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

Friday, 15 June 2018

BBC News

• Shipping line concerns over IT problems at Felixstowe PortShipping lines are looking at moving some business from the UK's biggest container port, which has been hit by delays caused by IT problems.
• 'New' trains made of old London Underground carriagesDecades-old former London Underground carriages are being refurbished and turned into trains to be used elsewhere in the country.
• Older cars face Glasgow city centre banPetrol cars made before 2005 and diesels built before 2014 will not be allowed in the zone.
• Dogfight at Stobart Group as former boss sacked from boardA struggle for control of the Southend and Carlisle airport owner sees former boss sacked from the board.

The Guardian

• Fall in UK rail passenger numbers casts doubt on viability of franchisesRail passenger numbers in the UK fell last year to 1.7bn in the biggest decrease since privatisation in the 1990s, casting fresh doubt on the viability of struggling franchises.
• Northern rail accused of prioritising north-west over north-eastBeleaguered operator is asked to ensure north-east does not ‘become a permanent dumping ground for older trains’
• The private-public model is still the best option for our railwaysLonger franchises are key to reforming the railways, says Ian Jones; Paul Plummer of the Rail Delivery Group wants to evolve the role of the private sector; and John Bird says we must protect small businesses in railway arches
• Stobart fires former boss Andrew Tinkler from its boardFirm claims he has ‘set about subverting and disrupting the company in his own interests’

The Independent

• Never mind 500: Half of Britons 'would not walk more than a mile' to get somewhereUsual guidance is for adults to walk 10,000 steps per day, but people in UK estimated their average footfall at less than 6,000 steps

Times Online

• Rail patronage falls amid strikes and overcrowding [Subscription]The number of journeys on Britain’s railways has fallen as a result of strikes, price rises and overcrowding, the rail regulator said.
• Low-emission zone to regulate Glasgow pollution by next year [Subscription]Scotland’s first pollution-reducing low emission zone is to be set up in Glasgow at the end of the year with fines for motorists who enter it in proscribed vehicles after a certain date.
• Stobart throws Tinkler off board after row escalatesStobart Group has fired Andrew Tinkler from its board in an escalation of the row between the company and its former chief executive.

City AM

• Siemens Mobility lands £1.5bn TfL contract to design and make new Piccadilly Line trainsTransport for London (TfL) has announced that Siemens Mobility has landed a £1.5bn contract to design and build the next generation of Tube trains for the Piccadilly Line.
• South Western Railway passenger journeys dropped by 18m last year as franchises veer off trackEmbattled train operator South Western Railway (SWR) saw a dramatic drop of 18m passenger journeys over the past year as it grappled with engineering works at Waterloo, a switch in franchise ownership and industrial action.
• These are the 10 emptiest Tube stations on the London Underground networkYou may recall that we shared back in April that Waterloo had lost the top spot as the busiest Tube station last year to King's Cross St Pancras.
• Incomplete journeys on the Tube could become history as TfL allows passengers using contactless to get payment updates on the goIncomplete journeys on the Tube could soon become a thing of the past for passengers with a penchant for contactless.
• Former chief executive Andrew Tinkler fired from Stobart board, company to launch legal proceedings 'imminently'Former chief executive Andrew Tinkler has been dismissed from the Stobart Group board, with immediate effect.

Bolton News

• Calls for Greater Manchester congestion zoneGREATER Manchester should consider introducing a congestion zone to reduce the “invisible killerâ€� of air pollution, according to a new report.

Manchester Evening News

• The four possible sites of massive HS2 ventilation shafts in south Manchester - one of them in the Christie car parkHigh Speed Rail bosses are planning to dig four large ventilation shafts in south Manchester - and one is on The Christie Hospital car park.

Yorkshire Evening Post

• Leeds Bradford Airport chief joins criticism of Heathrow ‘scaremongering’ as he backs expansion plan The chief executive of Leeds Bradford Airport has joined criticism of “reckless and dangerous scaremongering” about the impact of the expansion of Heathrow ahead of a vote by MPs on the controversial scheme.

Bucks Free Press

• Thousands prepare to marvel at stunning air show as aviation festival returns Thousands of people will turn their eyes to the skies as the spectacular AeroExpo returns to High Wycombe tomorrow.

Other Regional Press

• Government Heathrow figures don’t add up, says Richmond CouncilGovernment claims Heathrow expansion would add £74bn to the economy does not include the £25bn cost of improving public transport links to keep road traffic at current levels, says Richmond council.

Coach and Bus Week

• Greater Manchester Mayor makes zero-emission bus pledgeAndy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, has joined other European leaders in signing a declaration of intent for the city to make the switch to a zero-emission bus fleet.
• South Yorkshire Mayor sets out plans for tackling transport shortcomingsSouth Yorkshire Mayor Dan Jarvis has submitted a bid to Government which aims to secure millions of pounds worth of funding to improve the county’s transport network.
• London’s tourism economy will be hit hard by LEZ plans, says CPTThe Mayor of London’s recent announcement that all coaches and buses passing through Greater London’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ) will have to meet Euro VI requirements from October 26, 2020 has left the coach industry ‘dismayed’, according to the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT).

Rail Technology Magazine

• 'Still too many' delays and cancellations, despite interim Northern timetableThe north of England depends on a “resilient and reliable transport network,” Transport for the North (TfN) has said, as rail disruptions rumble on across the region. The comments came as members of the TfN partnership board met in Manchester this week to discuss the issues regarding...
• ORR launches independent inquiry into timetable chaosThe Office of Rail and Road (ORR) has formally launched its independent inquiry into the widespread timetable disruption suffered on the railway since the new timetable was rolled out on last month. Instead of delivering benefits to the rail network as intended, the new timetable, which came...
• NR awards £20m signalling contract for Highland mainlineSiemens has been awarded a £20m re-signalling contract by Network Rail. The contract will see sections of the Highlands mainline re-signalled as part of the £57m, Scottish Government-funded investment in the line, which links the Highland Capital and the Central Belt. The work will...

Route One (Bus and Coach)

• NCT’s Trojan Bus is backNottingham City Transport’s (NCT) Trojan Bus – which is an ordinary NCT bus, but with plain-clothed Police officers on board – has been travelling around Nottingham following a number of recent smashed bus window incidents in the area.
• Medlicott back at StagecoachFormer Stagecoach Managing Director Phil Medlicott is to re-join the Group from 1 July.

Aviation Industry

• Emirates CEO reveals premium-economy class details Dubai-based Emirates Airline CEO Tim Clark has revealed details of a new premium-economy class, which will be introduced on its Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 fleets from 2020. read more
• Rolls-Royce axes 4,600 jobs in restructuring planRolls-Royce plans to cut 4,600 jobs over the next two years in a bid to save £400 million ($537 million) a year. read more

Other News Sources

• GTMC Conference: Willie Walsh says Heathrow runway costs ‘unacceptable’IAG Chief Executive Willie Walsh has criticised the prospect of a third runway at Heathrow Airport at this year’s GTMC overseas conference in Ireland.
• Greater Anglia and Network Rail slammed by Essex MP for 'dangerous' days of cancellationsPassengers have also criticised the service, as Network Rail continue to work on repairing the fault