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

Friday, 28 September 2018

BBC News

• Disabled train users to get new 'life-changing' appA "life-changing" app that can track disabled rail users in real-time will be rolled out nationwide.
• A6 road upgrade scheme beginsThe 15-mile section of dual carriageway will include a bypass around Dungiven.
• Will these bats hang around after HS2 construction?HS2 is going to be built through these bats' habitat.
• Air travel 'without your passport leaving your pocket'Establishing air travellers' identities causes delays, but tech is helping to speed things up.
• Hyderabad homes and pavements made from used plastic bagsBusinesses in India may have found a way to turn plastic rubbish into a golden business opportunity.
• Ryanair cancels 250 flights across Europe on FridayPilots and cabin crew in six countries walk out on Friday in a dispute over contracts and conditions.

The Guardian

• British road deaths without seatbelts reach record levelMore than a quarter of car occupants killed were not wearing seatbelt, data shows
• Dutch cyclists face mobile phone banPhone ban to be extended to cyclists amid road safety fears in country where bikes outnumber people

The Independent

• Post-Brexit air travel: No-deal would create 'huge amount of work' to maintain vital routes, aviation boss warnsThe man who represents the world’s leading airlines has warned of “the huge amount of work” required to maintain vital air links in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
• K car production declined for a third consecutive month in August by 13 per cent, due to model changes and maintenance shutdowns, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has said.Exports continue to shore up demand for UK-built cars, which means a no-deal Brexit is 'not an option' for the sector, SMMT warns

Times Online

• Tory naysayers should see the impact HS2 is having on real lives - Andy Street [Subscription]When the Conservative Party conference convenes on Sunday at Symphony Hall in Birmingham, delegates will see a city and a region transforming. Cranes fill the skyline and diggers fill the streets, in an unprecedented burst of construction activity, fuelled in part by the prospect of HS2.
• Road fatalities rise as almost all motorists ignore 20mph limit [Subscription]Almost nine in ten drivers ignore 20mph zones, prompting claims that the mass introduction of lower speed limits is a waste of time.
• Court bid to block Oxford to Cambridge expresswayCampaigners have launched a court challenge to block a planned road expansion linking England’s two ancient university towns amid claims that the development would damage the environment.
• Britain’s railways at mercy of the elementsTrain operators have come up with another fabulous excuse for disrupted services — commuters on C2C, operating between London and Essex, were delayed this week because glare from low sunlight dazzled drivers (News, September 26).

City AM

• UK car production falls for third consecutive month in AugustUK car production declined for a third consecutive month in August by 13 per cent, due to model changes and maintenance shutdowns, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has said.
• British Airways and Easyjet among airlines 'most exposed to a no-deal Brexit'British Airways and Easyjet are among the airlines that are particularly vulnerable to a "no-deal" Brexit, financial services firm Moody's has warned.

The National

• Scotland's top 10 most overcrowded train services revealed in new figuresThe 4.34pm from Edinburgh to Perth ranks top of the list, at 136% of planned capacity.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• New-look train takes to the tracks – and more are dueRAIL operator Northern – which runs services on the Airedale line – has launched its first fully-refurbished train.
• West Yorkshire storms into next round of huge transport funding competitionPLANS submitted by transport chiefs in West Yorkshire have been shortlisted in a national transport funding competition, it has been revealed

Edinburgh Evening News

• One-third more passengers than space on Scotrail’s busiest services The figures, compiled by the Scottish Government’s Transport Scotland agency, underline the acute need for extra carriages at rush hours.

London Evening Standard

• King's Cross delays: Commuters complain of 'carnage' at major transport hub amid Piccadilly line strikeFollow our live updates on the 48-hour Piccadilly line walkout
• Heathrow Airport whiteboard nightmare as technical fault causes monitor failurePassengers at Heathrow airport described
• Piccadilly line strike: Tube passengers battle panic attacks and endure 'dangerous' overcrowding in rush hour chaosThousands of commuters were left stranded in tunnels and on
• New app aims to make train travel easier for disabled passengersA new app has been developed to help ease train travel for disabled rail passengers across the country.

Manchester Evening News

• More baggage chaos at Manchester Airport as suitcases pile up and topple from carouselNo baggage handling staff can be seen in the footage as the baggage piles up

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Newcastle Airport expansion plans slammed as 'harmful' to health in the North EastThe Newcastle Green Party have warned the plans will undermine efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality

The York Press

• York's £60m cash bid to upgrade city's railway stationYORK has been given the chance to bid for a share of a £840 million Government fund to upgrade public transport links outside the railway station.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• £12m Leeds Bradford Airport terminal extension to be discussed by planning chiefsIt follows an announcement from the airport earlier this month that it would invest £12m into the scheme, which would increase capacity and include a new arrivals hall.

Other Regional Press

• Glasgow Airport fund open for Clydebank groups to bid for project backingCHARITIES and community groups in Clydebank and north-west could be in with a chance of receiving a five-figure sum to support their organisation.
• Fury as Stagecoach refuse rail tickets at peak timesCOMMUTERS in Cumnock and Doon Valley were left stranded in Glasgow after Stagecoach refused to accept tickets for cancelled trains during Storm Ali.
• Safety Sword for Mark CarneFormer chief executive Mark Carne was presented with a ceremonial sword before leaving Network Rail in recognition of his contribution to improving its safety record.
• Scotland's most overcrowded train lines revealedA RUSH hour train service from Neilston to Glasgow Central has been named Scotland's second most overcrowded rail journey.
• On the right track to restore the historic railway line between Scarborough and WhitbyAn ambitious £3.5m plan to transform the former Scarborough to Whitby rail track into a state of-the-art amenity for cyclists and walkers has been given widespread backing following two public meetings.

Bus and Coach Buyer

• Drivers put safety first, says reportA high level of road safety topped drivers’ list of the most important things about their job, according to research by Volvo.
• Portsmouth City Coaches begins operatingPortsmouth City Coaches, headed by Mike Elkin, has started services.
• Alexander Dennis Ltd sets up in SingaporeAlexander Dennis has opened a new service facility in Singapore to support its continued growth across the Asia Pacific region. The new site includes a parts distribution and training centre, for the wider South East Asian region, as well as offices for the local team working with customers and stakeholders in Singapore.

Rail Advent

• Metro train journeys to Newcastle Airport at record highNexus has announced that Metro journeys to Newcastle Airport are at a record high.
• RMT launch campaign to stop closure of London Overground ticket officesRMT has announced that it is launching a campaign to stop London Overground ticket offices from closing.
• Hull Trains celebrate 18 years of serviceHull Trains, the long distance train operating company, is celebrating 18 years since the first ever train departed from Hull, bound for London.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Former Network Rail boss appointed as MD and chairman of Bombardier UKFormer Network Rail boss Phil Hufton has been appointed as Bombardier Transportation UK’s MD and chairman of its board.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Reading Buses announced as a European diversity finalistReading Buses is one of 10 companies shortlisted for a prestigious award celebrating the best in diversity across Europe.
• We must not sleepwalk into a re-regulation debateA few months ago we had the rare experience of the Leader of the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, using buses as his primary topic at Prime Minister’s Question Time.
• Digital mirrors - the new revolutionDigital mirrors were one of the big talking points at the IAA trade fair with MAN showing the system fitted to a Neoplan Cityliner
• K-Bus presents ‘solar powered’ minibusOne of the most eye-catching exhibits at the IAA trade fair was a ‘solar powered’ minibus from Austrian supplier K-Bus, built in its Slovenian factory.
• Investment in people and firm is key to success, says CottonConsistent investment - importantly in people - is the underlying key to the success of Stewarts Group, which has been bought by National Express Group’s (NEG) The Kings Ferry, and now works alongside NEG-owned Clarkes of London coaches.
• World domination’ aim of Germans as Traton unveiledVW Group’s ambition of being the world’s biggest commercial vehicle manufacturer - overtaking the current number one, Mercedes-Benz - has been given new impetus with the creation of Traton.
• Journeys are importantreally No matter whose vehicles you use, research shows the most influential aspect on a passenger’s journey is the driver’s attitude. It can lead to five-star reviews, and reduce negatives, such as delays caused by congestion.
• ‘No-deal Brexit’ would be a bad deal for international coachesThe Confederation of Passenger Transport UK (CPT) has expressed “huge concern” about the treatment of international coach operations in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal and says important questions remain unanswered.

The Business Desk

• New MD for Derby rail giantDerby-based Bombardier Transportation UK has appointed senior rail executive, Phil Hufton, as its new managing director and chairman of the board.

Aviation Industry

• Ryanair to cancel 150 flights Sept. 28 as strikes spread over Europe Irish LCC Ryanair will cancel 150 flights Sept. 28 as German pilots, represented by the Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) union, called for a 24-hour strike—the same day that cabin crew strikes are also scheduled to take place in Spain, Portugal, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium. read more
• Ryanair to base aircraft at two French airportsRyanair plans to open two new bases in Bordeaux and Marseille as part of its summer 2019 schedule, basing two aircraft in each airport, representing a $200 million investment for each one, as it seeks to accelerate its growth in the French market. read more
• US House passes FAA reauthorization bill, extension for SenateThe US House has passed the recently announced, five-year bill to reauthorize the FAA on a 398-23 vote. read more
• British Airways to run two biometric-boarding trials at JFKUK carrier British Airways (BA) has invited two unnamed companies to do biometric self-boarding gate trials at New York JFK, building on existing pilot projects at Los Angeles LAX and Orlando. read more

Other News Sources

• UXO survey underway for London City Airport expansionAn extensive unexploded ordnance (UXO) survey is currently underway at London City Airport ready for King George V Dock to be explanded to create the land for the airport’s redevelopment.
• Magor and Undy railway station campaign makes progressPROPOSALS for the planned Magor and Undy train station were met with encouragement and optimism at a meeting at Magor Baptist Church Hall last week (September 20).
• Yesterday’s chaos on the British Railways makes the strongest case yet for HS2Yesterday lunchtime, a cable broke in Wembley, north west London. That caused the signals to fail on the West Coast Main Line (WCML), and meant that, for two hours yesterday afternoon, trains could not travel between Euston and Watford Junction.