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

Tuesday, 31 October 2017

BBC News

• Off-road motorbikes seized in West Midlands Police raidsBiking
• Arriva Trains Wales drops out of Welsh rail franchise bidThe firm drops out of the race to continue running the Wales and Borders franchise it won in 2003.
• Game of Thrones: Traffic ban on Dark Hedges road beginsA ban on traffic on the Dark Hedges road made famous by TV's Game of Thrones comes into force.
• Next generation of Santander Cycles arrive in LondonThe first of the improved Santander Cycles arrive on the capital's streets.
• Checking in at Singapore's new 'contactless' airport terminalPassengers using Changi Airport's new Terminal 4 can check in and board without having to talk to counter staff.
• EasyJet agrees €40m deal with insolvent Air BerlinThe UK airline will buy part of the German firm's operations in Berlin, saving 1,000 jobs.
• Rail industry promises investment and improvement in servicesThe industry joins forces in a pledge to improve its services and public image as criticism mounts.

Financial Times

• Former HS2 chief executive accused of ‘defrauding taxpayers’Simon Kirby says he did not approve disputed redundancy payments to staff
• Ryanair shares take off after positive first half results

The Guardian

• Global atmospheric CO2 levels hit record highUN warns that drastic action is needed to meet climate targets set in the Paris agreementThe concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increased at record speed last year to hit a level not seen for more than three million years, the UN has warned.The new report has raised alarm among scientists and prompted calls for nations to consider more drastic emissions reductions at the upcoming climate negotiations in Bonn. Continue reading...
• Plan to name German train after Anne Frank condemnedCritics say use of diarist’s name by national rail Deutsche Bahn provider conjures painful images of persecution of JewsPlans by Germany’s national rail provider to name a train after the diarist Anne Frank have come under fire, with the Anne Frank foundation saying it “caused new painâ€� to those who experienced deportations.“A combination of Anne Frank and a train conjures up the image of persecution of Jews and deportations during World War II,â€� the Amsterdam-based foundation said in a statement. Continue reading...
• Delhi’s secret ring railway line – in picturesConstructed in 1975 to bypass the crowded stations of Old Delhi, New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin, this line once used to be the lifeline of the capital Continue reading...
• Women rescued at sea 'had unused emergency beacon' – US coast guardAuthorities also made radio contact with pair in June when they reported being OK and expected to make landfall soonThe two Hawaii women who were lost at sea for five months had an emergency beacon aboard their sailboat that was never activated, the US coast guard has said.Spokesman Lieutenant Scott Carr said a review of the incident and subsequent interviews with the survivors revealed that they had an emergency position indicating radio beacon (Epirb) on board. Continue reading...

The Telegraph

• Two US sailors lost at sea for five months did not activate emergency beacon
• HMS Elizabeth leaves Portsmouth Harbour for first time

Times Online

• Easyjet’s swoop on Air Berlin could build on position in German capital [Subscription]Easyjet’s swoop on part of Air Berlin’s operations was confirmed yesterday, raising hopes that the budget carrier can build on its dominant position in the German capital.
• Fastjet scraps Easyjet model for a new African flight plan [Subscription]Fastjet hopes that its revamped idea to create a pan-African low-cost airline will take off this week.
• Millions at risk from polluted air too dangerous to breathe [Subscription]Millions of people in British cities are inhaling air considered by the World Health Organisation to be too dangerous to breathe, a report has shown.
• Pollution in cities breaches safety limits [Subscription]Pollution levels in many of Britain’s big towns and cities are so high that they are breaching global safety limits, according to a new report.
• Pashley makes the cycle lane its fast track to success [Subscription]When Adrian Williams bought Pashley Cycles in the 1990s, his bankers regarded his commitment to domestic manufacturing as quixotic. Now that Britain’s oldest surviving bicycle maker has won a deal to supply the new “Boris bike” for London’s cycle sharing scheme, Mr Williams argues that here is proof that resisting the temptation to follow industry rivals offshore can make financial sense, after all.
• Track blunder outside Cardiff central station almost led to rail disaster [Subscription]Two trains came within a few minutes of a potentially disastrous collision after an engineering blunder by Network Rail, accident investigators have said.

City AM

• Ryanair announces a pay rise for pilots after roster meltdownRyanair has this morning announced a pay rise for its pilots following the airline's roster meltdown earlier this year.
• Disruption at London Paddington: Severe train delays and Heathrow Connect service suspendedThere are severe delays on trains in and out of London Paddington this morning due to a signalling failure.
• Airbus works with US authorities over inaccuracies in its arms trafficking filingsPlane maker Airbus said this morning that it is co-operating with US regulators over inaccuracies in its filings on US arms trafficking.

Mail Online

• German firm sparks anger by naming new train Anne Frank Railway firm Deutsche Bahn has been slated online after deciding to name its new locomotive Anne Frank, with Christian Social Union politician Iris Erberl branding the moniker 'impious'.
• Crowds gather to see off HMS Queen Elizabeth Around 1,000 people gathered by Portsmouth Naval Base in Hampshire to wave off 919ft, 65,000-tonne vessel HMS Queen Elizabeth on its month-long deployment at sea.

The Mirror

• Windows of buses and cars smashed by youths in 'Mischief Night' madness the night before Halloween Police in Merseyside faced a slew of reports of vandalism attributed to the little-known tradition

This is Money

• RAY MASSEY: Honda’s sporty electric coupe stars in Tokyo Slightly retro, but with a contemporary twist, it’s the coupe version of the Honda Urban EV with a 150-mile range.It’s due to be built from 2019 and is expected to cost in the region of £26,000.

Birmingham Post

• Do I need winter tyres? Everything you need to know about winter tyres Do you need winter tyres? Everything you need to know about cold weather tyres.
• Why we should embrace our driverless future The driverless car is the next revolution in transport and the Midlands is well placed to take advantage

London Evening Standard

• Tower Bridge protest: Activists spark huge traffic jam on Thames crossing with anti-pollution demoActivist shut down Tower Bridge today as they staged a protest against air pollution.
• 44 UK towns and cities have air 'too dangerous to breathe', report claimsMore than 40 of the UK's largest towns and cities have air considered too dangerous to breathe, including London, a report has shown.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Metro boss apologises for 'unprecedented' day of failings as passengers' misery continues Tobyn Hughes has said a full investigation into the Metro failings will be carried out as problems continued for a second day

The York Press

• Bus services saved by councilBUS users have been urged to use two bus services in the Selby area, after they were given financial support by North Yorkshire County Council.
• Could a monorail and floating homes be key to York's future development? A MONORAIL to carry shoppers and commuters above the York traffic, floating homes on the flood plain, and water taxis on the rivers.

Wales Online

• Drivers could be breaking the law while defrosting cars, police warnThe warnings come as six cars were stolen in just 30 minutes
• Hero train driver narrowly averted crash near Cardiff after points blunder during track works There were massive works in and around Cardiff Central station during Christmas last year, and it's been revealed today there was a near miss
• Arriva Trains Wales pull out of bid to run the next Wales and Borders rail franchise It also means that it is no longer bidding to build the next phase of the south Wales Metro

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Taxi drivers may strike over council rowTaxi drivers could threaten to strike over what they claim is unfair treatment by a council.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Rail industry promises to work together to help East Anglia’s passengersRail bosses from across the country have joined a new campaign to insist they are working together to improve services – with East Anglia at the forefront.

West Sussex Gazette

• Travelling by rail over Christmas? Southern announce service alterationsRail passengers looking to travel over the Christmas and New Year period are being advised to plan ahead as engineering work and service alterations will mean a large amount of change.

Other Regional Press

• Complaints of 'endless roadworks' as another Oxford road is closedAS another road closure come into effect as part of infrastructure improvement project Access to Headington, complaints are growing of 'endless roadworks'.
• Is there enough bike parking at new Westgate Centre? THE lack of bike parking spaces at the Westgate Centre could lead to more traffic in the run-up to Christmas, a city councillor has warned.
• This is the reason you may be breaking the law while de-icing your carFrozen cars are part and parcel of the latter portion of the calendar year
• More than 100 new bike spaces coming to Watford JunctionMore than 100 new cycle spaces will be provided at Watford Junction train station once the latest raft of changes come into effect.
• Tripboat demonstrates potential of restored canal A NEW tripboat is demonstrating the potential of a waterway through the Wiltshire countryside following the completion of a restored 1.2-kilometre stretch near Lacock.
• Council react to sudden withdrawal of Nippybus services SOMERSET County Council has stepped in for the second time this month to replace a series of school routes previously run by Nippybus, this time with less than 24 hours notice.
• Yacht saved from running aground thanks to Morse code and flashing lamp off The LizardAs the yacht headed on a collision course for a treacherous underwater reef, it was not modern technology that saved it from disaster - but a method of warning dating back to the 19th century.
• Girls go technical at Mini plant in bid to get more women in engineering IN an industry dominated by men today, these young women are strapping themselves into the driving seat to become the engineers of tomorrow.
• UK cycling conference rolling into townCYCLISTS from across the country will ride into Oxford for a two-day symposium.
• Cyclists say there is not enough bike parking at new Westgate CentreTHE lack of bike parking spaces at the Westgate Centre could lead to more traffic in the run-up to Christmas, a city councillor has warned.
• Debut voyage for Royal Navy's flagship vessel A TOWERING ship made its debut voyage across the Solent today.
• Hampshire company gets on board to save school busA HAMPSHIRE bus company got on board to save a school reading bus.
• Warning of work at Tredegar Park roundabout THE engineering company behind the improvement works at Junction 28, in Newport, would like to inform residents work has now begun in the Pont Ebbw roundabout, with vegetation clearance in progress.
• Arriva Trains Wales pulls out of the running for the Wales and the Borders franchise contract THE operator of the majority of the railway lines in Wales has pulled out of the tendering process for the franchise in 2018.

Buying Business Travel

• Easyjet agrees Air Berlin dealCarrier to acquire 25 aircraft at Berlin Tegel airport
• RMT strikes planned across rail servicesDisruption possible on November 8 and 9

Rail Magazine

• Britain’s railway launches ‘single plan’ to increase economic benefits'Single plan’ for Britain’s railway launched, with RDG claiming it's worth £85 billion of additional economic benefits for the UK.
• RMT lambasts ‘single railway’ plansRMT criticises new industry plan, calling it:

Rail Technology Magazine

• Contractors invited to tender for £165m Edinburgh tram extensionEdinburgh City Council has started its search for contractors to deliver the city’s major tram extension. Tendering has begun on the project, which has been divided into two lots: lot 1 - the infrastructure and systems contract, and lot 2 - the Swept Path contract. The winner of the...
• Northern opens £23m Blackburn depot as part of Great North Rail ProjectNorthern and Network Rail have spent £23m on a new train maintenance depot in Blackburn, opened by rail minister Paul Maynard last week. The facility has been built with a range of modern equipment and will be used to maintain as many as 30 diesel trains. In addition to the new King...

Railnews

• Arriva makes surprise exit from Welsh competition Arriva has decided to withdraw from the competition to run the next Wales & Borders franchise. Arriva had been one of four shortlisted bidders. The others are Abellio Rail Cymru, KeolisAmey and MTR Corporation (Cymru) Ltd. The Welsh Government said: œIt is not uncommon for bidders for major projects to withdraw during the tender process,� while the RMT said the revelation had exposed ˜the whole flaky and opportunist nature of the rail franchising process™.

Aviation Industry

• AOA: London Gatwick outstrips government forecasts London Gatwick Airport is once again calling for a second runway, saying it has already passed the 45-million passenger figure the UK government forecasted for 2030. read more
• ICAO considers checked baggage laptop ban over fire concernICAO is considering amending its dangerous goods instructions to largely ban large personal electronic devices (PEDs) from checked baggage after US FAA’s Fire Safety Branch reported “troublingâ€� results from tests conducted on potential fire risks to commercial aircraft from laptops in checked baggage. read more
• Mint flights soon to be majority of JetBlue transcon capacityMint-configured Airbus A321 aircraft will make up the majority of JetBlue Airways’ transcontinental capacity for the first time in November, a sign of the premium offering’s ongoing success. read more
• Irish lessor Avolon forecasts demand for 43,000 new aircraft by 2036The global commercial aviation market, by 2036, will require 42,000 new passenger aircraft and 800 new freighters, at a financing investment of $4.3 trillion, according to a world fleet forecast released Oct. 30 by Ireland-based aircraft lessor Avolon. read more

Other News Sources

• South Western Railway promises to 'consult alternative timetable' after MP slams proposed cuts to services in opposition petition North East Hampshire MP Ranil Jayawardena continues to urge people to sign his petition opposing the planned cuts to services
• Passengers told to expect new trains and more jobsBRITAIN’S rail industry has made a series of commitments to improve services and provide billions of additional pounds to the economy.
• Decision on Uber's future in Brighton and Hove could result in disappointmentTHE future of taxi-hailing app Uber in Brighton and Hove is to be decided in a closed-door meeting tomorrow, The Argus can reveal.
• A24 reopens after major diesel spillage and miles of resurfacing A MAJOR Sussex road has reopened this morning after miles of its carriageway was resurfaced following a diesel spillage.
• Welsh Government committed to reducing A55 noise for Abergele residentsA new noise barrier on the A55 westbound near Sea Road Bridge will mitigate the impact of noise pollution for nearby residents.