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

Thursday, 13 December 2018

BBC News

• Road accidents rise despite tougher drink-drive limitsResearchers say public awareness campaigns and tougher enforcement measures are needed.
• 180 jobs under threat at Glasgow rail services firmStaff at Gemini Rail Services in Springburn are told of plans to close the maintenance plant.

The Guardian

• Uber pushed for UK congestion charges that would hit poor hardestGuardian freedom of information request reveals details of talks between Uber chief and Chris Grayling
• Shenzhen's silent revolution: world's first fully electric bus fleet quietens Chinese megacityAll 16,000 buses in the fast-growing Chinese megacity are now electric, and soon all 13,000 taxis will be too
• London mayor unveils plan to tackle 'climate emergency'Exclusive: Sadiq Khan accuses government of dragging its feet and calls for investment to avert catastrophe

The Herald

• Major snag for rail ideaDAVID McKenzie's plans for an Argyll-Antrim link (Letters, December 12) are certainly ambitious, especially those that involve a rail line

The Independent

• Local politicians and community members left furious over portaloo erected by TfL for bus drivers, dubbed ‘the Turdis’ Biggin Hill councillor Julian Benington has requested the toilet is removed as soon as possible
• Christmas travel chaos across Europe looms with air and rail strikes expected to affect thousandsAirlines from the UK to Nice have been advised to fly via Italy on Friday to avoid a strike by French air-traffic controllers

The Scotsman

• Rail passengers can get Facebook alerts about delayed trains The six-month trial has been launched by the rail industry to keep customers better informed during disruption.

Times Online

• Transport funds go up a gearInfrastructure spending is set for a £5 billion boost in the latest budget. A total of £1.7 billion has been put aside for transport in the coming fiscal year, as well as £825 million for housing. There are also plans for the building of new schools, nurseries and healthcare facilities.
• Rolls-Royce has whale of an idea for BrexitRolls-Royce is in talks with Airbus to use the aircraft maker’s whale-shaped Beluga transporter planes to deliver its engines to final assembly sites on the Continent in the event of a disorderly Brexit.

Reuters News

• TfL shelves plans for Tube upgrades as financial woes revealedBombardier Inc said on Wednesday it would “evaluate” its options, after losing a C$989 million ($741 million) rail order in Canada when state-owned Via Rail picked Germany’s Siemens AG to supply new locomotives.

Daily Record

• Gemini Rail Services plant in Springburn to close with 120 jobs set to goThe Glasgow facility has existed in one form or another for 160 years but the highly-skilled workforce and their families are now facing a bleak Christmas.

Bolton News

• Warnings of water contamination if bus depot plans approvedFEARS of water contamination have been sparked by a bus depot's request not to install a drainage device as required by the council.

Bristol Live

• First Bus wants to put 150 more buses on Bristol routes"I want to double the buses on many routes, but there's no point if they will just get stuck in the traffic"
• Where the new ticket gates are at Bristol Temple Meads and how they will workReady and waiting to welcome through customers on Monday morning, December 17, the gates are expected to make it easy to move on and off of platforms.
• First Bus passengers shocked as 'mouse' seen scurrying inside lightThe animal - believed to be a mouse - repulsed one person so much she moved seats

London Evening Standard

• Major London Transport upgrades shelved amid TfL financial crisisSadiq Khan's proposed pedestrianisation of Oxford Street has been abandoned - while a likely end to his fares freeze today emerged as the biggest consequence of the financial crisis at Transport for London.

Manchester Evening News

• Bus passengers to be hit with another fare increase - with some going up by £2The Stagecoach dayrider, seven-day megarider and 28-day megarider are among tickets to go up from January

Northern Echo

• Hitachi in bid to secure £500m Tyne and Wear Metro contractA NORTH-EAST train builder is in the running for a multi-million pound contract to build a new fleet of trains for the Tyne and Wear Metro.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• ‘Sword of Damocles’ hanging over bus operators, meeting hearsPrivate bus operators in Leeds are “drinking in the last chance saloon”, the head of an influential council committee has warned at a heated meeting in Civic Hall.
• Rail freight investment should be a priority to protect environment, say business leadersA SENIOR figure at Associated British Ports (ABP) has expressed concern that rail freight has not been made a priority in plans to improve rail connections across the Pennines.

Yorkshire Post

• Delayed rail passengers urged not to miss out on compensation payouts Rail passengers are missing out on compensation for the May timetable chaos because they do not believe they are eligible, a watchdog has claimed.

Other Regional Press

• Our rail services may cause some frustration – but don’t judge them just yet!The region’s rail services have taken a double whammy this week with the news that reliability fell during the middle of the year – and then we had confirmation that there would be another three-month weekend blockade of the main line to London.
• Entire community left without bus route to hospital, shops and schoolsDescribed as a “vital lifeline” for the community of Prenton the 83a was withdrawn when Wirral bus firm Avon collapsed

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Construction of major new cycle route in south-east London set to begin in 2019Transport for London (TfL) has revealed plans for further improvements to make cycling accessible to all Londoners, announcing that it intends to start work, subject to final approvals, on a major new segregated cycle route in south east London next summer.

Rail Magazine

• ScotRail introduces EMUs onto newly-wired Central Belt routesElectric trains have begun running to Stirling, Alloa and Dunblane, as part of a new timetable introduced by ScotRail in December.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Hitachi and Spencer Group join forces for £500m Tyne and Wear Metro deal bidHitachi and Spencer Group have launched a joint bid to win a £500m contract to build new trains and a maintenance depot for the Tyne and Wear Metro.

Aviation Industry

• IATA: No-deal Brexit contingency plan is essentialIATA expects significant disruption to air travel in case the UK leaves the European Union (EU) with no deal agreed on Brexit.
• IATA predicts airline profits to rise again in 2019 Supported by strong demand for travel and a decline in fuel costs, IATA expects airline industry profits to rise again in 2019 following a dip this year.
• Royal Air Maroc takes first Boeing 787-9 Moroccan carrier Royal Air Maroc (RAM) has taken delivery of its first Boeing 787-9, which will be deployed on routes such as Paris Orly, New York and Sao Paulo.

Other News Sources

• Rail partnership group has achieved a lot in two years Since the North Notts & Lincs Community Rail Partnership (NNLCRP) commenced in February 2017, it has achieved much without the benefit of an officer or money, writes Barry Coward.
• Government silent for two years on tram safety – MP JonesA tram safety board may not be established unless Government releases the required funding before the end of the year, a Commons debate called by the Croydon Central MP was told yesterday
• Proposed bus station shows town is on 'upward trend', council chief saysTHE plans for Dudley's proposed bus and tram interchange show the town is on an 'upward trend', the council's regeneration chief has said.
• ‘Dreadful, frustrating, appalling’ - campaigners call for better bus and rail links at north Norfolk stationCampaigners have described transport links at a north Norfolk railway station as “dreadful, frustrating, and appalling” as new figures reveal it gained 10,000 passengers over the past year.
• Oyster card extension to Radlett and Potters Bar welcomed by Hertsmere News that the Oyster card scheme is to be extended to two more train stations has been welcomed by Hertsmere Borough Council.
• 'Cycle fund' boost for rail station facilitiesMORE money is being made available to pay for better access and facilities for cyclists at railway stations.