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

Wednesday, 18 September 2019

BBC News

• Waterloo death: Engineer killed working on walkwayBritish Transport Police say the engineer's death on a travelator is being treated as unexplained.
• Businesses call for 'atrocious' roads to be tackledA business body wants money to be spent on regional infrastructure as much as big projects.
• Bridgend site set to produce Land Rover Defender-inspired 4x4 from IneosThere is speculation Ineos Automotive has chosen Bridgend for its new car factory.
• Electric car owners to 'choose' engine soundsProposals by a US road safety body could see electric vehicle owners choose the noise their car makes.
• Union Chain Bridge: Scotland-England link's future securedThe almost 200-year-old structure linking Scotland and England is given more than £3m in support.
• School transport consultation finds support for chargesAbout a quarter of pupils in NI currently benefit, at an annual cost to the Education Authority of £81m.
• Metrolink tram users overpaid £78k under contactless systemNearly 700 people a day overpaid in the first 10 days of the new system, an FOI request shows.
• Gatwick Airport commits to facial recognition tech at boardingThe London airport will regularly scan passengers' faces at departure gates from 2022.

ITV News

• Ryanair strikes: Why are pilots walking out and what are your rights if your flight is cancelled?Ryanair pilots are set to strike this week as a dispute with the airline continues. Members of the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa) voted by four to one to back action on a 72% turnout.
• Virgin Atlantic plans for 84 new destinations when Heathrow gets third runwayVirgin Atlantic has announced plans to fly to 84 new destinations from Heathrow after a third runway is opened.

The Independent

• Trains cheaper than planes for short-notice trips from London to EdinburghExclusive: Booking at noon the day before travel, the lowest air fare found was £49 and the cheapest rail deal £42 – but the latter required a trick

Times Online

• Virgin Atlantic plans new routes in challenge to BA at Heathrow [Subscription]Virgin Atlantic is planning an ambitious fivefold increase in its flight network as it seeks to dismantle British Airways’ dominance at Heathrow.
• Hydrogen-powered plane prepares for take-off next year [Subscription]A hydrogen-powered plane will take to the skies over the UK in little over a year under government-backed plans to cut aircraft emissions.
• New speed limit: drivers should keep below 120 beats per minute [Subscription]It is a warning that those in the grip of a midlife crisis should take seriously: blasting Bat out of Hell on the car stereo really will tempt you to drive more dangerously.

Reuters News

• Virgin Atlantic eyes over 80 new routes at expanded HeathrowVirgin Atlantic is hoping to add over 80 new routes to its network after a third runway is built at London's Heathrow Airport including short-haul and domestic flights, the British airline said on Wednesday.

City AM

• Virgin Atlantic ups IAG war with teaser for new routes at HeathrowVirgin Atlantic has upped the stakes in its face-off with British Airways owner IAG, unveiling a raft of new routes it will launch if it wins more slots at Heathrow airport.
• Britain’s car industry could weather a storm of tariffs better than you’d thinkThe latest American Economic Review contains a timely paper. Keith Head and Thierry Mayer, at the University of British Columbia and the Banque de France respectively, estimate the consequences of changes in tariff and non-tariff barriers to the car industry.
• Government intervenes in £4bn Cobham takeover over national security concernsThe government has hauled in the £4bn foreign takeover of aerospace giant Cobham on national security grounds, it said today.

London Evening Standard

• Ryanair strike dates in September 2019: Why are pilots striking? Plus what to do if your flight is affected.Everything you need to know about the Ryanair strikes in September
• More than 80,000 homes could be built on London's car parking spacesPrivately owned parked cars occupy £172 billion-worth of London land on which homes could be built, according to a new report being launched at the World Car Free Day summit.

Kent Online

• Investigation after two 'dangerous' near misses on Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch RailwayAn investigation is underway following two ‘dangerous’ incidents on a popular tourist railway.
• Children with Special Educational Needs from Medway experience long school journey timesChildren with special needs are experiencing journey times of more than two hours after changes to school transport.

North Wales Live

• Reality of the Brexit frontline at Holyhead port - from the people who knowPort bosses spoke to North Wales Live about how the port is gearing up for when Brexit comes
• Welsh bus pass renewal: Paper applications opened after high demand crashes website - how to applyTransport for Wales (TfW) say they've now made it easier for people to make applications through the post

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Major Merseyside investment in Twelve Quays nears completionMerseyside is set to benefit from a £17m port modernisation project that will help grow the region’s import and export capabilities significantly.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Meet the buyer hubNetwork Rail's meet the buyers hub   This year, TransCityRail North is introducing an unmissable opportunity for you to meet with over 11 procurement directors from Network Rail at our exclusive 'Network Rail meet the buyers Hub'.  Situated at the heart of the event during the exhibition and breaks you can visit the Network Rail...
• Isle of Wight rail line receives £26m investmentGovernment has unveiled a £26m investment package into the Isle of Wight railway line, to help modernise and improve the line and its outdated fleet.
• Doncaster station to celebrate engineering, speed and connectivity through artRail users are in for a treat as plans for public art at Doncaster train station are revealed. The art will be a key part of the station’s transformation and will celebrate engineering, speed and connectivity. The impressive plans include 47 monoliths, some representing Doncaster’s...

Aviation Industry

• FAA to roll out taxiway landing alert system by October 2020 The FAA has rolled out its new taxiway-landing alert system at 13 airports and is confident that all 35 facilities getting the enhancement will be up and running by October 2020, the agency’s top runway safety official confirmed. read more
• Flybe to close Isle of Man baseUK-based regional carrier Flybe will close its base on the Isle of Man and hand over services there to one of the companies that took it over earlier this year. read more

Other News Sources

• Public can have say on M4 congestion around Newport - and how to solve it - from next monthTHE body tasked with finding solutions to congestion on the M4 around Newport will begin to consult with the public next month.

EIN News Subscription

• July airport traffic results reveal significant slowdown in growth … in 2018. BRUSSELS - European airport trade association, ACI EUROPE … air transport - as a result of the Climate Emergency.â€� EU & non EU … the Majors (top 5 European airports) was flat in July … . Amongst the top 10 European airports for freight traffic, the …
• 'Flight shaming' could help unleash billions in airline cash to protect the Amazon and other tropical forests … gas emissions expected from airplane travel in coming decades. … for mobility and transport at the European Commission, warned a … carbon-sequestering ecosystems. The airline industry would buy the … be responsible for ensuring airline companies under their …