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

Wednesday, 30 October 2019

BBC News

• Bennerley Viaduct makes global 'at risk' heritage listA disused Victorian railway viaduct has joined Notre Dame and Easter Island on a list of "at risk" heritage sites.
• Boeing accused of putting profit before safety by SenatorsUS lawmakers tell the planemaker they fear it put profit over safety when getting the 737 Max approved.
• Gatwick trial cuts plane boarding time by 10%The airport operator is experimenting with new sequences to get passengers on planes quicker.
• Peugeot owner 'in merger talks with Fiat Chrysler'Reports suggest the carmakers are exploring a tie-up to create a near $50bn US-Europe auto giant.

ITV News

• Bristol's clean air plans include diesel vehicle ban and charging zonesBristol could be the first city in the country to introduce a Clean Air Zone which bans all diesel vehicles in the centre and sees a wider charge zone for non-compliant commercial vehicles.

Financial Times

• Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot parent PSA in merger talksDeal could create a carmaker worth more than $47bn
• IndiGo announces order for more than 300 Airbus planesIndia’s biggest carrier seeks to entrench dominance in fast-growing aviation market 
• Uber in alliance to thwart California labour law for driversRide-hailing group launches $90m campaign with Lyft and DoorDash over workforce status
• Airbus lowers forecast for 2019 deliveries, free cash flow

The Guardian

• 'Flying coffins': senators rip Boeing chief over Max jet crashes that killed 346Under-fire Dennis Muilenburg subjected to withering questions from angry committee members about flaws in anti-stall systemBoeing’s chief executive, Dennis Muilenburg, faced the anger of members of Congress in Washington over the failure of the aircraft maker and US regulators to identify and correct flaws in the design of the 737 Max jet that led to two crashes, killing 346.Muilenburg, who was forced to step down as Boeing chairman earlier this month after emails suggesting Boeing test pilots knew about defects in an anti-stall system but failed to alert regulators, opened his testimony with ...

The Independent

• City could become first in UK to completely ban diesel cars‘These ambitious plans demonstrate our commitment to tackling air pollution,’ says mayor
• Mysterious US space plane arrives back after long, unexplained mission'Each successive mission advances our nation's space capabilities,' says Air Force, without explaining how
• Gatwick airport to tell passengers exactly what order they should board planesTwo-month experiment aims to increase efficiency of aircraft 'turns'

The Scotsman

• Edinburgh's Menzies lands major Heathrow contract with Lufthansa that will see it deliver ground handling services to five airlinesJohn Menzies has secured a key contract renewal that will see it deliver ground handling services to five airlines at Heathrow Airport.

The Telegraph

• Bristol will ban all diesel vehicles from city under new proposal

Times Online

• Bristol poised for seven-day ban on diesel cars [subscription]Bristol is set to become the first city in Britain to ban diesel cars under the toughest measures yet seen to combat air pollution.
• Time flies! Now you can board your plane in 14 minutes [subscription]The pre-flight scrum while boarding an aircraft is never the most relaxing way to start a holiday. Now there are moves to end the free-for-all at the boarding gate and the battle for luggage space by ranking all passengers according to their position on the aircraft.
• I didn’t query 737 safety fears, Boeing boss admits [subscription]Test pilot had warned that systems were ‘running rampant’

Birmingham Mail

• Birmingham New Street train chaos: West Midlands Railways statementA broken down train at Coseley this morning has meant severe delays on trains departing from New Street leaving passengers furious - travellers are advised to take alternative transport

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Council bosses to debate sale of bus company and other public transport issuesTHE potential sale of First Bus will be discussed by Councillors from across West Yorkshire next week.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Airbus secures mammoth jet deal that is one of its biggest everIndia's IndiGo has placed a firm order for 300 A320neo family aircraft

Derby Telegraph

• Project to build Sir Nigel Gresley's final steam train takes step forwardThe South Derbyshire engineer designed world famous locos the Flying Scotsman and the Mallard

Manchester Evening News

• 'It could pose a risk': Suicide fears as mental health facility to be built next to railway lineNetwork Rail were among the objectors to the plans on Rutland Street

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• London North Eastern Railways pays out £14.3 million compensation for late trains in one yearCompensation figures published as MPs step up campaign for improvements in East Coast Main Line

Sheffield Star

• “Haunted” bus stops highlight cuts to services First there was the ghost train, now there are haunted bus stops….

The York Press

• Anger as city centre cycle racks removed for Christmas market CITY centre bosses have defended their decision to remove cycle racks from Parliament Street to make way for the St Nicholas Fair Christmas market.

Yorkshire Post

• Dan Jarvis: 'Passengers treated like second-class citizens over rail upgrade' Sheffield City Region Mayor Dan Jarvis has said he will not allow passengers to be “treated like second-class citizens” over the delayed upgrades to the Sheffield to Manchester Hope Valley rail line.
• More than £4m given to refurbish Keighley stationMore than £4m has been put towards upgrading Keighley railway station. Network Rail will carry out the work to refurbish the station building, footbridge and entrance to make it brighter, whilst protecting the heritage of the Grade II listed building.

East Anglian Daily Times

• School transport appeals skyrocket from 23 to 141 after new policy introducedThe number of parents appealing school transport decisions has undergone a sixfold increase as a result of controversial changes introduced this year.

Lancashire Telegraph

• Transport survey "key" to borough's social integration strategyPEOPLE are being asked for their views on getting around in Blackburn with Darwen in a borough-wide transport survey compiled as part of the council’s social integration programme.

Other Regional Press

• Broken rail sparks chaos on trains via Glasgow Queen StreetTHOUSANDS of commuters had their train journeys to work disrupted this morning because of a broken rail in the east end of Glasgow.
• Cheaper fares and other benefits on the cards for public transport usersCalderdale Council bosses have welcomed the proposals

Forbes

• Urban Transport Needs To Do More To Get Drivers Out Of Their CarsEfforts to get commuters to leave their cars at home for the good of the environment are only having a limited success, according to Kantar’s 2019 Urban Mobility Futures study, with 39% of commuters driving to work alone. The highest numbers of solo drivers are in Phoenix, (53%), followed by Los Angeles (51%) and Auckland (48%).

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Government extends Dundee to London flight route for another yearDirect flights between Dundee and London will be rolled out into 2020, Aviation Minister Paul Maynard announced. The announcement means that people in Dundee and surrounding areas will be able to continue to enjoy the benefits of direct flights to London. It will also support local jobs and businesses markets across the country. The route is supported by the Public Service Obligation (PSO), which protects routes that boost tourism, connects the UK and encourages economic growth, and backed by UK government funding. Airline Loganair has been chosen by Dundee County Council to run the flights...
• Operation Brock is activated on the M20Drivers of lorries weighing more than 7.5 tonnes heading for Eurotunnel or the Port of Dover on the M20 should follow signs directing them onto the coastbound carriageway of the M20 between junction 8 for Maidstone and junction 9 for Ashford. A 30mph speed limit is in place and, in the event of disruption at the ports, lorries could be queued on this section of motorway. All other drivers can continue their journeys as normal. On the M20, two lanes remain open to traffic in each direction between junctions 8 and 9, using a contraflow on the London-bound carriageway, with a 50mph speed limit i...

Rail Advent

• £4 million upgrade to Keighley railway station is comingNetwork Rail has announced that it is investing over £4million to upgrade Keighley station, which will bring improvements to the passengers who use the station.

Rail Technology Magazine

• RIA chief executive responds to Keith Williams' select committee evidenceAfter Keith Williams, of the Williams Rail Review, gave evidence to the Transport Select Committee confirming a likely recommendation from his report being a restructuring UK rail, the Rail Industry Association (RIA) has praised the decision as being welcomed.
• Keighley station set for £4m upgradeNetwork Rail has announced an investment of over £4m into the upgrade of Keighley station, improving services and experiences for the 1.7 million annual passengers. The station building will undergo transformation, as well as the footbridge and entrance, making it brighter and more...
• New Azuma train to include six new services to Harrogate London North Eastern Railway is set to introduce new Azuma services between Harrogate and London’s King Cross from 15 December 2019. The Yorkshire town will benefit from a further five services from mid-December. Allowing extra connectivity and dependability. Advance tickets for the extra...
• How HS2 is helping the homelessSource: RTM Oct/Nov 2019   A compassionate collaboration between a rail company and local charities is getting people into employment and tackling homelessness in and around London. Louise Dailly, head of legacy for the Costain Skanska joint venture (CSjv) tells us how.   CSjv is...
• What's in the pipeline - Darren Caplan, Rail Industry Association (RIA)Source: RTM Oct/Nov 2019   After sustained railway industry campaigning, the Government has now published a list of rail enhancements. Now the projects need to be delivered says Darren Caplan, chief executive of the Railway Industry Association. Rail enhancements are an essential part of...

Aviation Industry

• US senators introduce bill to codify NTSB MAX safety recommendationsTwo US Senate Commerce Committee members have introduced legislation that would codify recommendations from the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) review of the design and certification of the Boeing 737 MAX. read more
• Muilenburg defends Boeing’s handling of 737 MAX text messages Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg defended the company’s handling of recently disclosed text messages and email exchanges between employees involved in the development of the 737 MAX, telling members of a US Senate Committee, “The premise that we would lie and conceal is not consistent with our values.â€� read more
• EU launches state-aid probe into Air Nostrum fleet renewalAir Nostrum’s fleet renewal, after the carrier was pledged up to €9 million ($10 million) in local-government support on environmental grounds. read more
• Air Canada sees 9.4% drop in 3Q net profit on MAX absenceAir Canada reported a 9.4% year-over-year (YOY) drop in third-quarter net income as the absence of its Boeing 737 MAX aircraft took a toll on peak summer operations. read more

Other News Sources

• Transport Scotland announce £2.7m resurfacing projects on M8 motorway – here's the full list of roadworksTransport Scotland have announced a £2.7m investment in resurfacing projects on Scotland's busiest motorway. Here's where and when they will happen.
• Sweco wins place on flagship Transport Scotland road safety frameworkEngineering, environment and design consultancy Sweco has announced it has been appointed to provide transport and road safety consultancy through the Scottish Government’s flagship Development Management and Road Safety Service Multi Supplier Framework.
• Study probes how access to transport affects livesNearly a third of the population do not have access to a car and rely on public transport or other modes to support their lives, according to research published by the Department for Transport.
• Transforming Tees Valley transport – Tees Valley Combined AuthorityHeather Scott OBE, Tees Valley Combined Authority cabinet lead for transport, explains how the combined authority and partners are looking to improve transport infrastructure in the Tees Valley.
• London Assembly Transport Committee Call For A Higher London Standard For Motorbike Safety TrainingRoad safety is important to motorists and motorcyclists, though when it comes to safety in London, many people feel not enough is being done for riders. According to the London Assembly Transport Committee just 1% of trips to London are made by motorcyclists, but they account for 27% of people killed or injured. A call for the Transport for London’s 2014 Motorcycle Safety Action Plan to be overhauled has gone out.
• Scotland’s transport system needs a radical overhaulRadical transformation of transport will have to form the bedrock of any meaningful response to the climate emergency. Transport is the single biggest source of net carbon emissions in Scotland and these emissions have increased since 1990 rather than gone down. This is frustrating not just because of the obvious environmental impact but because the solutions are so clearly within our grasp.
• Moody's Hands Stagecoach Downgrade Over UK Bus Reliance ConcernsStagecoach Group PLC's issuer and senior unsecured ratings have been downgraded to Baa3 from Baa2, Moody's Investors Service announced on Tuesday.