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

Thursday, 10 May 2018

BBC News

• ScotRail confirms high-speed plan delaysNot all trains on the main Glasgow to Edinburgh line will run in 42 minutes - as has been promised - until next year.
• RMT members at Northern Rail and Greater Anglia strikeThe industrial action over the role of guards is hitting Northern and Greater Anglia services.
• Alpha collapse: London cab drivers race to reinsureAlpha, which insured hundreds of London taxi drivers, went bust on Tuesday.
• Brexit to 'force work on Galileo sat-nav system out of UK'An Airbus executive says future UK work on the Galileo sat-nav system would have to be moved to the continent because of Brexit.
• BMW recalls 300,000 cars that risk stalling completelyThe BBC's Watchdog discovers a fault that causes some vehicles to shut down while being driven.
• Digital revolution signals faster trainsNetwork Rail says a five-year scheme to replace ageing signalling marks a turning point for the UK.

Department for Transport

• Digital rail revolution will reduce overcrowding and cut delaysTrains will become faster, more frequent, more punctual and safer through the introduction of new digital technology on the rail network.

The Guardian

• Revealed: Network Rail's new £800m scheme to remove all 'leaf fall' treesExclusive: five-year ‘enhanced clearance’ programme targets trees along 20,000 miles of track to avoid delays, according to an internal document
• Railway stations should be for catching trains not shoppingWho on earth were those 92% who so admired the rebuilt Reading and Birmingham New Street railway stations

The Herald

• Fresh delays to faster journeys on Scotland's £742 million upgraded flagship railwayFASTER journey times on the flagship Edinburgh to Glasgow railway will not come into widespread force until next year at the earliest despite an upgrade costing nearly £800 million, ScotRail's boss has said.

The Scotsman

• New fleet of Scotrail trains delayed and firm misses punctuality targetsThe ScotRail Alliance has admitted further delays to its train improvements as its punctuality fell for the eighth month in a row.

Times Online

• Rolls cost-cutter a victim of his own success [Subscription]The chief operating officer of Rolls-Royce is leaving only 19 months after he was hired with great fanfare to help stop the group’s financial slump.
• Rail review of ‘rip-off’ passenger fares [Letters] [Subscription]Sir, Your report “New curbs for rip-off rail fares” (May 8) highlights Rail Delivery Group’s assertion that privatised train operating companies (TOCs) are reforming fares because it is increasingly difficult to guarantee the right fare. A
• Network Rail under scrutiny for felling trackside trees [Subscription]The government has ordered a review of Network Rail after complaints that it is chopping down too many trees and harming wildlife.
• Digital signalling overhaul will cut delays [subscription]The number of trains will increase by up to a third under plans to replace Victorian-style signals with digital technology.
• BMW recalls 300,000 cars over potentially lethal fault [subscription]BMW is to recall hundreds of thousands of cars with a potentially lethal fault from Irish and British roads after The Times revealed that it had failed to act until a former soldier died in a crash.

City AM

• Rail upgrades will keep London moving up: Why London Bridge's re-opening is just the beginning - Jo Johnson MPLondon has, and always will be, a city that is constantly on the move.
• Toyota forecasts drop in profits for year ahead despite positive 2018Toyota warned today that despite posting an upsurge in net profit of 2.5 trillion yen (£17bn), it did not expect the coming financial year to be as positive due to currency fluctuations.
• Businesses and unions come out in support for Heathrow third runway as parliament vote nearsBusiness and union representatives have urged politicians to "crack on" with delivering the expansion of Heathrow airport as the countdown to the vote on the issue draws to an end.
• Rolls-Royce operations head Simon Kirby set to leave in summer after only 19 months in roleRolls-Royce has announced the first high-ranking casualty in its boardroom, as it was revealed that chief operating officer Simon Kirby would leave the company this summer.

Bolton News

• BMW recalls 300,000 vehicles — have you been affected?BMW has issued a recall of more than 300,000 vehicles after reports that some could cut out while they are being driven.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Rail passengers hit by fresh strike in bitter dispute over role of guards Workers at two rail companies are said to be solidly supporting a fresh strike in the bitter dispute over the role of guards on trains.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Gordon Dewar: MSPs back Heathrow ‘monopoly’ that harms Scottish airportsThe Scottish Government made a mistake when it supported Heathrow’s third runway, which will create a “huge monopoly” in the South East and undermine Scotland’s airports, writes Edinburgh Airport chief executive Gordon Dewar.

London Evening Standard

• Trains to go digital in bid to bring UK's Victorian-era rail network up to speed All new trains and rail signalling will be made digital in a bid to reduce overcrowding, cut delays and upgrade the UK's Victorian-era transport network.
• Petrol pump charge: The £99 pay at the pump fuel fee explained Petrol pumps at supermarkets are set to start charging drivers up to £99 to pay at the pump.

Other Regional Press

• Hitchin commuters’ petition against ‘nightmare’ rail timetable“It’s a nightmare” – that’s the verdict from Hitchin commuters who have launched a petition against a new rail timetable, with more than 1,100 signatures so far.

Construction Enquirer

• Network Rail unveils Heathrow western rail link planNetwork Rail is preparing for final consultation for a new direct rail link from the West to Heathrow to improve journeys to Britain’s busiest airport.

Rail Technology Magazine

• CAF opens new storage and train overhaul facility in ManchesterCAF Rail UK has opened a new multi-purpose component overhaul and storage facility in Stockport to support its growing operations in the UK.

Aviation Industry

• Aircraft manufacturers expect to lose Iran ordersAirbus expects to be bound by the Trump administration’s new prohibitions against selling US aircraft and parts to Iran even if Europe maintains a more business-friendly approach to the Persian Gulf nation, a top executive said. read more
• Boeing insists on level playing field with Airbus in Iran developmentsBoeing chief executive Dennis Muilenburg has said making sure Airbus and Boeing are held to the same requirements or given the same opportunities in any Iranian aircraft sales will be the top priority now that President Donald Trump is withdrawing from the Iranian nuclear deal. read more

Other News Sources

• Rail fares need to be dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st centuryThis week’s announcement that Britain’s rail industry is finally looking at its archaic fares structure is welcome – but way overdue!
• North Yorkshire service in the running to be Britain's Most Scenic Bus RouteA North Yorkshire bus route is in the running to be named Britain's most scenic route.
• Gatwick Airport train station labelled 'embarrassment' after it's named second least popular 'major' UK stationThe results of the survey came two days after rail replacement bus services were overwhelmed, causing travel misery for hundreds
• HS2 could hurt south Wales, claims ministerTHE HS2 high-speed rail project could have “an adverse impact on the economy of south Wales”, the Welsh Government’s transport boss has said.