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

Friday, 27 October 2017

BBC News

• Bloodhound supersonic carries out first public runsThe British-led Bloodhound vehicle carries out some slow-speed trials in Newquay, Cornwall.
• 'No plans' for Welsh language on trains 'unacceptable'Great Western Railway says its new Hitachi 800 engine fleet is not
• Bloodhound car tested ahead of 1,000mph record attemptThe 'world's fastest car' goes through its first public tests ahead of a land speed record attempt.
• Stormont cars: Civil servants use of ministerial cars criticisedAbout 600 trips were made in six months, at times civil servants were chauffeur-driven to events.
• Bombardier sheds 280 jobs, Schlumberger plans plant closureThe aerospace firm is to shed jobs, with hundreds more at risk at another manufacturing firm.
• London City Airport £400m re-vamp plans revealedThe airport marks its 30th anniversary by publishing artists' impressions of its redevelopment.
• Major rail disruption after car becomes wedged on lineScotRail tweeted a picture of the car which was driven onto the line between Bowling and Kilpatrick.
• BlackBerry's bet on driverless carsAutonomous cars will play a large role in the company's new strategy.
• Ford profits jump but China challenge remainsStrong sales of pick-up trucks in North America help drive profit gains.

Financial Times

• Ryanair pilots to be balloted on group legal actionBalpa pilot association is gauging support for action to establish employment rights
• Monarch administrators to fight landing slot lossKPMG to seek judicial review to try to hang on to failed airline’s biggest asset
• Taxman under fire for failing to probe Uber stance on VATMPs attack HMRC over ride-hailing apps attitude to payments
• HS2 finance chief to quit amid redundancy cover-up claimsAnger in government over handling of unauthorised payments

The Guardian

• Saudi Arabia to invest $1bn in Virgin space companiesInvestment of £760m into Richard Branson’s space companies will enable ‘next generation of human spaceflight’Saudi Arabia will plough around $1bn (£760m) into Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin space companies.The cash injection will be made to Virgin Galactic, The Spaceship Company and Virgin Orbit – with the option of $480m (£364m) of extra investment. Continue reading...
• Should black Americans boycott American Airlines? | Steven W ThrasherThe National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has issued a travel advisory warning African-American travels against the airline. What now?After a months-long investigation found “a pattern of disturbing incidents reported by African American passengers, specific to American Airlines,â€� the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has issued a “national advisory alerting travelers – especially African Americans – to exercise caution, in that booking and boarding flights on American Airlines could subject them disrespectful, discriminatory or unsafe conditionsâ€�....

The Herald

• Monarch administrator seeks judicial review over slot salesKPMG has said it will initiate court action over the right to sell the ill-fated carrier’s take-off and landing slots.
• Car drives on to Bowling train line causing chaos for rush hour passengersA CAR has caused chaos for rail passengers after driving on to a remote train track.

The Telegraph

• Four people were caught speeding every minute last year: Is your area a hotspot?
• Supersonic Bloodhound car in 200mph tests ahead of land speed record attempt

Times Online

• Norwegian pledges to cut costs [Subscription]Norwegian, the airline offering cut-price fares to the US from British airports, has shrugged off speculation that it is in financial trouble by pledging to reduce costs further while also increasing its capacity.
• Ford blames Brexit for $86m third-quarter loss in Europe [Subscription]Adverse effects from Brexit sent Ford’s European division to a surprise loss in the third quarter.
• Passenger growth helps Heathrow profits take off [Subscription]Heathrow does not appear to be as full as has been claimed.
• National Express motoring ahead after ditching trains [Subscription]Getting off Britain’s railways appears to have been National Express’s ticket to prosperity.
• Bombardier to cut 280 jobs in Belfast [Subscription]Bombardier is to cut 280 jobs from its Belfast aerospace plant in an attempt by its Canadian parent company to reduce costs.
• Monarch administrators seek ruling on rights to landing slots [Subscription]The administrators of Monarch Airlines are taking aviation industry authorities to court to get a ruling on whether they own valuable landing slots at Gatwick and other British airports.

City AM

• BA owner International Airlines Group reports increased profit and revenueBA owner International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) grew profit and revenue in the third quarter of the year, despite increased pressure due to terrorism and extreme weather events.

Daily Record

• M8 reopens after man on gantry brings motorway to standstill near Braehead shopping centreRush hour chaos as motorists were forced to turn around after man was seen lying on top of overhead sign at junction 26.
• Car blocks railway track causing major disruption on busy line near Glasgow Lots of trains have been disrupted and services could be affected until 8pm.

Mail Online

• Bombardier cuts nearly 300 jobs at its Belfast plant Downing Street has pledged to give those who lose their jobs full 'help and support' in the wake of the slew of redundancies.
• Finland train crash: Four killed and eleven injured At least three soldiers travelling on the truck were killed in the crash, and one civilian died after falling ill on-board following the collision in Raseborg, 53 miles south west of Helsinki.
• British car designed to reach 1,000mph tested in Newquay Bloodhound Supersonic Car reached speeds of more than 200mph (320kph) as it hurtled down a 1.7 mile (2.7km) long section of runway at Cornwall Airport in Newquay.

This is Money

• The most and least reliable cars revealed by What Car? What Car?s report was good news for Japan, but not so great for UK car making, with the Range Rover Sport, Jaguar XE and British-built Nissan Qashqai bottom of their respective categories.
• Bombardier axing 280 jobs in Belfast as Boeing row grows The firm is cutting non-production jobs at the Northern Ireland plant as part of 7,500 layoffs worldwide announced last year.
• MARKET REPORT: National Express back on track Shares soared as the firm reported pre-tax profit was up 12.3 per cent in the three months to September. Revenue rose 6.4 per cent and overall passenger numbers climbed 2.5 per cent.
• Local car garages could be at risk post-Brexit Failure to secure access to the scheme could see independent car garages lose access to information and data that's needed to repair vehicles being used on the road today.

Birmingham Post

• Tory councillor RESIGNS over Lichfield bypass land sell-off David Dundas leaves Conservatives after 17 years in protest over 'strategic' plot
• Airline to create 120 jobs at Birmingham Airport - here's how to applyRecruitment drive started after operator decides to take ground crew roles in house

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Giant boat fuels fears Holyhead port could be bypassed after Brexit There are concerns that there will be an increase in direct routes from Ireland to the EU

Holyrood

• Transform Scotland calls on public for ideas on future of transport

London Evening Standard

• Passengers told to arrive early as new security checks begin on all US-bound flightsPassengers flying to the US will face enhanced security checks before boarding from today onwards.
• TfL Tube delays: London commuter chaos as Circle and District lines hit with severe delays amid reports of fire alert at EustonFurious commuters faced rush-hour chaos after a signal failure sent two major Tube lines into meltdown.
• Major winter delays on Piccadilly line caused by Tube bosses 'giving back vital equipment to clear away rotten leaves'Tube chiefs were condemned today by London's official transport watchdog for disposing of vital equipment for clearing leaves which led to hundreds of thousands of commuters suffering major and prolonged disruption.
• Read all about it... the driverless mini-Routemaster made using recycled Evening Standard newspapersA driveless mini-Routemaster bus has been designed to help ease congestion and pollution — with the help of recycled Evening Standards.
• London City Airport unveils £400m redevelopment plans to mark 30th anniversary London City Airport has marked its 30th anniversary by unveiling artists' impressions of a planned £400 million redevelopment.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Network Rail say 'bridge bashes' like this can reach 'epidemic' levels in autumn Crashes where a lorry strikes a low bridge are costing taxpayers £23m a year

Northern Echo

• Uber app launches in Durham AN app-based travel service is being launched in Durham today.
• Heritage railway launches multi-million pound appeal to secure its futureA MULTI-MILLION pound appeal has been launched to secure the future of a renowned heritage railway.

The York Press

• Campaigners slam York Central consultation as roads decision looms CAMPAIGNERS have slammed the consultation over York Central’s planned access road as a vital decision looms on the route.
• City rail bridge struck 14 times in last five years A YORK railway bridge has been struck by lorries 14 times in the past five years - delaying both rail passengers and motorists.

Wales Online

• Cardiff is scrapping its bus station plan and starting again The city has admitted that there will be no bus station before 2020

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Roadworks overrun by 2,200 days in cityRoadworks overran by more than 2,200 days over the last three years in Wolverhampton, it has been revealed

East Anglian Daily Times

• East of England Ambulance Service ‘extremely disappointed’ after losing patient transport contracts to private companyThe region’s NHS ambulance service has lost the contracts for non-emergency patient transport services in Suffolk and Great Yarmouth to a private firm.

Other Regional Press

• Fury as people are fined for parking at a Newport shopping centre RESIDENTS have voiced their fury after being fined for parking at a Newport shopping centre.
• 'An accident waiting to happen' - Westgate shoppers dodge buses in 'dangerous' Bonn SquareBUSES driving through crowds of shoppers outside the main entrance to the new Westgate Centre are ‘an accident waiting to happen’ and should be re-routed immediately, frightened pedestrians have warned.
• No trains through Huddersfield this weekend - here's how to get around Huddersfield rail station expected to be very busy with up to 25 buses per hour - including special ones for Town fans
• Black cabs v Uber: the debate continuesReaders react to Coventry black cabs being 'forced off the road' by Uber
• Own one of these cars? Motorists are scrapping them and this is whyAuto Trader has revealed which models motorists are trying to trade in via new diesel scrappage deals
• Rail bosses investigate as kids left stranded on Bedford train without their dadRail bosses are investigating why a train was allowed to leave Bedford station with two tiny children on board and their frantic parent left behind on the platform.
• Two accidents in four hours at Wootton Bassett Road bridge A MANNINGTON rail bridge was the scene of two accidents in one day.
• Network Rail staff help heritage railwayOFFICE workers from Network Rail got down and dirty this week when they spent a day helping Swindon and Cricklade Railway clear their tracks.
• See how many motorists have been fined for using the new bus gateMORE than 200 people have been fined for using Taunton's new bus gate. 
• Appeal for more volunteer drivers - you'll get 50p a mile expensesA TEAM of around 200 volunteer drivers who provide transport for non-emergency NHS patients and social care users have been thanked for their dedication.
• Oxford hotel plan will slow traffic on road for nearly two yearsA PROJECT to build a new £30m hotel and demolish an eyesore building will slow down a city route until 2019.
• 'Cut A34 speed limit to 50mph' urges safety report in bid to reduce crashesTHE speed limit on the A34 between Oxford and the M40 could be slashed to 50mph as part of measures to make the road safer.
• 'An accident waiting to happen' - Westgate shoppers dodge buses in 'dangerous' Bonn SquareBUSES driving through crowds of shoppers outside the main entrance to the new Westgate Centre are ‘an accident waiting to happen’ and should be re-routed immediately, frightened pedestrians have warned.
• Can you help? £70k project on Ford siteSHIPS, aircraft, trains, vans – Southampton has produced them all.
• Port of Southampton 'equal to the challenge' of Storm BrianWITH winds gusting as high as 57 knots, Storm Brian was destined to bring disruption but the community at the Port of Southampton measured up to the challenge.
• 'They will fail': Tory MP slams striking rail workersA HAMPSHIRE MP has slammed rail workers who are set to walk out for 48 hours next month.
• Fuel-leak scare prompts emergency response at Southampton Airport EMERGENCY services rushed to Southampton Airport this morning after a moving plane began leaking fuel.
• Commuters facing disruption as station car park to partially shutCOMMUTERS face an even bigger fight for car-parking spaces at Southampton Central station from next week.

C.N.N.

• China to overtake U.S. as largest air travel marketThe International Air Transport Association said it expects that half of the new passengers who will fly over the next 20 years will live in Asia.

Buying Business Travel

• Lufthansa to open daily Glasgow routeAirline announces new flights for 2018
• GTMC responds to Heathrow consultationReport 'demonstrates strong argument' for Gatwick

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Latest improvements to TfL app and Oyster Online allow customers to collect orders anywhere (Image source: Evening Standard) Londoners can now top up their Oyster card and collect their top up, Travelcard or pass from any bus, as well as at any Tube or rail station within London, following the latest improvements to the Oyster system. The upgrades, which were implemented this week, mean that anyone who uses the new TfL app or Oyster Online to buy pay as you go, Bus & Tram Passes or Travelcards can add it to their Oyster card from any yellow card reader 30 minutes after purchase. This means passengers can update their card when travelling on any of London’s 9,000 buses, o...

Rail Magazine

• Rolling stock plan targets alternative fuel for a “cleaner future’Government report states trains powered by bi-mode, batteries or even hydrogen could form part of future fleets.
• Power struggle: what is the best way forward?With electrification schemes cancelled, what are the pros and cons of partial electrification, and how would it work? PHILIP HAIGH reports

Rail Technology Magazine

• Railway Connectivity Today's rail transport must be fast, efficient and safe. At the same time, it should also provide exceptional comfort and service to its passengers. Modern and complex systems are entering the market that enable train operators to fulfil these requir…
• Scotland: The nation to watchAs the Scottish Government and its industry partners continue to fund the best railway the country has ever had, Humza Yousaf, minister for transport and the Islands, runs through the latest updates of the Edinburgh-Glasgow Improvement Programme (EGIP). The coming months are going to be a really...
• Crossrail 2: Planning for our futureSource: RTM Oct/Nov 17 The time is ripe to press ahead with ambitious plans to build Crossrail 2 in order to alleviate congestion, support economic prosperity and unlock regional development, argues Michèle Dix, the project’s managing director at TfL. If you are one of thousands...
• Campaign for Better Transport calls on DfT for new funding for track and stationsA new Rail Development Fund to pay for the construction of new track and stations across the UK has been recommended by the Campaign for Better Transport (CBT). The organisation has penned a letter to transport secretary Chris Grayling which advises the launch of a new cash supply specifically...
• Around 180 jobs to be cut as Alstom closes historic Preston siteAlstom is to close its Preston site, leaving 180 workers unsure of their future. The Strand Road site, which has been a centre of rail production for 120 years, will close following the opening of its new Widnes site in June this year. The Victorian Preston sire will be vacated by July 2018. An...

Railnews

• Grayling DOO letter is ˜unprecedented, damaging and dangerous™ Transport secretary Chris Grayling has written to MPs, explaining that contingency plans are being prepared ahead of fresh RMT strikes over DOO next month. He has condemned the RMT™s stance over the issue of safety-critical staff on trains. The RMT has described his letter as ˜unprecedented political interference™ in the long-running dispute about driver-only operation. The union has called 24-hour strikes on Northern and Merseyrail on 8 November, accompanied by 48-hour walkouts on Greater Anglia, Southern and South Western Railway on 8 and 9 November.

Aviation Industry

• Ryanair delays new hand luggage rulesIrish LCC Ryanair has postponed plans to cut its regular hand-luggage allowance from two pieces to just one, shifting the change from Nov. 1 this year to Jan. 15, 2018. read more
• AAPA: IATA challenges privatized airport modelAirport privatization has been a failure that mostly leads to higher fares for airlines but no service benefits, a study soon to be released by IATA finds. read more

Other News Sources

• MP slams rail union for 'trying to undermine government' with strikesA HAMPSHIRE MP has slammed rail workers who are set to walk out for 48 hours next month.
• Chobham High Street roadworks means motorists face huge nine-mile detour over the weekendResidents' group The Chobham Society has expressed concern about the lack of access for emergency vehicles while the road is closed
• FTA provides clear vision on London safety proposalsWith safety of paramount importance to all of the capital’s road users, transport managers from businesses of all sizes will have the chance to ...
• Bloodhound Supersonic Car successfully completes first public runsBloodhound SSC, the supersonic British car designed to go at 1,000mph, has moved a step closer to its ultimate goal following the completion of a series of 200mph test runs at Cornwall’s Newquay airport. In front of a crowd of an estimated 4,000 spectators, the vehicle, driven by RAF pilot Andy Green, completed two high […] The post Bloodhound Supersonic Car successfully completes first public runs appeared first on The Engineer.