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

Saturday, 14 September 2019

Government

• PM sets out plans to give the North more control of rail servicesNorthern mayors and combined authorities will have greater control over setting local train fares, timetables, and budgets under sweeping new plans set out by the Prime Minister.

BBC News

• Solway Junction Railway: The ill-fated Scotland to England rail routeStaring out across the Solway Firth it is easy to see how the temptation arose. Instead of taking a detour via Carlisle, why not cut the corner and make a more direct link between the iron ore mines of Cumberland and the furnaces of Lanarkshire?
• South Wales rail line to Cardiff shut for electrification workTravel into and out of south Wales will be badly disrupted this weekend as the rail line and a major road are shut.
• Solway Junction Railway: The ill-fated Scotland to England rail routeThe line across the Solway Firth was opened 150 years ago but weather and economics took their toll.
• 'Why I'm using a drone to stop Heathrow flights'Sylvia Dell says highlighting the issue of climate change is worth the risk of going to prison.
• Heathrow climate change drone protest arrests rise to 18Protesters have threatened to fly drones near the airport but flights remain unaffected.

ITV News

• Northern mayors will "take back control" of the railways with new devolved powers - says PMBoris Johnson has promised mayors in the North of England more control over their railways, with “London-style” powers to set train fares, timetables and budgets.

Financial Times

• Boris Johnson vows to northern England that he will ‘do devolution properly’Prime minister to hand over control of railways and create new economic growth body

The Guardian

• Heathrow expansion would be disastrous for wildlife, campaigners sayNoise and pollution would threaten thousands of animals in Richmond Park, group says
• Network Rail failed railway arch tenants in £1.5bn sale, say MPsNetwork Rail failed to act in the interests of tenants and taxpayers when it sold off £1.5bn of railway arches, sacrificing an important asset for short-term gain, according to MPs.
• Twelve protesters arrested over Heathrow drone threatFlights operate as normal after climate activists ‘blocked by signal-jamming technology’
• Boris Johnson heckled during speech on northern transportPM told to ‘sort out the mess’ as he pledges to give mayors London-style rail powers

The Independent

• Paris suffers more than 300km of traffic jams amid biggest public transport strike in 12 yearsHuge disruption across bus, train and Metro lines as transport unions stage protest against proposed pension reforms

The Scotsman

• ScotRail cancels seven Edinburgh trains after driver clocks on three hours earlyIt told passengers: "Due to a shortage of train crew between Edinburgh and Musselburgh, disruption is expected until 1700.

Times Online

• ScotRail delays after train driver turns up for work too early [subscription]Rail services around Edinburgh were disrupted by the cancellation of seven trains after a driver turned up for work three hours early.

Reuters News

• Gibraltar boosts port preparations in case of no deal BrexitGibraltar has extended port facilities to be able to handle more ships carrying goods as part of contingency plans if Britain leaves the European Union without an agreement, the British territory's maritime minister said on Friday.
• Crisis-hit Boeing readies huge effort to return 737 MAX to the skiesSEATTLE/CHICAGO/PARIS (Reuters) - As Boeing Co (BA.N) sets its sights on winning approval to fly its 737 MAX within weeks, following a six-month safety ban, engineers around the world are rolling out plans for one of the biggest logistical operations in civil aviation history.

Belfast Telegraph

• PM vows to ‘do devolution properly’ as he promises to hand over rail powersBoris Johnson spoke at the Convention of the North, a meeting of 1,000 senior business leaders and politicians.

Manchester Evening News

• Railways to be 'handed back to Greater Manchester', Boris Johnson announces in major devolution moveThe Prime Minister said control over local railways would be given to the mayor - a move Andy Burnham had been demanding for several months as he looks to sync train and tram services

Northern Echo

• PD Ports scoops top Rail Freight Group awardA NORTH-EAST port operator has been named Business of the Year at the Rail Freight Group’s (RFG) annual awards ceremony.

This Is Local London Network

• Heathrow poll shows support for airport expansion is growingSUPPORT for Heathrow expansion remains strong in neighbouring communities, according to a new poll. It is published at the close of Heathrow’s largest public consultation on expansion over a 12-week period.

Yorkshire Post

• 'Change must be led by the North' in Boris Johnson's plans for more local control of the railways, leaders warnNorthern leaders have warned the “devil will be in the detail” after Boris Johnson announced plans to give more power over the railways to the North.

Other Regional Press

• West Berks votes to support expanding HeathrowTHE expansion of Heathrow airport is formally supported by West Berkshire Council despite concerns about increasing carbon emissions.
• 'Give Stoke-on-Trent 32 more trains a day' – Regional transport body unveils £3.5bn rail masterplanMidlands Connect is proposing faster trains and twice as many services on the Crewe-Derby line
• Ambitious plans to transform Carlisle's Citadel railway station revealedAmbitious plans for Carlisle’s Citadel railway station and the area around it will help transform the city into a prestigious capital for the Borderlands Region.
• Boris Johnson vows to sort Yorkshire devolution and our trainsThe Prime Minister has been up our way again...this is what happened
• Hourly service on Island Line trains 'for foreseeable future' due to technical issuesISLAND Line have announced today (Friday) that it will be running a reduced service after until further notice, due to technical issues.
• ScotRail staff to strike following dispute over payDozens of Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) members in Control at ScotRail have voted overwhelmingly for strike action just this afternoon (Friday).
• Llandovery Station is nominated for awardLLANDOVERY Station has been shortlisted for the station of the year award at the 2019 National Rail Awards
• Telford MP Lucy Allan backs £3.5 billion rail improvements planTelford MP Lucy Allan has backed proposals which would see huge improvements to the region's railway system.

Rail Technology Magazine

• New railway station between Hinckley and Nuneaton receives backingPlans for a new railway station between Hinckley and Nuneaton looks set to go ahead following backing from councillors.

Transportxtra

• Heathrow ‘must deliver new rail links’ [subscription]The London Borough of Hounslow says western and southern rail access to Heathrow Airport must be delivered before the airport’s third runway expansion is delivered.

Aviation Industry

• Regulator OKs Virgin Australia-Virgin Atlantic partnershipVirgin Australia and Virgin Atlantic have been granted draft approval for their proposed partnership in the Australia-UK market. read more
• Drone campaign fails to halt Heathrow flightsLondon Heathrow Airport remained fully operational Sept. 13 despite attempts by climate change activists to disrupt flights by flying small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) within the airport’s exclusion zone. read more

Other News Sources

• Local Support for Heathrow Expansion Remains Strong as Airport's Largest Ever Public Consultation ClosesNew polling shows local support for expansion remains strong as statutory consultation for expanding the UK’s only hub airport comes to a close. ... Results released by Heathrow show that local support for expansion remains high, with more local residents supporting the project than opposing, in 16 of the 18 Parliamentary constituencies closest to the airport – including in the Prime Minister’s own constituency, Uxbridge and South Ruislip.
• Boris Johnson returns to Yorkshire to talk about devolution - and fixing our trainsThe Prime Minister came to south Yorkshire to discuss the Northern Powerhouse and what he could do for our region
• Gilsland gets its own electric taxiA NEW transport service has been launched in Gilsland to connect local residents with railway stations and visitor attractions.
• Tube workers to take industrial action over violence levelsTransport for London workers on the District Line have voted overwhelmingly for industrial action in protest at the growing levels of violence and anti-social behaviour at work.
• Push Ahead On Heathrow Airport Expansion For The Sake Of Post-Brexit Trade, Says FTA.An expanded Heathrow Airport is vital to support the UK’s global trading ambitions post-Brexit, according to FTA, the only organisation representing the whole logistics sector. Reacting positively to the contents of Heathrow Limited’s Airport Expansion Consultation, which closes tomorrow (13 September 2019), FTA is urging the Department for Transport (DfT) to support Heathrow Limited’s vision so the airport can press ahead with construction and, ultimately, usher in new opportunities for global trade.

EIN News Subscription

• EU Plans Energy Tax to Combat Climate ChangeClimate protection is high on the public agenda and EU finance ministers want to get in on the discussion. They have many ideas on carbon dioxide emissions pricing, but are yet to find an answer, reports Bernd Riegert.