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

Friday, 21 June 2019

BBC News

• 'Clean electricity' will dominate power supplyBritain is set to obtain more of its power from zero-carbon sources than from fossil fuels.
• The plane that can fly 600 miles on batteries aloneThe Israeli firm Eviation unveils a plane which can travel over 600 miles on battery power alone.
• Why the age of electric flight is finally upon usAir travel accounts for 2%-3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Are electric engines an answer?
• Plan to end trains dumping waste on Scotland's railwaysWaste tanks are to be fitted to high-speed ScotRail trains to stop sewage being dropped on to the railway line.
• Northern Powerhouse 'undermined' by austerity, five years onFive years since launch, more northern children live in

The Guardian

• Heathrow’s third runway plan beggars belief. So don’t expect Boris Johnson to block itThe strategy unveiled this week by the airport is monstrous – and the former London mayor has gone quiet about opposing it
• The Guardian view on buses: power to the passengersEver since they were deregulated, profits have come first. Manchester mayor Andy Burnham must now push back

The Independent

• New budget trains could ‘fragment’ European rail network, warn expertsExclusive: New Paris-Toulouse link is a downgraded TGV, described as ‘a budget airline on rails’
• Zero-carbon energy to power majority of UK's electricity generation for first time, says National GridCountry reaches a 'tipping point' as green energy surpasses fossil fuels

The Scotsman

• ScotRail’s new ‘museum piece’ trains may be about to be bannedScotRail’s decision to acquire a fleet of ageing InterCity 125 High Speed Trains (HSTs) means people are now travelling around the country in smokey museum pieces that may be banned from the rails within months

Times Online

• London bans cars for a day in the fight against air pollution [Subscription]Cars will be banned from more than 12 miles of central London roads under plans to encourage the adoption of green transport in the capital.

Parliament

• High Speed 2: the business case, costs and spendingThis paper shows that while HS2 will deliver significant capacity and connectivity improvements, there are alternatives available that deal with the capacity constraints on the West Coast Main Line at a much lower cost. This paper also reveals that concerns remain around the costs of HS2. The estimates at the time of the 2015 Spending Review put the cost at around £65 billion (in 2015 prices). The ambitions of HS2 Ltd are to reduce the costs of the infrastructure for Phase 2b by around 40% from the 2015 Spending Review estimate.

City AM

• Virgin boss urges ‘level playing field’ for airlines at expanded HeathrowMPs must launch an inquiry into the allocation of take-off and landing slots at an expanded Heathrow to ensure a “level playing field”, the boss of a leading airline has said.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Transport for the North politicians meet in Bradford to discuss future of railPOLITICIANS from across the North descended on Bradford today to discuss ways to boost the area’s rail network.

Bristol Live

• There should be a new railway station in Lockleaze - says Bristol MPA Bristol MP has argued a new railway station should be opened in Lockleaze as part of a major project to reopen the Henbury line to passengers.

London Evening Standard

• Photo of 'hero' woman in sunglasses sipping pink gin from wine glass on Tube goes viral... but sparks warning from TfLA photo of a woman elegantly sipping what appears to be a glass of gin while wearing sunglasses on the Tube has gone viral, but sparked a warning from TfL bosses today.

Newcastle Journal

• Fury over possible cuts to island bus servicesResidents warn drastic proposals to provide only a skeleton service will greatly harm the local economy, affect employment opportunities, threaten fragile rural areas and lead to depopulation.

North Wales Live

• Airbus at Paris Air Show: The full figures from a busy week of salesThe dismal start in orders for 2019 has been blown away after sales success in France

Other Regional Press

• 'Richmond Park could lose its peace if Heathrow's third runway gets built'That's the warning from a mental health expert who specialises in 'nature prescriptions'
• Authorities rule out bus alternative for Portishead railwayThe reopening of Portishead railway line is moving forward as planned, despite proposals which could slash the eye-watering costs.
• 'We are so pleased to see the initial vision come to life': Railway Station looks blooming marvellousThe station site has been brightened up by the addition of two nautical themed planting displays and a host of hanging baskets, which have helped to provide a much more attractive welcome to visitors.
• £700k track upgrade to improve freight and passenger train travelTRACK upgrades to the railway near Hartford will reduce delays for passengers and freight, Network Rail says.
• Government and Network Rail admit not engaging properly with arches tenants during sale in grilling by Meg HillierHackney South and Shoreditch MP Meg Hillier grilled Department for Transport chief Nick Joyce and Jeremy Westlake, chief financial officer of Network Rail, in her role as chair of the Public Accounts Committee this week.

Coach and Bus Week

• First Mellor bus for H.A.R.T is all electricHolderness Area Rural Transport (H.A.R.T) has taken delivery of a new Mellor Orion E electric bus as part of its service that connects the rural community.
• Iveco appoints Sascha Kaehne as UK & Ireland Business DirectorChanges at Iveco will see a new Business Director for the UK and Ireland range. This includes the Daily, a vehicle that covers the three to seven-tonne weight segment, and is widely used in the minibus sector

London TravelWatch

• East Coast upgradeNetwork Rail have just embarked on a programme to upgrade the East Coast Main Line to allow more trains to run and deliver quicker journeys across the route.

New Civil Engineer

• Highways England mandates machine control on projectsHighways England has mandated the use of machine control on all future earthwork projects, it has been revealed.
• Hammersmith Bridge decision will not be made until end of summerEnraged London commuters will have to wait a further two months before finding out how and when Hammersmith Bridge will be repaired.
• Heathrow's M25 engineering challenges revealedHeathrow expansion director Phil Wilbraham has lifted the lid on the engineering challenges which will see the M25 shifted 130m west, in a project he describes as a “massive civil engineering job”.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Challenging perceptions of apprenticeships in the rail industry with Anna DelvecchioRTM talks exclusively to one of the rising stars of the industry and Transport’s Woman of the Year 2018, Anna Delvecchio. Amey’s commercial account director, TransCityRail panellist and Rail Sector Deal co-lead, Delvecchio discusses her journey as an apprentice and how to...
• Leading Women in Rail campaigner Anna Delvecchio honoured with portrait plaque at London Transport MuseumAnna Delvecchio, the Rail Sector Deal co-lead and Amey’s commercial account director, has received unique recognition from the Rail Supply Group with a portrait of her unveiled at the London Transport Museum. Sir Peter Hendy, chairman of Network Rail and trustee of the museum, alongside...

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Flying the flag for green operationsWith an acute awareness of the impact transport can have on the environment, sustainability drives Timberbush tours to be environmentally-friendly ambassadors for the coach industry
• Birmingham and Leeds CAZ dates are delayedStatement blames late delivery of vehicle checker tool and transfer of charge collection responsibility
• New electric buses launches to connect rural communities in MorayA new electric bus service has been launched to connect rural communities by public transport in Moray.
• Rabbie’s ‘do more’ attitude raises £120,000Over the last 11 years, Rabbie’s has shown its commitment to sustainable travel and environmental protection with its range of “positive initiatives”.
• Oxford Bus Company trials Enviro200EV demoThe Oxford Bus Company is trialling an electric bus in service for the second time, as part of its continued research into green technology.
• Coventry-based Travel de Courcey sees £3m depot upgradeTravel de Courcey has doubled the size of its Coventry headquarters after investing £3m in a state-of-the-art depot.
• Should CAZ disarray really be a surprise to many?Operators that were to be affected by the Birmingham or Leeds Clean Air Zones (CAZs) will be in two minds whether to laugh or cry at news that neither will be implemented when planned.

Transport Network

• Expansion at what cost? Heathrow publishes masterplanHeathrow Airport has launched its masterplan for a third runway, with measures to manage emissions and noise but few concrete proposals for public transport improvements.

Aviation Industry

• PARIS 2019: Siemens deal boosts Rolls’ electric-propulsion plansAs aerospace accelerates toward a more electric future, Rolls-Royce has secured a jumpstart on its strategic goals in the sector with the surprise acquisition of Siemens’ electric and hybrid-electric aerospace propulsion unit. read more
• PARIS 2019: Airbus still hopes to secure IAG narrowbody order Airbus has not yet given up on securing a major narrowbody order from International Airlines Group (IAG) flipping a commitment announced by the company for the Boeing 737 MAX earlier this week. read more
• PARIS 2019 BLOG: Air transport industry confidence on display The fourth and final trade show day saw a handful of additional Airbus narrowbody orders or conversions, closing a show that was relatively light on new airliner order numbers—as anticipated—but which still delivered some surprises. read more

Other News Sources

• Bus firm Trentbarton in plea for new systems to ease congestionThe company claims bus travel takes a third longer than 10 years ago
• MP Harriett Baldwin urges train company to ease overcrowding on Worcester-Birmingham routeHarriett Baldwin, MP for West Worcestershire, is urging rail operator West Midland Railways to ease carriage congestion after complaints from travellers about overcrowding on the line.
• Canterbury West station to benefit from £104k investment in brand new cycle-hub facilityRail passengers using Canterbury West station will soon benefit from improved cycle parking facilities as part of a £6.8 million investment by Government to fund extra bike spaces at railway stations across the country and incorporate cycling into their journeys.