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

Tuesday, 19 June 2018

Cogitamus

• House of Commons Transport Committee Investigates Train Timetabling FailuresThe House of Commons Transport Committee has just finished a three hour interrogation of rail industry leaders about the failed timetables for GoVia Thameslink and Northern introduced in May.

BBC News

• Will Norway's electric plane take off?An electric plane has taken to the skies of Norway as part of the country’s plan to combat climate change.
• GTR and Northern rail bosses 'were aware' of likely chaosRail bosses were aware of the scale of chaos a new timetable would have on the network, two days before it was officially implemented.
• Tomorrow's Cities: Will the bike become an urban must-have?Urban spaces are congested and polluted, so do we all need to get on our bikes?
• Ryanair calls for restricted airport alcohol salesA weekend flight from Dublin to Ibiza had to be diverted to Paris as three passengers became disruptive.
• Audi chief Rupert Stadler arrested in diesel emissions probeThere was a danger that Rupert Stadler could seek to suppress evidence, prosecutors say.

ITV News

• Rail bosses to appear before MPs over timetable chaosRail bosses will be grilled by MPs on Monday over why the introduction of new timetables led to major disruption.

The Independent

• Rail bosses apologise to MPs over new train timetable shambles‘I’m terribly sad and terribly sorry that it has ended as it has’ — Charles Horton, who has resigned as chief executive of Govia Thameslink Railway

Times Online

• Heathrow is full: a new runway is the only option - Graham Brady MP and Louise Ellman MP [Subscription]It is not often that MPs from different parties stand united. But the issue of Heathrow expansion is one that warrants cross-party unity. Last week, the government took the important decision to table the airports national policy statement (NPS) which will enable Heathrow expansion.
• Tourist locomotives save the day on line hit by Northern Rail timetable chaos [subscription]A heritage rail company that serves tourist routes has stepped in to provide passenger services on a line cut off by the recent timetabling chaos.
• Drivers ‘overcharged at fuel pumps by £500m’ [Subscription]Motorists have been overcharged at fuel pumps by an estimated £500 million in the past three months, research by a campaign group has shown.

City AM

• Bombardier could contest decision to award £1.5bn Piccadilly Line contract to Siemens as it seeks formal feedback from TfLBombardier could contest a decision to award the £1.5bn contract to design and manufacture the new Piccadilly Line trains to Siemens Mobility, after saying it was "very disappointed" in the news.
• Chris Grayling faces no confidence vote over ongoing rail timetable troublesThe Labour party is seeking to hold a vote of no confidence in the transport secretary, Chris Grayling, as he struggles to contain the public anger caused by the recent overhaul to train timetables.

Mail Online

• Train bosses admit to MPs they did not know until the 'last minute' their new timetable would collapse into chaos despite months of planningTrain bosses admitted today they had no idea until the 'last minute' their new timetables would collapse into chaos despite months of planning.
• Drivers overcharged by £2.50 per tank as prices hit highest level in three years Retailers have hiked the cost of petrol and diesel by more than 5p a litre since early May when wholesale costs have risen by only a fraction of a penny.

London Evening Standard

• Ryanair calls for airport booze ban before 10am after Ibiza bound plane forced to divert to ParisRyanair has called for a drinking ban before 10am at airports after drunk passengers forced an Ibiza bound flight from Dublin to divert to Paris.
• South Western Rail strike called off to relief of Royal Ascot racegoersA three-day South Western Railway strike which would have caused chaos for those travelling to Royal Ascot has been suspended.
• First look at new Piccadilly line trains with TfL set to sign £1.5bn contractThe first image of the new Piccadilly line trains has been released as TfL announced it has commissioned a fleet of 94 in a £1.5bn contract.
• Major disruption on rail network a 'systemic failing' of industry timetabling system, MPs toldMajor disruption on the rail network was the result of a

Manchester Evening News

• Northern Rail say they did not know timetable chaos was looming until TWO days before it startedManaging director David Brown has given evidence to MPs on the transport debacle

Bucks Free Press

• Leader warns it will take 'long time' to repair all potholes across Bucks The leader of the county council has warned it will take a “long timeâ€� to resurface all roads across Bucks, as a major pothole repair scheme continues.

Plymouth Herald

• Rail bosses high pay packets questioned by West MPs“People will be asking why these individuals are being paid that amount of money."

Other Regional Press

• 'Siemen's £1.5bn London Underground train deal has come at exact right time for East Yorkshire'A £1.5bn manufacturing boost for East Yorkshire has come at a “good time” after hundreds of redundancies were announced at the region’s biggest aircraft factory.

Rail Technology Magazine

• Politicians join RIA's rail fellowship class of 2018Politicians are set to be educated on the rail sector’s crucial importance to the UK through the Railway Industry Association’s (RIA) rail fellowship programme. The programme will promote the work of the organisations that build, maintain and enhance the UK’s railways. By...
• GTR boss to resign, citing 'huge frustration' from passengersThe chief executive of struggling operator Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) will resign. Charles Horton, the boss of GTR which runs Thameslink, Great Northern, and Southern railways, will remain in the position for a short time to oversee the implementation of the new timetables installed in...
• Nexus launches engagement process with mobility providersNexus is launching an engagement exercise aimed at extending the reach of public and sustainable transport in the north east of England. The company provides public transport on behalf of Tyne and Wear local authorities, including owning and operating the Tyne and Wear Metro, which is the...
• Three men killed by train in south London Three men have died after being hit by a train near a south London station. The British Transport Police (BTP) officers were called to Loughborough Junction station in south London at 7:34am after reports that three bodies were found on the tracks. Officers attended and all three men, who...
• Firm named for new Coventry VLR projectA transport firm has won a contract to work with Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) of Warwick University to develop a very light rail vehicle as a new transport solution for Coventry. Stratford-upon-Avon-based Transport Design International won the tender worth £12.2m secured from the West...

Railway Gazette

• Cross-border upgrade plan EUROPE: North-south rail services between Belfast and Dublin could be upgraded over the...
• Bearing and wheelset monitoring partnershipSKF: The Insight Rail wireless condition based-maintenance technology from bearing and seal...

Aviation Industry

• Shanghai Pudong Airport to open fifth runway this year Shanghai Pudong Airport is expected to open a fifth runway this year, becoming the only Chinese airport to have five runways, according to Shanghai Airport Group VP Wang Jijie. read more
• American Airlines offers $45 million to settle fare-collusion caseAmerican Airlines has offered to pay $45 million to end its role in a long-running class-action lawsuit against several carriers, making the move to avoid what it feared could be costly litigation, not in an admission of guilt. read more

Other News Sources

• MP cuts the ribbon on railway station’s new platform shelterA new platform shelter has been unveiled at Beccles Railway Station as part of ongoing work to make the station a welcoming and attractive gateway to the town.
• Number of electric vehicles in use jumps from 15 to 294 in just five years in Brighton and HoveElectric car technology is advancing rapidly and the latest figures suggest Brighton and Hove is getting on board for the green revolution.