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

Wednesday, 02 May 2018

BBC News

• 'I was stranded on a train in a wheelchair'... As train passengers departed I waited patiently, but no one came. Once it became clear that I had been forgotten, I was struck not by fear, but rather a familiar sense of frustrated resignation - taunted by the small yet insurmountable gap between the train and the platform.
• UK's most polluted towns and cities revealedAreas above the limit include London and Manchester, with the Welsh town Port Talbot the worst.
• Trains could soon run 24 hours a day across network - rail bossA rail boss says more services in Britain may run around the clock in the
• Is Tesla heading for trouble?Elon Musk's electric car company is spending $6,500 a minute - despite a $10bn debt mountain.

The Guardian

• Brighton and Hove council turns down Uber licence renewalBrighton and Hove has become the third British city to reject Uber, after the council decided not to renew the firm’s licence to operate private hire cars.
• Tree-cutting helps the trains run on time and is vital for safetyNetwork Rail’s Kevin Groves defends the company’s practice, but other readers deplore the loss of ‘green corridors’

Times Online

• The Times’s transport manifesto: how to end road and rail misery [Subscription]The Times spoke to politicians, industry experts, passenger groups and motorists as part of our series on the challenges facing transport. Here are some of their ideas to address the issues we’ve raised.
• Litter causes delays for London commuters [Subscription]Litter discarded in London Underground stations and trains has led to more than 120 hours of delays to services over the past three years, The Times has learnt.
• Electrifying rail network is waste of money, says minister [Subscription]A national programme of electrifying all Britain’s major railway lines would be a waste of money, the rail minister has said. Jo Johnson effectively ruled out electrification despite claims from MPs that it was the best way to cut pollution and deliver more reliable journeys.
• Travel misery is price of progress, says transport secretary Chris Grayling [Subscription]Commuters should expect to put up with short-term pain as the price for hauling Britain’s road and rail network into the 21st century, according to the transport secretary.
• Businessman Stephen Winyard donates thousands to fix potholes [Subscription]A businessman has given £10,000 to his local council to fix the potholes and pavements in his home town.
• Treatment of officers in merger ‘disgusting’ [Subscription]British Transport Police officers are being “abandoned” in the merger with Police Scotland, MSPs have been told.
• BMW failed to act over safety fears on new cars [Subscription]Firm was warned before fatal crash, inquest told

City AM

• Sir Richard Branson plans to deliver freight 'at the speed of flight' in Virgin Hyperloop One tie-up with DP WorldSir Richard Branson has pledged to deliver freight "at the speed of flight" and closer to the cost of trucking in a new hyperloop tie-up with DP World for a delivery on-demand service.
• Train operator promises no more 'ironing board' seats for passengers on its new trainsGreater Anglia today promised passengers won't be suffering "ironing board" seats on new trains being rolled out next year.
• Ranked: The best value airlines for short-haul flights on everything from baggage charges to ticket pricesAs the low-cost carrier battle continues to heat up, Skyscanner has assessed which short-haul airlines operating in the UK offer the best value for passengers.
• Uber suffers further blow as Brighton rejects application to renew its licence in the cityUber has suffered another blow to its operations after its application to renew its licence in Brighton was unanimously rejected by the council.

London Evening Standard

• Trains will soon run 24 hours a day across Britain, Network Rail boss saysTrains could soon be running around the clock across Britain amid demands for modernised rail services, the chief executive of Network Rail has said.
• Fascinating map charts Crossrail route beneath London through tiny changes in ground levels caused by tunnellingA fascinating map detailing ground levels in central London has charted Crossrail's route beneath the city.

Nottingham Evening Post

• Campaigners plan walk along route of HS2 to 'highlight chaos and destruction'Their walk will take them roughly six miles from Trowell to the Trent

Blackpool Gazette

• Blackpool's rail route at centre of training row Unions have blamed train operator Northern for the low number of services operating when the Blackpool North line re-opened.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Stansted chief welcomes 'strong show of support' for controversial airport expansion plansStansted airport’s chief has welcomed “a strong show of support” for controversial plans to expand it using its existing runway.

Other Regional Press

• MP takes Magor railway station fight to ParliamentA CAMPAIGN for a new train station in Magor has been discussed in Parliament.
• COLUMN: On Yer Bike - cyclists are treated like ex-smokers used to be I’M STARTING to see the treatment of cyclists and pedestrians like that of non-smokers in years gone by. Everything was designed for smokers, everyone was forced to inhale their fumes because it was their “rightâ€� to smoke. Then we started to see things differently. We changed.

Rail Advent

• £500,000 ‘Signalling Centre’ to be opened at the Didcot Railway CentreThe Didcot Railway Centre will be officially opening their new Signalling Centre on the 23rd June 2018.

Rail Magazine

• ScotRail hires in Class 365s for Glasgow-Edinburgh routeThree Class 365s have been leased by ScotRail, with more to follow. They will be used on an interim basis on the Edinburgh-Glasgow Queen Street via Falkirk High route while windscreen modifications are made to Class 385s.
• Minister claims hydrogen train on trial in UKRail Minister Jo Johnson told the Transport Select Committee on April 30 that a hydrogen train was on trial in the Lake District.

Rail Technology Magazine

• A chance to rebuild trust The rail industry has a major trust problem, with passengers finding it difficult to navigate compensation claims after they suffer through delays and unreliable services. But Alex Hayman, Which? managing director of public markets, says smart ticketing could be the solution. The rail industry...
• Rail boss signals for 24-hour trains running across UK in the futureThe nation’s railways could soon be running for 24-hours a day, according to the head of Network Rail. In an interview with the Times, Mark Carne, who plans to stand down as chief executive of the government-funded company in the summer, argued the move was part of a modernisation in...
• How northern powerhouse rail is gaining momentum There has already been great progress in developing and improving pan-northern transport, but future prospects for growth will be even more transformational, argues Henri Murison, director of Northern Powerhouse Partnership. Commuters struggling to get to work, families choosing to drive...
• Rail freight chiefs will have a say in passenger consultationsBosses of freight companies around the U.K will be permitted to offer their opinions during passenger consultations in an effort to promote a positive relationship between freight operators and the public, a government transport chief has said. Speaking at the Rail Freight Group Conference last...
• Running the new train marathon Source: RTM April/May 2018  Andy Rogers, IEP programme director at Hitachi Rail Europe, provides a snapshot of the progress being made in building and delivering brand-new trains for the Great Western and East Coast main lines. One of my team described delivering the Intercity Express...
• Significantly larger than previously thought Source: RTM April/May 2018 Darren Caplan, (pictured) chief executive at the Railway Industry Association (RIA), reports on a recent study which revealed that the rail industry contributes significantly more to UK plc than previously imagined. The RIA and a number of its members recently...

Railway Gazette

• Infrastructure specialists converge on InfrarailMore than 200 companies from across Europe will be participating in the Infrarail 2018 exhibition...

Aviation Industry

• Austrian Airlines agrees to new collective wage contractLufthansa subsidiary Austrian Airlines has agreed to a new collective wage accord for flight attendants and pilots that spells out salary increases and flexible flight duty regulations through 2021. read more
• US DOT advances authorization of UAV delivery operationsThe US Department of Transportation will use its exemption authority to issue certificates to operators of small unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAVs) seeking to transport goods for compensation, a procedural step toward allowing delivery drones. read more
• Boeing to acquire aerospace parts firm KLX for $4.25 billionBoeing has struck a $4.25 billion deal to acquire Miami-headquartered aircraft parts distribution, composites and aftermarket supplier KLX Inc.’s Aerospace Solutions Group, marking a further move into the value chain. read more
• Emirates temporarily grounds aircraft to optimize operationsEmirates Airline has temporarily grounded some aircraft to optimize operations as demand slows and fewer flight crew are available. read more

Other News Sources

• Heathrow Within ‘Touching Distance’ of Approval for Third RunwayLondon’s Heathrow airport is putting the champagne on ice in anticipation of final approval for the new runway it’s been seeking for decades after a poll showed the plan has the overwhelming backing of lawmakers.
• Detailed plans submitted for St Albans Rail FreightThe community is once again uniting against plans for a St Albans Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI).
• Don’t forget buses: six rules for improving city bus servicesPublic transport that is safe, efficient and effective is a core priority when it comes to city-building. While trains get a lot of attention, buses can also deliver successful public transport services – if we can overcome some common problems.
• Uber licence revoked in Brighton and Hove Uber's licence to operate in the city has been revoked.