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

Thursday, 12 July 2018

BBC News

• Network Rail gives no date for Cardiff electrificationAn expert says it is because Network Rail is 'at the behest' of changing policy
• Apple employee 'stole driverless car secrets'An engineer is accused of stealing databases and hardware, and trying to flee to China.
• More refunds for Northern rail delay-hit passengersAdditional compensation for people affected by disruption in the North of England is announced.
• Cabbies' go-slow demo over Manchester Airport rank relocationHackney carriage drivers say moving a taxi stand will affect disabled passengers.
• Electric carmaker Tesla to build factory in ShanghaiTesla's move comes as the US-China trade war heats up.
• Govia Thameslink boss in first class rowAngry passenger criticises train company manager for telling commuters to leave first class cabin.
• Ryanair cancels 30 flights as pilots strike in IrelandThe airline is facing its first strike in Ireland since recognising unions in its home market.

The Guardian

• The future will be dockless: could a city really run on 'floating transport'?Last week, London-based transportation app Citymapper coined a new phrase: “floating transport”. “It has no set stops or infrastructure,” the company explained, “and it’s filling a mobility gap in our cities.”
• Uber's head of HR resigns amid allegations of racial discriminationLiane Hornsey resigned in an email to staff after just 18 months in the role
• Deregulation and Britain’s bus servicesResponse from the Confederation of Passenger Transport UK to an article on the London bus market

Times Online

• Rail row as passengers kicked out of first class by Govia Thameslink boss [Subscription]Southern Rail is at the centre of a new row after a senior manager ordered passengers on an overcrowded train to move out of a first class compartment.
• Good news for Eurostar passengers as Paris’s Gare du Nord set for overhaulThe Gare du Nord, which serves the cross-Channel Eurostar rail service, has long shamed Paris.

City AM

• Piccadilly Line strike suspended after last-ditch talks with unionThe Piccadilly Line strike which had been planned for this week has been suspended.

Bolton News

• Electric trains will not be rolled out until 2019 says Northern COMMUTERS in Bolton will not see the benefits of electrification until at least 2019.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Work to begin on M62 junction improvementsMAJOR work to improve two key M62 junctions will begin on Monday, July 23.

Bristol Live

• A million and a half minutes of delays in a year on GWR trains - and there's only half a million minutes a yearGWR bosses have admitted the performance of its train franchise has ‘been impacted’ as the total number of delays on the lines in and around Bristol has risen to its highest level in years.

London Evening Standard

• Electric buses are the future, charging them is the challenge, says transport chiefDitching dirty diesel buses to go fully electric would greatly improve London’s air quality — but powering them will prove difficult, a senior public transport boss has said.
• London commuters rebrand Tube station as Gareth Southgate station in honour of England managerLondon's Tube commuters have rebranded Southgate Tube station in honour of the England manager ahead of tonight's World Cup semi-final.
• Virgin Trains lifts ALL ticket restrictions on West Coast route so people can get home in time for the England matchVirgin Trains has lifted all ticket restrictions on its West Coast route to allow passengers to get home for Wednesday's World Cup match against Croatia.

Manchester Evening News

• How does Manchester Airport's new free drop-off shuttle bus work? And how long does it take? We found out...Drivers are now being charged £3 for five minute stays and £4 for ten minutes after the airport introduced drop-off fees this week. But there is a free alternative which passengers can use. We tested it out

Sheffield Star

• Second Sheffield Supertram strike of the week to go ahead after no further talks take place Sheffield Supertram staff will walk out on strike for the second time this week after no further talks were held over what they labelled an 'insulting' pay offer.

This Is Local London Network

• Councillors continue to oppose Heathrow expansionBusinesses from across the area met at the House of Lords last week to discuss Brexit. The event was organised by the Richmond Chamber of Commerce, with more than 55 businesses in attendance, as well as Moor Blatch Solicitors and KSBC.

Bucks Free Press

• Bus company launches 'revamped' networkA bus company has launched a revamped network – with more frequent services between High Wycombe and Beaconsfield.
• Fears scrapped school bus service will add more pressure to congested roads A school bus service which is set to be cancelled has sparked fears increased traffic could create more pressure on our roads as parents are forced to drive their children to school.

Sunderland Echo

• North East MPs to urge rail operator to get back on track North East MPs are to write to Grand Central Rail bosses raising concerns at recent disruption experienced by passengers.

Other Regional Press

• Call for upgrade to Abbey Flyer rail servicePlans to improve transport around south west Hertfordshire will be ‘rubbished’ if they do not include an upgrade to the Abbey train line.
• New look train station is as good as new after refurbA Dumbarton train station has undergone a huge transformation after refurbishments and repairs were carried out by a local resurfacing company.
• Calls for Rasen to be rail transport hub Calls are being made for Market Rasen to become a ‘transport hub’ for Lincolnshire with hourly train services seven days a week....

New Civil Engineer

• Deck over Waterloo, says Network Rail bossWaterloo Station in London should be decked over to solve its capacity problem in the long term, a Network Rail boss has said.
• HS2 starts prep work on Midland Main Line electrificationHigh Speed 2 is to start preparatory works for the future electrification of a 25km section of the Midland Main Line which will used by the HS2 trains in phase 2b.

Rail Advent

• MP for Makerfield visits £46m train depot in WiganMP for Makerfield, Yvonne Fovargue, has visited Springs Branch railway sidings last week to view the construction progress on the new train maintenance depot.

Aviation Industry

• Air France-KLM still without a CEO after nearly 2 monthsAir France-KLM is nearing two months without a CEO, with a replacement for Jean-Marc Janaillac, who left May 15 following a bitter dispute with unions over pay, still to be found. read more
• UK pilot seeks retirement age reviewA pilot has lodged a legal challenge against the UK CAA, seeking a judicial review of commercial-pilot age restrictions. read more
• Vistara's new Airbus, Boeing orders to enable international expansionIndian airline Vistara advanced its goal of launching international service in 2018 with commitments to order 13 Airbus A320neos and six Boeing 787-9s, in deals valued at a combined $3.1 billion at list prices, the company announced July 11.
• Germany's LGW names new management Germany-based regional carrier LGW has named Francesco Sciortino and Michael Knoth as new managing directors, succeeding Peter Knecht and Felix Genze, from Aug. 1.

Other News Sources

• Rail links hopes are voiced by airport chiefs"It is vital for the UK economy that the there is support for airports like East Midlands that can deliver greater access to world markets."
• The lack of public transport outside London is shockingWhen did you last take the bus? If you don’t live in London, probably not for ages.
• The National Railway Museum is inviting the public to attend two consultation exhibitions this month to have their say on proposals to transform and develop the York Central ‘teardrop’ site.The National Railway Museum is inviting the public to attend two consultation exhibitions this month to have their say on proposals to transform and develop the York Central ‘teardrop’ site.