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

Thursday, 19 December 2019

BBC News

• Abellio ScotRail contract to end three years earlyA NEW rail link between Abertillery and Ebbw Vale, a larger car park at Severn Tunnel Junction and new park and ride facilities in Newport and Pontypool are among transport improvements in the pipeline.
• Environmental fears stop 'urgent' Bescot rail projectPlans for a "nationally important" rail project have been rejected because of environmental concerns.
• Poole railway station could move in town centre planA railway station could be moved as part of plans to revive a Dorset town centre.
• Bus funding probe: 'No impropriety' by Welsh ministerThere was a "shortcoming" in official processes when funding was given to a bus service in the transport minister's constituency, an investigation found.
• Christmas getaway: Road and rail warning in WalesTraffic experts predict Thursday will be the busiest day on Welsh roads over Christmas.
• Eleven major NI projects not completed and millions over budgetThe A5 road upgrade, Casement Park and Ulster University's new campus are among the projects.
• Manchester passenger jet in 'high risk' near miss with droneThe jet came within five metres of striking a drone as it prepared to land at Manchester Airport.
• Victoria station 'at a standstill' after signal failureRail bosses warn disruption across the network could continue into Thursday morning's rush-hour.
• Costs double on delayed CalMac ferry contractThe Scottish government - which took over the Ferguson shipyard - blames
• Felixstowe: Strike dates set for UK's busiest container portThe Port of Felixstowe handles more than a third of the container cargo arriving in the UK.

ITV News

• Nightmare journey home as signal failure paralyses major London rail route

Financial Times

• Boeing needs to transform the way it operatesThe US aircraft group has stumbled at every turn during the 737 Max crisis
• Abellio ScotRail contract to end three years earlyPoor performance sparks calls to take service into public ownership

The Guardian

• ScotRail contract to end three years early after commuter anger risesThe franchise run by Abellio, Scotland’s main railway operator, will end three years early after anger from commuters over cancellations and poor services.
• Chaos for rail travellers at Victoria station after signal failureUK’s second busiest train station at a standstill, leaving thousands of passengers struggling to get homeThree of London’s busiest train stations faced hours of delays and cancellations on Wednesday evening, leaving thousands of passengers struggling to get home.Trains in and out of Victoria and London Bridge were severely disrupted after a “major signal failureâ€� near East Croydon. Continue reading...
• British Airways slumps to near bottom in passenger surveyWhich? finds BA ranks badly for both long and short haul, but Ryanair still props up tableBritish Airways has taken a nosedive in UK passengers’ opinions and is now rated just above Ryanair at the bottom end of the airline rankings.The flag carrier was among the worst rated for food, seat comfort and value for money on both short and long-haul services in the annual Which? poll. Continue reading...

The Telegraph

• Airport chiefs test radar system that can target drones over a mile away
• Major signal failure causes transport 'chaos' at London stations

Times Online

• Drivers could face £20 fine for leaving engines running when parked [subscription]Motorists will be ordered to switch off engines at the roadside under a crackdown on air pollution from petrol and diesel vehicles.
• Abellio managers left in dark over plan to strip it of ScotRail contract [subscription]Managers at the beleaguered company that runs Scotland’s railway were kept entirely in the dark about plans to strip it of the contract, it is understood.
• BA falls below budget airlines in rankings [subscription]British Airways, once promoted as the “world’s favourite airline”, has been named alongside Ryanair as one of the worst in the country after slumping close to the foot of an annual passenger league table.

City AM

• Revealed: Testing delays mean Crossrail may not open until October 2021The central section of Crossrail may not be open before October 2021, despite claims it could be launched in the first quarter of that year.

Birmingham Mail

• Jet2 contractor with grudge against airline jailed after cyber attackLeeds Crown Court heard how only fast-thinking by one member of staff at the airline prevented Scott Burns's actions being a "complete disaster" for the company
• Bus travel in Birmingham is booming - this is how many journeys were taken in the city this yearSome 267.1 million bus trips were taken across the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority in the financial year 2018/19, according to figures released by the Department for Transport this week

Birmingham Post

• Derbyshire all-terrain vehicle specialist snapped up by Jaguar Land RoverBelper-based Bowler to become part of JLR’s Special Vehicle Operations division

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Rail graffiti vandal jailed over £1,205 of damage to train at Bradford Forster SquareA RAILWAY vandal has been jailed for two months for a graffiti attack on two train carriages at Bradford’s Forster Square Station.
• Station Plaza canopy recognised in Railway Heritage AwardsTHE Station Plaza in Ilkley has come runner-up in the National Railway Heritage Awards for the refurbishment of the glazed car park canopy.
• Jail for 'disgruntled' contractor who brought down Jet2's entire computer system in act of revenge A

Daily Post (North Wales)

• North Wales Metro scheme to get £20m cash injection - this is what you can expectWelsh Government funding aims to create 'more integrated and efficient transport system' for the region
• Wales bus pass replacement: Grace period agreed for pass holders as deadline approachesBoth old and new cards will be accepted for a set time

London Evening Standard

• Chaos at London Victoria with station left 'at a standstill' following signal failureHuge crowds of passengers struggled to get home from London Victoria as the station was brought to
• TfL to start music trial on electric buses to warn cyclists and pedestrians they are coming Forget the sound of roaring engines or spluttering exhausts — the next London bus will arrive to the pulsing beat of ambient music.

Bucks Free Press

• £19 million Bucks roads re-surfacing investment nears completion Buckinghamshire’s £19 million major road surfacing programme for 2019 is nearly complete.

Cambridge News

• Hills Road student sets up petition over 'appalling' Cambridge train serviceThe 18-year-old says the service is regularly overcrowded, delayed or cancelled

Carlisle News & Star

• ScotRail contract scrappedThe Scottish Government has cancelled the contract with the company running rail services between Carlisle and southern Scotland.
• Founder’s son to take “day-to-day management responsibility” of Eddie Stobart as chief executive departure announcedWilliam Stobart will assume hands-on involvement in reviving the fortunes of Eddie Stobart, company bosses have revealed.

Get Surrey

• New South Western Railway timetable announced but two extra days of reduced service after strikes An amended timetable will be in place after the strikes have ended for guards to be "properly refreshed" for necessary safety activities

Other Regional Press

• Buses of Somerset has announced it is in talks to sell off Taunton Bus Station
• Welsh Government £20m boost for North Wales Metro schemeThe North Wales Metro is set to benefit from a £20m funding boost, the Welsh Government has announced today.
• Avanti West Coast set to hold official North Wales launch event in Wrexham todayAvanti West Coast will hold an official launch event in Wrexham later today.

Buying Business Travel

• Scottish government strips Abellio of ScotRail franchiseScottish transport secretary Michael Matheson has announced that the Abellio ScotRail franchise will end in 2022 – three years earlier than it was due to finish.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• It's all about the bus drivers, actuallyA festive 'Love Actually style' video clip (no, not that one!) has taken local social media by storm as Mancunians share the love with their city’s bus drivers.   The clip, released by local bus company Go North West, was inspired by bus driver Chris Ashton who wanted to create awareness across the city for the great work that his colleagues do throughout the year.   Rachel Heap, whose husband Mark works as a bus driver in the city, also made a surprise appearance to thank him for taking such great care of the family and to tell him how much she loves him.   The clip ...
• TfL to trial innovative new bus sound to improve road safetyAn innovative new bus sound is set to be trialled on the capital’s latest electric bus route from January. Transport for London has developed the sound, which is played through special speakers inside the front of the bus, to ensure that all road users are aware of electric and hybrid buses when they are moving at slow speeds. Without this sound, these vehicles are almost silent which could pose a safety risk, particularly for people who are blind or are partially sighted. The trial on the 100 bus route comes ahead of an artificial sound becoming a regulatory requirement for all new &ls...

Railnews

• Abellio™s ScotRail franchise to end in 2022 The Scottish Government has decided to terminate the ScotRail franchise held by Abellio when the core contract ends on 31 March 2022. There is a break point in 2022, when the levels of subsidy are recalculated or ˜rebased™, and in theory the contract could have been extended up to 2027. Abellio said it was ˜hugely disappointed™.

Aviation Industry

• Flydubai launches flights to two nationsLCC flydubai has stretched its network eastwards in the past week, with the launch of new services to Krabi (Thailand) and Yangon (Myanmar). read more

Other News Sources

• 'Urgent Action Needed' on Toxic Tube DustTransport for London (TfL) must take 'urgent' action to ensure the public is not at risk from toxic Tube dust, the London Assembly says.
• Road closed for 18 months step closer to reopeningA WYE Valley road which has been closed for 18 months is now a step closer to reopening.
• Bus company exposed passengers to a "degree of danger"A BUS company, which operated school services in Herefordshire, exposed passengers to a