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

Saturday, 22 June 2019

BBC News

• Air pollution: Trial M4 50mph limits made permanentThe trial on five stretches of the M4 and A-roads is to be made permanent.
• River Thames cycle and pedestrian bridge plan droppedThe crossing was intended to be a car-free route between Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf.
• Businesses push government to complete HS2 railwayBusiness leaders have written a letter urging the next prime minister to commit to completing HS2.
• The 'chaos' that nearly derailed HornbyThe model maker's boss says he removed the firm's senior managers as they did not understand the business.

The Guardian

• Trainline valued at nearly £2bn after first trading dayShares rose by as much as 18% after float bucked the recent trend of weak stock market debuts

The Independent

• British Airways, KLM and Lufthansa among airlines to avoid Iran-controlled Gulf airspaceAirlines act on US warning about danger to overflights

The Telegraph

• 'Overpriced' Trainline soars as shares start tradinghares in Trainline surged by a quarter as they began trading in London on Friday but a leading analyst attacked the ticketing app's £1.7bn valuation as "overpriced".

Times Online

• Ryanair passengers could sue airline over fees [Subscription]Ryanair could be sued by passengers over “disproportionate” fees of up to £115 to correct spelling mistakes on bookings or to print out boarding passes, according to the aviation watchdog.
• Classroom pollution to be tackled through Ofsted-style inspections [Subscription]Reviews of air pollution in schools, similar to Ofsted inspections, will be launched for the first time amid mounting concerns over the effect of toxic fumes on pupils’ health and education.
• Heathrow plan does not add up [Subscription]Noise. Air pollution. Gridlock on the roads. Not everyone’s a fan of Heathrow’s “£14 billion” third runway: the one that’s adding at least 50 million passengers and re-routing 12 lanes of the M25 without, apparently, any disruption, environmental damage or extra costs to travellers.
• Trainline becomes latest tech darling after runaway debut [Subscription]Trainline has become the latest technology company to have its shares rise sharply on their first day of trading after the stellar debut of Slack, the workplace messaging service.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Business leaders' letter calls for pledges on HS2SOME of the most prominent business organisations have all come together to sign an open letter calling on the next Prime Minister to publicly commit to completing HS2 in its entirety.

London Evening Standard

• Firebrand RMT boss Mick Cash faces leadership challenge from an even more militant rivalThe firebrand RMT chief who has promoted rail and Tube strikes faces a leadership challenge – but the bad news for commuters is that the challenger is even more militant.

Northern Echo

• New cycle stations in County Durham aim to encourages bike and book lovers alikeBOOK worms and cyclists will be able to get their fix as libraries install improved cycle parking. The Durham County Council Love Reading, Love Cycling initiative encourages greener modes of transport, bringing together active travel, the joy of reading and the use of libraries as social hubs, to increase health and well-being.
• Future prime minister urged to back HS2THE most prominent business voices in the region have come together to urge the next Prime Minister to publicly commit to completing HS2.

Wales Online

• The fancy cycle shelter 'no-one asked for, wanted or hardly ever uses' in this Swansea communityThis is the shiny new cycle shelter erected when it wasn’t wanted - and which isn’t used, according to the town’s deputy mayor. Pontarddulais town councillor David Beynon claimed there was no demand for the facility in the first place.

North Wales Live

• Fears free transport axe will put learning in Welsh at riskThere is concern that scrapping the service could leave some without the freedom to study in their own language

Other Regional Press

• New cycle route between Finsbury Park and Highbury Fields welcomed as ‘a leap forward’Consultation is launched over 'cycleway' that would link Finsbury Park and Highbury Fields
• Renfrewshire politicians back plans to re-regulate bus servicesBUS services in Renfrewshire could return to council ownership amid claims passengers are being let down by the current system.
• Hitachi remains in the running for Tyne and Wear Metro dealA NORTH-EAST train builder remains in the running to build a new fleet of Tyne and Wear Metro trains. Nexus, the public body which owns and manages the Tyne and Wear Metro, has announced that Newton Aycliffe-based Hitachi is one of the three firms that remain in the running to design, build and maintain its new train fleet.
• How Midland Mainline trains will soon lookThe new Midland Mainline rail operator has revealed the name and branding for its service
• ‘Exasperated’ Peterborough mayor hits out at train operator as he calls for new Peterborough to Cambridgeshire shuttle to boost Fenland stationsMayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough James Palmer is calling on the Government to allow the county’s mayoral authority to have sign-off rights in the awarding of any new rail franchises covering the area.

Rail Advent

• Virgin Trains opens its ‘Calm Corner’irgin Trains has announced that it has opened the doors to ‘The Calm Corner’ at Crewe station. The Calm Corner is a room that is specifically designed to offer customers with hidden disabilities a safe and calm environment.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Regional leaders call for HS2 to be completed all the wayHS2 minister, mayor of Greater Manchester and regional leaders united to back HS2 project and say it must be completed all the way

Transportxtra

• Council loans Cardiff Bus £3.8m for EVsCardiff Council is to loan its arms-length company Cardiff Bus £3.8m to help finance the purchase of electric buses.

Aviation Industry

• Virgin Atlantic sees extra revenue from three-tier economy offeringVirgin Atlanticâ's decision to divide its economy product into three tiers two years ago has been paying dividends, EVP-commercial Juha Jarvinen said.
• FAA announces upcoming rulemakings on civil supersonic flightFAA has announced plans to initiate two rulemakings aimed at simplifying the regulatory barriers to supersonic commercial air travel.
• Boeing may have to rebrand MAX, says Al Baker Boeing may have to rebrand the 737 MAX in the light of its two fatal crashes and possible passenger resistance to flying on the type when it is restored to commercial service, Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar Al Baker believes. read more
• Analysts: Airlines must review fleet, labor plans as trade wars escalate Airlines need to begin looking closely at their fleet management and labor plans in anticipation of a “downward spiralâ€� in the air transport market caused by global trade tensions, consulting firm ICF said.
• Air France-KLM, AccorHotels offer dual-reward serviceAir France-KLM and French hotel group AccorHotels are strengthening their partnership with a new dual-reward service they described as a first for the European travel industry. read more
• US and non-US airlines avoid Iranian airspace after FAA banPassenger and Cargo airlines around the world are re-routing their flights into and over the Middle East after FAA issued a notice to airmen (NOTAM) banning US-based civil aircraft from flying over the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, citing “inadvertent risk to US civil aviation operations and potential for miscalculation or misidentification.â€� read more

Other News Sources

• Audit Scotland report published on ferry services has been slammed as a public failureAN AUDIT Scotland report published prior to a decision by transport chiefs to keep heavily criticised boats on the Gourock-Dunoon route has been slammed as a public failure.
• Month-long trial will see cheaper bus routes between Exeter and rural towns and villages"Following the trial we will review passenger uptake to determine how popular the extension is”
• Heathrow launches three month consultationHeathrow has launched a three month consultation into its plans for a controversial third runway which it hopes to open in 2026.
• Air Freight Must Be Prioritised In Government's Aviation Strategy.Air freight will play a pivotal role in achieving Britain’s future trading ambitions post-Brexit, according to FTA, so it must be placed front and centre of the government’s aviation strategy. Responding to the consultation, Aviation 2050 — the future of UK aviation, FTA is calling for a dedicated freight chapter in the White Paper; the government must set out a clear and ambitious vision for air freight.

EIN News Subscription

• Europe's passengers shun air travel to take moral high ground on Swedish train journey … of last month's European Union Parliament elections. Leaders of … at Belgium-based pressure group Transport and Environment. Some pin their … the European market," said Steffen Milchsack, spokesman for Lufthansa. The German airlines …