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

Wednesday, 29 August 2018

BBC News

• New Darlington bridge to provide 'safer' rail linkWork is to begin on a pedestrian and cycle bridge between Darlington railway station and a new business development.
• Swiss Alpine steam train travels 900 miles to SnowdoniaThe Loco No 2 steam engine will visit the Snowdon Mountain Railway in Llanberis during September.
• Belfast-Dublin train like an 'infrequent snail'A former UK transport minister voices his frustrations about the Enterprise train service.
• Stagecoach unveils e-bus plan for Greater ManchesterBus operator Stagecoach says it would be the biggest single investment in e-buses in Europe.
• The robot that watches as you cross the roadJaguar Land Rover is using a self-driving robot to gauge the behaviour of people crossing the road.
• Boeing says Asia needs 240,000 pilots over next two decadesGrowing Asia-Pacific travel demand means a huge increase in pilots, cabin crew and technicians.
• Didi blames 'ignorance and pride' for carpool murderChinese ride-hailing firm Didi Chuxing blames
• Aston Martin revs up for London listingThe sports car maker beloved of James Bond could be worth up to £5bn when its shares start trading.

The Guardian

• Get smart! How a 90s bus pass trial transformed London travelAn orderly queue formed at Harrow station in north-west London, snaking past the timetable posters to the Underground’s hottest pop-up. Staff wearing bright yellow sweatshirts reading “Get Smart” handed out flyers to commuters eager to get their hands on the innovation: the revolutionary contactless smartcard.
• London boroughs to impose ultra-low emission zonesAll but the cleanest vehicles to be banned from nine streets in Islington and Hackney
• Carmakers’ gaming of emissions tests ‘costing drivers billions’Exclusive: On-the-road fuel efficiency is far lower than in lab tests, pushing up costs and CO2 emissions, research shows

The Scotsman

• MSPs call on Humza Yousaf to explain rail policing decisionA committee of MSPs has called on justice secretary Humza Yousaf to explain a decision to put on hold the controversial merger of British Transport Police and Police Scotland.

Times Online

• It’s safe to say women are best drivers [Subscription]It is a myth that has endured for almost as long as cars have been on the road. Now a study has nailed the old lie about the motoring gender divide, by finding that women are actually better drivers than men.

City AM

• Heathrow launches new direct flight to Chinese megacity ChongqingHeathrow has launched its first direct flight to Chongqing, in what marks the hub airport's 10th direct flight to China.
• RMT union to claim higher pay for Network Rail workers following row with Chris GraylingThe RMT union has said it will lodge a claim to increase the pay of its members working at Network Rail, raising the possibility of a tense standoff that could result in further disruption for British passengers.

Daily Record

• EXCLUSIVE: Ayr train station to close as ScotRail set to pull services out of town amid concerns over Station HotelScotRail bosses are to close Ayr train station at midnight on Sunday amid growing fears over the state of the Station Hotel.

Mail Online

• Misery could return for rail commuters as fears grow over industrial action by Network Rail workers The Rail Maritime & Transport union is understood to be pushing for a pay hike above RPI, which is currently at 3.2 per cent. Negotiations are now underway over a new pay settlement.

Bolton News

• Bus firm wants £21m of government funding for new electric fleetThe firm will spend £34.6 million on the fleet, alongside associated infrastructure, with bosses hoping the remaining £21.5 million will be provided by government grants.

London Evening Standard

• New E10 fuel: Is my car compatible with new eco-fuel? What happens if it isn't?Everything you need to know about the new E10 fuel - and what it means for you and your motor

Manchester Evening News

• Stagecoach bosses offer to roll out 105 electric buses across Greater ManchesterStagecoach seeks £21.5m to fund zero-emission buses in Greater Manchester

The York Press

• Council urges commuters to take the bus for sustainable travel campaignCity of York Council is inviting businesses to sign up for advice and competitions in which staff photograph themselves cycling. Employees are also invited to record every bus journey they make to be in with a chance of being named Bus Challenge Champions and win a commemorative plaque.

Cambridge News

• This is what Stansted Airport's new arrivals terminal will look likeStansted Airport has released images of what will be a £130 million project

Chester Standard

• Rail passengers urged to plan ahead of Lime Street closures this weekendRAIL passengers who may travel through Liverpool Lime Street this weekend are being urged to plan ahead of vital upgrade works.

East Anglian Daily Times

• First look at new £130m terminal at StanstedNew images of how London Stansted’s planned new Arrivals Terminal will look when it opens in 2020 have been unveiled.

Other Regional Press

• Rural bus company facing challenging few months to stay afloatCOMMUNITIES have rallied behind a beleaguered community bus company as it faces a "difficult" next few months raising enough money to stay afloat
• ‘It’s cheaper to get a taxi!’ - Preston commuters have their say over bus fare increasesDaily, weekly and monthly fares also saw a hike in prices under the fare revision. After a summer holiday promotion by Rotala, which owns and runs Preston Bus, the company is also introducing a £3 child EasiDay ticket which will launch on Monday, September 3.
• New multimillion pound fleet of eco buses set to hit streetsA MULTI-MILLION pound fleet of new low emission buses will be taking to the streets of Southampton in a bid to help clean up pollution.
• Southampton police seek more information about three stolen bikesSOUTHAMPTON police are seeking information about three bikes that have been stolen.
• Mobike has no plans to leave Oxford – but will 'educate' users on parking MOBIKE has confirmed that it has no plans to leave Oxford – after the company warned it may pull out of Manchester – and suggested ‘education’ is the best way to stop dockless bikes being unceremoniously dumped around the city.
• Safety fears over 'dangerous' Oxford road repairs ‘DANGEROUS’ loose stones laid as part of repairs to a road in Cowley have sparked fears for the safety of drivers and pedestrians.
• New Oxford school set for approval - despite warnings about 'impossible' cycle safetyAN ‘IMPOSSIBLE’ plan to force school traffic across one of Oxford’s busiest cycle lanes looks set for approval despite safety fears.
• Revised rail service this weekend due to strike action: Here is all you need to know A REVISED rail service is in operation this weekend due to rail strike action.

New Civil Engineer

• Network Rail told to improve Western route communicationsTransport officials have ordered Network Rail and FirstGroup, the franchise holder for the Great Western Main Line, to develop a plan for better communicating about infrastructure work.

Rail Technology Magazine

• First glimpse of brand-new Hull Trains fleet releasedNew pictures have revealed a first glimpse of Hull Trains’ brand-new bullet train-inspired fleet being built in Japan. The stunning new images show the bodyshell of the trains currently being constructed in Kasado, which are set to run from December 2019 as part of a £60m investment...
• DfT confirms it won't split up Great Western franchise, but calls for 'more decentralisation'There has been little public and organisational support for the idea of splitting the Great Western franchise and creating a separate operation for the West of England, a consultation has revealed – so the government has announced it will not be pressing ahead with the plans. In the...
• Solihull council gets £10.2m cash boost for HS2Solihull Council has secured £10.2m from the West Midlands Combined Authority (WCMA) to deliver transport and infrastructure investment in the area ahead of HS2. The combined investment in the plans will underpin the growth potential of the area, which is an estimated 90,000 jobs and an...

Aviation Industry

• Spohr: Lufthansa Group largely responsible for travel disruptionLufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr said his company accepts “a large shareâ€� of responsibility for the disruptions in German air traffic this summer. read more
• Boeing: Asia-Pacific to have highest growth rate for aviation workersA rapid expansion in aircraft fleets is expected to give the Asia-Pacific region the highest growth rate for all types of aviation workers over the next 20 years, according to a new Boeing report. read more
• Lawmakers likely to pass another short-term extension for FAA With the deadline fast approaching for the US Congress to pass legislation reauthorizing the FAA, it appears increasingly likely that lawmakers will approve another short-term extension for the agency, according a source familiar with the matter. read more

Other News Sources

• Rail freight interchange plans to be examinedAn application for a proposed new strategic rail freight interchange in South Staffordshire is to be examined by the Planning Inspectorate.
• More than 2,000 people caught speeding on county roads in one weekendMORE than 2,000 people have been caught speeding in a regional police crackdown.