Breaking News
The Yorkshire Post says: When will you act, Minister? Pledges needed on rail services
FIRST the good news. Rail Minister Andrew Jones did turn up for the latest Parliamentary debate on the unacceptable state of the region’s train services in contrast to 14 out of 17 Tory MPs from Yorkshire who were absent. Either they all had a very good reason – or they believe that the issue is not relevant to their constituents.
Strong ‘appetite’ for private investment in Heathrow rail links [subscription]
There is “significant appetite” from the private sector to invest in Heathrow rail links from the south and west, according to the government’s market sounding reports.
Noise caps could stop lives of residents near Heathrow becoming 'nightmare'
Campaigners fighting the Heathrow expansion hope airport noise caps come into force before their “nightmares become a reality”.
Thursday, 20 December 2018
BBC News
- Gatwick Airport: Drone sightings trigger disruptionPassengers are warned to expect more disruption after flights were grounded and diverted overnight.
- Elon Musk unveils prototype high-speed LA transport tunnelThe entrepreneur says his system will see modified electric cars travel at high speed underground.
- Ayr train service resumes after hotel safety fearsRail services through Ayr have been disrupted since August, when a hotel next to the town's station was found to be unsafe.
- Northern rail strikes: New year strikes announcedUnion members at Northern will strike throughout January in a dispute about guards, the RMT says.
The Guardian
- ‘Just make the trains run on time’: Germans turn on Deutsche BahnCancelled trains and lengthy delays have turned a once-trusted railway system into a source of national shame
- Northern Rail asks Acas to intervene in row with RMT over guardsRail operator asks arbitration service to establish inquiry into issues at heart of two-year dispute
- Gatwick airport suspends flights after reports of dronesPlanes diverted for safety reasons after claims of two pilotless devices near runway
The Independent
- HS2 accused of inadequate planning as company prepares to commit ‘unacceptable’ damage to wildlife‘On the evidence we have been given, this phase will result in an unacceptable level of damage to wildlife along the route’
Times Online
- Brexit: Travel, trade and border chaos loom as Brussels battens down hatches for no dealEU rules out measures to cushion British business
- Uber to pay congestion charge in Sadiq Khan’s crackdown on London pollution [Subscription]Uber drivers will be charged to enter central London under a new crackdown on traffic and pollution levels, it was announced today.
- SFO lands bribery conviction of Alstom director [subscription]A director at the UK office of a French rail transport business was convicted yesterday of attempting to win a €240 million contract by bribing Lithuanian politicians.
- Spanish railway joins China’s HS2 bid [Subscription]The race to run HS2 has gained another competitor in the form of Renfe, the state-owned Spanish railway.
- Flybe could still land deal with VirginFlybe could become part of the aviation partnership between Air France-KLM, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic after Virgin confirmed that talks about a takeover of the struggling airline are continuing.
London Evening Standard
- March of the 'Turdis': Forty stainless steel lavatories for bus drivers planned on London's streetsOne appeared in an conservation area of special historic interest . Another was dubbed the Turdis by furious residents when it popped up in their quiet street. Now the full scale of the
- Central London congestion charge: Uber and all other minicabs will be made to pay Ł11.50 from AprilMinicabs will be forced to pay the congestion charge in a bid to ease traffic jams and improve air quality in central London, Sadiq Khan announced today.
- Toilets in London stations run by Network Rail to be free from April Toilet charges will be scrapped at some of London's busiest railway stations from April 1.
- Gatwick disruption latest: Chaos enters day two after more drone sightings spark second security alertThousands of plane passengers are expected to face more chaos today after all flights were grounded at Gatwick as two drones were spotted flying over the airfield.
- Gatwick flights disruption live: Updates as multiple drone sightings cause busy airport's runway to close Thousands of plane passengers are expected to face more chaos today after all flights were grounded at Gatwick when drones were spotted flying over the airfield.
Newcastle Evening Chronicle
- Anger as Ł16m cycle scheme focuses on affluent areas of Gosforth, Jesmond and the city centreCouncillors have complained that the project is too focused on areas like Gosforth, Jesmond and the city centre
Yorkshire Evening Post
- Sir Peter Hendy: How Yorkshire rail passengers will benefit from Christmas repair programme READERS of The Yorkshire Post will know only too well that recent train performance across the region and indeed, throughout the country, has not been good enough.
Yorkshire Post
- The Yorkshire Post says: When will you act, Minister? Pledges needed on rail servicesFIRST the good news. Rail Minister Andrew Jones did turn up for the latest Parliamentary debate on the unacceptable state of the region’s train services in contrast to 14 out of 17 Tory MPs from Yorkshire who were absent. Either they all had a very good reason – or they believe that the issue is not relevant to their constituents.
Other Regional Press
- Get on your bike and have your say on plans for Aberdeen’s new cycle linkAberdeen City Council has launched an online consultation on plans for the design of a new cycle link.
- Councillor labels Helensburgh to Dumbarton cycle path delay 'an embarrassment'THE delay in delivering the Helensburgh to Dumbarton cycle path has been labelled “an embarrassment” to Argyll and Bute Council by a long-serving member.
- Commuters are not impressed with all the scaffolding in Leeds Train StationWorks are underway to install a new transparent roof in the main concourse of the station
New Civil Engineer
- Strong ‘appetite’ for private investment in Heathrow rail links [subscription]There is “significant appetite” from the private sector to invest in Heathrow rail links from the south and west, according to the government’s market sounding reports.
Rail Magazine
- TSGN franchise under reviewGovernment is actively considering the future of the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchise, according to Rail Minister Andrew Jones.
Rail Technology Magazine
- Northern calls for formal ACAS inquiry over bitter RMT disputeNorthern Rail has formally written to ACAS seeking an independent inquiry into its ongoing dispute with the RMT, with the union calling the move a “nothing more than a publicity stunt.” The train operator says it wants an inquiry into the “issues at the heart of the RMT’s...
- Greater Anglia to ditch First Class travel from 2020Greater Anglia is to scrap First Class travel on most of its services from January 2020 in order to create more room for Standard Class passengers. The train operator will also be bringing in new and longer trains from the end of next year, designed following feedback from customers and...
Aviation Industry
- Sweden airports want mandatory biofuel requirement Swedish airports operator Swedavia is calling for the country’s new environmental aviation tax to be replaced with a mandatory requirement for fuel suppliers to provide a certain amount of biofuel to airlines. read more
- European Commission offers no-deal Brexit contingency plan Contingency proposals put forward by the European Commission would only guarantee the temporary continuation of “basic” point-to-point air transport services between the UK and the European Union (EU), in the event of a no-deal Brexit. read more
- Virgin Atlantic continues to review Flybe takeoverUK long-haul carrier Virgin Atlantic is continuing to evaluate a possible takeover of UK regional airline Flybe, although a deal is yet to be struck.UK long-haul carrier Virgin Atlantic is continuing to evaluate a possible takeover of UK regional airline Flybe, although a deal has not yet been reached. read more
- Budapest Airport secures $226 million loanHungary’s Budapest Airport has secured a €200 million ($226 million) loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to fund a terminal expansion project, as it pushes ahead with a new Asian growth strategy. read more
Other News Sources
- Liberal Democrats welcome unanimous vote at full councilEaling Council has voted unanimously for the first time against the expansion of Heathrow airport. Liberal Democrat Councillors, Gary Malcolm and Jon Ball, who have been campaigning against the development for over 11 years spoke in a motion about the airport at the full council meeting on Tuesday 18th December.
- Noise caps could stop lives of residents near Heathrow becoming 'nightmare'Campaigners fighting the Heathrow expansion hope airport noise caps come into force before their “nightmares become a reality”.
- Alex Chalk raises issue of Gloucestershire rail fare 'injustice' in Commons as season ticket prices reach over Ł10,000The comment came after season ticket prices rose to over Ł10,000 for travel to the capital
- Forth Valley MSP raises Scotrail issues in meetingA local MSP’s met with ScotRail’s Operations Director, to discuss recent travel chaos for passengers travelling to and from the Forth Valley.
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