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

Tuesday, 03 March 2020

BBC News

• Bloodhound car: A month to save land speed record projectThe UK-led bid to break the world land speed record is under threat again - it needs to find £8m.
• New Northern rail team given 100 days to produce planThe Transport Secretary says it will take time for the changes to take effect in the north.
• Rail station wi-fi provider exposed traveller dataThe unprotected database included phone numbers, email addresses, dates of birth and reasons for travel.
• IAG and EasyJet warn of coronavirus bookings hitBritish Airways owner IAG says it has seen a

Financial Times

• Iata warns on collapse in airline passenger numbersBA and Ryanair latest to cancel flights due to impact of coronavirus

The Guardian

• Airline industry braced for major threat from coronavirus turmoilBA to drop 432 flights; Ryanair says it will cut a quarter of its flights to and from ItalyThe airline industry often finds itself on the corporate frontline when global disaster strikes. The 9/11 attacks, the Sars outbreak and the credit crunch all posed a serious threat to a sector that has always struggled to make consistent profits.The coronavirus crisis marks another dangerous moment for airlines, which are already facing multibillion-dollar revenue losses as the disease hits demand. Continue reading...
• Outdoor air pollution cuts three years from human lifespan – studyGlobal survey finds average figure is higher than that caused by smoking tobaccoHumans are missing out on almost three years of life expectancy on average because of outdoor air pollution, researchers have found.However, the study reveals more than a year of life expectancy could be clawed back if fossil fuel emissions are cut to zero, while if all controllable air pollution is cut – a category that does not include particles from natural wildfires or wind-born dust – global life expectancy could rise by more than 20 months. Continue reading...

Times Online

• Easter rail travellers face cancellations and delays [subscription]Train passengers are being warned of widespread disruption over the Easter weekend because of a £113 million upgrade designed to improve long-term reliability on the railway.
• Self-driving wheelchairs help flyers to find their way [subscription]Every passenger knows the anxiety of having to find their way through an airport the size of a village in time for their flight.

Reuters News

• British Airways cancels some flights to United States as coronavirus hits demandBritish Airways on Monday said it was cancelling some flights from London to the United States to match reduced demand for flying due to the impact of a new coronavirus on consumer sentiment.

City AM

• Exclusive: Mystery of HS2 letter deepens as Chinese ambassador calls document 'fake'The provenance of a letter claiming to be from China’s state-run railway offering to build HS2 has been plunged into The post Exclusive: Mystery of HS2 letter deepens as Chinese ambassador calls document 'fake' appeared first on CityAM.
• Electric chauffeur service Havn launches in LondonAn all-electric premium chauffeur service that gives passengers the options to adjust playlists, temperature and chauffeur interaction launches in London The post Electric chauffeur service Havn launches in London appeared first on CityAM.

Birmingham Mail

• HS2 warnings issued by Tories as MPs revive West Midlands - Crewe legislationA motion to continue proceedings on the High Speed Rail (West Midlands-Crewe) Bill was approved, meaning it will resume in the Lords in the new parliamentary session

Birmingham Post

• Plans lodged for brace of Black Country stationsWest Midlands transport chiefs have lodged application to build new stations in Darlaston and Willenhall on the Walsall to Wolverhampton line

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• 'Carbon audit' of 180 local transport schemes, including many in Bradford A PUBLIC body responsible for some of the biggest infrastructure projects in West Yorkshire will carry out an audit of at least 180 of its schemes to gauge their environmental impact.
• Transport Secretary backs plan to reopen Queensbury Tunnel - stating it could be used for light railTHE Transport Secretary has thrown his weight behind the campaign to re-open Queensbury Tunnel - and even suggested that it could be used for light rail and not a cycle route.

Bristol Live

• Highways England supports Filton arena but wants plans in place to minimise M5 trafficBristol City Council's planning committee is set to make a decision on the scheme this week

London Evening Standard

• British Airways and Ryanair cancel hundreds of flights amid coronavirus outbreakFollow our live coronavirus updates HERE

Northern Echo

• Mayor breaks ground on new Teesside Airport projectDEVELOPMENT of the new Southside Park at Teesside International Airport was launched today in a ground-breaking ceremony.

Wales Online

• Cardiff Airport asks for a £6.8m loan - on top of £21m it received last yearIt follows the £21.2m that was granted last year
• This is how the new footbridge at Newport Station will lookThe brand new bridge would replace the grim and grimy underpass
• The full list of cancelled flights as airlines react to the coronavirus outbreakFlights to multiple destinations around the world have been cancelled

East Anglian Daily Times

• Stansted based Ryanair and British Airways cancel flights due to coronavirusTwo flight operators, which fly out of Stansted airport, have announced they are to cut flights this month following concerns about coronavirus.

Leeds Live

• LNER hits back at passengers moaning about delays after person hit by train and killed One person wrote the impact the death had on other people's lives was "a disgrace"

Other Regional Press

• Up to 6,000 jobs move closer as works starts on £200m Teesside Airport developmentA road, tree lined boulevard and manufacturing buildings are all planned for the site
• Labour candidate promises Tees Metro rail and bus system if she's elected mayorJessie Joe Jacobs turned up in a classic red London bus to launch her three transport pledges

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport

• Airports Policy: What's next?CILT's Aviation Policy Group has responded to the news that, on 27 February, the Appeal Court ruled that the Government’s Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), which had been  approved by Parliament in June 2018, was unlawful as section 5(8) of the Planning Act 2008 (which requires that reasons for the policy in the ANPS ‘must …. include an explanation of how the policy….takes account of Government policy relating to the mitigation of …….climate change’) had not been complied with. The Appeal Court accepted that whilst the Paris Agreement...
• Northern franchise enters new futureThe government has taken over the running of services across the Northern network, marking a new start for the future of the franchise. Demonstrating the government’s commitment to rebuild passenger confidence and put their priorities first, the government operator has launched a new panel to provide ongoing advice on how services will be run. Political leaders including Andy Burnham from Manchester and Judith Blake from Leeds will be joined by regional leaders, passenger representatives and industry leaders on the panel, which will be led by Richard George, the chairman of the operator...
• Port of Tyne to become first UK Connected Ports PartnerThe Port of Tyne has announced it will be the first UK port to join the Connected Ports Partnership. The global data and resource sharing initiative was welcomed by the new Maritime Minister, Kelly Tolhurst MP, as she congratulated the Port of Tyne on being at the forefront of driving innovation across the North East’s international logistics cluster. She commented: “The development of our world-leading maritime ports is fundamental to our success as a global trading nation and I’m delighted to see the Port of Tyne become the first in the UK to join this exciting partnership....

New Civil Engineer

• HS2 West Midlands-Crewe link takes next stepA motion has been agreed in the House of Commons on the HS2 link between the West Midlands and Crewe.
• Manchester Airports Group reappoints consultant to oversee expansion plansManchester Airports Group (MAG) has reappointed global professional services consultancy Turner & Townsend as it pushes forward with expansion plans.
• High speed rail network tabled as alternative to Heathrow expansionA high speed rail network properly linked in to airports would allow the UK to operate more international flights without the need for major airport expansions, according to Expedition Engineering director Alistair Lenczner.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Northern franchise enters government control Following the news back in January that Northern would be stripped of its franchise and come under government control, today (March 1st) marked a new start for the future of the franchise. To show their commitment to rebuilding passenger confidence, and putting their priorities first, the...
• Network Rail invests over £100m to upgrade network over Easter Network Rail is encouraging passengers to check and plan their journeys in advance over Easter this year due to planned improvement works. Thousands of rail workers will carry out 420 projects over the Easter period to improve the reliability of Britain’s rail infrastructure and deliver...

Railnews

• New managing director named for Northern Northern has a new managing director, following yesterday™s changeover from Arriva to the Department for Transport™s Operator of Last Resort. The franchise was renationalised after almost two years of poor performance and because it was no longer ˜financially sustainable™, according to transport secretary Grant Shapps.

Other News Sources

• Roundtable: how should air traffic control attract new talent?A global shortage of air traffic controllers is being exacerbated by huge demand for flights, so how can new talent be attracted to an industry infamous for high stress levels but rich with rewards?
• Could smaller airports benefit from electric aviation?Recent developments in electric aircraft have lent fresh hope that the aviation industry can cut its carbon footprint. Smaller airports could facilitate the accommodation of battery-powered, short-haul flights in the future, but they might have a wait on their hands. Recent advances in electric aircraft have created fresh hope that fossil fuels might one day soon be a thing of the past when it comes to flying.
• EU-backed Project Targets Improved Fuel EfficiencyA consortium of maritime industry and academic partners have been awarded EU funding for a project aimed at reducing fuel consumption and lowering emission levels for shipping.The SeaTech project consortium, led by technology group Wärtsilä…
• Mum starts High Court campaign to reverse county council changes to special needs school transportSurrey County Council has made changes that mean children who previously received help getting to school and college no longer have it
• British Airways and Ryanair cancel Gatwick and Heathrow flights It joins Easyjet in rescheduling due to reduce in demand