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

Thursday, 18 January 2018

BBC News

• France scraps controversial Nantes airport proposalFrance has scrapped a controversial project to build an airport near the western city of Nantes, saying it did not have broad popular support.
• Public transport and education to get funding boostEducation and public transport are to benefit from the reallocation of money across Stormont departments.
• Heathrow third runway: M25 'could be moved to make room'The airport's owners say they could lower the motorway into a tunnel with the runway over the top.
• 'Landmark' deal for 25,000 London bus driversUnder the scheme, bus drivers will remain on the same pay grade if they move to another company.
• Most new cars must be electric by 2030, ministers toldThree-fifths of new cars must be electric by 2030 to meet climate change targets, ministers are told.
• Government reassures over supplier InterserveShares in the construction and services firm fell after reports it is under special government scrutiny.
• Bonuses for Carillion bosses are blockedFormer executives at the failed construction firm will not get severance payments or bonuses.
• Wales rail franchise bidder seeks Carillion replacementA competitor for the next Wales and Borders rail franchise is trying to save its bid after the collapse of construction and public services contractor Carillion.

Financial Times

• Finance watchdog exposes lost PFI billionsNational Audit Office increases pressure on private sector in wake of Carillion collapse

The Guardian

• Norway aims for all short-haul flights to be 100% electric by 2040It already has more electric cars than any other country in the world and also has shipping projects underway All of Norway’s short-haul airliners should be entirely electric by 2040, the country’s airport operator said on Wednesday, cementing the Nordic nation’s role as a pioneer in the field of electric transport.Avinor, the public operator of Norwegian airports, “aims to be the first in the world” to make the switch to electric air transport, chief executive Dag Falk-Petersen said. Continue reading...

The Herald

• Rail survey results are meainglessANOTHER raft of figures ("ScotRail ranks bottom of poll on satisfaction for passengers", The Herald, January 16) is delivered to our beleaguered railway system. As with all such mathematical equations to meet so-called targets (the same bedevils the NHS) they are, by and large, meaningless.

The Telegraph

• Chris Grayling: Delivery of HS2 will not be delayed by collapse of Carillion

Times Online

• Spaces for 40,000 cars under Heathrow’s ’green’ expansion [Subscription]The biggest car parks in the world could be built at Heathrow under plans for a third runway, despite a pledge to clampdown on motor traffic to the airport.

Reuters News

• May pressured to safeguard jobs after Carillion's collapseLONDON (Reuters) - Britain needs to allow more time for firms to take on 8,500 workers whose jobs are threatened by the demise of Carillion, unions said on Wednesday, as Prime Minister Theresa May faced criticism for the way the government outsources public services.

City AM

• Boeing turns its hand to plane seats with launch of joint venture Adient AerospaceAerospace giant Boeing has announced the formation of a joint venture, Adient Aerospace, to manufacture and sell seats to airlines and aircraft leasing firms.
• Mayor Sadiq Khan unveils London Licence to safeguard pay for bus drivers when they switch firmsSadiq Khan today unveiled a new "Licence for London" to ensure bus drivers can switch companies at a pay grade equivalent to their level of service and experience.

Bolton News

• Carillion collapse will 'certainly' impact on rail electrification project, transport chief warnsTHE collapse of construction giant Carillion will ‘certainly have some impact’ on electrification of the rail line through Bolton, the borough’s transport chief has warned.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Bus firm was 'operating without a licence' when it took primary schoolchildren to swimming, tribunal hears Express Motors in Gwynedd transported Ysgol Beddgelert pupils to lessons in Porthmadog after its licence was revoked, Traffic Commissioner told

London Evening Standard

• TfL accused of failing to tell passengers about 'second Northern line' run by rival firmTransport for London was today accused of failing to inform passengers about a "second Northern line" through central London because it will be operated by a rival firm.
• 'Carillion directors' bonus payments stopped' after Theresa May suggests fat cat bosses be made to pay for collapseBonus payments to Carillion directors and former executives at the collapsed construction giant have been stopped.
• London Tube and Overground delays: Commuters face disruption on TfL network as capital hit by strong windsCommuters are facing a morning of travel disruption on the Tube and London Overground after the capital was hit by ferocious winds.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Ever wondered how Newcastle Airport keeps planes flying in snow? Bosses say they are ready for chillWith an amber warning for snow issued for the North East, Newcastle International Airport's snow plan will come into force on Wednesday night

Wales Online

• Abellio gives update on its Metro and Wales and Borders franchise bid following collapse of CarillionDutch transport giant Abellio has given an update on the status of its bid to build the next phase of the south Wales Metro and run the next Wales & Borders rail franchise.

Other Regional Press

• Exeter City Council has just backtracked on the bus station closure againIt was meant to permanently shut at the end of February
• High Peak MP: rail users ’fed up’ with price hikes and poor service High Peak MP Ruth George has branded the current rail franchising model “a licence to print money and rip off commuters”....
• Rail line 'could reopen by 2020'The Heath Rail Link have been given permission by Network Rail to lease the line and trains could resume running by 2020

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Heathrow expansion gathers momentum as consultation takes off The planning process for Heathrow expansion is now firmly underway, as the airport launches what is set to be one of the largest public consultations in the country’s history. Heathrow’s consultation is a major milestone in delivering an expanded airport -  Europe’s largest privately funded infrastructure project, and the best way to keep the UK connected to global growth.   For the next ten weeks, Heathrow will seek views on how to shape its plans so it can deliver the huge opportunities of expansion while keeping to the promises it has made to local commun...
• Maersk and IBM to form joint venture applying blockchain Moller – Maersk and IBM have announced their intent to establish a joint venture to provide more efficient and secure methods for conducting global trade using blockchain technology. The aim of the new company will be to offer a jointly developed global trade digitization platform built on open standards and designed for use by the entire global shipping ecosystem. It will address the need to provide more transparency and simplicity in the movement of goods across borders and trading zones. The cost and size of the world’s trading ecosystems continues to grow in complexity. More...
• Enhancing infrastructure must be top of the agenda to make Brexit a success, says CILT CILT welcomes the National Infrastructure Commission’s (NIC) consultation on developing its National Infrastructure Assessment. In response to the NIC consultation, CILT proposes: increased devolution of power, increased investment in ports, and an increased understanding of supply chains to inform National Infrastructure choices. CILT recommends the NIC must take a holistic approach in considering how to deliver its aims, ensuring: the widest possible benefits to all sections of society are felt; changes in the way people use transport are promoted to enable cities and transport netw...
• Bus operator Rosso officially joins the Transdev family Exciting plans for a multi-million-pound investment in new and better buses, great value tickets which go further for less, and up-to-the-minute technology delivering live departure times, instant journey planning and easy-to-use mobile tickets – just some of the headline improvements on the way for customers in the Rossendale, Bury and Rochdale areas as bus company Rosso joins the Transdev family. ...

New Civil Engineer

• Heathrow scraps runway bridge planHeathrow has revealed its thinking behind the three options put forward for the new north-west runway, which show the runway will not bridge the M25 at its existing level.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Strike action on GTR has cost taxpayers £22m to dateIndustrial action on Southern, Great Northern and Thameslink services to date has cost £22.2m in losses to the farebox, the government has this week revealed. Jointly run under the GTR franchise, the loss was disclosed by rail minister Paul Maynard in parliament in an answer to a question...
• Cardiff Central set for upgrade in £180m transport hub redevelopmentCardiff Central station could be involved in major redevelopment work as plans to redevelop the city’s transport hub are set to be agreed. The deal was agreed in principle today by the Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) – a group responsible for devolution plans in the Welsh capital. It...
• TfN reveals Northern Powerhouse Rail plans in £70bn strategyTransport for the North (TfN) has published its long-awaited Strategic Transport Plan which includes plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), a network connecting the north’s six biggest cities. Stretching from Liverpool to Hull, the new network would include a new line running between...
• First of new £100m Caledonian Sleeper carriages arrive in UKCaledonian Sleeper has received the first carriages of its new £100m fleet, which arrived in the UK this week. The fleet consists of 75 new carriages to be introduced in phases from October, with five of them arriving for testing on the outskirts of Glasgow ready to be fitted-out...
• Nottingham tram operator records losses of £48m following network expansionThe operator of Nottingham’s tram network has recorded huge losses that grew from £15m to £48.5m in the year to 31 March 2017. In accounts released today by Tramlink Nottingham, it was found that the company recorded the loss despite turnover increasing from £44.5m to...

Railnews

• Funding earmarked for ˜critical™ South Wales Metro project Funding worth £40 million has been agreed in principle by the Cabinet of the Cardiff City Region to provide a new transport interchange at Cardiff Central station. A meeting of the CCR Cabinet in Nantgarw considered a report from Cardiff City Council Leader Councillor Huw Thomas which outlined the plans, as well as a request for the funding of £40million. Mr Thomas said improvements at Cardiff Central are 'compelling and urgent'.

Aviation Industry

• Heathrow public consultation can’t resolve air quality and climate change barriers to expansionHeathrow Airport has launched a public consultation on its proposed expansion and airspace change principals. The consultation, which opened today, remains open until 28th March 2018. Below is AEF’s reaction.
• No progress on closing aviation emissions policy gap says CCC, on the day Heathrow launches third runway consultationThe CCC's review of the Government’s Clean Growth plan is out. And the verdict? While ambitious in tone, it's riddled with policy gaps. And yet again, aviation is on the list of sectors needing urgent attention. The report, An independent …
• Boeing, Adient form airline seat joint ventureBoeing and automotive seat maker Adient have formed a joint venture (JV) to develop and make airline seats, the companies announced late Jan. 16. read more
• Alitalia administrators need more time to begin exclusive bidder talks Alitalia's special administrators need more time before beginning exclusive negotiations with a potential buyer for the bankrupt airline, Italy's economic development and infrastructure and transport ministries said in a joint statement after a meeting with the administrators. read more
• China allows passengers to use mobile phones in flight modeChina Eastern Airlines and Hainan Airlines on Jan.17 became the first Chinese carriers to let passengers use mobile phones in flight mode. read more
• Ryanair launches 10 new routes in France; plans new French basesRyanair launched 10 new French routes for its winter schedule and said that with discussions with French regional airports underway, it hoped to have aircraft based in France by winter 2018 or summer 2019. read more

Other News Sources

• Campaign calls on Virgin Trains to create ’Startup RailCard’ for cheaper travelLed by Young Gun and co-founder of Social Chain Steven Bartlett, entrepreneurs can sign an online petition to support the initiative
• Arriva Trains Wales begin selling re-usable travel mugsArriva Trains Wales has announced that they are to start serving their refreshments in passengers own reusable hot drinks cups.
• Exclusive - Japan in driver's seat for Indian bullet train dealsNEW DELHI/TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese steel and engineering companies are in the driver’s seat to bag major supply contracts for a $17 billion (£12.2 billion) Indian bullet train, several sources said, undermining a key component of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s economic policy - a push to ’Make in India’.
• Passengers: 'Give us more carriages on the Crewe-Derby rail line'Transport Secretary Chris Grayling is visiting North Staffordshire today to discuss the problems