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

Wednesday, 22 January 2020

BBC News

• Halton Transport: Bus company faces collapse as losses soarA council-run bus company could collapse after seeing losses increase by more than 1100% in two years. Halton Transport, which runs more than a third of services across
• Veterans railcard for cheaper train fares to launch on Armistice DayA new railcard offering discounted train tickets for military veterans will be launched later this year, the government has said.
• Cardiff congestion charge must consider wider region, says ministerTransport minister says the impact on some of Wales'
• Barbican residents call for Tube speed restrictions to halt noiseBarbican residents say late night trains cause
• Parking bans and clean air: The cities going greenHow the clampdown on emissions is driving radical change in Scotland's busiest areas.
• Network Rail probe over Northern and TransPennine routesThe rail regulator says Network Rail's performance was not good enough in the north and central England.
• Boeing delays 737 Max return date to JulyThe plane has been grounded since March 2019 after two fatal crashes.

ITV News

• "Chatty bus" service in Devon launched to tackle lonelinessA bus company and local charity have teamed up to try and tackle loneliness and isolation amongst commuters in Devon this winter.

Department for Transport

• Government fulfils promise to veterans with new railcardMilitary veterans to get cut-price train travel to help boost job prospects and bring them closer to family and friends.

Financial Times

• EasyJet/Ryanair: vice reportOne less rival is beneficial but the budget airline must be sustainable
• Network Rail ‘on a warning’ for poor service in northRegulator starts inquiry into Northern and Transpennine problems
• Boeing faces Max hurdle as pilot confidence crumblesTrust at rock bottom among key constituency as plane maker works to get grounded jet flying

The Guardian

• Network Rail investigated over poor performanceState firm ‘on a warning’ over routes used by Northern and TransPennine Express

The Telegraph

• Veterans to benefit from new rail card as Minister says former service personnel are not 'mad, bad and sad'veterans’ travel card giving former service personnel a discount on rail fares has been launched by the government.

Times Online

• Network Rail bosses face losing bonuses over delays [subscription]Network Rail has been given an official reprimand over delays on busy commuter lines, with warnings that bosses could have bonuses docked unless performance improves.
• Idling coaches barred from parking at landmarks [subscription]Tourist coaches will be banned from parking in part of central London after operators ignored demands to turn off idling engines.

City AM

• HS2: Right project, wrong pitch to the publicHS2 will become a case study in the importance of having your corporate communications in order. Since the beginning, protestors [...] The post HS2: Right project, wrong pitch to the public appeared first on CityAM.

Sky News

• Toyota and Honda recall six million vehicles due to airbag glitchesToyota and Honda have recalled more than six million vehicles worldwide due to two airbag glitches that present different dangers to motorists.

Belfast Telegraph

• Attacks on Translink staff on rise with over 600 reported since 2015Staff at Northern Ireland's public transport operator suffered more than 600 physical or verbal attacks in the last five years.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• Network Rail investigated over poor performance on routes used by Northern and TransPennine Express Network Rail is being investigated over its poor performance on routes used by train operators Northern and TransPennine Express.

Edinburgh Evening News

• New device at Edinburgh Airport will translate speech into 74 languagesThe airport is one of the first in the UK to use the device.

London Evening Standard

• Boeing delays 737 Max planes' expected return to skies until summerBoeing does not expect its 737 Max planes to return to the skies until the summer, several months longer than the company estimated just weeks ago.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle

• What public transport bosses say they are doing to clean up their act on climate changeAs part of our #Do1Thing initiative, we asked North East public transport chiefs what they're doing to make our region greener

Northern Echo

• Arriva and Stagecoach launch 'new worker' ticket in the Tees ValleyTHOSE starting a new job are set to receive a week worth of free bus travel on Stagecoach and Arriva North East services in five Tees Valley towns.

Sheffield Star

• Government responds after hundreds sign petition for Sheffield rail upgradeHundreds of people have backed a petition demanding more frequent trains on a railway line linking Sheffield and Huddersfield.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• How do we solve transport problems in Leeds? - YEP lettersAll the recent letters and articles on transport in the region and how it is unfit for purpose have been critical of the service providers and the inability to find a solution.

Cambridge News

• The Cambridge 'tube maps' that show how city's bus network could be transformedThe goal is to try and make bus travel a more attractive option for commuters

Leeds Live

• Full list of Leeds' demands to government so the city can achieve net zero targetLeeds City Council says it wants to become carbon neutral by 2030

Other Regional Press

• Bus operator could close within months if buyer is not foundA bus company could cease operating this spring if a new owner cannot be found.
• Network Rail being investigated over poor performanceTrains are not arriving on time and the Office of Rail and Road is looking at how Network Rail contributes to it
• Kirklees could soon become best place to drive an electric carCouncil aims to add up to 105 charging points in plan to be carbon neutral by 2038
• How clean is public transport in Coventry?We're asking readers to #Do1Thing to tackle climate change and public transport can play a big part

C.N.N.

• Toyota and Honda recall millions of vehiclesTwo of Japan's biggest automakers, Toyota and Honda, are recalling millions of cars over unrelated safety issues.

British Trams Online

• Metro punctuality rises againThe latest four week performance statistics – 8th December 2019 to 4th January 2020 – for the Tyne and Wear Metro have now been released and there is some good (and some not so good) news included! The percentage of trains arriving on time has increased by 8% but after the low of the previous period this does mean it is still only at 73%.

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Funding for on-street chargepoints doubled to help charge up electric vehicle revolutionCharging and driving an electric vehicle will be easier, cheaper and more convenient in the future, thanks to double the funding for more chargepoints on residential streets next year and new plans to make sure drivers can easily access real-time information about places to charge their electric car. The Transport Secretary announced that government funding will be doubled to £10 million for the installation of chargepoints on residential streets next year. This could fund up to another 3,600 chargepoints across the country and make charging at home and overnight easier for those withou...
• DHL Freight successfully implements new Transport Management System in FranceDHL Freight, one of the leading providers of road freight services in Europe, is taking the first major step towards creating a single Transport Management System (TMS) for all DHL Freight operations throughout Europe. The IT system, called EVO as a reference to “evolution,” combines all functions for core business operations. As a first major milestone, EVO has now been implemented in all terminals in France. Turkey is set to be the next point of implementation.   “EVO is a great example on how we can benefit from the Digitalization in our business. Availability of data...

Rail Technology Magazine

• Network Rail unveil new Holcombe to Teignmouth rail protection planUpdated proposals have been published by Network Rail, outlining a series of potential changes to a section of railway line in south Devon between Holcombe and Teignmouth.
• Merseyrail named most reliable train operator in the UK for the second year running Merseyrail has been awarded as the most punctual rail operator in the country for the second year running – with 96.4% of its trains running on time. It has also achieved its best performing year ever in 2019, with the oldest passenger fleet in the UK. In the past year Merseyrail has...
• The age of Intelligent Infrastructure - Network RailSource: RTM Dec 19/Jan 20   Predictive technology that informs engineers when, where and why faults will occur on the railway are vital to improving infrastructure performance and driving a better service for passengers. Jonathan Schofield from Network Rail’s Intelligent...
• TransCityRail MidlandsThe Midlands is currently experiencing a 'rail revolution.' It is central to the £57bn HS2 Phase 1 & 2 projects, is home to over 300 rail supply companies, has world class rail test facilities, a number of station upgrades and freight investment. The
• Freight's role in zero carbon emissions - ERFASOURCE: RTM Dec 19/Jan 20   Conor Feighan Secretary General European Rail Freight Association (ERFA) The key challenge for policy makers and industry over the coming five years revolves around the decarbonisation of transport. The transport sector currently accounts for 27% of...

Other News Sources

• Plan to increase visitors using the far north rail lineA BID is to be made to increase the number of tourists on the rail route between Caithness and Inverness.
• 'Stop dithering and sort out HS2'Lancashire business chiefs have urged the Government to deliver HS2 in full amid fresh reports the link to the North could be put on hold.
• Virgin Atlantic reveals plans for 80 new routes at HeathrowVirgin Atlantic has unveiled ambitious plans for Heathrow when the airport's third runway is complete.
• Manston Airport project decision faces delayPlans to develop Manston Airport (MSE) in southeast England into a cargo hub have been postponed again following an extension of the development consent order (DCO) decision deadline to May 18. The announcement came from Parliamentary Under Secretary for Transport Nusrat Ghani in a statement to the U.K. House of Commons on Thursday. The latest deadline prior to the announcement required a decision by Saturday, but Ghani indicated the delay is […]
• Union celebrates ‘huge win’ over bus drivers’ pay amid reports of workplace bullying A trade union is celebrating a pay increase for the borough’s bus drivers for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
• Getting short sea shipping better connectedThis year’s Coastlink Conference will focus on building connectivity between shortsea shipping and intermodal networks.
• Air quality improving in Winchester but still more work to be done, says councilAIR quality is improving in Winchester according to a new report by the city council.
• Hampshire's quietest and busiest train stations revealed in latest passenger data Just over 10,500 people passed through the county's least busy station in 2018/19
• Rail chiefs to decide whether to shut Newhaven ghost stationRAIL chiefs are finally hoping to shutter a train station – 14 years after it was closed to the public.