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

Friday, 22 December 2017

Cogitamus

• Merry Christmas from the Cogitamus Team !!🎄 🎅🏼 We will be taking a little break over the festive season. TransportInfo will not be updated between 25 December 2017 and 1 January 2018. We will be back on Tuesday 2nd January 2018. We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !!! 🤶🏽🎄

BBC News

• Christmas getaway: Travellers warned over 'frantic Friday'Delays are anticipated with Christmas and commuter traffic on the roads, and rail disruptions.
• 'Iconic' blue British passport to return after BrexitThe 'iconic' design will replace the burgundy passports that have been in use for almost 30 years.
• Bombardier row: Unite says ruling 'not unexpected'The US Department of Commerce upholds large tariffs it plans to impose on the import of the C-Series aircraft.
• Crossrail electricians to strike over payIt comes after a new Elizabeth Line map was released to mark a year until the railway's completion.
• Ryanair's German pilots to strike on FridayRyanair pilots in Germany say the strike follows
• Embraer shares take off on Boeing talksEmbraer stock soared more than 20% after the firm said it had held talks with Boeing about a possible deal.

Financial Times

• Boeing in deal talks with Brazil’s EmbraerAcquisition would combine the world’s largest aerospace company with the third largest passenger jet maker
• Brussels approves Lufthansa-Air Berlin mergerGerman rivals allowed to combine after scaling back deal
• Britain braced for transport misery on ‘frantic Friday’Pressure on roads as rail services shut down over festive period
• Ryanair faces first pilot strike as German dispute escalatesUnion prepares ‘warning shot’ with four-hour stoppage after talks break down

The Guardian

• British passports will be navy blue after Brexit says Home OfficeImmigration minister Brandon Lewis says replacing burgundy model with blue design will help ‘restore national identity’British passports issued after October 2019 will be navy blue and gold, replacing the current burgundy model required under EU membership. The British passport is routinely redesigned every five years, and a dark blue version will come into production in autumn next year when the current contract expires, the Home Office has announced. Continue reading...

The Telegraph

• British passports will return to 'iconic' blue cover after Brexit, it is confirmed

Reuters News

• Trump rail safety oversight in focus after Amtrak crashWASHINGTON, Dec 21 (Reuters) - As investigators sift through the wreckage of this week’s Amtrak train crash in Washington state, critics have begun questioning President Donald Trump’s recent efforts to roll back or delay finalizing U.S. rail safety regulations.

Transport Committee

• Cancelled Rail electrification schemes: Secretary of State recalled for evidenceChris Grayling MP has been recalled to the Transport Committee to give further evidence on cancelled rail electrification schemes.

City AM

• London's new electric black cabs are heading to Norway after Amsterdam dealLondon's new electric black cab is heading to its second overseas market: Norway.
• Airlines threaten to withdraw Heathrow expansion support over passenger chargesAirlines including British Airways, EasyJet and Ryanair, are keeping the pressure on Heathrow to maintain passenger charges after expansion, threatening to withdraw support if they are not kept the same or lowered.
• Brits brace for Christmas travel trouble with "Frantic Friday" on the roads ahead of series of rail strikes and station closuresBrits today face the busiest date for travelling on the nation’s roads, at the start of a festive period stacked with travel troubles including rail strikes and numerous station closures.
• Chris Grayling faces further scrutiny by MPs over decision to scrap rail electrification schemesThe transport secretary has been called back before MPs for a further grilling in the New Year on cancelled rail electrification schemes.

The Mirror

• Extra 1.25million people to hit the roads on Frantic Friday for great Christmas getaway with public urged to avoid travelling by car It's likely to be the most heavily congested day of the year

London Evening Standard

• UK to get traditional navy blue passports back after Brexit in bid to 'restore our national identity'Navy blue passports will be issued once more after Britain leaves the EU in 2019, the Home Office has confirmed.
• Christmas travel news: Drivers warned to complete journeys by lunchtime as millions take to roads on 'Frantic Friday'Drivers have been warned of major delays on Friday as millions of people take to the roads in the traditional Christmas getaway.

Wales Online

• The blueprint for Wales' rail revolution must remain secret, Welsh Government says Companies bidding to develop the future of Welsh rail have been given the outline plans but the Welsh Government won't make them public

Buying Business Travel

• Bmi to introduce ninth route from BristolRegional airline will fly to Gothenburg from next month

Aviation Industry

• Ryanair German pilots to strike Dec. 22 in first-ever union actionIrish LCC Ryanair is facing its first-ever pilot strike after German pilot union Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) called for a four-hour walkout on Dec. 22. read more
• Boeing, Embraer confirm tie-up discussions The No. 1 and No. 3 makers of large commercial aircraft, Boeing and Embraer, are in talks to formally align, although the Brazilian government appears to be the main hurdle, the companies and financial analysts said Dec. 21. read more

Other News Sources

• HS2 firm Carillion reaches deferral agreementInfrastructure giant Carillion has struck an agreement with its lenders to defer a crucial financial covenant test, a development that will give the troubled group more breathing space.
• Carbon War Room issues statement following death of Director of Shipping OperationsCarbon War Room, and by extension Rocky Mountain Institute, have issued a statement saying they are “deeply saddened to announce the unexpected and untimely passing of our friend and Director of Shipping Operations, Maurice Meehan, last week.