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

Tuesday, 18 June 2019

BBC News

• Electrification hope encourages Borders Railway extension ambitionThe electrification of the Borders Railway would make the viability of extending the route to Carlisle "far better", according to campaigners.
• 'Walkway' rail station plan for Magor as M4 relief road scrappedResidents of a village affected by the scrapping of the M4 relief road want to build a station there.
• Swansea crash death victim's mum calls for A4067 speed camerasNearly 3,000 people back calls for speed cameras on a road that saw 31 collisions from 2014 to 2018.
• How a struggling airline went soaring through the cloudAir Malta managed to turn its business around after two decades of losses and soar with the big boys and girls in the airline industry. But how?
• Inside Heathrow's high-tech baggage systemHeathrow's luggage system handles 180,000 items per day. Tom Burridge takes a look inside.
• Talks expected over Aberdeen International Airport disputeThe action in Aberdeen follows stalled talks between the airport owners and union on pay and pensions.
• Airbus A220: Belfast wing factory to benefit from new orderUS company announces plans to purchase 50 Airbus A220s, the wings of which are made in Belfast.
• South Western Railway workers begin five-day strikeLondon commuters and racegoers at Royal Ascot are advised to check details of trains online.
• Experts cast doubt over Highlands spaceport planConcerns have been raised over the suitability of a site in Sutherland aiming to become the UK's first major spaceport.
• Jet Airways lenders plan insolvency proceedingsWhat was once India's biggest private carrier is saddled with $1bn of debt and has been seeking a buyer.
• Heathrow reveals expansion 'masterplan'Plans for a third runway, as well as new terminals to be built in phases, go out to public consultation.

ITV News

• Boaty McBoatface makes significant discovery on debut research missionThe yellow submarine dubbed Boaty McBoatface has returned from its first expedition with data which links increasing Antarctic winds to rising sea temperatures.
• Islanders to march for free bus travel in JerseyEnvironmental campaigners will lead a march today to support free bus travel in Jersey. Deputy Rob Ward has lodged a proposition to make taking the bus free for school children initially from September, then rolling the idea out to everyone in the island by 2020. It will be debated in the States today.

The Guardian

• European car sales rise for the first time in nine months - business liveNew car sales rose by 0.1% in May as a jump in demand in Germany and France offset falls in the UK, Spain and Italy
• Next prime minister will commit to crucial HS2, says Greg ClarkLeadership candidates must realise controversial rail link is key to northern prosperity
• Hedgehogs ahead! New sign warns drivers of animals on roadsLaunch welcomed by nature and motoring groups hoping to cut deaths and accidents

The Independent

• Loss-making bus firm 'pauses' operations amid funding searchThe concept involves aggregating demand from passengers and running services only when they are viable

The Telegraph

• Heathrow reveals 'masterplan' as it launches public consultation over expansionHeathrow Airport is urging people to take part in a consultation about its expansion as bosses reveal their "preferred masterplan".

Times Online

• Toxic air in class leaves pupils at risk of dizziness and headaches [subscription ]Schoolchildren risk dizziness and headaches from high levels of air pollution in classrooms, a study has found.
• Network Rail in line to take control of trains in major overhaul [subscription]Network Rail could be given new powers over trains in the biggest overhaul of the railways for 25 years. The Times has learnt that a government review is considering handing greater control to Network Rail, which currently operates the tracks, in an attempt to improve performance.
• Noise pollution isn’t just annoying. It affects your health and takes years off your lifeStress, heart disease, diabetes — aural environmental pollution has a huge impact on our health and that of other animals, scientists tell Harry Wallop

Sky News

• Consultation on Heathrow's expansion 'masterplan'A consultation has been launched on the "preferred masterplan" for Heathrow Airport's expansion.

Bristol Live

• Major changes to bus lanes set for go ahead todayThe plans will be discussed by Bristol City Council's cabinet later today
• Rail passengers promised 'faster trains and refunds if they don't get a seat' A new operator has made a bid to run trains between Bristol Parkway and London which would be 'faster and offer passengers 50 per cent refunds if they failed to get a seat'.

London Evening Standard

• South Western Railway strike: Royal Ascot racegoers face travel chaos as five-day walkout gets under wayThousands of racegoers heading to Royal Ascot face travel chaos this week as a five-day strike in the long-running dispute over guards on trains gets under way.
• Heathrow Airport launches consultation on third runway plansHeathrow Airport has launched a consultation on its expansion plans.

Sheffield Star

• South Yorkshire bus strike set to take place on same day as popular Sheffield gin festivalBus drivers in South Yorkshire are set to go on strike on the same day a popular gin festival takes place in Sheffield.

North Wales Live

• Airbus highlights from the first day of Paris Air ShowThe headline included the launch of the long range A321XLR and

Other Regional Press

• Bins to be installed on Purbeck Breezers as bus company joins littering campaignA BUS company has joined forces with an environmental group in a bid to keep Purbeck litter free

Construction Enquirer

• Buckingham bags relief road for HS2 villageBuckingham Group has won a package of traffic improvement schemes for one of HS2’s main construction site traffic routes.

New Civil Engineer

• Ex-HS2 boss investigated for role on California high speed railFormer High Speed 2 Ltd (HS2 Ltd) chief executive Roy Hill is under investigation for his role on California’s £61bn ($77bn) high speed rail line.
• Aecom, Balfour and Morgan Sindall bag spots on public-private frameworkScape Group has unveiled the winners on its next generation of “Venture” frameworks, set up to deliver support public-private partnerships.
• HS2 | Millions saved on materials at Old Oak Common stationWSP and Expedition Engineering have recorded massive cost and material savings at HS2’s Old Oak Common station.
• Stadium, station and bridge plans backed by West of England fundThe West of England Combined Authority (WECA) has approved a raft of transport improvements totalling £350M which includes developing plans for four new railway stations, a new stadium and bridge replacement.
• Rory Stewart prioritises northern infrastructure in Tory leadership bidConservative leadership contender Rory Stewart has prioritised “infrastructure, the Northern Powerhouse and transport links in the north” as top priorities for the country, outside of Brexit.
• Heathrow launches consultation on expansion planHeathrow Airport Ltd has launched a 12-week statutory consultation on its plans to expand the airport.

The Business Desk

• Bus and coach company avoids relocation after resolving lease issueA Coventry bus and coach company has avoided the need to relocate its operation and 300 staff out of the city after negotiating a new lease which has enabled it to double the size of its headquarters in a £3m investment.

Aviation Industry

• Federal judge orders American Airlines mechanics to end work slowdownA federal judge in Northern Texas has issued a temporary restraining order instructing the unions representing American Airlines mechanics to end their support for an alleged work slowdown that the Dallas/Fort Worth-based carrier claims has resulted in hundreds of flight cancellations since February.
• PARIS 2019 BLOG: A quiet opening to what could be a quiet weekThe Paris Air Show has opened with no surprises and relatively few new airliner orders. This will likely be the pattern for the week.

Other News Sources

• Heathrow reveals masterplan for expansion with launch of its largest consultationToday, Heathrow launches its 12-week statutory consultation on expansion, the latest milestone in delivering this critical national infrastructure project, as the preferred masterplan for the project is unveiled.
• Transport for London just cut its bus services. You probably didn’t notice.One of the biggest changes to London’s buses happened on Sunday 16 June – although Londoners won’t have realised the full implications until the following morning, when they tried to go about their morning commutes. Then, they might have been surprised and angered with how inconvenient the service has become.
• The 20 most - and least - popular London stationsThis very cool map illustrates the numbers of people at each station