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

Friday, 08 March 2019

BBC News

• Scrapped flight tax could divert 'million passengers' from Bristol to CardiffBristol Airport warns it could lose a million passengers a year if Wales scrapped air passenger duty.
• Google spin-off Waymo to sell Lidar it fought Uber onThe self-driving car division of Google is to sell its Lidar units to other industries but not car-makers.
• Ryanair cuts flights from Belfast International AirportThe airline says is it reducing its winter schedule at Belfast International Airport.
• School transport allowance cut for more than 1,200 NI pupilsMore than 1,200 NI pupils have had their home-to-school transport allowance cut by more than £200.
• Gemini Rail depot in Glasgow to close with loss of 120 jobsGemini Rail blamed the closure of its site at Springburn in Glasgow on falling orders.
• How to hijack a car via its smart alarmSecurity researchers show how to take control of a car via bugs in their smart alarm systems.
• New summer rail timetables set for MayRail bosses promise they have

Department for Transport

• Transport ministers call on industry to become leaders in gender equalityMinisters seek to drive positive change for women in the transport industry.

The Guardian

• How to get more women cycling in citiesTo cut greenhouse gas emissions we need to increase cyclist numbers and that means getting more women on their bikes

The Scotsman

• More park and ride sites urged ahead of vehicle curbs in Scottish citiesMeasures to encourage commuters to leave their cars away from pollution hotspots must be made before planned low emission zones trigger vehicle curbs in Scottish cities, MSPs urged today.

The Telegraph

• 'Lessons learned' from rail chaos as train timetable changes set for May [Subscription]Rail authorities say they have "learned the lessons" of last year's chaos as they prepare to roll out more timetable changes.

Times Online

• 1,000 new trains bring fears of chaos [Subscription]More than 1,000 new trains will be introduced to the rail network this summer in the biggest shake-up of timetables since the meltdown of services 12 months ago.
• New ScotRail trains to boost city links [Subscription]More than 1,000 new trains will be introduced to the rail network this summer in a shake-up of services.

City AM

• UK matches EU offer to protect flying rights in event of no-deal BrexitThe UK government has said it will match the EU's offer to protect flying rights in the event of a no-deal Brexit, allowing planes to take off unhindered after 29 March.

Liverpool Echo

• 24,000 jobs and £15bn: The other huge benefits Liverpool will get from HS2It won't just mean journey times of 22 and 85 minutes to Manchester and London respectively...

London Evening Standard

• Eurostar in chaos for second day as French customs staff continue Brexit drillCross-Channel train services were thrown into chaos again today as militant French trade unions staged a
• TfL pair signed off bogus Oyster card claims by passengers to steal £15,000Two Transport for London call centre workers stole more than £15,000 by signing off dozens of bogus claims for Oyster card refunds, a court heard.
• Euston station delays: Huge disruption at major London transport hub following 'trespasser' on tracksCommuters at Euston station were facing huge disruption on Thursday due to a
• UK passport website crashes amid mad renewal rush after Brits warned they risk being barred from EU countries in no-deal Brexit scenarioThe UK Passport Office website crashed after 3.5 million Brits were told to renew their documents to guarantee travel in Europe in the case of a no-deal Brexit.

Manchester Evening News

• Plans to get Oldham's only train station disabled access are now at riskPeople in wheelchairs, with pushchairs or carrying heavy luggage currently struggle or are unable to travel from Greenfield station in Saddleworth as they have to cross a footbridge to change platforms

Yorkshire Post

• Tracy Brabin: Why I love the buses and how they could be so much better in West Yorkshire OVER the past year the conversation around public transport has seen problems with the rail network grabbing all the headlines. Which, considering the chaos we’ve endured in Yorkshire on our underfunded and long-neglected rail network owing to government ineptitude, is hardly surprising.

Cambridge News

• More than a thousand people in this town want a rail service to CambridgeIt's a town talked about more for its struggling market than its booming businesses.

Other Regional Press

• Former HS2 chairman tells Lords Euston works ‘too complex’ and should be put on iceSir Terry Morgan says managers should 'disconnect Euston' from first phase of railway
• Half of Northern trains have now been refurbishedNorthern, which runs Bolton's rail services, has been systematically updating its stock and this week completed the refurbishment work on the123rd train.

Coach and Bus Week

• First Glasgow receives warning from Traffic CommissionerIn a written decision, First Glasgow has been issued a formal warning by the Traffic Commissioner (TC), after a crash that occurred with one of its vehicles on 28 April 2018.
• ‘The UK is mad’ (and other topics)Around 150 members of the Coach Tourism Association gathered in Cambridge at the end of February for the trade body’s annual conference and workshop. On the agenda, Brexit, ULEZ and city tourism. Stuart Render reports
• Reading Buses acquires Courtney BusesReading Buses have agreed terms to purchase local independent operator Courtney Buses.
• Transport Focus’ five steps for the future of the coach industry“It doesn’t come into my head,” commented one passenger. “I don’t know where I’d get the coach from. I just see these buses go past and I don’t know where you’d get on”

New Civil Engineer

• Costain Crossrail work at Bond Street ‘not late’, says WyllieDeparting Costain chief executive Andrew Wyllie has insisted that his company’s work on Crossrail’s Bond Street station is “not late”, despite project bosses drawing up contigency plans to open the line without the staiton in operation.
• New Heathrow rail link proposedAn Oxford MP has proposed a rail link between Heathrow Airport and Oxford. Wantage MP Ed Vaizey tabled the idea with rail minister Andrew Jones during talks to reopen Grove railway station in Oxfordshire.

Rail Technology Magazine

• New six-carriage Northern trains pushed back two years due to delayed upgrade worksThe delivery of Northern’s new six-carriage trains at Leeds station has been delayed by two years due to separate delays to Network Rail upgrades. The longer trains were due to be introduced at the end of this year, but due to delays to the installation of longer platforms at Leeds station...
• Springburn rail depot's closure confirmed with up to 200 jobs lost labelled a 'betrayal' of Scottish rail industry Gemini Rail has confirmed the closure of the Springburn depot, meaning up to 200 jobs will now be lost in Glasgow, with unions calling it a “betrayal” of the Scottish rail industry. The rail maintenance company revealed its proposals to close the St Rollox depot in December to uproar...
• £50m plans for transport projects to support South Wales metro unveiledA £50m programme of local transport projects to support the South Wales Metro has been proposed. The Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) City Deal has produced the plans for the scheme in collaboration with the Welsh Government and Transport for Wales (TfW) and could see every local authority in...

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• An ‘outstanding’ year for coach reveals National Express GroupPassenger growth due to improved services sees revenue increase for the Group in 2018
• Operators round on Burnham's proposed GM CAZ£100 charge proposed for non-compliant coaches and buses from 2021 draws scorn from the industry
• Operators round on Burnham's proposed GM CAZ£100 charge proposed for non-compliant coaches and buses from 2021 draws scorn from the industry

Aviation Industry

• Eurowings in talks to consolidate AOCs Lufthansa’s lower cost affiliate Eurowings has initiated talks with its various unions about merging its various air operator’s certificates (AOCs) to gain efficiencies after a period of strong growth. read more
• Wizz Air takes delivery of first A321neoCentral and Eastern European LCC Wizz Air has taken delivery of the first of 184 Airbus A321neos it has on order at Airbus’s Hamburg final assembly plant. read more
• A4E: Brexit could unlock EU passenger rights reform The UK’s exit from the European Union (Brexit) has the potential to unlock long-awaited reform of Europe’s passenger rights rules. read more

Other News Sources

• Andover rail improvements set to arrive a day lateRAIL users are on track to benefit from extra services through Andover – but due to planned maintenance their introduction will be delayed.