecautionary evacuation takes place as police are called to Terminal 3 over reports of suspect bagBomb disposal experts have carried out a series of controlled explosions at Manchester airport after passengers were evacuated when a suspicious package was found.Police said they were called to Terminal 3 to reports of a suspect bag and that a precautionary evacuation was taking place. Travellers said airport staff appeared to be taking passengers off planes at the terminal. Continue reading...
• EasyJet's Carolyn McCall is favourite to take over at ITVChief executive had successful seven years at the airline and has media experience from running Guardian Media GroupCarolyn McCall, the chief executive of easyJet, has emerged as the leading candidate to be the new chief executive of ITV.McCall, who is understood to have been interviewed for the role, is considered to be one of the strongest candidates on ITV’s shortlist and if she is successful she would become Britain’s most powerful female TV executive. Continue reading...

The Scotsman

• Car sales stuck in slow lane as eco motors rev aheadThe new car market has declined for a third consecutive month, but shows signs of stabilising amid a jump in sales of electric and hybrid vehicles.

The Telegraph

• United Airlines apologises after giving away toddler's seat to standby passenger
• Fresh British Airways strikes announced to coincide with the big summer getaway

Times Online

• Volvo signals end of road for diesel and petrol cars [Subscription]The end of the internal combustion engine moved closer yesterday after a major carmaker became the first to abandon diesel and petrol-only vehicles.

Mail Online

• Introducing the five-star sleeper BUS: An unexpectedly luxurious way to travel between San Francisco and Los Angeles is hitting the highway This California-based start-up is revolutionising the 650-kilometre (400 miles) journey between San Francisco and Los Angeles with revamped double-decker buses offering a sleeper service between the two hubs.

Birmingham Mail

• This Birmingham train station is set for a revivalOfficials from the West Midlands Combined Authority are now to look at the business case for a new Balsall Heath station - including likely passenger numbers and impact on the local economy 

Bolton News

• MP urges council to apply to government to fund new bypassA NEW multi-billion fund for road improvements could be good news for a potential Westhoughton bypass, an MP hopes.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Bradford's next �2.5m cycle route has better design than 'superhighway' to Leeds, campaigners sayA NEW �2.5m segregated cycle path which would link two existing routes looks set to get the green light tomorrow.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Anglesey to Cardiff airlink will continue 'long term' and could now be expanded First minister Carwyn Jones said it provides a 'quick and convenient' way to travel
• Airbus in �18bn Chinese deal for 140 planes China Aviation Supplies Holding Company wants A320 and A350XWB jets
• Historic Snowdon steam locomotive back on track after 17 year absence Moel Siabod which has been in the sidings since 2000 and is now carrying passengers again

London Evening Standard

• Rail commuters face 'Brexit fare hike' of nearly four percent - far exceeding public sector pay cap AND private sector wage risesHundreds of thousands of rail commuters face being hit with a “Brexit fare hike” of nearly four per cent, The Standard reveals today.
• Waterloo delays: Commuters not expected to face morning disruption after travel chaos crippled busy stationCommuters are not expected to face another day of travel mayhem at Waterloo Station after signalling problems sent the busy transport hub into meltdown on Wednesday.
• Map showing tunnels to help claustrophobia and anxiety sufferers on the TubeA new map has been created showing sections of the Tube network which are above ground to help people who suffer from claustrophobia and anxiety.
• All Volvo cars to run with electric engines from 2019Volvo on Wednesday called time on the internal combustion engine in a bid to get ahead in the race to sell electric cars to the mass market.
• British Airways cabin crew to stage 14 day strike from July 19, union confirmsBritish Airways cabin crew will strike for two weeks later this month, it has been confirmed.

Manchester Evening News

• Chaos for holidaymakers after major security alert and controlled explosions at Manchester Airport Security scare caused chaos with cancelled flights, delays and queues

Wales Online

• You can now travel free on weekends on bus routes across WalesThe free routes on the TrawsCymru nework includes the Cardiff Airport Express and Aberystwyth to Carmarthen routes
• Steam railway expansion opens but bosses are already planning to double its size The Gwili Steam Railway has been extended to the outskirts of Carmarthen but there's more to come

East Anglian Daily Times

• MP Dan Poulter optimistic over A140 safety cash requestHighways officials have submitted a bid for funding for £5.36million improvements to the A140 near Eye Airfield to cut congestion and make the road safer.

Get West London

• Noise reducing domes installed at primary school in Hounslow in £85k Heathrow Airport community investmentBeavers Community Primary School has benefited from an eco-friendly outdoor learning centre which is aimed at reducing the impact of aircraft noise

Other Regional Press

• Fewer trains for Marsden and Slaithwaite commuters - and it could affect Real Ale TrailPlanned timetable changes expected to affect Colne Valley
• Six-thousand Heathrow Airport employees will be incentivised to drive low-emission cars Heathrow Airport's 6,000 employees will be incentivised to drive low emission cars as part of a new air quality plan.
• Bus passengers call for better reliabilty & more frequent services across North Staffordshire Passengers fed up with waiting ages for their bus turn up are calling for improved reliability and more frequent services

Buying Business Travel

• Advance rail tickets now available on day of departureRail companies to sell cheaper tickets up to 10 minutes before departure

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• New TfL map to help people with conditions including claustrophobia and anxiety People with claustrophobia or other anxiety conditions could find their journeys less stressful as Transport for London (TfL) launched a new map that shows which stations and sections of the TfL network are underground. The new addition to TfL’s broad selection of downloadable Tube maps will help a range of customers navigate the network more comfortably by showing them routes they can take to avoid areas with large stretches of tunnels. There are 270 stations on the Tube network, but more than half are actually above ground, with the Victoria and Waterloo and City lines being the on...

Rail Technology Magazine

• Deal struck to bring Elizabeth Line services to Heathrow Elizabeth Line services will now serve Heathrow Terminal 5 as part of a new plan between the airport, Transport for London (TfL) and Department for Transport (DfT). From 2019, at least 22 trains per hour, of which six will be on the Elizabeth Line, will connect central London with Heathrow...

Aviation Industry

• UK cautious on US demands for enhanced securityThe UK has given a noncommittal response to US demands that security on US-bound flights be stepped up in the face of mounting terrorist threats to civil aviation. read more
• Lufthansa, Fraport strengthen partnershipLufthansa and Frankfurt Airport operator Fraport have agreed on an initial deal for short-term cost savings, which aims to create conditions for Lufthansa’s further growth at the German airport. read more
• Qatar Airways continues to expand despite sanctionsQatar Airways has announced two new destinations, even as the airspace blockade on its territory by neighboring nations was restated July 5. read more
• Etihad, China Southern to codeshareAbu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways and Guangzhou-based China Southern Airlines have begun a new codeshare partnership. read more
• Cathay Dragon gains permission for US routesAlthough Cathay Pacific subsidiary Cathay Dragon has gained expanded permission to fly routes to the US, the Hong Kong-based carrier says it does not intend to launch flights there in the short term. read more

Other News Sources

• Motorway speed cameras: Find out which ones can and CAN'T fine you We take a look at the different types of camera that appear on the roads and can catch you out
• Transport strategy must deliver fully, says FTAThe Freight Transport Association (FTA) – the country’s biggest transport trade body representing half the UK fleet - says the Government’s new ...
• Heathrow appoints Stephenson Harwood associate as head of legal for new third runwayHeathrow Airport Holdings has recruited Stephenson Harwood senior associate Anita Kasseean for the newly created role of head of legal for planning for the airport’s new third runway.
• Transport secretary claims renewal of Southern dispute politically motivated THE Transport Secretary has accused Labour leaders of orchestrating renewed industrial action on the Southern network to create a difficult summer for the Government.