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

Thursday, 19 September 2019

BBC News

• Tyne and Wear Metro: Hitachi in County Durham fails to win new train contractThe Japanese train builder Hitachi has failed to win an order to supply 42 new trains for the Tyne and Wear metro.
• The five major challenges facing electric vehiclesEncouraging more people into electric vehicles is at the heart of the government's efforts to tackle climate change.
• Isle of Wight Steam Railway halts plans for Island Line linkA heritage railway has dropped plans to run steam trains on part of the Isle of Wight main line network.
• Transport for Wales trains without toilets 'dehumanising'A man with a bowel condition says new trains will be unusable for some passengers.
• Major projects body has achieved very little, say AMsConcerns are raised by AMs about a body set up to oversee major building and transport projects.
• Trump strips California of power to set auto emission standardsThe US president says the move will cut car prices, but California vows to fight the move.
• British Airways pilots call off next week's strikePilots' union Balpa calls on the airline to

The Guardian

• Airbus forecasts 48,000 aircraft to be in operation by 2038The number of commercial aircraft in operation will more than double in the next 20 years to 48,000 planes worldwide, Airbus has forecast.

The Independent

• Climate scientists slam easyJet for creating shortest mainland UK flight: 'Pointless waste of carbon''One of the great challenges of this century will be how we allocate that limited carbon budget amongst vitally important industries'

Times Online

• British Airways pilots cancel their strike to clear cloud over IAG [subscription]International Airlines Group flew to the top of the FTSE 100 yesterday after British Airways’ pilots called off next week’s planned strike action, potentially saving its parent company tens of millions of pounds.
• Confusion for passengers as BA pilots cancel strike [subscription]British Airways passengers were in limbo last night despite pilots shelving a strike, because about 800 flights had already been cancelled.
• Act now on electric cars, says Michael Lewis, boss of energy giant Eon [subscription]One of Britain’s biggest energy suppliers has called for a national strategy for increasing the number of electric car chargers to prevent a patchwork system or redundant points.

Liverpool Echo

• Joe Anderson says city council made £19m from John Lennon Airport saleMayor Joe Anderson says his cash-strapped council has made £19m from the sale of half of its stake in Liverpool John Lennon Airport (JLA) - after investing just £2m three years ago.

London Evening Standard

• BA strike update: September walkout cancelled, British pilots' association saysA scheduled strike by British Airways pilots on September 27 has been cancelled.
• Meet the London commuters who have found alternative ways to travelAs London gets set for Car Free Day, discover how these eco-conscious Londoners get to work

Manchester Evening News

• Virgin Atlantic unveils proposals to fly from Manchester Airport to Heathrow The airline said a planned new network of 84 routes depended on 'slot allocation' at Heathrow's new third runway when it opens

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• North East rail users promised cheaper fares and faster trains - on one conditionThe region’s leaders have welcomed Prime Minister Boris Johnson's announcement that he wants to hand over control of fares, timetables, trains and stations to local authorities

Northern Echo

• Newton Aycliffe's Hitachi receives support following Spanish contract decisionPRESSURE is mounting on a North-East public body to review a decision to award a £500m contract to a Spanish company rather than a train builder in the region which has been struggling for orders.

Other Regional Press

• London Conservatives call for HS2 to be scrappedThe Government should scrap High Speed Two (HS2) and invest in better rail links for London and the Northern cities, according to the London Assembly Conservative group.
• New train investment slammed as shameful by Light Rail Isle of WightMONDAY'S announcement of a £26 million investment in Island Line was met with criticism from Light Rail Isle of Wight (LRIW), which said it was a 'shameful day'.

New Civil Engineer

• Heathrow expansion plans spark aircraft slot rowHeathrow Airport Ltd’s plans to expand its third runway have sparked a major row between two major airlines over slots at the airport.
• Heathrow expansion plans spark aircraft slot rowHeathrow Airport Ltd’s plans to expand its third runway have sparked a major row between two major airlines over slots at the airport.
• HS2 launches search for phase 2a design partner despite ongoing reviewHigh Speed 2 Ltd (HS2 Ltd) has launched its search for a design and delivery partner (DDP) for the phase 2a section of the route despite the ongoing Oakervee review and announcement from its chair that it could be up to five years late.

Rail Advent

• Rail innovation programme launched by Transport for WalesA rail innovation programme has launched in Newport and is aimed at developing some of the best new start ups around.

Rail Technology Magazine

• West Midlands HS2 interchange station development granted up to £20m The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has agreed to fund up to £20m for a UK Central Hub in Solihull alongside the HS2 station development. The plans to develop the new HS2 Interchange Station within the 340-acre Arden Cross site have been given the green light by the combined...
• British Transport Police launches train station scanners trialIn a bid to tackle violent crime in London, British Transport Police (BTP) is rolling out a five-day trial of new body scanners at Stratford train station. The scheme will be supported by Metropolitan Police and will be able to detect guns, knives and explosive devises on a person. Last week...

Aviation Industry

• Boeing chief invited to testify before US House CommitteeBoeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg has been formally invited to testify at a US House Transportation Committee hearing Oct. 30 on the 737 MAX, the committee’s chairman Peter DeFazio (D-Oregon) has announced. read more
• British Airways pilots’ union calls off Sept. 27 strike A proposed strike by British Airways (BA) pilots for Sept. 27 has been called off by the pilots’ union, giving the airline a new set of problems. read more
• Airbus forecasts 4% more aircraft demand by 2038 Airbus has forecast a need for 39,210 new passenger and cargo aircraft over the next 20 years, an increase of around 4% over its prediction a year ago. read more
• Dickson: FAA has more work to do before clearing MAX to fly The FAA has considerable work to do before clearing the Boeing 737 MAX to fly again, but once satisfied, the agency will consider lifting its ban even if other regulators remain unconvinced, FAA administrator Steve Dickson said. read more

Other News Sources

• Ending HS2 at Old Oak is the ‘Ryanair option’, warns TfL bossTfL commissioner Mike Brown says railway must continue on to Euston to secure benefits for the capital
• 'It's time to make a decision' — Councillor calls for floating bridge to be scrappedA COUNCILLOR has asked the Cowes floating bridge is 'sent back'. It is the latest instalment in the saga, which came as the service was suspended for several days to fix the prow hinge at the west end — which previously caused problems in June.
• Glut of new rolling stock brings challenges and opportunities for rail sectorAlthough almost 6,000 coaches were built over this time, most replaced those that did not meet crashworthiness standards, so the fleet increased by only 18% and trains became crowded.

EIN News Subscription

• Traders ‘far’ from being ready for Brexit, transport industry warnsTraders importing and exporting goods to and from the UK are “still quite far away” from being ready to deal with Brexit, the head of a group representing transport companies has warned.
• Why Air Filters Are Still Needed After Historic CO2 Agreementgon, 09/18/2019 / Story.KISSPR.com / Portland, OR / September 18, 2019 / — In December of last year, negotiators from the European Parliament and Council finally agreed on a historic policy that would implement new standards for carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, ensuring that new cars and vans produce 15 percent less CO2 by 2025, and 37.5 percent …