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

Tuesday, 06 August 2019

BBC News

• Staff shortages lead to Wareham rail crossing closureStaff shortages at a railway level crossing in Dorset have left residents with no step-free access across a train line in the evenings.
• Heritage railway wants government help after coal banManagers of a heritage railway want government help to protect their industry from plans to phase out coal energy plants. Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR) said a subsequent rise in coal prices would mean higher costs for passengers.
• Black Country railway project receives £10m fundingUnder plans, passengers could return to Darlaston and Willenhall for the first time since the 1960s.
• The history of Belfast shipyard Harland and WolffBelfast shipyard Harland and Wolff was founded in 1861 and, at its height, employed more than 30,000.
• Union calls off Tuesday's strike at Heathrow AirportThe UK's busiest airport and union representatives have agreed to suspend industrial action.

The Guardian

• Latest Heathrow strike off after talks between airport and unionA strike by more than 4,000 Heathrow staff that was expected to cause widespread disruption for air passengers on Tuesday has been called off, after the airport made a new offer to security guards, firefighters, engineers and passenger service workers.

The Independent

• Heathrow strike: Tuesday's walkout suspended as workers vote on pay dealBut further strikes are planned for 23 and 24 August

The Telegraph

• Heathrow passengers demand compensation for 'ghost flights' after workers call off strike at last minute [Subscription]Heathrow passengers last night demanded compensation for needlessly rearranged plans as unions again called off strike action at the last minute.

Times Online

• Westminster ‘should fund airport rail link’ to boost Union [subscription]The British government should fund a new railway line from Glasgow Central to Glasgow airport and name it the Union Line as part of a raft of measures to “unleash the power of the Union”, a think tank has recommended.
• No-deal Brexit planning: Lorries with wrong paperwork will be barred from ports [subscription]Lorries will be banned from travelling to British ports unless they can prove to officials that they have the paperwork to export their goods.
• New pay deal to fend off Heathrow strike threatWorkers at Heathrow have been offered an improved pay deal designed to avert strike action amid the threat of a damaging walkout at the airport over the bank holiday weekend.

City AM

• Rolls-Royce back in the black as Trent 1000 engine issues persistRolls-Royce has swung back to a slim first half profit, despite struggling to put a lid on a long-running engine problem which has left passenger jets grounded for months at a time.

Derby Telegraph

• Big contract win means Bombardier will build hundreds more carriagesDerby train-maker Bombardier will build hundreds of carriages as part of a multi-billion-pound contract in North Africa.

Liverpool Echo

• Merseyrail stations to close as network gets ready for new trainsA number of Merseyrail stations will close in September and October as the next phase of work to prepare the network for a new fleet of trains gets underway.

London Evening Standard

• Rail network will do better in the next heatwaveThis summer has been a miserable one for many rail passengers. We saw not only record high temperatures across the UK but also widespread disruption on our railways. Core parts of the network did not cope in the extreme heat, and as an industry we struggled to get passengers the information they really needed in order to reach their destinations. I am really sorry for the disruption that people suffered.
• Heathrow Airport strike of 4,000 workers suspended by Unite on Tuesday ahead of pay voteA planned strike on Tuesday by more than 4,000 workers at Heathrow Airport has been suspended while they vote on a new pay offer.

Manchester Evening News

• Trains between Sheffield and Manchester Piccadilly on Hope Valley line will not run until 'at least' Wednesday due to Whaley Bridge dam emergencyTrains between Sheffield and Manchester Piccadilly along the Hope Valley line will not run until 'at least' Wednesday morning due to the Whaley Bridge dam emergency.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• 'A ticket to higher taxes' - bus companies' warning over North of Tyne mayor's plans for networkJamie Driscoll wants local leaders to take back control of bus services, but operators say that reviving a North East bus regulation scheme would be a “huge distraction”

Northern Echo

• Cycling tunnels to reopenTHE historic River Tyne pedestrian and cyclist tunnels are to reopen to the public at noon on Wednesday. The Grade-II listed structure closed for refurbishment in May 2013 and since then cyclists and pedestrians have been bussed across the Tyne between Jarrow and Howdon via the Tyne vehicle tunnels.
• Stockton North MP welcomes 'Uber' style bus service on the way to rural villagesA PILOT scheme to improve bus services in rural areas of Tees Valley could be rolled out to villages on the western outskirts of Stockton.

North Wales Live

• Airbus has unveiled these revolutionary new wings inspired by huge seabirdThe aerospace company is currently testing the design and says it could reduce drag and load
• Bus firm brings in teenager ban after 'appalling' abuse of driverGwynfor Coaches brings in limit on number of youths on 85 service from Bangor to Llanberis

Other Regional Press

• Newly launched electric bus crashesA NEWLY launched electric bus, connecting Forres with Aberlour, has crashed less than two months after officially launching.
• Rawtenstall's £3.5m bus station a step nearer as old station demolition beginsThe Bacup end of the 1970s station has been dismantled by the council as part of a new traffic light system
• These new station signs celebrate Doncaster's historyBrand new railway signs at Mexborough and Conisbrough will share points of historical interest and places to visit, with travellers to the towns.

New Civil Engineer

• Network Rail presses DfT for enhancement pipelineNetwork Rail bosses have expressed concerns over the lack of a detailed enhancements pipeline. In February last year, when the funding for CP6 was announced, £10.1bn was earmarked for the design, development and delivery of enhancement projects. However, despite CP6 starting in April this year, a pipeline of projects has yet to be announced.
• HS2 and council clash over Colne Valley viaduct ‘uncertainty’High Speed 2 Ltd (HS2 Ltd) and the Chiltern District Council & South Bucks District Council (CDC&SBDC) have clashed over the financial viability of the Colne Valley viaduct, latest HS2 board papers reveal.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Reopening of Black Country rail stations given £10m fundingPlans to reopen two new railway stations on the Walsall to Wolverhampton line have moved a major step forward following the award of £10m funding from the Government.
• West Coast main line reopens after £27m overhaul of key junctionThe West Coast main line has fully reopened after the major renewal of Acton Grange junction, near Warrington, which had undergone a £27m overhaul as part of the Great North Rail Project.

Aviation Industry

• Singapore Airlines, SilkAir enhance codeshare with India’s Vistara Singapore Airlines (SIA), SilkAir and India’s Vistara announced an expansion of its codeshare agreement Aug. 5, a day before Vistara begins its first international flight from New Delhi to Singapore Aug. 6. read more
• US DOT gives tentative approval for Air France-KLM-Delta-Virgin JV Air France-KLM, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic received tentative approval from the US Department of Transportation (DOT) Aug. 2 to operate an expanded transatlantic joint venture (JV) between the US, UK and continental Europe. read more
• Wizz Air to launch operations from Edinburgh Central and Eastern European LCC Wizz Air will begin operations at Edinburgh Airport in December, offering flights to four European destinations from the Scottish capital. read more
• Airbus begins US production of A220s in AlabamaAirbus has begun manufacturing the A220 aircraft at its Mobile, Alabama-based final assembly line, the company announced Aug. 5. read more
• GOL counting on new MAX models to minimize costs Brazilian LCC GOL Airlines is betting on a rapid increase in its Boeing 737 MAX fleet in 2020 to help it keep costs in check as it continues to grow. read more

Other News Sources

• New Welsh £40 million fleetThe first completed Class 175 upgraded train rolled off the line at Alstom’s Technology Centre in Widnes, Cheshire, in mid-July.
• MSP hopes Network Rail will fix Aberdeen roadAn MSP has told of his hope that Network Rail will take on responsibility for a road which has been left in disrepair.
• More Merseyrail station upgrades revealed ahead of new Stadler trainsMERSEYRAIL have revealed the latest phase of upgrade works set to take place ahead of the introduction of the new fleet of Stadler trains in 2020.

EIN News Subscription

• Irish airlines vs DAA: Battle lines drawn over price of progress at Dublin Airport  Battle lines have been starkly drawn this month between DAA on the one side and the main Irish airlines, Ryanair and Aer Lingus, on the other.