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

Friday, 20 December 2019

Government

• Rail Vehicle Accessibility: Metro systemsBaroness Vere of Norbiton’s letters to operators of metro systems in London, Glasgow and Newcastle on rail carriage accessibility.

BBC News

• Avanti West Coast promises more trains between Holyhead and LondonThe new operator of West Coast Main Line rail services has launched, promising greener trains and more frequent services in Wales.
• Cambridge station plans to go on public viewA third railway station for Cambridge could be built within six years, under plans announced by Network Rail.
• Leeds Bradford Airport link road plans scrappedThe decision comes after a protest was held by climate change activists in September.
• Jim McColl: CalMac ferries 'should be scrapped'Ex-Ferguson shipyard boss Jim McColl speaks out against plans to spend £110m on part-finished ferries.
• South Western Railway strike: Commuter 'exhausted and stressed'Alison Bunce says her commute from Surrey to London is now a five-hour round trip.
• Preferred bidder chosen for Prestwick AirportThe airport was taken into public ownership in 2013 after being threatened with closure.
• Boeing 'is not a trustworthy company anymore'Zipporah Kuria, whose father died on board a 737 Max, met with the European aviation safety regulator.
• Rail law proposal 'amounts to draconian strike ban'Unions criticise government plans to require provision of minimum services during industrial action.
• Heathrow third runway 'delayed for 12 months'The airport claims a decision by the aviation regulator to limit its spending will delay progress.

Financial Times

• Heathrow’s third runway plans face further delayUK aviation regulator concerned about level of spending ahead of final approval
• Travis Kalanick on course to sell out of UberFounder of ride-hailing app has sold $2.5bn of stock in less than two months

The Guardian

• Heathrow says third runway to be delayed by at least a yearAirport blames Civil Aviation Authority for denying its request to quadruple spending

Times Online

• Drivers with poor sight ‘are ignoring warnings’, optometrists say [subscription]New powers are needed to prevent drivers with bad eyesight from getting behind the wheel because millions of motorists ignore warnings to keep off the road, ministers have been told.
• Rosie the Rocketeer leads Nasa in its mission to get shuttles back into space [subscription]It has been close to a decade since the USA last flew its own astronauts into space. But that could be about to change as Boeing prepares to launch its new Starliner space taxi today on a week-long test mission.
• Rea urged to rethink his drive home for Christmas [subscription]If Chris Rea wanted to do his bit for the planet, he should have called his biggest hit Taking the East Coast Main Line Intercity 125 Home for Christmas (Graeme Paton writes).
• Heathrow extension plans delayed by up to three years [subscription]A new runway at Heathrow will be delayed by up to three years amid growing concerns that passengers could be hit with rising air fares.

Reuters News

• Paris commuters jump on scooters as transport strikes block metroPARIS (Reuters) - Electric scooter rental companies in Paris have seen a flood of new customers as strikes against the government’s pension reform plans crippled metro, bus and train networks.

City AM

• Rolls-Royce unveils electric plane for world record attemptRolls-Royce have unveiled the plane it hopes will break the world record for the fastest all-electric aircraft.
• Bridge over troubled waters: Boris backs Scotland to Northern Ireland bridgeBoris Johnson love of bridges has reared its head again as the Prime Minister has suggested he could build a bridge between Scotland and Northern Island.
• All Londoners want for Christmas is some kind of public transport OpinionThis week, newspapers are reporting how the great Christmas get-away is about to begin — or better still, that the fabled seasonal shut-down is about to commence.
• All Londoners want for Christmas is some kind of public transportThis week, newspapers are reporting how the great Christmas get-away is about to begin — or better still, that the [...] The post All Londoners want for Christmas is some kind of public transport appeared first on CityAM.

The Mirror

• British Airways passenger 'saw drone flying at 30,000ft near Heathrow Airport'Sarah Baker was on a flight from Tokyo when she spotted the remote device which is supposed to be restricted to a height of just 400ft due to UK law

The National

• Abellio could re-apply for ScotRail contractTRAIN operator Abellio could bid for the ScotRail franchise in 2022 - despite the Scottish Government calling a halt to its current contract three years early.

Birmingham Mail

• The new rail law every train passenger and worker needs to knowAny strike will be unlawful unless a minimum service agreement is in place, and if it is not honoured, a strike shall be unlawful and injunctions or damages may be sought against unions

Birmingham Post

• Derby’s Rolls-Royce creates technology that offers hope to people silenced by disabilityQuips will help them talk in their own voice even after they have lost the ability to speak
• East Midlands Gateway rail terminal on track to open at start of 2020Operator Maritime Transport says ‘rapid progress’ has been made on construction work

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• £100m road plans scrapped as council reveals airport link plans Plans to build a new link road to Leeds Bradford Airport have been scrapped by Leeds City Council, as the authority prepares to revamp transport links to the facility.
• Bradford has second worst pass rate in England for driving theory test, new figures reveal BRADFORD has the second worst pass rate in the country again when it comes to taking the driving theory test, new figures have revealed.

Bristol Live

• Paddlesteamer Waverley will sail again in the Bristol Channel in 2020 following funding appealThe paddlesteamer was put in dry dock earlier this year needing millions spent on boiler repairs

Daily Post (North Wales)

• Rail chiefs hit with safety warning after North Wales train went twice the speed limitA software glitch meant some trains on the Cambrian Coast line were unaware of a temporary speed restriction
• Rail bosses promise new era of travel and better journeys in North WalesAvanti West Coast has taken over the operation of long-distance train services across the region

Liverpool Echo

• Travel chaos after Manchester Victoria rail staff walk out after 'abuse from public'The station announcer reportedly told travellers there was “a serious threat of violent assault"

London Evening Standard

• Waterloo rail chiefs warn of New Year's Eve disruption as festive getaway begins with drivers trying to beat rushRail chiefs at London's busiest station today warned New Year's Eve revellers not to rely on trains to get them home.
• Londoners hit road again as TfL use slowsSuburban Londoners are getting back in their cars as demand for public transport suffers an
• Heathrow third runway expansion delayed by up to three yearsHeathrow's third runway expansion has been delayed by up to three years after the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) rejected its spending plans.
• Train chaos as Manchester Victoria station staff 'leave platforms after verbal abuse from passenger'Trains were brought a standstill at Manchester's main railway station after workers reportedly left platforms due to a passenger's verbal abuse.

Manchester Evening News

• Train chaos after as union boss confirms staff at Manchester Victoria refused to work over passenger's verbal abuseThe station was closed temporarily, with a union boss saying staff 'removed themselves from a position of danger'

Nottingham Evening Post

• Government support for project to reduce train journey times between Nottingham and BirminghamBoris Johnson's Conservative government will invest in a £2 billion rail hub which could slash travel time between Nottingham and Birmingham to just 59 minutes.

Wales Online

• Live updates as Transport for Wales cancels more trains due to staff shortageA dozen services have been cancelled so far

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Prime Minister hints at new transport system for Leeds after Queen's SpeechLeeds could be set for a new mass transit system as Prime Minister Boris Johnson hinted he would address the fact the city is the largest in Western Europe without a light railway.

Yorkshire Post

• The National Railway Museum's new Pacer has arrived - ironically earlier than expectedThe National Railway Museum's new Pacer has arrived less than a week after its final journey on the mainline.
• Queen's Speech: Legislation on HS2 but Leeds link not mentionedLegislation proposed in the Queen’s Speech to allow parts of HS2 to go ahead fails to mention the link up to Leeds from Birmingham.

East Anglian Daily Times

• ‘Not fit for purpose’: Business boss slams rail servicesBusiness leaders have slammed disruption to train services, describing the region’s rail infrastructure as “not fit for purpose”.
• Motorists told to brace for ‘challenging’ period as major route closesMajor improvements to a key town centre junction could see motorists face a “challenging” start to the new year, with a busy section of the route closed for several weeks.

Leeds Live

• TransPennine Express boss issues apology to passengers amid winter timetable chaosManaging director Leo Goodwin said he is "truly sorry" for the cancelled and delayed services this week
• Plans for £100m link road to Leeds Bradford Airport scrapped with push for train station insteadLeeds City Council will press ahead with a project to build a parkway train station near the airport

Other Regional Press

• No more first class tickets on many Greater Anglia trains across the regionGreater Anglia has officially abolished first class tickets in its rural and cross-country trains across the region.
• Transport for Wales announces two month grace period for people to use old passes following December 31 renewal deadlineFREE bus pass holders in Wales will be given a two month grace period following the deadline to renew later this month.
• Police and Crime Commissioner calls rail chaos ‘a danger to public safety’ Pressure could be put on those running the regional transport system

Coach and Bus Week

• DfT confirms details of month-long PSVAR exemption for rail replacementThe Department for Transport (DfT) has written a letter to train operators outlining how coach and bus operators can apply for a temporary exemption from PSVAR regulations when carrying out rail replacement services.
• D&G Bus moves to Centrebus ownershipStoke-on-Trent based D&G Bus has announced a change of ownership to the 90 vehicle operation
• Electric take offBirmingham Airport has launched a pantograph-charged fleet of Volvo 7900e buses as it begins its quest to become net carbon neutral. James Day reports

Rail Advent

• New chairman for GB RailfreightGB Railfreight has announced that they have appointed James Cooper as Chairman. James commenced his new role on 29 November 2019

Rail Technology Magazine

• MoU signed by Network Rail and Strukton Rail Network Rail and Strukton Rail have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support Network Rail’s £245m research and development portfolio in Control Period 6. The two organisations were represented by Network Rail’s chief engineer Jon Shaw and CEO of Dutch rail and...
• Northern welcome new link between East and West YorkshireRail Operator, Northern Railway, is celebrating the improved links between East and West Yorkshire today (Dec 19) following the introduction of a new service on the network, providing a direct service between Halifax and Hull. The new route comes as part of Northern’s newly published...

Railnews

• ˜Deeply frustrated minister issues slap on wrist to rail operators Rail minister Chris Heaton-Harris has told Rail Delivery Group chief executive Paul Plummer that it is ˜extremely disappointing that the rail industry and train operators will fail to meet the deadline to provide accessible trains by the end of the year. A number of non-compliant Pacer units are among the trains which will be staying in service from 1 January, in spite of new accessibility regulations, because new trains to replace them have been late arriving. Mr Heaton-Harris continues: ˜Owners and operators have had 10 years to prepare for the 31 December 2019 deadline. It is deeply frust...

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• On the road to a clean airportThe arrival of six single-deck electric buses marks the ongoing commitment by Birmingham Airport to carbon neutrality by 2033
• ADL recognised for Bus Safety Standard workAlexander Dennis (ADL) has been recognised for supporting London’s Bus Safety Standard with the Award for Collaboration at the 2019 Transport for London (TfL) Supplier Awards.
• Oxford PickMeUp grows during final pilot phaseThe demand responsive Oxford PickMeUp minibus service, operated by Go-Ahead Group subsidiary Oxford Bus Company (OBC), will be expanded into Horspath to the east of the city from 5 January on a six-month trial basis.
• Borders Buses offers bike transport on E200sBorders Buses is proceeding with the introduction of Scotland’s first widespread bike-accessible bus network as part of a £3.25m initiative.
• New government called on to deliver industry promises The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) has called on the new government to heed its promises made before the General Election and to “deliver policies that will encourage more people to use a coach or take the bus.”
• Station celebrates 10-year anniversary The revamped £15m National Express Birmingham Coach Station opened 10 years ago and now sees two million customers a year through its doors, 24 hours a day

Other News Sources

• Consultation on Cambridge South railway station welcomed - but mayor James Palmer condemns proposed opening date A consultation on plans for a Cambridge South railway station has been announced by Network Rail - and has prompted the region’s mayor to reiterate demands that it needs to be built more quickly.
• Northern introduces new Halifax to Hull train serviceNorthern has announced that it has introduced better train links between West and East Yorkshire thanks to a new direct service between Halifax and Hull.
• Cardiff Bus Is Offering Free Late-Night Travel On New Year’s EveCardiff Bus has announced that it will be offering a free late-night service on some of its routes this New Year’s Eve.

News from Europe

• Volvo Buses Awarded its Largest Ever Coach Contract in the US - 307 Coaches to be Delivered to New YorkGOTHENBURG, Sweden, Dec. 19, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Volvo Buses' subsidiary Prevost has been awarded its largest order ever in term of value with the win of two New York State's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) contracts.