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

Saturday, 21 September 2019

BBC News

• New bus passes: Website still down after 10 daysA scheme for 730,000 people to renew their concessionary passes has been beset with problems.
• Wrightbus: Growing fears for future of Ballymena companyThe company says it is still working hard to ensure the long-term future of the company.
• Cheshire mayor may swap luxury Bentley for eco carCheshire East Council could trade in the mayor's luxury Bentley for a more economical choice.
• London roads to close for Car Free DayTraffic will be replaced by festival spaces and yoga sessions in the capital on Sunday.

Financial Times

• BA restores half of September 27 flights as strike avertedAirline offers passengers who changed travel plans option to rebook
• Regulator to investigate West Coast rail franchiseCMA will look at whether award raises competition concerns

The Guardian

• Theft of catalytic converters from hybrid cars surgesToyota has seen a 2,000% rise in demand for parts for models that contain precious metalsAn explosion in thefts of catalytic converters from hybrid cars has left hundreds of owners of the vehicles unable to drive them because of a shortage of replacement parts, the Guardian has learned.Criminal gangs are believed to be targeting easily identifiable models such as the Toyota Prius and Lexus 400h, because hybrids contain more precious metals than other vehicles. Continue reading...
• The Guardian view on transport emissions: the trouble with planes and automobiles | EditorialThe headline figure of a 44% cut in the UK’s total emissions conceals a multitude of failures, with motor traffic and aviation high on the listIf the success of an event like Friday’s school strike can be measured, it is in the extent to which it changes the climate of opinion. Individuals, unions and other organisations that took part in the strike must play their part in reducing emissions. But when it comes to limiting global heating, governments have far more levers than anyone else. Global cooperation by politicians is essential to tackling the climate emergency. Since states are the worl...

The Scotsman

• Competition watchdog probes West Coast Rail franchise awardThe competition watchdog has launched a probe into the award of a contract to replace Virgin Trains in running services on the West Coast Main Line.

Times Online

• Rome blowout turns up heat on Rolls-Royce’s Trent engine [Subscription]A Norwegian Air Boeing 787 engine failure that sent molten shards raining down on the southern suburbs of Rome last month is responsible for the latest setback for Rolls-Royce and its troubled Trent 1000 engine.
• Flawed testing inflates range of electric cars [Subscription]The system used to test electric cars should be overhauled because it exaggerates their range by up to a third, the government has been told.

City AM

• Ministers draw up shortlist for £300m post-Brexit ferry contractBrittany Ferries, P&O, Stena and Eurotunnel have been shortlisted for a £300m contract to ensure Britain does not run out [...] The post Ministers draw up shortlist for £300m post-Brexit ferry contract appeared first on CityAM.

Daily Record

• Pilot delays Stornoway takeoff after spotting baby hedgehog on runwayThe Loganair plane bound for Inverness was delayed after the after sharp-eyed pilot spotted a prickly problem.

Mail Online

• Ground crew grab smoking passenger as he tries to board easyJet plane while it is being refuelledThe unnamed man in his 40s was boarding a flight to Geneva at 7.30am yesterday at Luton airport when he decided to pull out a cigarette and start smoking.

Birmingham Post

• Automotive industry with £18m battery centre grantWest Midlands Combined Authority backs development of new industrial hub with additional funding
• 'Airline approach' means Hull Trains passengers can order food from seatCurrently, only first-class passengers have been able to enjoy the service

Bolton News

• Rail union boss hits out at Northern's improvement claimsA RAIL union general secretary has accused Northern bosses for 'glossing over' serious problems in the wake of last year's timetable chaos.
• All the roadworks coming to an end in the next weekSome roadworks that have caused disruption for a number of weeks are due to come to an end in the next seven days.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Repairs to close junctions 27 and 28 on M62 this weekendVITAL repair work will be carried out on the westbound M62 this weekend to improve safety for the thousands of drivers who use the trans-Pennine route every day.
• Here's where Jet2 will be flying to from Leeds Bradford Airport for winter 20/21 season JET2 has announced its Winter 20/21 programme from Leeds Bradford airport.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Why Rhos-on-Sea promenade has closed for roadworks for the second time in a few monthsDwr Cymru Welsh Water is back on the Colwyn waterfront site to complete sewer network work

London Evening Standard

• Londoners urged to stop trashing Boris bikes as figures show 200 a year are wreckedLondon's
• Cars in future could be brought to standstill if driver gets too angryDrivers could have their cars brought to a standstill when they become agitated under a vehicle safety system being developed by Huawei.
• Westminster plans 20mph limit to boost safety and air qualitySpeed limits could be cut to 20mph across the entire borough of Westminster in an attempt to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
• London set for biggest ever car-free day as 24 boroughs sign upLondon is set for its biggest ever car-free day after 24 boroughs agreed to close streets to join the global event.
• West Ham station: Police appeal after 'shockingly violent' attack on TfL Tube staffPolice are trying to identify a group of people after staff suffered a
• 15 images that tell the story of the London UndergroundFrom its humble beginnings in 1863 to the sprawling network it is now, take a look back through the history of the tube
• Ryanair strikes: Five planned pilot walkouts called offFive planned strikes by Ryanair pilots have been called off, the British Airline Pilots' Association (Balpa) has said.

Wales Online

• Bus pass website still down 10 days after crashingThe website set up to help people renew their concessionary bus passes crashed on the day it went live

Bucks Free Press

• Angry parents say their concerns over school transport failings have been 'brushed off' Frustrated parents say their concerns over major school transport failings have been “ignored or brushed offâ€� by the county council – prompting leader Martin Tett to apologise for their “poor administrationâ€�.

Other Regional Press

• New bus service between Totton and Southampton launchingA NEW bus service between Totton and Southampton is due to be launched on Sunday.
• Car Free day will be held in Oxford for the first timeOXFORD’S first World Car Free Day will take place tomorrow – and will close off Broad Street to any motorists.
• Park and ride service for Oxford United vs West Ham UnitedOXFORD United fans can travel to their Carabao Cup clash with Premier League side West Ham United on a special bus service.
• M62 closures this weekend and next week - what you need to knowAll the closures on the motorway over the next seven days

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• An electric revolution in the skiesDelivered by Grant Shapps on 19 September 2019 Good afternoon everyone. It’s fantastic to be at Cranfield. A place that has played an integral role in the story of flight in this country. So, this is a very apt location for one of my first aviation speeches as Transport Secretary – especially as a pilot who chaired Parliament’s All Party Group on Aviation. Now just as Cranfield has shaped UK aviation past and present… This place will play a major part in its future too. And today I want to talk about that future, both its challenges and the opportunities – an...
• 8 firms signed up to freight procurement framework as DfT launches competition for Brexit capacityTransport Secretary Grant Shapps has announced 8 firms have been successfully appointed to the freight procurement framework and will now be able to bid to bring vital medicines into the UK after Brexit on 31 October. The framework provides a list of freight operators who could transport critical goods like medicines after 31 October. The framework will be in place for the next 4 years and will help speed up procurement processes. A competition will be launched today (20 September 2019) allowing operators on the framework to bid for the first freight capacity contracts for 31 October –...

Rail Technology Magazine

• Ground-breaking rail collaboration launched to improve services for passengers  A ground-breaking deal has been agreed today among rail bosses to deliver higher standards for rail users in the West Midlands.   Areas that fall under the new, first-of-its-kind West Midlands Grand Rail Collaboration (GRC) deal will benefit from improved train service performance...

Railnews

• Grant Shapps wants rail fares paid to independent body Transport secretary Grant Shapps has come under fire from opposition politicians and unions for reportedly saying that franchised operators should be ˜paid when they run trains on time™. He was being interviewed in the wake of an ORR announcement yesterday that a new punctuality measurement will no longer allow trains to be five or ten minutes late at their final destinations and yet still be considered ˜on time™. Instead, the margin for lateness will be just 60 seconds. Mr Shapps was asked whether giving franchises incentives to be punctual meant that they could lose their contracts for poor...

Aviation Industry

• Germany doubles aviation tax, imposes minimum fare ruleGermany’s coalition government has agreed to double the country’s short-haul aviation tax and impose a minimum fare rule in 2020. read more
• Study: Aviation climate challenge ‘worse than expected’The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) has declared the “climate challenge for aviation is worse than expected,â€� after a study found commercial airline emissions are increasing 70% faster than current ICAO projections. read more

Other News Sources

• Winchester encouraging alternative transport on car free day RESIDENTS and visitors are being encouraged to think twice about using their car for a trip to the city centre on Sunday.
• Service at Southampton Airport ranked third in the country by passengersSOUTHAMPTON Airport has been rated among the best in the country for passenger experience.

EIN News Subscription

• Ministers draw up shortlist for £300m post-Brexit ferry contract … The government said looking for transport companies that can beef up … that Britain will leave the European Union by the end of October … a deal in place. Transport secretary Grant Shapps said the … can be reached with the EU before Brexit, and the detailed …
• What sound would you choose for an electric car to make on the move? … them coming, under both EU and US rules.  Noises … acoustic devices fitted under recent EU regulations. Meanwhile, manufacturers have … of Brexit, the Department of Transport has confirmed. In the … Britain’s roads which pose a danger to vulnerable road users. …
• Eight firms approved to bid for Brexit freight contractsEight ferry, aviation and rail firms have been approved to … into the UK after Brexit.Transport Secretary Grant Shapps described the … the impact of leaving the EU without an agreement, which included … said: “Preparations to leave the EU on the 31 October are …
• Competition watchdog probes West Coast Rail franchise award … investigating whether the Department for Transport's (DfT) decision to … to the watchdog by the European Commission. In addition to running … operates three UK rail franchises: Great Western Railway, South Western Railway and TransPennine …
• German government agrees £48bn climate policy package as 500 protests held across country … will see the central European nation emitting the same … charge for carbon emissions from transport and heating fuels. The … investing more in low-emission rail travel, including by reducing … margin. The country’s transport sector in particular had failed …
• Babies in womb suffering effects of air pollution … well below those of the European Union. In each, carbon particles were … mothers who lived near main roads, there was an average of … can do is avoid busy roads as much as possible. There … high levels next to busy roads, but just a few meters …
• Millions of passengers suffer dreadful service as a THIRD of all UK's trains fail to run on time … in April this year. Passenger watchdog Transport Focus said … executive Anthony Smith said passengers’ biggest priority is punctuality … minute of schedule.  Heathrow Airport’s Express shuttle was … data - the most transparent measure of any railway in Europe …
• Security Your ugly mug may be scanned yet again – but at least you'll be able to board faster at Gatwick Brit airport to extend facial recog after easyJet trial … 2016 and 2018. The Information Commissioner's Office … relevant data protection laws. We've contacted the airport and … a whole range of European destinations. More than 90 … aircraft for the airline and a significant reduction in queue time for passengers …
• The Guardian view on transport emissions: the trouble with planes and automobiles … than in much of the EU, where closer to 25% … would increasing spending on public transport, reducing traffic in cities … reduce the harm associated with air pollution, and make urban … encouraged to think about their transport decisions. But climate action …