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

Wednesday, 23 August 2017

Government

• M25 junction 28 upgrade backedA proposed multi-million pound upgrade to a busy M25 junction in Essex has won support in a public consultation, Highways England has announced today.

BBC News

• Electrification means UK ministers cannot be trusted, says JonesThe UK government cannot be trusted on Brexit after it cancelled a planned upgrade of the railways for Swansea, First Minister Carwyn Jones has said.
• Buses in south Birmingham have an average speed of less than 6mph.National Express says journey times on some routes are up to 10 minutes slower than three years ago.
• China relaunches world's fastest trainThe high-speed trains will be able to run at speeds of 350km/h following safety checks on rail lines.
• Buses bound for Mexico in £44m double-decker dealLarbert-based Alexander Dennis will build 90 low-emission buses for shipping to Mexico City.
• North should 'take control' of transport, says GraylingTransport Secretary Chris Grayling says the north of England must design and manage its transport.
• Labour MP says 'merit' in women-only train carriagesShadow minister Chris Williamson calls for consultation two years after Jeremy Corbyn drops policy.
• HS3 rail for northern England 'will happen', says MPPowerhouse minister Jake Berry says the government is committed to improving transport links.
• London Euston HS2 exhumation plan prompts memorial serviceUp to 60,000 people are buried in St James' Gardens, which is close to London Euston station.
• Heathrow landing fee claim not credible, says ex-BA bossFormer BA boss Sir Rod Eddington says airlines

Department for Transport

• Changes to UK aviation securityLarge phones, laptops and tablets now allowed in the cabin on some flights to the UK from Turkey and Tunisia.

Financial Times

• Air Berlin/Lufthansa: terminal velocityGermany seems to favour consolidation, which is bad news for consumers
• Apple plans self-drive shuttle to ferry Silicon Valley staffService would see company teaming up with a traditional automotive manufacturer
• Mutual funds slash valuation estimates for UberVanguard and Hartford cut share price figures by 15 per cent
• Maersk Tankers invests in quant hedge fund CargoMetricsGroup to use shipping data and analytical models to improve fleet deployment

The Guardian

• ‘Tory’ is a swearword in the north. Is George Osborne a strange exception?I wasn’t sure about his northern powerhouse. But the former MP for Tatton is right to tell Theresa May that improving transport links is vital
• Why England’s north is still waiting for its powerhousewill start with a confession: I was the chief secretary to the Treasury who brought together the funding package for London’s £15bn Crossrail 1 project.
• Airports call for urgent post-Brexit deal on UK-EU flightsOwners of five major UK airports say uncertainty over future of flights is hitting passenger numbers hard, in report submitted to ministers

The Herald

• Osborne urges May to press ahead with Liverpool to Hull HS3 rail line to boost GEORGE Osborne has called on Theresa May, as she “relaunches her premiershipâ€� this autumn, to commit to building a high-speed rail link, dubbed HS3, across the north of England to unlock its economic potential.
• Falkirk bus firm in £44m Mexico deal to guarantee 1,000 jobsA multi-million pound deal that will see iconic red double-decker buses running in Mexico City will support 1,000 jobs in Falkirk and demonstrates the “value to Scotland’s economy of being part of a strong United Kingdom,â€� Downing Street has insisted.

The Telegraph

• China to relaunch world’s fastest bullet train after deadly 2011 crash
• Diesel scrappage scheme: BMW and Ford accused of cashing in on fears by offering £2k off a new car
• Women-only train carriages could offer a 'safe space' on public transport, Labour politician says 

Times Online

• 40% fall in ferry fares buoys Northern Isles [Subscription]Ferry fares to the Northern Isles are set to fall under plans to bring more tourists to the region.
• Jeremy Corbyn vows to support rural areas [subscription]Mr Corbyn is also expected to highlight his party’s plan to “rural-proof” policies, so that all laws are assessed on their effect on rural communities, saying: “There has been chronic under-investment in transport, broadband and public services, with rural infrastructure and industry neglected.

City AM

• UK airports including Heathrow and Gatwick warn that air travel will plummet if post-Brexit deal isn't securedA host of the UK's biggest airports have submitted a report to government warning that uncertainty about securing a Brexit deal risks sparking a slump in air travel.
• Ryanair boss says he would be "happy" to swoop on Air BerlinThe colourful boss of Ryanair said today that he would be "happy" to make a bid for insolvent airline Air Berlin, pending further information on the company's financial situation.
• British Airways summer strikes: Unite pauses cabin crew's long-running industrial action in effort to resolve pay disputeUnite union has today called for the British Airways strike impasse to end after bumper industrial action stretching over August in a row over pay.
• The iconic red double-decker bus is heading to Mexico City to help tackle pollutionThe iconic red double-decker bus is being exported to Mexico, after manufacturer Alexander Dennis secured a £44m finance deal to build 90 of the buses in Britain.

Network Rail

• New images of extended Waverley platforms releasedNetwork Rail has today released new images showing how Edinburgh Waverley’s extended platforms will look once complete.

Sky News

• Northern leaders demand fair deal from Government on transportAs political and business leaders prepare to gather, one says the summit shows the patience of people in the North has "run out".

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Council set to act on air pollution at two hotspot areas TWO parts of the Spen Valley are set to be declared Air Quality Management Areas after pollution levels were found to be too high.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Transport secretary has open mind on improving the A55Ken Skates AM has admitted the A494 corridor is 'far from the ideal modern gateway' to North Wales

London Evening Standard

• Women-only train carriages could be used to tackle sexual assaults, male MP saysChris Williamson said it would be “worth consulting” on the policy after figures revealed such crimes doubled in the last five years.
• Euston closure: no trains in or out of rail terminal over Bank Holiday weekend due to HS2 engineering worksAll trains to and from Euston station are to be halted during the Bank Holiday weekend due to engineering works for HS2.

Manchester Evening News

• Transport secretary complains to mayor Andy Burnham about northern leaders summit 'snub'The government complains that it wasn't asked to attend meeting on northern investment plans

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Women-only train carriages could curb sex attacks – MPWomen-only train carriages should be considered to combat increasing sexual violence on public transport, a Labour frontbencher has said.

Other Regional Press

• Welsh MPs band together to call for more cash for railTHE UK government has "neglected" south Wales' rail system, a group of Welsh MPs have claimed.
• Firm admits app will be 'learning curve' as new hire bikes strewn across pavement LESS than 24 hours since it has been launched a number of dockless yellow bikes have been left scattered across parts of the city this morning.
• Study to see if reopening disused railway line is feasibleThe Newton Abbot to Heathfield Railway Revival Group wants to reopen the line between Newton Abbot and Heathfield
• Initial findings into Ely freight train derailment to be releasedThe Rail Accident Investigation Branch launched an inquiry into the derailment of a 33-wagon freight train near Ely last week

politics.co.uk

• Labour MPs attack shadow minister over female-only train carriages ideaLabour MPs have hit out at shadow minister Chris Williamson after he said women-only train carriages may be needed to tackle a rise in sex attacks.

Buying Business Travel

• Laptop ban lifted on Tunisia flightsTunis becomes second airport to have mobile device restrictions removed

Rail Magazine

• First GWR High Speed Train off-lease this monthGWR sends first ScotRail-bound HST off-lease at the end of August.
• PICTURE: UK's fleet grows at Newton AycliffeAlmost 7,000 new vehicles on order for UK market

Rail Technology Magazine

• Easing the capital's cramped carriages We’ve all been there – you’re standing on the platform on the way to work, hoping to board the next train that pulls up, before seeing the crowd of packed passengers in front of you, crammed into the carriage like sardines. It’s a problem found all over Britain’s...
• Osborne: Ministers must ensure HS2 redesigns include HS3 plans Former chancellor George Osborne along with lobby groups representing the interests of business leaders in the north have today joined the call for investment in HS3, also known as Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR). Osborne, along with the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, which he is chair of, has...

Railnews

• Former Chancellor George Osborne ignites high speed row Former Chancellor George Osborne has triggered a new controversy by urging the government to build a high speed line across the Pennines between Manchester and Leeds, which has often been dubbed ˜HS3™.

The Business Desk

• Business and political leaders lobby for ‘fair transport deal’ for the NorthDemands for the Government to deliver a “fair deal” on transport for the north of England will be be made in Leeds today by political and business leaders.

Aviation Industry

• New Chinese regional to launch in 2018Shareholders have registered a company intended to be a regional airline in the central Chinese province of Hubei. read more
• Gogo satellite Wi-Fi to be installed on Alaska/Virgin America aircraftAlaska Airlines has reached an agreement with Gogo to equip its Boeing 737s and Virgin America's A320 family aircraft with Gogo's satellite-based 2Ku Wi-Fi service, an upgrade over the air-to-ground (ATG) Gogo Wi-Fi now offered on Alaska's flights. read more

Other News Sources

• ScotRail is the best performing large train operator in the UKThe new figures reveal that the ScotRail Alliance’s moving annual average (MAA) - the average performance for the year to 19 August 2017 – is at 90.9 per cent. This is ahead of the performance improvement plan target of 90.5 per cent, and ahead of the other large operators in the UK.
• Balfour Beatty wins Bristol-Cardiff rail electrificationThe contract award follows a four-month collaboration with Network Rail on an early contractor involvement (ECI) basis to agree scope, programme and cost (which has yet to be disclosed).