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

Thursday, 31 October 2019

BBC News

• Boeing 'doesn't understand our grief'Zipporah Kuria's father Joseph Waithaka was one of 157 people killed when a Boeing 737 Max crashed in March.
• How pianos became part of the furniture at UK railway stationsThe story behind the increasing number of public pianos on Britain's station concourses.
• Bombardier 'on brink of being sold to US firm'Bombardier's Belfast operation was put up for sale in May as part of a reorganisation.
• Qantas grounds Boeing 737 plane due to 'cracking'The airline is inspecting its 737 NG fleet after similar discoveries by regulators in the US.
• Car industry gloom as UK production falls furtherOutput fell in September capping a 15-month period of decline, an industry body says.

Financial Times

• Peugeot owner approves merger with Fiat ChryslerPSA and its rival set to announce terms to create one of world’s biggest carmakers
• Airbus looks at changing its UK investment plans after BrexitChief executive says group must consider longer-term implications of Britain’s departure from EU

The Guardian

• ‘Extraordinary’: TfL criticised over Uber licence extensionFirm had to promise to verify drivers’ identities, in deal attacked by London cabbiesTransport for London made Uber promise to verify drivers’ identities and ensure their documents are genuine in exchange for a temporary licence to operate, in a deal that drew an incredulous response from the trade body for black-cab drivers.The ride-hailing firm was granted a two-month extension to its licence in September after TfL refused to issue it with a full permit to operate in the capital amid concerns over the company’s attitude towards the safety of passengers. Continue reading...
• Boeing 737 cracks: union calls on Qantas to ground entire 737 fleet for investigationEngineers say 33 planes should be grounded after US aviation regulator asks airlines worldwide to check 737NG fleets for cracking in ‘pickle fork’Australia’s aircraft engineers association has called on Qantas to ground all of its Boeing 737 aircraft after cracks were discovered in one of its planes.Steve Purvinas, the federal secretary of the Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA), said the fleet of 33 should be “grounded until such time that Qantas can establish which aircraft are safe and which aircraft aren’tâ€�. Continue reading...

The Independent

• Boeing Boss asked 'what does accountability mean' as he is grilled about 737 Max crashes'You're not taking a cut in pay at all?' Congressman Steve Cohen tells Dennis Muilenburg
• The shortest and longest budget flights in EuropeExclusive: We reveal the shortest and longest flights by Europe's biggest budget airlines

The Scotsman

• Vauxhall-owner in talks that could create motor-making giantFiat Chrysler Automobiles has confirmed that it is in talks with Vauxhall-owner PSA Peugeot over a possible tie-up that would create one of the world’s biggest car makers.

Times Online

• The government needs to change gear on electric scooters [subscription]The cheap, eco-friendly gadgets have surged in popularity but the law must be changed to prevent more deaths
• Driverless luggage cart helps BA to load planes in no time [Subscription]Driverless vehicles may be years away from joining our roads but one can be seen on the airfield at Heathrow.

Reuters News

• Weakening demand hits UK car production in SeptemberBritish car output dropped by an annual 3.8% in September, hit by weakening demand overseas and political and economic uncertainty at home as Brexit remains unresolved, an industry body said on Thursday.

City AM

• TfL 'can't rule out' Thor's hammer as cause of huge London Overground delaysTravel chaos hit London Overground commuters today as the service suffered suspensions due to a track obstruction.

Mail Online

• Hyundai reveals hydrogen-powered LORRY with giant grill and refrigerated trailer inspired by 1930s streamliner train - but how do you get in?Hyundai have released a driverless, hydrogen-powdered heavy goods lorry that looks like a high-speed 'streamliner' train.

Network Rail

• Moving slope stopped in its tracks to protect Settle-Carlisle railway lineA steep railway cutting that was edging slowly towards the Settle-Carlisle railway line has been strengthened thanks to a £1.2m investment.

Birmingham Mail

• The 13 most dangerous roads for cyclists in BirminghamThe analysis looked at all accidents recorded by all police forces in the country that involved at least one cyclist, and in which someone - whether the cyclist or someone else - was hurt or even killed
• Full list of every train affected by Birmingham New Street rail chaos today as passengers face delaysToday, National Rail confirmed: "A shortage of train crew at Birmingham New Street is causing disruption to London Northwestern Railway and West Midlands Railway services via this station. Trains may be cancelled or revised. This is expected until the end of the day."
• Jess Phillips blasts Euston to Birmingham train chaos after being unable to get home for son's birthdayTrain chaos erupted at Euston on Wednesday, October 30, leaving Ms Phillips unable to return home to Birmingham to celebrate her child's birthday

Bristol Live

• Taxi driver worried 'nasty' Bristol Airport parking fees could harm businessA taxi driver fears for the success of his business after Bristol Airport raised the price of parking.

Daily Post (North Wales)

• One small step for North Wales space port planMore than £7.5m to be spent to help get region into the space race

Liverpool Echo

• Key Liverpool bus route scrapped despite popularity with passengersBus company says it has 'no option' but to cancel the service

Wales Online

• New ticket barriers installed at Cardiff Central railway stationTransport for Wales is preparing for an influx of people coming through the station

Bucks Free Press

• All but one tree will 'remain untouched' in Great Missenden during HS2 mitigation works‘Significant’ changes to the proposed mitigation work planned for Link Road have been agreed – with all but one of the trees by the road remaining untouched.

Carlisle News & Star

• Murals brighten up town’s bus stationLocal school children celebrated their heritage with colourful murals installed on the walls of Workington’s historic bus station.

East Anglian Daily Times

• MP calls for divisive Suffolk school transport policy to be reformedA Suffolk MP whose constituency is among those affected by controversial school transport changes has called on his party colleagues at the council to make significant changes to the policy.

Hull Daily Mail

• Ale trail drunks force strict new seating rules on Transpennine Express weekend trainsTrain passengers travelling between Manchester and Hull have been told they can no longer pre-book a seat - due to the amount of "drunken rows" over reservations on a weekend.

Other Regional Press

• New Oxford bus lanes plan: 3,000 have their sayMORE than 3,000 people took part in a survey about bus-only zones to help cut congestion in Oxford.
• Cambridgeshire mayor urges new transport team to revoke Ely North 'mistake' - decision is blow to projects like Wisbech station and better rail services for FenlandA decision to let vital improvement to a bottleneck on the Peterborough to Ely railway line has been blasted by Cambridgeshire Mayor James Palmer .

Rail Advent

• MP welcomes development work at Tilehurst stationPassengers at Tilehurst, in Berkshire, could be looking forward to benefitting from lifts on all four platforms after Network Rail signalled their intent to develop plans for step-free access at the station.
• Railway cutting on the Settle to Carlisle line receives £1.2m investmentA railway cutting that was edging towards the Settle – Carlisle railway line has been strengthened thanks to a £1.2m investment from Network Rail.
• Stadler to build additional 15 intercity trains for WESTbahnStadler has announced that it is building 15 double-decker KISS trains for the Austrian company WESTbahn.

Rail Technology Magazine

• What do passengers want? David Powell, MerseytravelSource: RTM Oct/Nov 2019   David Powell, rolling stock programme director at Merseytravel, sets out how the transport body is trying to make the most of rail devolution by going directly to the passengers.   What do the passengers want? Not a question often asked, and when it has...
• Women in Rail challenging perceptions - Adeline Ginn, Women in RailSource: RTM Oct/Nov 2016   A GENDER DIVERSE WORKPLACE   Adeline Ginn, founder and chair of Women in Rail, explains the benefits and need for a more gender diverse workforce on the railway, and how her organisation is setting out to achieve this.   The railway is an amazing...
• The Levenmouth Blueprint - Keavy O'Neill, Transport ScotlandThe Levenmouth railway link will deliver substantial social benefits and societal opportunities, unlocking access to cultural activities and attracting business and investment, says Keavy O’Neill, Levenmouth railway project sponsor at Transport Scotland.   “We don’t build...
• Let's get on with it - Maria Machancoses, Midlands ConnectSource: RTM Oct/Nov 2019   Maria Machancoses, director of Midlands Connect, explains how the Oakervee Review was the wakeup call HS2 supporters needed. Now action must happen.   The autumn of 2019 will go down as one of the most tumultuous periods in political history. While...
• Three Victorian Manchester railway bridges restored A plaque was revealed in Great Ducie Street last Friday (Oct 25) to honor the £3.2m Great North Rail Project work by Network Rail, in partnership with the Railway Heritage Trust. The 175-year-old bridges were thoroughly restored to guarantee busy passenger and freight services can run...
• £1.2m investment to stop moving slope on Settle-Carlisle railway line Engineers had to dig out waterlogged soil and lay 11, 500 tons of rock to prevent a steep railway cutting, that was edging slowly towards the Settle-Carlisle railway line, spilling onto the tracks. The upgrade at Fothergill, near Kirby Stephen, is being delivered as part of the Great North Rail...

Aviation Industry

• Pause runaway expansion in response to climate emergencyThe Government must suspend any increase in UK airport capacity until it has developed a climate change plan for aircraft emissions. The call for an immediate moratorium is set out in a letter to the Secretaries of State for Transport …
• Airbus lowers 2019 delivery target; keeps profit guidance Airbus is cutting back its delivery target by up to 30 aircraft as the manufacturer continues to struggle with restoring throughput at its Hamburg final assembly lines. read more
• Boeing engineer raised MCAS concerns in 2015A Boeing engineer raised concerns about the reliance of a critical 737 MAX flight-control system on a single point of failure as early as December 2015, internal documents shared during a US House committee hearing show. read more

Other News Sources

• Works to improve accessibility at Warwick Station to start after 18 years of campaigningWorks to improve the accessibility of Warwick railway station are due to start next year after 18 years of campaigning.