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

Saturday, 17 November 2018

BBC News

• Passenger sues BA for being 'squashed next to obese man'Stephen Prosser is suing British Airways after the 13-hour flight from Thailand to the UK.
• Northern and South Western rail strikes disrupt eventsRugby fans will also be affected as staff at two of the country's biggest rail operators stop working.
• Clyde to get its first opening road bridgeThe crossing will link Renfrew and Yoker and is the centrepiece of a new development plan.
• Japan Airlines tightens alcohol rules for pilotsThe new safety measures follow a string of incidents and delayed flights due to intoxicated pilots.

ITV News

• Rail Minister promises investment in Cumbrian Coast RailwayThe recently appointed Rail Minister, Andrew Jones, has visited Millom station in Cumbria. He pledged continued support for transport in the region following problems with the Moorside development.

Department for Transport

• Rail Minister backs 'life-changing' community rail projectsRail Minister Andrew Jones has challenged train operators to step up their support for community rail projects across the UK as he launches the 2018 Community Rail Strategy.

Financial Times

• Richard Branson brings Virgin brand to US railRichard Branson is making his first move into the US rail market, 21 years after he began operating passenger trains on the UK’s west coast main line between London and Scotland. 

The Scotsman

• ScotRail punctuality worst for 12 yearsScotRail Alliance chiefs today attempted to mask its worst punctuality for 12 years by highlighting a cut in stop skipping - but even that's worse than it was six months ago.

Times Online

• Parking reform will cap penalties and give motorists a grace period [subscription]Motorists will be given a compulsory grace period before being ticketed in private car parks under regulations designed to tackle rogue operators.

City AM

• Jet Airways share price soars amid Tata Sons takeover talkJet Airways share price jumped up by almost seven per cent on Friday following reports that the airline is close to a deal with Indian conglomerate Tata Sons.

Network Rail

• New platform part of two more key upgrades for Leeds StationMajor investment in Leeds is set to continue after schemes to improve both train journeys and the look and feel of the station were announced.
• Network Rail’s £2billion plan to provide a better railway for passengers in Wales and Borders confirmedNetwork Rail in Wales and Borders is set to benefit from a record £2billion to provide a safer and more reliable railway for passengers and freight customers.

London Evening Standard

• Junk food ads to be banned at Tube stations in war on child obesityAdverts for junk food are set to be banned at Tube stations and bus stops to tackle soaring rates of childhood obesity, the Evening Standard can reveal.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• New Metro ticket prices introduced as Nexus look to keep old trains ticking overCouncil leaders are being asked to approve new Metro ticket prices, which will see some tickets increase while smartcard customers benefit from freezes

Yorkshire Evening Post

• New platform to be built on long-stay car park at Leeds StationA brand new platform will be built on a car park at Leeds Station as part of a major upgrade. Named 'platform zero', it will be constructed on land currently occupied by the long-stay car park - which will lose over 100 spaces by January.
• New Station Street in Leeds city centre to be pedestrianisedNew Station Street in Leeds is going to be permanently closed to traffic. The street near Leeds Station will become pedestrian-only by autumn 2019 as part of plans to make the concourse's south entrance more accessible and improve passenger flows

Yorkshire Post

• Tom Richmond: Brexit resignation tactics highlights more shabby behaviour from Johnson clan... The Johnsons might think they’re more important than the rest of the country, but they certainly don’t know how to conduct themselves honourably. JUST like the long wait for a train, it then took 10 Downing Street over three days to confirm Jo Johnson’s replacement at the Department for Transport. It saw Jesse Norman promoted internally to become Chris Grayling’s number two and, in turn, his role taken by Harrogate MP Andrew Jones.
• David Behrens: We’re paying rail company more to add insult to incompetence In a year in which the North’s rail services hit an all-time low and stayed there, you would not have thought there would be much further to fall.

East Anglian Daily Times

• Many bus drivers not switching off idling engines despite council air pollution crackdownIn October, Norwich City Council confirmed they would have enforcement officers out to speak to drivers in the city centre with engines idling.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Rail minister launches strategy for grassroots community rail projectsRail minister Andrew Jones has urged train operators to commit resources into new and existing community rail projects as he launched the 2018 Community Rail Strategy. Jones, who returned to the role of transport minister on Tuesday following Jo Johnson’s resignation, said companies must commit more time, materials and resources to the future of grassroots rail strategy.
• A transport network ‘on its knees’ is slowly catching up in the north, says GraylingChris Grayling has said that rail in the north is playing catch-up from “decades of economic neglect” and that whilst improvements in May did not work the way it should have, he will deliver “the transport system the north deserves.”

Transportxtra

• Edinburgh unveils plans to end dominance of car on George StreetPeople-friendly spaces a dedicated cycleway and plazas are among proposals for Edinburgh’s George Street and New Town public realm design project.
• Better cycling & walking infrastructure boosts business, TfL study findsImproving cycling and walking infrastructure can increase spending in shops by up to 30%, according to a report published today by Transport for London (TfL). The research found that people walking, cycling and using public transport spend 40% more each month than car drivers.

Aviation Industry

• SWISS names Goudarzi Pour new CCOLufthansa Group subsidiary Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) named Tamur Goudarzi Pour as the carrier’s new CCO, effective January 2019. read more
• London Stansted gets go-ahead for more passengersLocal authorities have approved London Stansted Airport’s plans to increase passenger capacity to 43 million annually, allowing 23% growth from the current 35 million limit. read more

Other News Sources

• New cycling wearable tech designed for ‘life-saving manoeuvres’Mirror Indicate, the company behind the cycling accessory of the same name, claims that this is the world’s first combined mirror and indicator with intelligent firmware to improve your safety on the road.
• Shipping giants confirm plans to form global associationFive of the world's largest container carriers have confirmed they are preparing to form a global association of ocean shipping lines that aims to standardise industry practices as a way of making the sector more efficient.
• Lasers planned to cut train delays on HS2 routeLASER technology will be used to cut train delays on the new HS2 route – and the line is being tipped to ease congestion in Warrington.