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

Tuesday, 17 September 2019

BBC News

• Ineos set to choose Bridgend Ford site to build new 4x4There is speculation Ineos Automotive has chosen Ford's Bridgend site for its new car factory.
• £26m investment announced for Isle of Wight rail lineA £26m package of investment in the worn-out Isle of Wight railway line has been unveiled by the government.
• Wrightbus bidder Darren Donnelly 'no longer pursuing deal'A leading NI industrialist withdraws from the process to take over the Ballymena business.
• Extinction Rebellion Heathrow activist charged over drone planRoger Hallam declared Heathrow expansion
• HS2: Ancient woodland clearance halted while review heldTransport Secretary Grant Shapps says while a project review is under way, work should be stopped.

The Guardian

• Clearance of ancient woodlands for HS2 to be halted until reviewTransport secretary tells HS2 to wait for Oakervee review, due as early as next month
• Road transport emissions up since 1990 despite efficiency driveBritain’s greenhouse gas emissions from road transport have continued to grow since 1990 despite more efficient cars because traffic has increased by almost a third, according to government figures.

The Independent

• Caledonian Sleeper workers to strike on last weekend of SeptemberRMT union members are angry at management ‘reneging on staffing promises’
• Scanners on trial at London train station to detect knives under clothesScanners which can detect whether people are carrying hidden weapons will be used by police for the first time in a London train station in a bid to tackle knife crime.

The Telegraph

• JCB scion jumps on board rescue bid for 'Boris bus' maker Wrightbus [subscription]The son of JCB billionaire tycoon Lord Bamford is racing to strike a deal to salvage “Boris Bus” maker Wrightbus, The Telegraph can reveal.
• Eddie Stobart warns of cash squeeze as profits flounder [subscription]Eddie Stobart added to a lorry-load of woes by warning that profits would be “significantly below” expectations.
• Body heat scanners used on the LA Metro are deployed in London to tackle knife crime epidemic [subscription]Scanners used on the Los Angeles Metro to detect deadly weapons are being trialled in London in a bid to tackle the knife crime epidemic.

Times Online

• Why I got an electric car — and you should too [subscription]I’d been wanting to make the switch to an electric car for some time, ordering mine over two years ago and waiting for it to be produced.

The Mirror

• Give up your car and get free bus pass, transport campaigners sayEXCLUSIVE: To reverse declining bus use, a new manifesto says UK drivers willing to ditch their cars should get free bus passes

The National

• We can't bid for rail ‘franchises’ overseas, as there aren't anyI THINK Andrew Wilson’s views on running Scotland’s assets commercially as stated in his column last week are appalling (Scotland’s assets should be run commercially to drive huge returns, September 12) – especially regarding the rail network!
• Caledonian Sleeper staff to strike over 'intolerable' stressCALEDONIAN Sleeper staff have confirmed they will take industrial action after operators failed to deliver on "promises" to address "intolerable" stress caused by working conditions.

Edinburgh Evening News

• Edinburgh bike cycle hire scheme hits nearly 100,000 trips on first anniversaryEdinburgh’s cycle hire scheme will soon break the 100,000 trips mark as its first anniversary nears.

Liverpool Echo

• Metro Mayor rages after politician says money for rail line to the North should be spent in LondonSteve Rotheram has slammed 'arrogant' London politicians after they suggested HS2 should be scrapped and the money should be spent on a major transport project in the capital instead.

London Evening Standard

• Kapten: London's new ride-hailing app which claims it is clamping down on emissionsLondon's second largest ride-hailing app is championing the capital's
• Pothole claim payouts quadruple in a year amid TfL decision to 'pause' road repairsThe number of motorists and cyclists receiving compensation for injuries and damage caused by potholes on London's main roads has quadrupled in a year.

Manchester Evening News

• Manchester Airport is to get hundreds of extra car parking spacesCheshire East Council's planners have finally agreed to the new car park after demanding a better explanation from airport bosses.

Wolverhampton Express and Star

• More than 1,000 sign petition on Walsall cycle pathMore than 1,000 people have signed a petition calls for better disabled access on a cycling route in Walsall.

Yorkshire Post

• This Yorkshire railway tunnel has been named as one of Britain's most endangered Victorian buildingsThe Victorian Society have expressed concern about the future of a 19th-century railway tunnel after plans to mothball it were announced.

Kent Online

• Government again refuses to guarantee Thameslink service between Maidstone and London will arrive this yearThe government has again refused to guarantee a much-anticipated rail service connecting Kentand the capital will be delivered this year as promised.

Other Regional Press

• Cycle ‘bypath’ for Midhurst is moving aheadPlans for a cycle route connecting Holmbush with Midhurst and Easebourne are moving forward.
• Cycle path gets improvements but no plans to build new routeImprovements have been made to a National Trust cycle route, but there are no plans to build a paved path soon.
• Gatwick Airport facial scanners to replace checks by humans to speed up boardingA trial was jointly run by Gatwick Airport Limited and easyJet and the plan is to now roll it out to eight North Terminal departure gates by 2022
• Campaigners join forces to challenge Gatwick Airport's Master PlanGatwick Area Conservation Campaign has announced it is launching a major campaign to challenge Gatwick's Master Plan.
• Call for councils to allow large-scale housing development by stationsThe mayor of Watford says building new homes near good public transport links is "important" as a leading land agent calls on councils to allow development near railway stations.
• £26 million investment in Island Line ¬— County Press gets the reactionAT BRADING Train Station this morning (Monday), there was an announcement of significant investment into the Isle of Wight railway and trains.
• UK’s oldest train fleet updated with £26m investment into Isle of Wight's railwayRail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris will visit Brading Station today as the Department for Transport principally funds South Western Railway’s proposals to improve the sustainability of the railway linking Ryde to Shanklin.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Putting passengers firstHow does the rail industry design the railways for the next 40 years, and when it does, how do we make sure it's all done with the passenger in mind? Jane Fisher joined three members of the Arup team at one of this year's TCR Midlands leaders debates to get to the heart of the issue.
• Network Rail confirms route director appointments Today (Monday 16 September) will see Network Rail’s 14 new routes go live. Meanwhile, the company directors each have confirmed a number of senior management appointments to their teams. This comes after the announcement of a ‘re-branding’ of Network Rail as it...
• Transport for Wales reveal £194m railway station upgrade planAll 247 railway stations in Wales are to feel the benefit of a new £194m investment plan, Transport for Wales (TfW) has announced. TfW has unveiled plans for 1,500 extra car parking spaces across Wales to encourage people to leave their car and use public transport. All 247 stations...
• 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.

Aviation Industry

• Virgin Australia to repurchase 35% stake in loyalty programVirgin Australia has moved to reverse the partial spinoff of its loyalty program, reaching a deal to buy back the stake it had previously sold. read more
• Air France, Groupe Dubreuil may team up on Aigle Azur bid Air France and Groupe Dubreuil may make a joint offer to take over Aigle Azur’s activities, a French minister said, as a commercial court prepares a decision on the bankrupt French leisure carrier’s future. read more
• Higher jet fuel prices expected to pressure airlines in 4QA surge in the price of jet fuel after weekend attacks at several Saudi Arabian oil facilities appears likely to pressure airlines’ margins in the 2019 fourth-quarter and beyond, analysts said. read more

Other News Sources

• Campaigners claim drop in Luton Airport noise complaints is 'distortion of facts'Fewer residents complained about noise pollution from Luton Airport in the second quarter of 2019, compared to the same time last year.
• The Lib Dems call for Britain's 'disaster ridden' railways to be overhauled in order to save the planetThe Liberal Democrats have called for the United Kingdom's railways to be overhauled to attract more users and give the country a better chance of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the middle of this century.
• Amazing map reveals what the London Underground will look like in 20 yearsLooks like commuting will be getting a lot easier
• 'Obscenely' unfair Highland rail fares could force young talent south, Ross-shire entrepreneur warnsAN award-winning Ross-shire entrepreneur whose work has been hailed by a Prime Minister and provided a boost to vulnerable women has warned "obscene" fares on train routes in the Highlands could force budding talent to quit the area.
• We took the London Underground journey that's louder than a power drillThe Central and Northern lines were some of the loudest journeys

News from Europe

• EU's air pollutant emissions decreased 'significantly': reportThe European Union's (EU) emissions of five main air pollutants, which "harm human health and the environment," decreased significantly between 1990 and 2017, according to a new Eurostat report.
• European airport passenger traffic growth slows sharply in JulyEUROPE. Airport passenger traffic in Europe climbed by +2.2% year-on-year in July – the weakest performance in the month for more than five years – according to new figures released by Airports Council International (ACI) Europe. This rise was less than half the growth reported in June (+4.7%), and represents the lowest monthly increase so far this year.