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

Friday, 11 May 2018

BBC News

• New Northern rail strike dates in trains guard disputeRMT members on Northern Rail services will hold further strikes on 24 and 26 May.
• London Mayor Sadiq Khan plans TfL 'junk food' advert banSadiq Khan says the ban can tackle the
• Rolls-Royce takes high road with new SUVThe £200,000 Cullinan will compete with rivals from the likes of Bentley and Lamborghini.

Department for Transport

• Rail Minister launches review of tree cutting alongside rail linesReview of Network Rail’s tree cutting and vegetation management has been announced.

The Guardian

• Chris Grayling defends expensive last-minute rail faresThe transport secretary has defended train companies that charge more than £300 for peak-time fares, as he launched the biggest overhaul of Britain’s railways in a generation.

The Herald

• 'We're sorry' - Scots rail chief Alex Hynes apologises for "unacceptable" disruption involving a mouseSCOTRAIL Alliance chief Alex Hynes has issued an apology for "unacceptable" disruption to services since the weekend caused by overhead line damage, signal failures, electricity failure and a mouse.

The Independent

• Southend Airport could be the answer to Heathrow third runway delaysSouthend Airport is transforming from an obsolete airstrip in the southeast corner of Essex to a moneyspinning substitute for an extra runway at Heathrow: that is the claim from its owner, Stobart Group, which has just announced pre-tax profits of £100m for the year to 28 February 2018.

The Scotsman

• Rail chief apologies for "unacceptable" disruption ScotRail Alliance managing director Alex Hynes today apologised to passengers for five days of "unacceptable" disruption.

Times Online

• Silvertown Tunnel vision will be reality after 18 years [Subscription]It has taken more than a decade of wrangling, but the government has decided to proceed with a £1 billion tunnel under the Thames in east London despite protests from residents and environmentalists.

City AM

• Rolls-Royce SUV will be built in the UK, says carmaker's bossRolls-Royce has said it plans to build its next SUV in Britain, ahead of the big reveal of the luxury Cullinan model at noon today.
• TfL refuses to pin down date for when new Elizabeth line trains will reach HeathrowThe operations director of the Elizabeth line today refused to name the date for when the new trains would be dispatched to Heathrow airport as Transport for London (TfL) prepares to take over the Heathrow Connect service later this month.

Mail Online

• Network Rail boss defends plan to axe up to 10million trees alongside Britain's railway lines claiming they will introduce wildflowers and grass to 'increase biodiversity' The plan involves targeting the millions of trees that grow within 60 metres of rail track, even though Network Rail admitted that the majority of the trees at risk are healthy but still defended the 'revolutionised' felling.

Belfast Telegraph

• Junk food ads face ban on Tube and buses across LondonJunk food advertising could be banned on the London Underground network as part of plans to tackle the capital’s “ticking time-bomb” of childhood obesity.

Bradford Telegraph & Argus

• £4.75m project for cleaner buses AROUND a quarter of West Yorkshire’s bus fleet is set to become cleaner thanks to a £4.75 million project.

Morning Star

• MPs call for rail privateer Arriva to be stripped of its franchiseELEVEN MPs are calling for rail privateer Arriva to be stripped of its franchise to operate Northern Rail services, which they describe as being “in crisis.”

Yorkshire Post

• Two fresh Arriva Rail North strikes to affect Yorkshire Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) on Arriva Rail North (Northern) will walk out on May 24 and 26, causing fresh disruption to passengers.

Bucks Free Press

• POTHOLE HORROR: Bike crash which left woman with multiple injures sparks fresh calls to fix crumbling roads WARNING: Graphic picture in gallery

Other Regional Press

• Calls for rail shuttle service to ease Lincoln's traffic problemsA rail future group is calling for village train stations to reopen in a bid to bring a train shuttle service into Lincoln to ease congestion in the city.
• TfL prepares to take over Heathrow Express serviceOPERATIONS have begun at a new, purpose-built train depot at Old Oak Common in a milestone for London’s new railway, the Elizabeth line (Crossrail).
• Borderlands could unlock Carlisle's railway station potentialInvesting in city’s railway hub could be key to unlocking Whitehall funding, says MP

Bus and Coach Buyer

• S19 distance exemption is ‘unworkable’ says CPTTrade body’s consultation response says DfT guidance for local journeys and for ‘less than cost’ operations are deeply flawed
• Welcome to the GuildBefore pulling into Marshalls’ headquarters in the pleasant Nottinghamshire village of Sutton-on-Trent, a pristine Optare Solo from its fleet passed by. Although the weather was wet and there was no shortage of mud on the roads, it was impressively clean. It was a small thing, but noticeable and it made a positive impression.

Coach and Bus Week

• Megabus speeds up Cardiff to Birmingham runsStagecoach-owned megabus.com is now offering faster journeys between Cardiff and Birmingham by routing some of the services direct, cutting out Bristol.
• DVSA formally launches Earned RecognitionOperators can now apply to join the scheme, which can result in less roadside stops and commercial advantages when bidding for contracts
• MAN delivers 75th coach to Schröder ReisenGERMANY Langenau-based Schröder Reisen has taken delivery of 14 Neoplan coaches including its 75th from MAN and 33rd Neoplan.

Railway Gazette

• Hull Trains reveals ‘luxurious and aesthetically appealing’ AT300 designUK: Open access operator Hull Trains has revealed the appearance of its future fleet of five Hitachi AT300 trainsets, following the completion of the engineering and design phase and the sign-off for production to begin.

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• Go paperless for DCPC with new app from RTITBRTITB, the setter of industry training standards and the preferred regulatory body for workplace transport training, has revealed a new app that eliminates paperwork from the Driver CPC training process.
• Sn-ap’s £3.4m investment to expandSn-ap Travel Technology – the on-demand intercity travel service – has announced that it has raised £3.4m, in its latest investment round led by ADV and Oxford Capital.
• Funding for ‘vital’ Welsh servicesAt Wales’ second Bus Summit, Transport Secretary Ken Skates has announced £3.5m to improve on-bus and bus stop environment.

Transport Times

• Pothole epidemic costs drivers £1m a month, says AAPotholes are costing motorists at least £1 million a month, with the AA warning of a sharp rise in the number of cars badly damaged by crumbling roads.

Aviation Industry

• Russian government to subsidize SSJ100 sales, modificationsThe Russian government will inject RUB6 billion ($95 million) into the Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) program to increase sales of the regional aircraft. read more