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

Thursday, 24 May 2018

BBC News

• Northern: Train company 'should lose franchise', say mayorsRail company Northern should lose its franchise if improvements are not made, the mayors of Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region have said.
• Edinburgh Tram Inquiry: Contract was 'poor deal for council'A lawyer representing directors of the tram delivery company Tie said it allowed the contractor to hold the employer to ransom.
• Boris Johnson says he 'probably needs' a private planeThe foreign secretary was asked if he would rather use a private plane over normal flights.
• Grayling: Improving Northern rail 'number one priority'Transport secretary Chris Grayling says he is working with the operator to improve its performance.
• Guided busway plan to link Cheshire and Manchester AirportThree new routes would connect parts of Cheshire and south Manchester with the city's airport.
• RMT members at Northern rail stage 24-hour strikeNorthern has
• The rocket that eats itselfEngineers are testing a rocket that could lift satellites into orbit by burning its own body as fuel.
• Jaguar Land Rover profits fall as sales slowThe UK's biggest car maker reports a drop in profits after slowing sales growth and more business investment.
• Uber ends Arizona driverless car programmeUber pulls out of the state two months after a fatal accident involving one of its autonomous cars.
• Trump administration launches vehicle import probeThe investigation will see if vehicle imports threaten national security, which could lead to tariffs.

The Scotsman

• Mapping the meaning behind Scottish railway station namesRailway stations can tell you a lot about a country, from its economic development to its population centres.

The Telegraph

• Hamburg becomes first German city to ban older diesel vehiclesThe city of Hamburg is to ban older diesel cars from two of its busiest streets next week as it seeks to get rising air pollution under control.

Reuters News

• Go-Ahead upgrades profit after greater efficiency boosts railBritish bus and train company Go-Ahead Group (GOG.L) upgraded its annual forecasts on Thursday, saying that improved efficiency measures on its Southeastern rail contract would boost profit in the year.

City AM

• Uber to offer drivers medical cover and maternity pay as it gears up for decision day on its future in LondonUber is introducing a number of protections for its European drivers including sickness, and maternity and paternity payments, as it gears up for a crunch decision on its future in London.
• Jaguar Land Rover counts the cost of plummeting UK and European demandJaguar Land Rover’s annual earnings fell by a third as Britain’s biggest carmaker counted the cost of plummeting diesel demand in UK and Europe.
• TfL warns of Tube disruption lasting months with Northern and Victoria Lines expected to be extremely busy​Transport for London (TfL) has warned Tube passengers of extensive disruption starting later this week that will last for months due to Northern Line extension work.
• KeolisAmey trumps South Western operator to win £5bn Welsh rail franchiseThe French co-owner Southern rail has won a £5bn Welsh rail franchise, promising the it “would be unrecognisable” in years to come.
• BBA Aviation set to take off with £66m acquisition of fuel firm EPICBBA Aviation has today announced the acquisition of fuel services business EPIC in a deal worth around $88.1m (£66m).
• Southern rail owner in 'contract variation discussions' with the governmentGo-Ahead said today it is in "discussions" with the government over "contractual variations" over the future of its troubled Southern and Thameslink services.

Mail Online

• Female EasyJet pilot claps back at male passengers' sexist comments Charlotte Knowlson, a female pilot for EasyJet, posted that she was 'baffled' over the rude remarks made by two men.
• Hamburg bans diesel cars from two main roads Hamburg's local government said the ban, starting May 31, applied to diesel models that did not meet the latest Euro-6 emissions standards with fines of €25 for cars and €75 for trucks.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Canals could improve the wellbeing of million of people, research findsTHE Canal & River Trust says waterways can play a major part in improving the wellbeing of the nation.
• Bus drivers organise silent disco for the deafA SPECIAL
• Cycle networks in Bradford could be improved as national review begins KEY cycling routes in the district are to be part of a major review of the National Cycle Network by charity Sustrans.

London Evening Standard

• TfL rethink on English language tests for minicab driversNew rules forcing private-hire drivers in London to prove their English language skills are set for a rethink.
• EasyJet pilot reveals shocking sexist comments she receives from passengersOne passenger said:
• Revealed: Long-forgotten Tube map from 1946 shows how London Underground could have looked in a parallel universeA remarkable map has revealed how the London Underground could have looked if long-forgotten plans drawn up after the Second World War had come to fruition.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Labour attempts to cut Transport Secretary's pay as punishment for East Coast Main Line failureThe Labour motion is defeated as Conservative MPs rally round Transport Secretary Chris Grayling

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Mearns community bus appeals for groups to ‘use it or lose it’The operators of an Aberdeenshire community bus have urged groups to get on board with plans to help protect its future.

The York Press

• £30k for York tech trial which could help drivers avoid red lights A YORK road will be used to test ground-breaking new technology which would tell drivers how to avoid red lights.

Yorkshire Post

• New questions for Chris Grayling on Carillion HS2 connection to add to his woesTHE tricky questions keep mounting for Chris Grayling who is enduring another torrid week as Transport Secretary when, frankly, he should have resigned – or been sacked – long ago.

Kent Online

• Live Southeastern updates after stolen signalling cables cause chaos on the train tracks between Sheerness and SittingbourneTrain services have been severely disrupted this morning (May 24) after the theft of signalling cables in Queenborough overnight.

Other Regional Press

• 'Cancelled trains, lack of seats and fewer peak services'Cancelled trains, lack of seats and fewer peak time services were just some of the concerns raised at a meeting of Hertfordshire County Council on Tuesday (May 22).

Rail Technology Magazine

• How two-way radio can boost worker safetyADVERTISEMENT FEATURE Brentwood Communications explains why two-way radio technology remains the first-choice workplace tool across all industries, especially in one as high-risk as rail. By its very nature, the rail industry is one of the most high-risk sectors of the economy when it...
• KeolisAmey JV awarded Wales and Borders franchise dealThe Welsh Government is to award the contract to operate the new Wales and Borders franchise and the South Wales Metro to KeolisAmey, it has announced. Following the completion of a 10-day standstill period, the contract will run from 4 June this year until 14 October 2033, with rail services...
• RAIB: Driver nearly hit by train due to miscommunication in StaffordA misunderstanding between a signaller and a driver led to the driver narrowly avoiding being struck by a train, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has found. On 2 March 2018, the 12:35hrs Manchester to London Euston passenger service came to a stop on the Up Stafford Fast line due to...
• Bromham Road Bridge rebuild plans revised following community feedbackNetwork Rail has updated its proposals for the reconstruction of Bromham Road Bridge as part of the Midland Main Line Upgrade. The work will allow all of the railway lines through Bedford to be electrified. Since the first meeting of the formal consultation, which began on 10 April, Network...
• Grayling promises to tackle Northern failures with clear performance planThe government has outlined formal plans to improve the poor-performing Northern Rail, transport secretary Chris Grayling announced today. Improving driver recruitment and ensuring there are enough to cover demand, increasing driver training on new routes, introducing additional contingency...

Aviation Industry

• Airbus changes A350, A380 loan programs to comply with WTO rulesAirbus and its four home countries—France, Germany, Spain and the UK—have made changes to reimbursable launch investment loans that they believe will bring the aid in compliance with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. read more
• Lufthansa Group joins basic economy fare trendLufthansa Group network airlines will introduce an “Economy Lightâ€� fare on routes to North America for the summer 2018 season. read more
• Airlines eye retiring older aircraft if fuel costs continue to riseRising fuel prices may ground some older aircraft if airlines cut capacity, but most are putting off the decisions until after the peak summer season. read more
• Thomas Cook to replace Condor’s aging long-haul fleet European leisure group Thomas Cook will decide on the renewal of its long-haul fleet before the end of the year. read more
• Allegiant takes first US-built A320; begins All-Airbus fleet transitionLas Vegas, Nevada-based ULCC Allegiant Air has taken delivery of its first US-produced Airbus A320 aircraft from the Airbus’s US manufacturing facility in Mobile, Alabama. read more

Other News Sources

• ‘World’s largest’ EV charging network for UKPivot Power aims to have operational batteries at 10 sites within 18 months
• Campaigner says new cycle path should not damage riverside vegetationA SEMI-RETIRED carer is urging county council contractors to leave vegetation in place when they create a new widened cycle track.
• Heathrow Southern Railway Appoints New Chief ExecutiveHaving joined the company in 2017 to work alongside Steve Costello as a co-Executive Director, Mr Cross has been promoted in order to clearly lead the next stages for the £1.3 billion Heathrow Southern Railway project.
• CAMMELL LAIRD TO RAMP UP HEATHROW HUB BIDBirkenhead-based Cammell Laird will ramp up its campaign to win a share of the £16bn contract to support the expansion of Heathrow Airport, following a delegation visit to assess its bid.
• This train service is the one of the worst in Leeds for delays and cancellationsA train service which has routes through Leeds has been revealed as one of the worst. One in every 14 Virgin Trains East Coast (Vtec) services has been cancelled or significantly late in the past two years - one of the highest rates of any route in Britain.
• Tim Shaw to lead Kier Group and Network Rail JVCarter Jonas partner Tim Shaw has been appointed to head up the Solum joint venture between Kier Group and Network Rail, which is developing around railway stations in London and the South East.
• MP stresses the crucial nature of a good rail service for Berwick Politicians have sought and received assurances that services for Berwick rail passengers will not be affected by franchise changes.