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

Friday, 28 June 2019

BBC News

• Trains to London: Severn Tunnel electrification problemsThe £2.8bn full electrification of the main south Wales to London railway line is in the balance as engineers have an "issue" electrifying the Severn Tunnel.
• Boeing 737 Max: New issue could delay aircraft's returnRegulators uncover a new issue with the troubled aircraft that could delay its return to service.
• Russia denies role in Israeli airport GPS jammingAircraft have been forced to use alternative navigation systems to land at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport.
• Electric car could cover 450 miles and other newsBBC Click's Marc Cieslak looks at some of the week's best technology stories.
• Dumfries to Stranraer rail route return among transport optionsReopening the line between Dumfries and Stranraer is among draft proposals for south west Scotland.
• Northwich CO2 plant 'worth 22,000 cars off the road'Carbon capture is being hailed as a way of meeting the UK's zero emission targets by 2050.
• Ford to cut 12,000 jobs in EuropeThe car giant aims to make the cuts by the end of 2020 as it seeks to streamline its operations.
• Vauxhall Astra: Ellesmere Port manufacture 'depends on Brexit'The new Astra will be built at its Ellesmere Port plant if a satisfactory deal is reached, the firm says.

ITV News

• Government to investigate Corby rail landslipThe government has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding a landslip near Corby which left hundreds of passengers stranded on a train.

The Guardian

• 'Do I risk it?' Your photos of the world's best and worst cycling infrastructureBike lanes blocked by bollards, potholes, contradictory signs and “the world’s shortest bike lane”: when we asked for examples of the best and worst cycle infrastructure in cities the submissions came in thick and fast.
• Passenger satisfaction on British trains on the rise, survey findsTransport watchdog’s biannual survey shows satisfaction up to 83% – up four percentage points from autumn

The Herald

• John Finnie: Railways should be run as public serviceAfter delay after delay, excuse after excuse, we learn that the Highlands are not going to get new Caledonian Sleeper trains until September.

The Independent

• Heathrow expansion: why not use airport capacity elsewhere? “I cannot let your comments regarding the plans for a third runway at Heathrow go unchallenged,” writes Caroline Wilson from Selby in North Yorkshire. She is referring to my observation that Heathrow and Gatwick are bursting at the seams while every other UK airport has spare capacity.

Times Online

• Serco stockpiles ‘gunpowder’ as it plots takeovers of troubled rivals [Subscription]The boss of Serco is on the lookout for takeovers after the outsourcing group’s failed attempt to strike a deal with Babcock this year.
• Caledonian Sleeper nightmare [Subscription]A £150 million investment in the Caledonian Sleeper was supposed to herald a new standard for luxury rail travel between Scotland and London. The 75 new carriages were hailed as being akin to a hotel on wheels but the service now seems to be veering closer to Fawlty Towers than five-star splendour.
• Happiness has at last arrived for Southern Rail customers [Subscription]It has long been known as the worst train company in Britain, with commuters even writing a musical to portray the miseries of using the service.

Sky News

• Paris bans 60% of cars as heatwave continues to roast EuropeEurope continues to endure record-breaking temperatures as hot air from the Sahara engulfs the continent.

London Evening Standard

• TfL Tube drivers given ear defenders to block 'screeching' noises from new tracksTube drivers are set to be given ear defenders after threatening industrial action over
• TfL alters 'confusing' junk food ad rules after its own advert featuring Wimbledon falls foul over strawberries and creamTransport chiefs have changed their

Morning Star

• Clive Lewis expelled from RMT parliamentary group for 'defamatory' attack on Eddie DempseyCLIVE LEWIS has been expelled from the RMT’s parliamentary group after having made a “false and defamatory attack” on a railway worker.

The Press and Journal (Aberdeen)

• Caledonian Sleeper boss under fire over Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William delayThe boss of the Caledonian Sleeper was yesterday accused of prioritising luxury trains to the Central Belt “at the expense” of those to Aberdeen and Inverness.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Virgin Trains tops passenger satisfaction ranking before it loses franchiseThe firm is due to stop operating trains in March 2020 due to a row with the Department for Transport over pensions.

Other Regional Press

• West London could get a £281 million overground line from Hounslow to West HampsteadWest London could be getting a brand new rail line running from Hounslow all the way to West Hampstead or Hendon. The proposed West London Orbital (WLO) would also link the likes of Isleworth, Acton, and Old Oak Common.
• Could this be the end of the line for train tickets?The rise in the use of Smart Cards and mobile tickets is helping to cut the number of paper tickets on Greater Anglia lines, and cutting queue times.
• Google Maps can now tell you how crowded Edinburgh buses and trains areGoogle Maps is now able to tell commuters in Edinburgh how crowded their bus or train will be thanks to a new feature Google is introducing "transit crowdedness predictions" to its Maps app with the aim of helping commuters avoid packed trains and buses during rush hour.
• 'Small town' for 5,000 HS2 workers could be built in LeicestershireThousands of HS2 workers could end up living in a ‘small town’ created in Leicestershire while the railway line is constructed, it has been suggested.
• What happened when we asked minister if Midland Mainline could be electrified through LeicestershireThe Government has downplayed the chances of the Midland Mainline being fully electrified.

Bus and Coach Buyer

• Greater Manchester Mayor recommends franchising as part of ‘integrated transport system’A trial of Our Pass, free bus travel for the city-region’s 16-to-18-year olds, also launches in July Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham has launched ‘Our Network,’ a 10-year plan to create an ‘integrated, modern and accessible’ public transport system.

Coach and Bus Week

• Heathrow to expand bus and coach hubHeathrow Airport has released public transport proposals as part of a consultation on its expansion. The airport confirmed that its coach and bus hub will be ‘enlarged and strengthened’ as part of the expansion.
• Salisbury Reds announces investment in new busesSalisbury Reds has announced its investment in five new Euro VI engine Solo buses manufactured by Optare. This announcement comes in support of the operator’s commitment to enhance bus services across the area.
• Oxford Bus Company provides free transportationOn 15 June, as part of Oxford Green Week, the Oxford Bus Company provided free transport for people navigating their way to Rectory Farm, a location chosen for some of the green activities. Oxford Green Week is a summer festival which incorporates culture, community and creativity to make people more environmentally aware and inspire people to act against climate change.
• First buys 77 biogas ADLs for BristolFirst West of England has invested in 77 new ADL Enviro400 CBG bio-methane ‘deckers for Bristol. The buses are built on a Scania N280UD chassis, and powered by the company’s 9.3-litre OC09 101 Euro VI engine
• Arriva North West and Wales launch contactless payments on all servicesArriva North West and Wales has announced that contactless payments are now available on all of its services, through Ticketer ETM
• Canary Wharf investors bid for ArrivaThe investment group behind London’s Canary Wharf, Brookfield Asset Management, has launched a bid for Arriva, the Sunday Telegraph reported.

New Civil Engineer

• Heathrow operator judged to profit from lack of competitionHeathrow Airport Ltd (HAL) is profiting from a lack of industry competition, a leading think tank has said in response to HAL's expansion masterplan.
• Heathrow boss rules out rail link between London airportsHeathrow surface access director Tony Caccavone has dismissed calls for a joined up rail network between London’s main airports. Speaking at New Civil Engineer’s Future of Rail conference, Caccavone said that there was “no real demand” from passengers for a rail system between Heathrow and any other airport.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Rise in passenger satisfaction due to new trains, says surveyNational satisfaction with Britain’s railways rose to 83% in spring, according to the National Rail Passenger Survey. Happiness with punctuality and reliability was 77%; an increase of five per cent compared to last spring. Anthony Smith, chief executive of passenger watchdog Transport...
• Andrew Haines, CE of Network Rail, outlines the company's future visionThe chief executive of Network Rail, Andrew Haines, outlines his vision for the railway's infrastructure manager and gives an overview of its reorganisation.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• CTA welcomes new board membersThe Coach Tourism Association (CTA) has appointed three new directors to its board, following the annual general meeting held in June.
• Abellio Rail Replacement expands to East MidsAbellio Rail Replacement (ARR) will expand its operations from August to coincide with the launch of the group’s East Midlands Railway franchise, which will take over train services between London and Nottingham/Sheffield along with local routes in the region.
• MB Sprinter minicoach theft epidemic continuesOperator Anthony’s Travel is the latest to be targeted by gangs that attempt to steal Mercedes-Benz Sprinter minibuses.
• Blackpool Transport pushes on with five-year planBlackpool Transport is in the midst of overhauling what it delivers via its bus network. A total fleet replacement is a key part of that, with 15 more additions now in service as part of a five-year plan

The Business Desk

• First trains in new £500m fleet set to take to the tracksThe first nine trains in a £500m new fleet for local rail services will start carrying customers from Monday.

Aviation Industry

• Auditors’ report questions value of EU funding in SESAR deploymentEuropean Union (EU) regulation has fostered air traffic management modernization, but EU funding of projects was largely unnecessary, and its management was affected by shortcomings, according to a report by the European Court of Auditors (ECA)—the body that oversees the region’s finances, published June 25. read more
• Southwest, United remove MAXs from schedules for another monthSouthwest Airlines and United Airlines, two of the three US 737 MAX operators, have removed the grounded aircraft from their schedules for another month, reflecting continued uncertainty over when US regulators will clear the fleet to fly. read more
• EC transport chief warns US not to curtail Air Italy flightsThe European Commission (EC) has given the US a stern warning not to take any action against Milan-based Air Italy that would prevent it flying to the US. read more

Other News Sources

• Boost for cycling commuters revealedOver £740,000 is being spent on improving cycle facilities at London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway stations across the network. The Department for Transport has awarded the train operators £371,000 of funding through their Cycle Rail programme, representing around 6% of the total awarded nationally. This is being match funded to help deliver an extensive programme of improvements worth £742,000.
• Plan to get "Ripon cycling together" will be launched TONIGHTAn initiative to get more people in Ripon on their bikes is being launched tonight.
• Plan to get "Ripon cycling together" will be launched TONIGHTAn initiative to get more people in Ripon on their bikes is being launched tonight.
• Hull operators announce major fleet investmentThe city of Hull is changing. As UK City of Culture 2017 it attracted attention and investment, and despite larger stores leaving its city centre, there’s a feeling that 12 months in the limelight have kick-started a revival.
• Bidders invited for new railway tunnel to HeathrowNetwork Rail is to host a meeting for construction firms interested in a £900 million contract to build a new railway tunnel to Heathrow Airport.
• Royal Borough to carry on the fight against further Heathrow expansionTHE Royal Borough is to continue the fight against the planned Heathrow expansion.
• ScotRail passenger satisfaction rises after £475m boostThe company has received an 85% approval rate in the National Rail Passenger Survey.