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

Saturday, 24 August 2019

BBC News

• Flintshire bus company fights order to stop parking on fieldThe firm wants permission to expand its yard despite council concerns about impact and flood risk.
• Warning over King's Cross station bank holiday closureRail passengers planning a bank holiday getaway are being urged to avoid travelling from Kings Cross.
• Eddie Stobart chief leaves as shares suspendedThe transport firm, known for its green and red lorries, revealed a £2m discrepancy in its accounts last month.
• British Airways strike: BA pilots announce September datesBritish Airways pilots will strike on 9, 10 and 27 September in a dispute over pay, union Balpa says.

The Guardian

• Rail line in Hampshire is world's first to be powered by solar farmPilot scheme on Network Rail’s Wessex route could pave way for direct powering of trains
• Heat and rail closures tipped to cause bank holiday traffic jamsHot weather and the closure of major rail routes are likely to bring more cars on to the roads for the bank holiday weekend, with traffic on Saturday expected to peak around lunchtime on popular tourist routes to the coast.
• Eddie Stobart suspends trading in its shares after accounting errorHaulage company stuns investors as chief executive stands down immediately

The Independent

• Boris Johnson gives cash boost for research into flying taxis and delivery dronesInnovators offered the chance to bid for £300m of government and industry cash
• Ryanair named worst brand for customer service in Which? surveyAirline comes bottom out of 100 British businesses

The Scotsman

• ScotRail summer punctuality at lowest level since 2015 Abellio takeoverExtreme weather conditions hit Scotland's rail network over the summer and pushed punctuality to a five-year low.

The Telegraph

• BA accuses its pilots of 'destroying' travel plans of its customers after rejecting pay offer of double average salary [subscription]British Airways has accused its pilots of "destroying the travel plans of tens of thousands" after a union announced they are to stage a series of strikes and demand twice the pay of the average pilot.

Times Online

• Overseas truckers targeted in Brexit plan [subscription]Ministers are considering an advertising campaign on the Continent to warn foreign lorry drivers about a potential no-deal Brexit.
• Eddie Stobart suspends trading in shares amid accounting crisis [subscription]The City is facing another accounting crisis after trading in Eddie Stobart Logistics shares was suspended and the company announced the departure of its chief executive after an internal review.
• The Times view on the cosst of rail and air fares: Cheaper to Fly [subscription]Rail fares are forcing passengers to travel by plane, despite the environmental costs

City AM

• Travel chaos set to hit London airports as British Airways pilots vote to strikeBritish Airways pilots are planning to go on strike for three days in September, the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) said.
• Eddie Stobart fires boss and suspends shares after accounting scandalEddie Stobart parted ways with its chief executive and suspended trading in its shares this morning after a multi million-pound accounting error shook the group.

Mail Online

• World's first solar-powered train line is turned on in Hampshire with 100 panels providing energy for lights and signalling systemsA solar farm of more than 100 panels in Hampshire has been plugged into a stretch of track in Hampshire in a world first.

Conservative Party

• Iain Dale: Were the Prime Minister to pull the plug on HS2, would he call time on Heathrow expansion too?Iain Dale presents the evening show on LBC Radio, and is the author of the forthcoming book ‘Why can’t we all just get along’. More by this author Iain Dale: Don’t mention the war, please. Why Johnson was wrong to suggest Hammond and company are collaborators. Iain Dale: Who’s afraid of the Big Bad Cummings? Iain Dale: There are good ministers left behind by the Government’s drastic shuffle I have very mixed feelings about HS2. I am usually all in favour of visionary transport infrastructure projects. I rather liked the idea of the Boris Island Airport, and still regret that he didn’t make it part of his leadership campaign. I also think high speed rail is a good thing.

Bristol Live

• It's not a UFO, it's one of our very high tech trains, admits Network RailNetwork Rail bosses have spoken out to reassure the people of Bristol that a mysterious blue light being seen at night in the sky over the city isn’t the start of some kind of UFO invasion, but is, in fact, a train.

London Evening Standard

• World's first solar-powered railway line revealed in HampshireThe world's first solar-powered railway line is being rolled out in a ground-breaking scheme that paves the way for solar trains.
• TfL staff perk that lets housemate travel free 'cost record £42m in lost revenue last year'A travel perk enjoyed by Transport for London staff cost a record £42 million last year, it was claimed today.
• BA 100: How Standard got the scoop on historic British Airways flight Boarding was speedy by today's standards and there was no tussle over who go the window seat.

The York Press

• Passengers facing 'pandemonium' at York station as trains delayedDELAYS on the East Coast Mainline - caused by a broken down train between Darlington and York - are expected to continue until 3pm.

Yorkshire Post

• ‘Half-hearted’ Boxing Day trains avoid the crowdsThe long-awaited introduction of Boxing Day trains in Yorkshire, after an absence of three decades, will be limited to just two routes and bypass the county’s main cities, The Yorkshire Post can reveal.

Other Regional Press

• Scrap HS2 and give us some of the money to spend on vital transport says Cambridgeshire Mayor James PalmerDon’t throw good money after bad is a sound principle, and for years alarm bells have been ringing over the moneypit that the HS2 project has become, says Cambridgeshire Mayor James Palmer.

New Civil Engineer

• Airline chief questions ‘spiralling’ Heathrow expansion costThe boss of British Airways’ parent company has criticised Heathrow Airport Ltd [HAL] for expansion costs, which he argues are “spiralling out of control”.

Rail Advent

• Hull Trains drivers begin training on new fleetA landmark moment for Hull Trains’ drivers has been marked as the first drivers enter the next stage of training ahead of the arrival of the new £60 million fleet.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Transport Scotland announces £817k Local Rail Development FundCabinet secretary for transport, infrastructure and connectivity, Michael Matheson, has announced eight communities across Scotland are set to benefit from a share of £817,000 through the Local Rail Development Fund (LRDF).
• Aldershot railway line to be directly powered by solar farm in 'world first'A Network Rail pilot scheme will see the world's first solar farm to power a railway line directly in Aldershot, in Hampshire.
• Network Rail reveals detailed £2.9bn upgrade plans for TransPennine routeMajor station upgrades and plans to rebuild and electrify an 8-mile stretch of track have been put forward by Network Rail as part of a public consultation on a major upgrade to the TransPennine route. The plans form part of the £2.9bn TransPennine Upgrade programme which will ultimately...

Aviation Industry

• US DOT appoints members to safety, certification advisory panelUS Department of Transportation (DOT) secretary Elaine Chao on Aug. 22 announced the appointment of 22 members to an expert committee that will provide guidance on issues related to aviation safety and certification of new aircraft. read more
• Transat A.T. shareholders OK takeover by Air Canada Shareholders of Montreal-based Transat A.T. voted Aug. 23 in favor of Air Canada’s takeover bid, ending months of uncertainty and paving the way for review by Canadian regulatory authorities in the coming weeks. read more
• British Airways pilots call for September strikesThe British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) announced Aug. 23 that British Airways (BA) pilots will strike for three days in September in pursuit of a pay claim. read more

Other News Sources

• Scottish Government to fund study into Faslane rail stationA NEW study into the feasibility of a railway station close to Faslane is to be funded by the Scottish Government.