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

Thursday, 21 February 2019

BBC News

• M4 relief road: Businesses say decision is 'urgently needed'The lack of progress is
• CO2 emissions from UK housing 'go up'Greenhouse gas emissions from your heating boiler are fuelling climate change.
• Trump seeks to recoup 'wasted' California high-speed rail fundsThe administration plans on ending funds for what Mr Trump calls a
• 'Sustained' drone attack closed Gatwick, airport saysGatwick's decision to suspend operations was taken after a risk assessment with police, authorities say.

The Guardian

• Drone no-fly zone to be widened at airports after Gatwick chaosPolice given powers to stop and search and use warrant to access drone electronic data
• Seeking value for money on the UK’s railwaysPaul Plummer, CEO of the Rail Delivery Group, says its proposals would enable radical simplification of fares.

The Independent

• King’s Cross is London’s most stressful tube stationThe stop was followed by Bank and Monument, Stratford and Waterloo
• Are hydrogen-powered trains the future?Fuel cells are being touted as an alternative to costly electrification – but no one knows if they'll really be cheaper, says Brian Scott-Quinn

The Scotsman

• Calls to ditch Edinburgh tram ’vanity project’ and use £90 million for public servicesEdinburgh’s controversial tram extension has been labelled a “vanity project” amid fresh calls for it to be scrapped to free up £90m for public services as part of alternative budget proposals.
• Scottish drivers who break 20mph ’should be sent on awareness course’Drivers who break Scotland's planned new 20mph speed limits should be sent on speed awareness courses rather than being fined, a motoring group urged MSPs today.

The Telegraph

• Flybe rejects attempt to gatecrash Virgin-led takeover [Subscription]Flybe has rejected a last-ditch attempt to gatecrash its 1p-a-share sale to a consortium led by Virgin Atlantic.
• Scottish council leaders urged to rule out workplace parking tax ahead of Budget vote [Subscription]Scotland's council leaders have been urged to rule out introducing a workplace parking tax ahead of a vote on an SNP Budget deal that includes the new levy.

Times Online

• Police believe airport insider was behind Gatwick drone chaos [subscription]The drone attack that brought Gatwick to a standstill before Christmas is believed to have been an “inside job”, according to Whitehall sources.
• Cut and run for the train [Subscription]Many a jobbing actor hopes to save money on hotels by being able to get home after an evening performance at a provincial theatre.
• New port expansion to double Tilbury’s capacity [Subscription]The Port of Tilbury on the Thames in Essex has been given the green light for a £200 million expansion.
• Workplace parking levy branded a tax on jobs [subscription]Scotland’s largest trade union has called the office parking levy a “tax on workers for turning up to work” and urged councils not to use it.

City AM

• Billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe met with Prime Minister over 4x4 vehicle planPrime Minister Theresa May has held talks with Sir Jim Ratcliffe about his ventures as the businessman reportedly looks to take parts of his fortune abroad.

Network Rail

• Greater Manchester has been an integral part of The Great North Rail Project - multi-billion pound improvements in the north of England. We’ve made a string of upgrades to its busiest station - Manchester Piccadilly - to improve the overall experience for passengers. In the coming months, we’ll deliver even more.

Belfast Telegraph

• P&O Ferries snapped up by DP World for £322mDP World, which also operates container ports in London and Southampton, said it will aim to drive efficiency savings at P&O once the deal is complete.
• Translink withdraws Belfast bus service after fourth night of attacks by stone throwing youthsA trade union representing bus drivers has hit out after a Belfast bus service was attacked by youths for the fourth night in a row.
• Lurgan railway closures as improvements startThe railway line at Lurgan will be closed this weekend ahead of major investment and infrastructure works to be carried out later this year.

Bristol Live

• New bus lane and safety improvements for key Bristol routeMuller Road is the newest route where the council is looking to make improvements

Manchester Evening News

• The no-fly zone for drones around Manchester Airport has been extendedUnder current laws only a one-kilometre restriction is in place

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Demolishing the Gateshead Flyover, cutting access to Central Motorway and other ideas to clean up Tyneside's airAfter plans for a Tyne bridges toll or a clean air zone, we look at the other options being considered by council chiefs in the North East

Wales Online

• £750,000 fund set up to save bus services being axed by Cardiff BusCardiff council is to set aside £750,000 to save some bus services in line to be axed by Cardiff Bus.
• New Merthyr Tydfil bus station construction to start this yearThe Welsh Government is committing £10m of funding to the planned Merthyr Tydfil bus station

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Former Wolverhampton bus depot site receives £21 million transformationCouncillors hailed the project for being a catalyst for the regeneration of the area

Londonist

• TfL Is Launching An On-Demand Bus ServiceTfL will trial an on-demand bus service, where passengers can book their seat using an app. It'll be rolled out for a whole year in Sutton — an area of London, which relies heavily on cars.

Other Regional Press

• Plans for four trains an hour between Ebbw Vale and CardiffIMPROVEMENTS to rail services in Ebbw Vale have moved a step closer today, with the number of trains running between the town and Cardiff potentially set to increase.
• South Wales Metro support schemes for Gwent given green light by Cardiff Capital Region City DealPLANS to establish improved rail and bus infrastructure in Gwent will be explored to support the wider South Wales Metro scheme.
• Campaigner says Osborne Street bus station 'left to fall apart’A CAMPAIGNER has called for action to improve the state of Colchester’s bus station with toilets closing early due to antisocial behaviour and the waiting room shutting due to technical faults.
• Night bus across Mersey set to be SCRAPPEDTHE only late-night bus crossing the River Mersey from Liverpool to Wirral is set to be axed because Stagecoach says it’s operating at a loss.
• Windsor Rail Link rail plan gets a surprise boostTHE businessman behind the controversial Windsor Link rail plan believes it could be back on track - two months after a seemingly fatal rejection by the Government.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Former Carillion Rail boss appointed to lead Amey's rail businessThe former managing director of Carillion Rail has been appointed as the new head of Amey’s rail business. Andy Joy will take on the role of sector director at Amey’s rail business after previously holding the role of managing director of Carillion Rail and working as its national...
• Shepton Mallet railway station and services could be restored under new visionNational rail services could be restored to a Somerset town after the local authority unveiled a new vision for the rail route. Shepton Mallet’s current nearest mainline station is Castle Cary which is over seven miles away, but new stations and a bypass have been proposed in a business...
• East West Rail makes 'powerful case' for direct services from Ipswich and Norwich to OxfordA direct rail link between Ipswich, Norwich and Oxford could unlock £17.5bn for the East Anglia community, according to a case for investment from the East West Rail Consortium (EWRC). A new report publishing by the consortium outlines the benefits of new East West rail services, including...

Railway Gazette

• DB to spend €10·7bn on infrastructure this yearGERMANY: Plans to spend €10·7bn on infrastructure and station works during 2019 were announced by Deutsche Bahn on February 20.

Aviation Industry

• La Compagnie details plans for A321neo serviceFrench all-business class transatlantic airline La Compagnie said it will begin Airbus A321neo service between Paris and the New York area on June 6 after taking delivery of the first of its two new Airbus aircraft in May.
• Air France-KLM's 2018 profit more than doubles despite difficult yearThe Air France-KLM Group reported a 2018 net profit of £409 million ($468 million), more than doubled from €163 million for 2017, on a 2.5% year-over-year (YOY) increase in revenue to £26.5 billion.
• EU calls on ICAO to agree to long-term aviation climate plan The European Union (EU) has called on ICAO to agree at its assembly in September to a long-term goal to address the aviation industry's increasing carbon-dioxide emissions.

Other News Sources

• New chairman unveiled at Leeds Bradford AirportA former chief executive of Asda has been appointed as the new chairman of Leeds Bradford Airport.
• Cammell Laird reaches milestone on Solent ferry projectMerseyside shipbuilder Cammell Laird has reached the latest milestone on a £10m ferry project, with the finished vessel set to provide year-round freight capacity for a route between Southampton and East Cowes.
• Gloucester school bus firm sanctioned after "serious failings" in maintaining vehiclesGloucester Minibuses operates five school bus services
• Cars to be banned from Fleming Way if 'bus boulevard' scheme is approvedA NEW ’bus boulevard’ in Fleming Way will see cars and lorries banned from the town centre route.
• First look at HS2’s Washwood Heath depot siteAhead of High Speed Two (HS2) Limited beginning construction of a train maintenance depot in Washwood Heath, demolition of a former railway works in Birmingham is now well underway.