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

Thursday, 29 August 2019

BBC News

• 'Starhopper': SpaceX engine testbed makes minute-long jumpThe American rocket company SpaceX conducted a successful flight of its "Starhopper" testbed on Tuesday.

The Guardian

• How technology can help stop groping on public transportWhile changing attitudes to ensure it doesn’t happen in the first place, Japan is taking yet more measures to tackle a serious problem
• British car industry suffers worst period of decline since 2001The British car industry has witnessed its worst period of decline since 2001, as rising global trade tensions and Brexit uncertainty combine to provide a dire operating environment for manufacturers.

The Independent

• Network Rail criticised for ‘wasting millions’ on Newark crossing upgradeA leading railway commentator has criticised Network Rail for “wasting millions” on a key intersection on the East Coast main line. Over the bank holiday weekend, the government-owned infrastructure provider spent £4m upgrading a crossing in Nottinghamshire. Very unusually, this is an intersection where a 125mph line is crossed by a regional line.

The Scotsman

• ScotRail axes cycle hire scheme after too few passengers rent bikesThe scheme has been branded a failure.

The Telegraph

• Drink driving deaths highest in nearly a decade, as campaigners call for more police in cars to catch offenders [subscription]rink drive deaths have hit the highest rate in nearly a decade, as campaigners urge police to put more officers in cars to catch offenders.

Times Online

• Calls to cut drink-drive limit as deaths surge to highest in decade [subscription]The drink-drive limit should be cut after alcohol-fuelled road deaths reached their highest level in almost a decade, ministers have been told. Road safety groups called for the limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to be brought into line with Scotland after a sharp rise in fatalities.
• Car production at seven-year low as exports tank [subscription]The British automotive manufacturing industry has slumped to its 14th successive month of decline with production at a seven-year low.

Reuters News

• UK car output slumps nearly 11% in July on weak export demandLONDON (Reuters) - British new car production fell by an annual 10.6 percent in July, the 14th consecutive month of declines due to weak demand in EU and Asian markets and model changes, an industry body said on Thursday.

Sky News

• 'Strong global headwinds' drag UK car production down almost 20%The decline in export orders is "primarily responsible", with overseas shipments falling 20.2% since January, the SMMT says.

Belfast Telegraph

• Work to begin on £400k rail footbridge in south BelfastWork is to start this week on a £400,000 investment to replace a footbridge on a rail route in south Belfast, Translink have revealed.

London Evening Standard

• Crossrail reaches crucial final phase in battle to open £17.6bn line in less than two yearsCrossrail has entered its
• DLR delays: Misery for commuters as faulty train causes massive disruptionCommuters on London's Docklands Light Railway (DLR) faced rush-hour misery this morning.
• Pilot on Gatwick-bound plane forced to turn to avoid drone in dramatic near-miss A Gatwick-bound plane was involved in a dramatic near-miss when it forced to take a last-minute turn to avoid drone, a report has revealed.

Yorkshire Post

• What the HS2 reviews mean for the Northern Powerhouse and jobs – Henri MurisonIN his first major domestic policy speech in Manchester, Boris Johnson said he wanted to be the Prime Minister that did for the Northern Powerhouse Rail project “what we did for Crossrail in London” and has promised to publish detailed plans this autumn, part of the wider network which includes better connections from Sheffield to Hull, across to Manchester Airport and Liverpool and up to Darlington and Newcastle.

Lancashire Telegraph

• Bus fleet renewal plans will benefit BuryPLANS for a two-year bus replacement programme are set to benefit Bury. Diamond North West, under its parent company Rotala, acquired the Bury and Bolton interests of First Manchester at the end of June.

North Wales Live

• This railway line has been unused for 20 years - now a row has erupted over its future useThe Anglesey Central Railway connected Amlwch with the North Wales coast line at Gaerwen until the last freight services rolled along in 1993.

Other Regional Press

• Heathrow expansion consultation lacks ‘sufficient detail’ on community impact, council officer claimsThe Heathrow expansion consultation does not have ‘sufficient detail for us to fully understand the impact on communities’, a council officer has warned.
• 'Middlewich train station could serve 140,000 passengers a year'DIRECT trains to Crewe, Manchester and Birmingham – and a station in Middlewich serving 140,000 passengers a year.
• New transport secretary could hand Euston land to developers – even if HS2 is abandonedTHE new transport secretary is set to decide whether £6billion of prize land around Euston should be handed over to developers, even if the controversial HS2 rail scheme is abandoned. Fifty-seven acres around the station, which is owned by the government, has already been offered to private company Lendlease, but as part of a contract that hinged on building the new railway’s proposed new terminus. Lendlease said yesterday (Wednesday) it did not want to miss a “unique opportunity” to unlock the economic potential of the area.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Anglia rail upgrades set to improve passenger journeysFollowing major upgrades to the Anglia rail network, carried out by Network Rail, passengers are set to benefit from greatly improved journeys.

Aviation Industry

• EU, US resolve dispute over wet-lease servicesThe European Union (EU) has agreed to remove restrictions on foreign carriers seeking to wet lease to EU-based airlines as part of an agreement signed between the US, EU, Iceland and Norway Aug. 27 in Brussels. read more
• Virgin Australia to cut 750 staff after FY2019 lossThe Virgin Australia Group reported a net loss of A$315.4 million ($212.7 million) for the 2019 fiscal year ended June 30. read more
• UK CAA investigates British Airways’ strike miscommunicationThe UK CAA is looking into whether British Airways (BA) fully complied with its passenger-rights obligations, after the airline mistakenly told some passengers their flights were canceled during an upcoming pilots’ strike. read more

Other News Sources

• Thirsk company buys Brighton City AirportA NORTH Yorkshire aviation company has acquired Brighton City Airport with the backing of a six-figure funding package from HSBC UK.
• Plans to reopen £116m Portishead and Bristol railway progress Plans to reopen the railway line between Bristol and Portishead will be submitted to the Government next month.
• Almost 1,600 objections to 440-acre industrial park and rail freight terminal in Leicestershire14-warehouse Hinckley industrial estate – including a 1.5m sq ft unit – would operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week