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

Friday, 25 October 2019

BBC News

• St John's and Kirk Michael railway line could become cycle routeA former railway line in the west of the Isle of Man could be turned into a safe walking and cycling route, the infrastructure minister has said.
• Borderlands line rail stations set for £280k revampA total of 13 stations along the line from Neston to Wrexham will benefit, Transport For Wales says.
• Wheels of fortune? A new age for electric motorsBetter electric motors will lead to cars that can go further, faster and even sideways.
• ScotRail launch 'bike carriages' on West Highland lineFive Class 153 trains will be transformed to carry up to 20 bikes on the West Highland line.
• Smart motorways to be reviewed over driver safety fearsSmart motorways are to be reviewed following concerns over driver safety, the transport secretary has said. Grant Shapps told MPs: "We know people are dying on smart motorways".
• 'More than 3,000 bus routes cut in last decade'Local authority funding for buses has fallen by more than 40% in ten years, says one charity.

The Independent

• Heathrow Express: Britain’s most expensive railway slashes faresBritain’s most expensive railway is slashing fares ahead of the opening of Crossrail.

The Telegraph

• Heathrow Express cuts prices ahead of Crossrail opening (but there's a catch) - subscriptionThe Heathrow Express is notorious for being the most expensive rail service in Britain, but a new price cut has made the premium rail link more affordable – if booked in advance.

Times Online

• Smart motorways to be reassessed after eight deaths, Grant Shapps announces [subscription]The safety of smart motorways is being reviewed by the government, the transport secretary has announced, as he said “we know people are dying” on them.

City AM

• DEBATE:Virgin Galactic is planning to float on the New York Stock Exchange – is going public a wise move?Virgin Galactic is planning to float on the New York Stock Exchange – is going public a wise move? John [...] The post DEBATE:Virgin Galactic is planning to float on the New York Stock Exchange – is going public a wise move? appeared first on CityAM.
• Focus on Victoria: Once just a train station, this central postcode now has an identity all its ownThere was a time not so long ago when Victoria was a train station, not an area. You could be [...] The post Focus on Victoria: Once just a train station, this central postcode now has an identity all its own appeared first on CityAM.

Birmingham Post

• M6 Toll celebrates 250 million journeysMore than 50,000 drivers travelling through the Midlands use the M6 Toll every day
• Lagoon Hull: £1.5bn plans for new road in Humber would create 14,000 jobs and expand city's port It will include an 11km-long road built out into the Humber Estuary, providing a route for traffic travelling across Hull
• New division and new academy for Coventry automotive specialistParamex works with Jaguar Land Rover, Bentley Motors and Geely

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Transport Secretary 'shares the exasperation' over Pacer trains Grant Shapps, Transport Secretary, gives his views on Northern Rail and what his Department is doing to tackle performance
• Doubt over M62 smart motorway after Minister announces safety review THE FUTURE of the dynamic smart motorway system used on the M62 is in doubt after the Transport Secretary announced a review in Parliament.

Bristol Live

• Smart motorways to be reviewed as minister says he 'knows people are dying'Smart motorways are already in use on parts of the M1, M4, M5, M6, M42 and M62

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Transport for Wales issues travel warning as torrential downpours approach North WalesRail passengers have been warned to check on services before they travel on Friday and Saturday

Nottingham Evening Post

• NCT bus App now has a Dark Mode to help people feel safer when waiting for a busThe new Dark Mode aims to reduce the feeling of vulnerability

Yorkshire Post

• Government insists it has the 'interests of the North at its heart' over transportTransport Minister George Freeman has insisted the Government has “the interests of the North at its heart” in transport infrastructure.

Cambridge News

• The 'crazy' plans to turn one of Cambridge's busiest cycleways into a bus route220 buses could use the road every day

Other Regional Press

• Plan to turn popular pub into a train station as part of new Devon railway lineThere are also plans for a pedestrian underpass and a water tower at the site
• Heathrow Express cost: Price drop for airport and London Paddington passengersThe price drop will be welcomed by the 5 million passengers who use the service every year
• THIRTEEN railway stations along the 'Borderlands line' between Wrexham and Upton in Wirral are next in line for a £280,000 spruce-up.THIRTEEN railway stations along the 'Borderlands line' between Wrexham and Upton in Wirral are next in line for a £280,000 spruce-up.
• Bus depot roof gets solar panel boost from Low Carbon HubTHAMES Travel bus depot in Didcot is to meet almost 30 per cent of its electricity needs from 175 solar panels, thanks to a partnership with award-winning social enterprise Low Carbon Hub.

Bus and Coach.com

• Bamford Bus Company acquires Wrightbus Bamford Bus Company has confirmed that it has now acquired Wrightbus from administrators and will focus on stabilising the business and rebuilding its brand. Bamford Bus Company is wholly owned by Jo Bamford, who left family-owned JCB in 2016, is the founder and executive chairman of Ryse Hydrogen which earlier won a contract to supply 20 hydrogen-powered double-decks to Transport for London.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Oxford to revolutionise transport with GeoSpockGeoSpock, the spatial big data company, has been chosen to help overhaul transport planning in Oxfordshire. As part of a consortium of companies that are developing the next generation solution, GeoSpock will change how all transport decisions are made. This includes where to expand roads, build new cycle lanes, place community buildings, pedestrianise zones and ease commuter congestion.    The new platform also has the capacity to effectively pay for itself, firstly by being an asset that can be licensed to other councils, and secondly by vastly reducing applications and maintenance...

Coach and Bus Week

• Wrightbus sale confirmedDeloitte confirms sale of business to Bamford Bus Company Limited The Bamford Bus Company Limited has agreed to buy the Wrightbus business and assets, administrator Deloitte confirmed today
• Government responds to Transport Select Committee bus inquiry‘No strong appetite’ for franchising yet, Government says The Government recently published a response to the Transport Select Committee’s inquiry into bus services in England outside London, tackling 21 recommendations set out in the committee’s final report
• Cummins adds new engine options and goes electricLow-profile underfloor battery demonstrates Cummins’ investment in new innovations in electrified power
• National Express reports strong trading over summerNational Express Group has released its Trading Update for the period from 1 July 2019 to 30 September 2019.
• Treka Bus expands sales effortManaging Director Morgan Clissett has announced the newest member to join the Treka family, John Jennings.
• Ebusco launches composite electric busAt a special event on Thursday 10 October electric bus manufacturer Ebusco launched its latest all-electric 12m bus, the Ebusco 3.0 model – which it says is the first electric bus of composite construction, meaning a reduced weight and better range. Ebusco claims a weight reduction of 33% over the previous model, and the ability to reach a maximum range of 500km, thanks to composite technology from the aerospace industry.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Network Rail uses AR to show the next generation of railway footbridgesNetwork Rail is using augmented reality (AR) for the first time to show the next generation of railway footbridges.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Reaction to government plans to let electric cars drive in bus lanesHaving an electric car with a green number plate on it could allow drivers to use bus lanes The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) has responded to government plansto introduce green number plates for zero emission cars and subsequently let them drive in bus lanes.
• Defibrillators to be fitted on Spark busesLife-saving defibrillators are being fitted to part of the Plymouth Citybus fleet in a new charity partnership. Defibrillators donated by local charity Hearts Together, will be on board the company’s 16 Spark buses, which serve one of the busiest routes in Plymouth, with the aim to eventually have one on every single bus.
• Beulas glazed roof available on single-deck rangeBeulas showed a panoramic glazed roof option at Busworld that is available on its Aura, Cygnus and Mythos models. The Spanish coachbuilder says that it can be packaged in coaches for the UK market and on various chassis.
• Volvo hybrid system gains engine-off rangeVolvo has extended the engine-off capabilities of its hybrid buses, including the B5LH double-decker chassis.
• Government responds to Transport Committee’s bus services reportThe government’s comprehensive response to the inquiry looks at ways to issues In response to the Transport Select Committee’s report on bus services in England outside London, the government has published its views.

Aviation Industry

• O'Leary: Ryanair's 737 MAX 200 certification to take longerRyanair CEO Michael O'Leary said the Irish LCC has reduced the number of Boeing 737 MAX 200s it expects in summer 2020 from 60 to 20-30 aircraft.
• Korean Air to introduce onboard Wi-Fi on new aircraftKorean Air will debut inflight Wi-Fi on new aircraft deliveries, which will start the airline's new fleet renewal phase, scheduled for 2020. read more
• Bidders selected for Thomas Cook’s Gatwick slotsThe sale of the London Gatwick Airport slot portfolio previously held by UK leisure carrier Thomas Cook is progressing following the selection of preferred bidders. read more
• Qantas sees revenue boost on strong international demandQantas reported stronger demand in its international market for the three months through September, despite a drop-off in the Hong Kong market in recent months. read more

Other News Sources

• Office of Rail and Road report reveals scale of train delay compensation claimsNEW figures have shown that hundreds of thousands of the region’s train users were awarded compensation due to delays over the summer.
• Barnet and Enfield tube station home plans spark oppositionPetitions against proposals to build flats at tube stations in Barnet and Enfield have attracted more than 5,000 signatures.
• Malvern MP Harriett Baldwin calls for more train capacity as Christmas loomsMALVERN'S MP has called on the region's train operator to increase capacity on the train line.
• Another blow for HS2 as Oakervee review’s ‘indefinite’ deadline revealedFormer HS2 chair had been expected to report by end of November
• "Stop dithering over HS2 report" Manuel Cortes tells ToriesTSSA called today for the Tories to stop dithering after claims that the independent review into HS2 could be delayed until December or indefinitely.
• Global trends in aviation revealed at the Amadeus Airport IT Conference 2019Technologies such as automation, machine learning and artificial intelligence will become key drivers for airports in the future, Frost & Sullivan’s aerospace director Diogenis Papiomytis said at the Amadeus Airport IT conference yesterday.
• AM questions £21m Cardiff Airport loanTHE Welsh Government’s decision to invest a further £21.2 million of taxpayer money into Cardiff has been criticised by Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay, who said the move effectively amounted to a “blank cheque” for the business.