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

Wednesday, 22 August 2018

BBC News

• Listed status for airport terminal in BirminghamThe 1930s terminal in Birmingham has achieved Grade II listed status decades after its last passengers.
• Ryanair compensation cheques with no signatures 'bounced'Passengers say they have been charged fees by their banks after cheques from airline were unsigned.
• Bus lane suspended in Titanic QuarterMotorists complained of
• Defibrillators to be provided at Scottish stationsThirty four of the life-saving devices will be provided at railway stations across Scotland.

The Guardian

• This disastrous new project will change the face of Britain, yet no debate is allowedDecisions about the Oxford-Cambridge expressway, and the vast conurbation it will create, are made behind closed doors
• Rail works and strikes to disrupt August bank holiday travelEngineering works, including the three-day closure of one of Britain’s busiest stations, are set to disrupt rail travel and add to road congestion over the August bank holiday weekend.

The Independent

• Travel industry bosses demand progress and a fresh Brexit referendumAs the government prepares to tell the nation its plans for a no-deal Brexit, concern is growing among airlines and travel industry leaders over the lack of progress towards agreements on key issues.

Times Online

• Union rails against old trains refit [Subscription]ScotRail has been accused of bringing back “Dad’s Army” trains instead of investing in new ones.
• What have ferry loans, subsidies and delays got to do with value for money? [Subscription]In a mid-July column I called for “full and frank disclosure” from the Scottish government on what role its £30 million loan to the Ferguson Marine shipyard on the lower Clyde might be playing in a troubled contract for two new ferries for Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited, a state agency controlled by Scottish ministers. I also suggested that the delayed contract was rumoured to be facing further problems.

Daily Express

• SNP under fire over 'DAD'S ARMY' train upgrades - 'Insult to injury'SNP ministers have been urged to rethink a “Dad’s Army” upgrade of rail services amid continued delays. A 40-year-old fleet of trains was due to start operating ScotRail’s inter-city services in May.

Daily Record

• Rush hour chaos as ScotRail announce delays and cancelled services across central beltA fault in the signalling system between Haymarket and Edinburgh Park has affected a number of services right across the central belt.

Birmingham Mail

• How historic Elmdon Terminal at Birmingham Airport has been savedMade famous for its over-hanging canopies, the Elmdon - which is also known as the Art Deco terminal - was last used in 1984

London Evening Standard

• Ryanair sorry after passenger compensation cheques bounce due to administrative blunderRyanair has apologised after a number of passengers complained cheques issued as compensation had bounced.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Blueprint for Leeds’ South Bank regeneration is rubber-stampedThe masterplan for the rejuvenation of Leeds’ South Bank – including the remodelled Leeds Station – has been formally adopted by Leeds City Council planners.

New Civil Engineer

• Ministerial panel mooted to balance regional transport spendingBusinesses have demanded the creation of a cross-Whitehall panel to ensure megaprojects such as Crossrail 2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail don’t boost certain region’s economies at the expense of others.
• Funding boost for £75M North West road schemeGraham Construction is set to start within weeks on a £75 million project to build a new road in the North West after funding was confirmed.
• Kier bags works on London City Airport expansionThe firm has won the construction contract for the temporary passport control, immigration and customs facility, and the goods inwards facility.
• National Rail in Wales and Borders apprenticeship driveNetwork Rail is launching a new advanced engineering apprenticeship scheme on the Wales and Borders line.

Rail Magazine

• Hitachi CEO has one eye on BrexitNewton Aycliffe may be busy, and Hitachi may be bidding for more work, but the company’s Global CEO for Rail, Alistair Dormer, has said that the outcome of Brexit could have a serious impact on its business plans.
• Night Tube numbers beat expectationsTransport for London (TfL) says that its Night Tube service is exceeding forecasts, with 17m journeys made during its first two years of operation, compared to a forecast of 14m.
• CrossCountry proposals slammedA number of bodies have criticised the government’s plans for the next CrossCountry franchise, which contains proposals to concentrate services on core routes and to reduce the amount of station stops.

Rail Technology Magazine

• High-speed Liverpool to Manchester line a ’once-in-a-generation opportunity’, transport chiefs sayA new high-speed line between Liverpool and Manchester is a “once-in-a generation opportunity,” and would cut journey times from the two cities to around 20 minutes, transport chiefs have said.
• Former London City Airport CEO Declan Collier announced as ORR chairFormer London City Airport chief executive Declan Collier has been announced as the preferred candidate to take up the post as chair of the Office of Rail and Road (ORR).
• Leeds South Bank plans rubber-stamped, finalising £500m transformation of train stationMajor plans to develop the South Bank in Leeds city centre have been formally adopted by Leeds City Council, paving the way for a £500m renovation of the train station in the city.

Railway Gazette

• Battery electric multiple-unit studyGERMANY: Oberlebe transport authority VVO, Bombardier Transportation and Technischen Universität Berlin are to study the feasibility of using battery power instead of diesel multiple-units on four routes around Dresden.

Aviation Industry

• Ryanair partners with Air Malta to sell flights Irish LCC Ryanair has started selling Air Malta flights through its own website, as part of a drive to improve the passenger experience, including website improvements, flight partnerships with other airlines and connecting flights. read more
• United plans to introduce 737-10 lie-flat premium seat in 2020 Chicago-based United Airlines is working on a lie-flat premium-cabin seat and plans to have the first ones in service on Boeing 737-10s sometime in 2020, United president Scott Kirby said. read more
• Boom aims for supersonic airliner rate of 60 per yearBoom Technology is fully funded to get a demonstrator of the supersonic airliner it is developing in the air by the end of 2019, the Denver-based company’s CEO says. read more