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

Thursday, 29 November 2018

BBC News

• Brexit: Security minister Ben Wallace warns of no-deal riskA no-deal Brexit would hit UK-EU security ties and have a "real impact" on protecting the public, security minister Ben Wallace is to warn.
• Are free ports the future?Can free ports spark a post-Brexit manufacturing boom? Jonty Bloom reports from Teesside, which plans to become the UK's first free port.
• M4 plans will almost certainly face legal action, says ministerPlans to build a new motorway south of Newport will be likely end up in the courts, a minister says.
• Transport for Wales boss to be questioned over rail chaosThe boss of Wales' public transport quango faces AMs, days after severe disruption to the network.
• Mobile faster than wi-fi in many countriesFuture faster networks will relegate wi-fi networks to the slow lane, global research suggests.
• Chinese AI caught out by face in bus adThe smart software accused a woman pictured in an advert on a bus of flouting road traffic laws.
• Ashton-under-Lyne cashless parking system 'discriminatory'Residents and business owners say the system is unfair on people who prefer not to use smartphones.
• Lion Air crash: Investigators say plane was 'not airworthy'An initial report into the crash that killed 189 people highlights issues with the anti-stall system.
• UK and US agree post-Brexit flights dealAirlines would continue to fly from the UK to the US after Brexit, the Department for Transport says.

The Guardian

• HS2 work halted by overnight protest on nature reserveWork crews and police leave Hillingdon site as activists mount Extinction Rebellion-style blockade
• Northern rail plan to remove guards faces statutory oppositionNorthern rail’s attempts to remove guards from trains in the north of England have been dealt a blow after the statutory body tasked with planning transport in the region publicly opposed the plans.

Times Online

• Twigged: rail chiefs behind the misery of leaves on the line [Subscription]Leaves on the line have been causing misery for rail commuters for decades. Far from Network Rail solving it, however, the problem has become worse under the public company that runs the tracks.
• Carbon capture project wins funds [Subscription]The UK’s first carbon capture project could be operating by the middle of the next decade. A government commitment to invest in the technology is being unveiled at a meeting of international business and political leaders in Edinburgh today.
• Lion Air pilots fought frantically to keep jet airborne [Subscription]The pilots of the Boeing 737 that crashed off Indonesia last month struggled 26 times to stop the flight computer pulling the plane down after a recurring problem with crucial monitoring instruments.

City AM

• Worst yet to come with Crossrail delay as TfL faces £400m 2021 revenue shortfall, warns Moody'sThe delay to the launch of Crossrail will hit Transport for London (TfL) with a £400m funding shortfall in 2021, financial services giant Moody's has found.

Sky News

• Train stations 'barring disabled people from travelling independently'The charity Leonard Cheshire says a lack of clear information and access problems make it difficult to plan journeys.

London Evening Standard

• Disabled people cannot use more than half of London's train stations, research showsMore than half of London’s train stations cannot be used by some disabled passengers because there is no step-free access available, research has showed.
• 519 cyclist offences including red light jumping dealt with by police in two-week dangerous driving blitzPolice in two week crackdown on dangerous driving in London 507 motorists stopped for using their phone while driving and 559 caught for driving without insurance 519 cycling offences also dealt with - including cyclists jumping red lights
• London Bridge protest: Black cab drivers cause third night of traffic mayhemBlack cab drivers have caused traffic mayhem for a third day in succession after they formed a blockade on London Bridge.
• Disabled people cannot use more than half of London's train stations, research showsMore than half of London's train stations cannot be used by some disabled passengers because there is no step-free access available, research has showed.

Morning Star

• Grayling's plans to undermine Network Rail could spark national rail strikeGOVERNMENT plans to undermine Network Rail could spark a national rail strike, railway workers warned today.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• North-east Tory MP apologises after wrongly claiming back train fareWest Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MP Andrew Bowie has apologised after claiming back a £202 rail fare that was not connected to his Commons work.

Blackpool Gazette

• Blackpool airport signs up to the powerhouseBlackpool’s airport enterprise zone has joined the raft of businesses and organisations backing the Northern Powerhouse.

Other Regional Press

• Carers on low incomes to be hit hard if free bus pass is scrapped, claims Tory councillorSurrey County Council says it is one of the few areas left in the country that still offers free bus passes for companions of people with a disability who need help to travel.
• Hundreds call for return of Bluestar's 19 bus routeHUNDREDS of people have pulled together to fight for the reinstatement of a Southampton bus service.
• ‘I’ve yet to see a passenger on it’: fears for future of Dundee bus routeTransport bosses say it’s too early to decide the future of the city’s newest bus route, amid concerns the service is frequently running empty.
• Campaigners fighting to reinstate an axed Hildenborough bus route have secured a replacement trial serviceHarry Rayner, Kent County Councillor, has put forward £2,500 toward the trial
• Cabinet Secretary for Transport Ken Skates explains ongoing Transport for Wales train issuesCabinet Secretary for Transport Ken Skates has blamed Arriva Trains Wales for the poor state of the railways, noting ‘full and proper access’ was not given before Transport for Wales takeover and criticised the prior maintenance of the train fleet.

Rail Advent

• Rail Minister says balance between safety and conservation a must for treesRail Minister Andrew Jones has revealed a careful balance between safety and protecting lineside wildlife and trees is at the core of the independent Vegetation Management Review undertaken.

Rail Technology Magazine

• New railway technology to save track workers thousands of hours on SWR New technology to help carry out overnight and maintenance work is set to be rolled out across the South Western Railway and will save track workers an extra 1,600 hours a year. The railway technology will allow for a more efficient, safer way to turn off the power on the railway line...
• Shadow transport secretary McDonald considers extending control periods to 7 yearsThe shadow transport secretary has suggested increasing the current spending period length by an extra two years to give the supply industry greater time for planning. Andy McDonald said that increasing the control period length, which is currently five years, would “infinitely...
• Private sector deal 'very close to fruition,' industrial strategy minister saysThe government’s private sector deal with the rail industry is “very close to fruition,” the industry strategy minister has said. Speaking at the Railway Industry Association parliamentary reception in Westminster last night, Richard Harrington, who has been in the role since...
• RAIB to investigate LNER train which broke speed limit by 100mphA LNER train travelling at 120mph on a section of track with an emergency speed restriction of 20mph is being investigated by the RAIB. The Aberdeen to London King’s Cross service went through the Sandy South Junction in Bedfordshire on 19 October 100mph over the speed limit. This section...

Aviation Industry

• IATA urges Africa to reduce aviation taxes, feesIATA CEO and DG Alexandre de Juniac called on African governments to lower taxes and fees on aviation, calling the continent “an expensive place for airlines to do business.â€� read more
• UK regional flybe and MRO provider in disputeUK regional carrier flybe has accused maintenance provider Monarch Aircraft Engineering Limited (MAEL) of breach of contract by withdrawing its services. read more
• Germania to open new European routes in summer 2019 The Germania Group will introduce several new routes from German airports throughout Europe for the 2019 summer season. read more
• WOW shrinks fleet, buyout by Icelandair in jeopardyWOW Air will reduce its fleet by four aircraft as the Icelandic LCC reported that its financial situation had worsened in recent weeks. read more
• US and UK forge Open Skies agreementThe US and UK have agreed an Open Skies pact that will allow them to continue liberalized air services after the UK leaves the European Union (EU) in March 2019. read more

Other News Sources

• Go-Ahead moves up as recovery in rail after timetable chaos offsets lower expected bus performanceThe FTSE 250 transport operator said GTR’s performance had improved “substantially” since an interim timetable was put in place in mid-July
• Campaigners hit out at 'shambolic' record of new Network Rail Scotland bossCAMPAIGNERS have raised concerns over the “shambolic” track record of the incoming boss of Network Rail in Scotland. Liam Sumpter, who will take on the newly-created role of chief operating officer next spring, was previously forced to apologise after “rude” exchanges with customers on social media.