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

Wednesday, 23 May 2018

BBC News

• Laser pen attacks on planes landing at Birmingham AirportA spate of laser pen attacks on aircraft landing at Birmingham Airport is being investigated by police.
• Keolis/Amey wins £5bn Wales rail contractA joint venture between France's Keolis and Spanish-owned Amey has won the £5bn contract to run Wales' rail services for the next 15 years.
• Pontypridd rail passengers on commute squeezeRail passengers from Pontypridd to Cardiff say what they want to see improved.
• London-style fare zones approach planned for Manchester's MetrolinkFour new zones could be introduced if Transport for Greater Manchester's London-style plans are introduced.

Financial Times

• The one airport in the world that puts a spring in my stepSingapore’s Changi has been voted the world’s best six years running — so why do I remember so little of it?

The Guardian

• Northern rail disruption continues amid driver shortageDozens of trains cancelled on key routes as strike threatens to cause more problems
• Is the railway timetable change on the right track for passengers?Last Sunday saw the biggest timetable change in a generation, but your report (Passengers voice anger over timetable shake-up, Money, 19 May) is wrong – many will benefit from the change.

Times Online

• Taxi scandal: old legislation lets villains slip through net [Subscription]The primary aim of taxi licensing is to protect the public but inadequate regulation has made it far too easy for dangerous men to slip through the net and a recent surge in “cross-border” hiring has increased the vulnerability of passengers.
• Below our feet, a new labyrinth takes shape [subscription]On Thursday I visited what seemed to me an almost secret project. Most of my Times colleagues reach our London Bridge offices on the Tube, many passing through or changing at Bank station. Little do they know that literally a few feet from their platforms a vast new labyrinth is being chopped and scooped from the London clay, a hundred feet below City streets.

The Mirror

• Labour call vote of no confidence in failing Grayling over disastrous handling of East Coast railLast week Grayling told MPs the flailing rail franchise will be brought back under state control within weeks and given a new name after it had to be scrapped three times in a decade.

Belfast Telegraph

• French-Spanish venture wins contract to run Welsh rail servicesA joint venture between French and Spanish companies has been given a contract to run rail services in Wales.

Birmingham Mail

• This Birmingham train service has been named and shamed one of most delayed in UKAround one in every 17 Virgin trains between Birmingham and Scotland has been cancelled or significantly late in the past two years - one of the highest rates of any route in Britain.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• What's happening at Bradford Interchange - and how long the work will last WORK to improve access at the main entrance to Bradford Interchange for its nine million passengers has begun.
• Anger as smash and dash yobs target five cars at rail station FIVE cars had their windows smashed over the weekend at a railway station car park that has been a hotspot for vehicle crime since it opened in 2015.

Bristol Live

• New payment method launched for Wessex Bus passengers in BristolPassengers on Bristol’s ’second’ bus service now have an easy way to pay for tickets when they get on the bus.

London Evening Standard

• TfL Tube delays: Victoria Line signal failure sparks London Underground disruptionCommuters faced major disruption this morning as a signal failure sparked severe delays on the Victoria line.
• Motorist stuck in C-charge nightmare as TfL cameras mistake bus for his MercedesA motorist has been wrongly charged thousands of pounds in congestion charges — because Transport for London cameras keep mistaking a bus for his car.
• New train timetable: Thameslink rail commuters suffer second day of disruption due to 'disastrous' changesRail commuters have suffered a second day of disruption on Govia Thameslink services in the wake of the operator's major timetable shake-up.

Wales Online

• KeolisAmey win new Wales & Borders rail franchise bidThe biggest ever contract awarded in Wales worth billions of pounds to run the trains and deliver the next phase of the Metro project has gone to KeolisAmey.

Bucks Free Press

• County's transport service handed award for 'effective management' of road repairs Bucks’ transport services has been recognised for its “effective and efficient” management of road and footpath repairs in the county.

Other Regional Press

• Rail groups coupling together to revive electrification proposals Rail user groups have joined together in a grass-roots campaign to revive plans for railway electrification across the North of England
• Borders Railway bosses vow to raise their game Fewer than half of Borders Railway services to Tweedbank arrive on time, latest figures reveal.
• KeolisAmey handed Wales and Borders rail franchiseKeolisAmey has been handed Wales and Borders rail franchise and the South Wales Metro.
• KeolisAmey handed new Wales and Borders rail franchiseKeolisAmey has been handed Wales and Borders rail franchise and the South Wales Metro.

New Civil Engineer

• Heathrow Southern Rail appoints CEOHeathrow Southern Rail (HSRL) has promoted current co-executive director Graham Cross to the role of chief executive.
• KeolisAmey wins £5bn South Wales Metro worksKeolisAmey has won the £5bn contract to construct the South Wales Metro and operate the Wales and Borders franchise.

Railnews

• Winner of Welsh franchise announcedBREAKING: A consortium of Amey and Keolis has won the new Wales & Borders franchise.

Aviation Industry

• UK regional bmi names new managing directorUK regional carrier bmi has created a new managing director position and appointed Tim Shattock to the role. read more
• Ryanair open to further acquisitionsRyanair CEO Michael O’Leary is expecting to see further European airline consolidation through winter 2018, as higher fuel prices begin to bite, creating potential opportunities for the Irish LCC. read more

Other News Sources

• CIO interview: Cathal Corcoran, Gatwick AirportComputer Weekly speaks to Gatwick Airport’s CIO about a major network upgrade, which will support future expansion and boost its IT services
• Villagers disappointed over traffic lightsVillagers have expressed their disappointment after a trial for four sets of traffic lights on a medieval high street was approved.