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

Saturday, 27 July 2019

Government

• PM pledges new Manchester-Leeds Rail Route to unleash regional growthPrime Minister Boris Johnson pledges a new Manchester-Leeds Rail Route to unleash regional growth.

BBC News

• Result expected over Edinburgh bus driver strike actionIf the deal is rejected drivers will start an indefinite strike on 2 August, the first day of the Festival Fringe.
• Boris Johnson backs high-speed Leeds to Manchester rail routePrime Minister Boris Johnson will pledge to fund a new high-speed rail route between Leeds and Manchester. In a speech in Manchester later, Mr Johnson will give his backing to the trans-Pennine transport link to "turbo-charge the economy".
• Heathrow and Gatwick passengers hit with more delaysA problem with the UK's air traffic control system is adding to disruption caused by the weather.
• Protest held outside Gemini Rail depot as it faces closureThe Gemini Rail site in Glasgow where ScotRail trains are maintained is due to close.

The Guardian

• Boris Johnson appoints arch-critic of HS2 as transport adviserThe prospects for survival of the high-speed rail line HS2 look slimmer after the prime minister, Boris Johnson, appointed an arch-critic as transport adviser. The journalist Andrew Gilligan, who was cycling tsar in Johnson’s London mayoralty, has long opposed what he says is a “disastrous scheme”, arguing for a slower, cheaper line to be built instead.

The Independent

• Italy to build new high-speed rail line cutting journey from UK to just six hoursThe Turin-Lyon high-speed railway was given the green light by prime minister Giuseppe Conte this week

Times Online

• Boris Johnson to woo Labour voters with £2bn fund [subscription]Mr Johnson will use a speech in Manchester today to announce a towns fund that will look for “creative” ways to boost areas, including investments in infrastructure, local culture and other regeneration projects. He will also announce plans for a trans-Pennine railway between Leeds and Manchester as he calls for a “regional renaissance”.
• Emotional-support dogs drive airlines barking mad [subscription]Airlines have warned about a rise in the number of passengers attempting to travel with “emotional support” dogs amid fears that many are unsuitable for travel in aircraft cabins.

Sky News

• Stranded: More train and plane trouble for travellersAir and rail travellers have faced another day of delays and cancellations in the aftermath of Thursday's record temperatures.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Prime Minister pledges to deliver Northern Powerhouse Rail - with Leeds to Manchester route as first stepNEW Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged to deliver Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) in a bid to unlock potential across the country.

London Evening Standard

• UK flight delays: Technical problem resolved after air traffic control system faultA technical problem with the UK's air traffic control system caused flight delays, Nats said.
• Cycle tours face rush-hour ban in City after 'crashes with pedestrians'Cycle tours face a rush-hour ban from parts of the City to protect pedestrians after reports of collisions in the Square Mile's narrow streets.

Manchester Evening News

• Boris Johnson promises 'HS3' rail link for Manchester and Leeds is GO in first major speech since becoming Prime MinisterBoris Johnson will commit to a high-speed rail link between Manchester and Leeds tomorrow, promising a detailed plan will be agreed by autumn. In a speech due to take place in the region on Saturday, the new Prime Minister will promise to deliver for the north ‘what we did with Crossrail’ when he was London mayor.
• Boris Johnson promises 'HS3' rail link for Manchester and Leeds is GO in first major speech since becoming Prime MinisterHe will use his first major speech as PM, due to be held in the north, to promise a 'deal' on ramped-up northern rail links in the autumn - 'wholeheartedly' backing our Power Up the North campaign

The York Press

• Boris pledges support for new trans-Pennine rail routeYORK rail passengers are set to enjoy faster services to Manchester after the new Prime Minister Boris Johnson threw his support behind The Press and other newspapers' Power Up The North campaign.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• Boris: HS2 will cost over £100 billionBoris Johnson has claimed that HS2 will cost more than £100 billion to finish as he laid out his plans for a review of the controversial line.

Yorkshire Post

• Boris Johnson to 'turbo-charge' the North with major boost for Leeds-Manchester rail linkBoris Johnson is set to announce plans for a major upgrade of the Leeds-Manchester rail link, as he vows to overhaul the region’s network and "turbo-charge" growth in the North.
• New Transport Secretary Grant Shapps imposes two page limit on rail documents he has to readThe new Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has imposed a two page limit on information sent to him about the management of Britain’s railways. In an internal email, seen by The Yorkshire Post, contributors to the Department’s Rail Group are also warned that Mr Shapps will “pay attention to the font sizes and margins” of any documents he receives.

Other Regional Press

• Southend Airport flights were halted after a drone was spotted near the runwayFlights at Southend Airport were halted after a drone was spotted near the runway. Holiday makers including those on an Easyjet flight from Ibiza were affected on Tuesday.
• Why Bristol Airport objects to 3,000 space park & ride next to M5Plans for a rival park and ride next to the M5 wouldn't work for passengers, the airport says

Forbes

• Boris Johnson Appoints London's Former Cycling Czar As Transport AdvisorJournalist Andrew Gilligan has been appointed as the transport advisor to new British prime minister Boris Johnson. Gilligan was cycling commissioner when Johnson was Mayor of London, and it was Gilligan not Johnson that was most responsible for pushing through London’s protected cycleway program.

Rail Magazine

• Grayling advises successor on transport ‘minefield’Former Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling used his last appearance at the Transport Select Committee on July 17 to remind potential successors under new Prime Minister Boris Johnson that transport “affects more people, in more of their lives, than any other area of government and that therefore you are also walking through a bit of a minefield”.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Doncaster area could be turbo-charged by new Integrated Rail PlanWide ranging improvements to rail services are being lined up for the Doncaster area following the launch of the new Integrated Rail Plan by the Sheffield City Region. The plan, which has been welcomed by the Department for Transport, sets out a vision for how the region will be better connected...
• Andrew Haines, CE of Network Rail, tells BBC News his organisation could issue future rail franchisesAndrew Haines, the Chief Executive of Network Rail, has told the Today programme on Radio 4's BBC's flagship news programme that he would not rule out his organisation issuing future rail franchises

road.cc

• Number of people killed on London’s roads falls to lowest level on recordThe number of people killed on London’s roads fell from 131 in 2017 to 111 in 2018 – the lowest level on record. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said that while this was welcome news, “even one death or serious injury is one too many,” and pledged to continue striving to eliminate road deaths through the Vision Zero Action Plan.

Aviation Industry

• Air Italy is an EU carrier, EC transport chief tells WashingtonEurope will use “all legal meansâ€� to defend its carriers’ rights within the transatlantic air agreement, the head of Europe’s transport ministry warned a Washington DC audience. read more
• French firm wants Asia airports to embrace biometrics technology French security company IDEMIA hopes Asian airports can quickly embrace new facial recognition and identity technologies as passenger traffic in the region multiplies. read more
• Frankfurt Airport's new security checkpoint promises shorter waitsA new seven-lane security checkpoint at Frankfurt Airport uses state-of-the-art screening technology to reduce passenger wait times, according to airport operator Fraport AG.
• European authorities approve Air Nostrum-CityJet mergerThe European Commission has approved the proposed merger of Spain’s Air Nostrum and Ireland-based CityJet, a move that brings the creation of what will be Europe’s largest regional airline one step closer. read more

Other News Sources

• Airlines see improving airport experience as top priorityCompetition among airlines isn’t limited to what happens when you get onboard the plane; carriers must also make the time spent in airports more enjoyable and productive, according to Paul Jacobson, executive vice president and CFO of Delta Air Lines.