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

Monday, 05 August 2019

BBC News

• Landore Depot in Swansea to be reopened by Chrysalis RailA railway depot that closed in December is to be reopened. Chrysalis Rail said the Landore Depot in Swansea would reopen this month as a rolling stock maintenance and overhaul depot.
• Belfast Bikes: Belfast City Council repair bill falls by 70%Vandalism of Belfast Bikes has been an issue since the scheme was launched in April 2015.
• Harland and Wolff: Administrators expected on MondayAttempts to find a buyer for the Norwegian-owned Belfast shipyard have failed.
• Railway bicycle theft hotspots revealedVictims say better security and CCTV coverage is needed.
• Japan car sales slump in South Korea as trade row escalatesSouth Koreans have been boycotting Japanese goods as a bitter trade row between the countries builds.
• Heathrow strike action suspended on Monday - BA reinstates flightsBritish Airways has reinstated its flights on Monday, as talks continue to avert Tuesday's strike.

The Independent

• Heathrow strike threat lifted as union and airport agree temporary truceSome flights will remain cancelled on Monday, with further disruption possible for Tuesday

The Telegraph

• Citymapper finance chief exits as start-up ramps up money making plans [subscription]itymapper has lost its top finance executive of five years as the popular London mapping start-up ramps up its money making operations.

Times Online

• Coastguard wants drones to find people lost at sea [subscription]Drones will be used to search for people lost at sea while cracking down on pollution from ships.
• Digital signalling for east coast mainline upgrade [subscription]The number of trains using one of the country’s busiest lines could increase by a fifth under plans to replace ageing signals with digital technology. Capacity on the east coast mainline between London and Edinburgh, is expected to soar as part of a £1.5 billion upgrade. A 100-mile section from London King’s Cross to just north of Peterborough will be controlled by digital signalling in the train cab, the first of its kind on an intercity railway in the UK.

City AM

• Government loses bid to throw out legal challenges against franchise snubsThe government has lost a bid to strike out legal challenges from three rail firms that are contesting its handling of controversial franchise bids. Last week The High Court gave Virgin, Stagecoach and Arriva Trains the green light to challenge former transport secretary Chris Grayling’s decision to ban them from bidding for the East Midlands, West Coast and South Eastern franchises.
• Uber quest for long-term London licence faces rejection London’s transport bosses are set to snub Uber’s bid for a long-term licence in London when its probationary period runs out next month.

The Mirror

• Train fat cats receive £1.2 billion in share payouts as rail network crumblesFirms who provide trains for the country’s crumbling rail network have paid out a staggering £1.2billion to shareholders, an investigation has revealed. The little known companies have links to a tax haven and make a fortune from leasing the rolling stock to train operators across the UK.

London Evening Standard

• French inventor Franky Zapata succeeds in flying hoverboard over the Channel
• Heathrow strike: Planned strike by airport staff that sparked cancellation of 177 flights halted to allow further talks

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• Northern Powerhouse director Henri Murison calls for '100%' devolution for the NorthHenri Murison has called for full devolution of the North - and insists HS2 will bring "talent" and "growth" to the region

This Is Local London Network

• Government statistics show cycling and walking levels in Harrow and BrentA quarter of people in Harrow are not going out for a walk or a cycle at least once a month.

Wales Online

• Landore rail depot in Swansea set to reopen this monthA Swansea railway depot is set to reopen this month after closing in December. Landore depot, which previously operated as Great Western Railway's maintenance depot, was closed eight months ago.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• £10m funding to kick start reopening of Black Country rail stationsPlans to reopen two new railway stations on the Walsall to Wolverhampton line have moved a major step forward following the award of £10 million Government funding.

Sunderland Echo

• Sunderland station to get revamped and new trains Nexus confirmPlans to transform Sunderland took another step forward, as Nexus bosses confirm that they have their eyes set on improving services to Sunderland.

Other Regional Press

• Walking in Suffolk takes slight tumble as residents take up cyclingCycling is on the rise in Suffolk - although the number of people walking has fallen, statistics have showed.
• Cycling levels drop by more than 20% in Hartlepool - experts say these are the reasonsOne in 13 people in Hartlepool cycle at least once a week, figures show.
• New cycling map to help St Albans residents get on their bikesA new cycling map has been produced for St Albans district to encourage people to use green transport and take more exercise.
• New hospital bus link praised by Aberdeen MSPAn Aberdeen MSP has praised health and transport bosses for coming to an agreement over a bus link.

Rail Advent

• 10th brand new train enters service with NorthernNorthern has welcomed its tenth brand new train into customer service. Operating on the Leeds to Doncaster route, the Class 331 completed its maiden voyage last Tuesday
• Heathrow Express guarantees cloud contiunity for mobile appHeathrow Express has strengthened its partnership with global cyber security and risk mitigation expert, NCC Group, to minimise downtime for its cloud-based mobile ticketing application.

The Business Desk

• Notts firm bags £3m HS2 contractA £3m contract to demolish a 50-acre site in Birmingham to make way for a new maintenance depot for HS2 has been secured by Nottingham-based Total Reclaims Demolition.

Other News Sources

• Edinburgh train services disrupted due to flooding on tracks near Falkirk GrahamstonThis is likely to cause misery for many of those planning to return home by train after a day out at the Festival Fringe
• Sheffield bus services disrupted by badly parked cars in several locationsSheffield bus services are once again affected due to disruption caused by badly parked cars in two separate locations on Sunday.
• Largest Plug-In Hybrid Ferry Makes DebutNorway’s maritime cluster has opened a new chapter in the roll-out of environmentally-attuned shipping through the completion of the world’s largest ‘plug-in’ hybrid ferry combining diesel and electric power, writes David Tinsley.
• Student to play key role in developing cycling in ScotlandA TEENAGER from East Linton is to play a key role in developing cycling in Scotland over the next two years after being chosen to be part of the first-ever Scottish Cycling Young People’s Panel (SCYPP).