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

Saturday, 14 July 2018

BBC News

• Chris Grayling 'to look into' delay-hit Yorkshire rail lineThe transport secretary will "look into" improving services on a North Yorkshire train line hit by repeated delays, an MP has said.
• Lack of rail staff due to World Cup and heatwave sparks delaysPassengers warned about
• London Waterloo celebrates its 170th anniversaryThe station in London opened in 1848 and remains one of Europe's busiest railway stations
• Aircraft in runway crash at Oban AirportNo-one was injured in the incident which happened on Friday afternoon and involved a light aircraft.
• Autonomous car is first to get round Goodwood circuitA self-driving car has become the first to make it round the Goodwood race circuit.

The Guardian

• Thameslink commuters have had enough. We need a new dealWe’ve been failed by Govia Thameslink and Chris Grayling. Now we’re taking matters into our own hands
• Disabled passengers 'treated unacceptably' at four UK airportsAviation watchdog points finger at Gatwick, Stansted, Birmingham and Manchester

Times Online

• Bike bells could become mandatory in safety drive [Subscription]Bells could become compulsory for cyclists following concerns over the number of pedestrians being hit by bikes on roads and footpaths.
• SUVs blamed for rise in emissions from new cars [Subscription]They sprawl across parking spaces, casually mount the pavement and now stand accused of wrecking Britain’s hopes of meeting its environmental targets.

City AM

• Crossrail chair Sir Terry Morgan appointed to head up HS2The current chair of Crossrail has been chosen to head up the next stage of the High Speed 2 project.

Mail Online

• Rail tunnel project scrambling as funding deadline loomsNEWARK, N.J. (AP) - A $13 billion project to build a new rail tunnel into New York is scrambling to stay in the running for key federal funding as a July 14 deadline looms.

Edinburgh Evening News

• City airport lifts its game on access for the disabledTravellers with a disability can expect a more positive experience when flying from Edinburgh after the airport turned a “poor” accessibility rating to “very good”.

London Evening Standard

• 'Summer of Chaos': Train unions call seven walkouts on London's commuter routesUnion barons today ordered the most savage wave of strikes yet on London's commuter routes - with seven walkouts over a

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Turbulent changes ahead as Aberdeen Airport boss steps downRumours of a new management structure affecting Aberdeen International Airport (AIA) were taking off last night after AIA managing director Carol Benzie announced she was stepping down at the end of July.

Wales Online

• Train disruption in Wales over the weekend is being blamed on the World Cup finalPassengers have been told to avoid travelling

Other Regional Press

• Mayor criticised for TfL fare freezeA politician has called the Mayor of London’s decision to freeze Tube fares “reckless” and said his policies have “worsened the state” of Transport for London’s (TfL) finances.
• Royston and South Cambs rail users call on Govia to deliver after ‘broken promises’Rail user groups in our area have said they are waiting to see if the new interim timetable published by Govia Thameslink Railway on Friday will be adhered to, after a “string of broken promises” since May’s schedule overhaul.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Crossrail boss appointed to replace Higgins at HS2The man who has been chair of Crossrail since 2009 has been appointed to the same top job at HS2 Ltd, taking over from Sir David Higgins. Sir Terry Morgan has been selected by transport secretary Chris Grayling to lead HS2 as its chairman from 1 August this year. He brings a wealth of...
• Creating a single independent role for timetable sign-offs would not be achievable, says GibbAppointing someone responsible for ultimately signing off timetable changes across the network – and for being vocal when planned reforms are too heroic and should be reconsidered or delayed – would not be achievable, Chris Gibb has argued. Gibb, who leads the Thameslink 2018...
• Timetable chaos: Rail industry 'lacks courage' to say no to impossible demandsThe rail industry needs to pluck up the courage to say no to others instead of trying to accommodate every single stakeholder demand – and then failing to deliver on these expectations, rail veteran Chris Gibb has said. Gibb, who chairs the Thameslink 2018 Industry Readiness Board (IRB)...
• Network Rail has yet to give an end date for Cardiff electrification Article by Callum Wood of Rail Technology Magazine Network Rail cannot give a precise date for when work on the electrification of the south Wales mainline will be completed The £2.8bn  project was announced by Prime Minster David Cameron in 2012 and aimed to speed up journeys...

Aviation Industry

• Gogo company overhaul includes possible saleInflight connectivity provider Gogo is considering a sale, splitting up the company or other exit plans, and has been approached with a “number of inquiries in the past few weeks,â€� top executives said in a July 13 teleconference. read more
• Cathay Pacific to codeshare on seven Brussels Airlines flightsHong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways has enhanced its European network by signing a codeshare agreement with Brussels Airlines, adding to its partnerships with Lufthansa Group carriers. read more

Other News Sources

• UK freight forwarders association expresses mixed feelings on Brexit White Paper Responding to yesterday’s White Paper outlining the UK Government's proposed future relationship between the UK and European Union after Brexit, Robert Keen, Director General of the British International Freight Association (BIFA) expressed mixed feelings about its contents.“The White Paper addresses some of the issues that BIFA has highlighted over the past two years,  including retaining something as close to the Single Market and Customs Union as is possible, with positive ideas on future Customs matters and international trading arrangements.“But we have to remember that nothing in t...
• New terminal software slows Felixstowe to 80pc of what it was The Port of Felixstowe, the UK's big container port owned by Hong Kong's Hutchison Port Holdings, continues to be frustrated by its new nGen terminal operating system as productivity slows to 80 per cent of what it was before.
• East Coast Main Line - the contract challengesIt's the third time in just over a decade the government has brought the running of this route to a halt.